Tommy Sheridan perjury conviction 'unsound', MP claims

international | rights, freedoms and repression | other press Wednesday July 06, 2011 18:12 by The Mekon

I always said it was a bum rap. Now it looks as if the NotW lied in court. Story at url.

A Labour MP told the Commons the News of the World scandal could make Tommy Sheridan's perjury conviction unsound. During Sheridan's perjury trial last year, former News of the World editor Andy Coulson denied knowledge of his paper paying corrupt police officers. But it has now been reported that newly found e-mails suggest Mr Coulson authorised payments to police. Sheridan's lawyer is to ask Strathclyde Police to begin an inquiry into whether Mr Coulson committed perjury.

BBC Scotland understands that on Thursday Sheridan's lawyer Aamar Anwar will ask Strathclyde Police to consider a perjury investigation into the evidence given by the former News of the World editor. Mr Anwar is expected to be joined by the Labour MP Tom Watson at a press conference in Glasgow.

Mr Watson and Mr Anwar are also expected to make documents public which suggest senior executives of News International, the owners of the News of the World, were previously involved in commissioning private detectives.