Andy Coulson cleared of perjury as his trial dramatically collapses in Edinburgh, this judgment leaves Tommy Sheridan with the stark reality that to continue with his appeal to overturn his conviction is a no absolute hoper

Dear All

Today, it seems that Scotland’s Nelson Mandela, Tommy Sheridan has received some rather bad news in his campaign to clear his name.

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has been cleared of committing perjury.

Tommy Sheridan must have been looking for a winner to his case a boost as he tries to get the verdict against him set aside.

The case against Andy Coulson collapsed after his defence team successfully argued there was no case to answer.

Outside the High Court in Edinburgh Coulson said:

"I am obviously delighted by the judge's decision today. It was the right decision. This prosecution was always wrong. I didn't lie and the prosecution, in my view, was a gross waste of public money. I am just delighted that after four pretty testing years that my family and myself have finally had a good day."

In a post, I wrote on 20^th May, I opined:

“Regardless how the trial of Andy Coulson turns out, this doesn’t affect the evidence that convicted Tommy Sheridan such as the confession to a room full of witnesses and also the video evidence of his confession”.

http://glasgowunihumanrights.blogspot.co.uk/2015/05/andy-coulson-former-director-of.html

Judge Lord Burns ruled the Crown had not shown Mr Coulson's evidence was relevant in the Sheridan trial.

It seems the Judge decided to inform the jury that perjury was the giving of false evidence under oath which is relevant to the issues in that trial.

I wonder if Judge Burns reads my blog!

Probably not, but at least his judgment is sound, he added that was for him as a judge to decide rather than the jury on that matter.

Lord Burns said that after two days of legal submissions the Crown had not satisfied him that Mr Coulson's evidence had been relevant. Other posts which I had done on the Sheridan trial came to the same conclusion, if you strip away everything from the News of World you still end up with Tommy Sheridan confessing to a room full of witness and the videotape evidence.

The Crown Office has until Wednesday to decide if they will appeal, if they do appeal, they will just be going through the motions; the Judge has made a sound legal judgment which is very difficult to argue against.

An appeal with be a show for the public, and to prove there is no bias on their part, but in the end it would be a waste of time, money and resources.

Where does leave Tommy Sheridan in his quest for a quashing of his conviction, between a rock and a hard place!

Yours sincerely

George Laird 

The Campaign for Human Rights at Glasgow University