A jury has been sworn in for the trial of an undercover journalist and a Norfolk man accused of conspiring to pervert the course of justice in the case of pop star Tulisa Contostavlos.
%image(14814955, type="article-full", alt="Court artist sketch by Elizabeth Cook of Alan Smith (left) and Mazher Mahmood, known as the "Fake Sheikh", on trial at the Old Bailey in London, where they are accused of conspiring to pervert the course of justice in the case of pop star Tulisa Contostavlos. Elizabeth Cook/PA Wire")
Reporter Mazher Mahmood, 52, known as the Fake Sheikh, allegedly misled the court during the collapsed drugs trial of the
former N-Dubz star and X Factor judge.
The former News Of The World journalist, of Purley, south London, is on trial at the Old Bailey with Alan Smith, 66, a retired driver, formerly of Daffodil Way, Mattishall, near Dereham.
Mahmood and Smith are charged with conspiring together to do an act, namely that Smith would change a draft statement to police, with the intention to pervert the course of justice, between June 22 and July 22, 2014. A jury has been sworn in and prosecutor Sarah Forshaw QC will open the case today. The trial continues.
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