Attorney General Stephen Harding today denied charges of perjury and perverting the course of justice ahead of his trial.
His trial before Deemster Peter Birkett at the Court of General Gaol Delivery is due to open on Wednesday and is estimated to last three weeks.
Today Mr Harding, 51, of Greeba Avenue, Glen Vine, took his place in the dock to be formally arraigned on the two charges he faces – and pleaded not guilty in each case.
He is accused of acts against public justice contrary to Section 347 of the Criminal Code 1872 (as amended) by allegedly creating and submitting false documentation to the Advocates Disciplinary Tribunal on diverse dates between April 1, 2010 and September 30, 2010.
He is also accused of an offence under Section 1(1) of the Perjury Act 1952 (as amended).
The Crown alleges that having been lawfully sworn as a witness in proceedings before the tribunal, in which he was the accused, the defendant wilfully made a statement he knew to be false.
This was namely a file note of February 23, 2010, said to be a record of a 10-minute telephone conversation he had with Jeremy Carter, an advocate acting for Street Heritage Limited when in fact there was no such telephone call at that time.
To each charge, Deemster Birkett asked how he pleaded, to which the defendant replied in a clear voice: ‘Not guilty’.
Selection of a seven-strong jury for the trial was taking place today and prosecuting counsel Peter Wright QC is due to open the case for the Crown on Wednesday.