5 shocking revelations that have come up in the Chris Cairns perjury trial
Chris Cairns’ perjury trial is putting the game in the news for all the wrong reasonsAs the game of cricket continues to grow and reach worldwide, its ugly side has also reared its head. With increasing popularity comes a chance to make quick money, and cricketers keep falling prey to their own greed. Starting with Hansie Cronje’s tearful acceptance of fixing matches and then the incarceration of Pakistan cricketers and finally the great IPL spot-fixing scandal, the concept of match-fixing has stubbornly adhered itself to the game. Currently undergoing trial is Chris Cairns, former New Zealand all-rounder, who has been convicted of perjury – lying in court.In 2012, Chris Cairns won a libel case against Lalit Modi, where Cairns swore that he had “never fixed matches” in his career. With new evidence coming up against Cairns where he has been found guilty of fixing matches, Cairns has been accused of perjury and now stands in New Zealand’s High Court as several high-profile cricketers have arrived to give evidence against him. These cricketers include as many as five New Zealand captains – including Brendon McCullum and Stephen Fleming – as well as Ricky Ponting, former Australian captain. If found guilty, Cairns could spend up to 7 years in prison.A week has already passed and several astonishing announcements have taken place. Let’s look at 5 such revelations that have come up in the trial:
#1 Lou Vincent\'s staggering claims
Former New Zealand cricketer Lou Vincent, who was banned for life last year for admitting to have participated in match-fixing, gave damning evidence against Chris Cairns. Vincent admitted that he had been under “direct orders” from Cairns to fix matches, and that he done so throughout the ICL tournament in 2008. Vincent claimed that he had looked up to Cairns and that he had blindly followed him into the world of match-fixing.
Vincent went on to claim that Daryl Tuffey, New Zealand’s ex-fast bowler had also participated in fixing matches, and that he was “furious he had not been paid yet”. He gave evidence of several incidents, such as raising the TV volume while talking of match fixing and receiving instructions during breakfast or in the bus. Vincent said that Cairns often told him to get out at specific times, and mentioned that Cairns often got angry if he scored more than what he was told to do.
Vincent was backed up by his ex-wife Eleanor Riley, who stated that Cairns was “very confident” that he could get away with fixing matches. She went on record to say that Vincent directly admitted to her that he was fixing matches under Cairns, and that he had also taken money from him.
While Cairns’ defense lawyers managed to trip Vincent up during the cross-examination, they failed to do the same to his ex-wife, and her testimony will stand as the most important of all.