Gail and Tommy Sheridan deny the charges against them A former News of the World Scotland editor has told a court he stripped to his underwear to view a secret video tape allegedly showing Tommy Sheridan.
Bob Bird told a court he thought Mr Sheridan was going to burst in on his meeting with the politician’s best man, George McNeilage.
Mr Bird was giving evidence at the High Court in Glasgow, where Mr Sheridan and his wife Gail are accused of perjury.
They deny lying during his defamation victory against the newspaper in 2006.
The former Scottish Socialist Party (SSP) leader won £200,000 in damages after the News of the World printed allegations about his private life, claiming he was an adulterer who had visited a swingers club.
Following a police investigation, Mr Sheridan and his wife, both 46, were charged with perjury.
The trial called again on Friday after a three-day adjournment because Mr Sheridan was ill.
Mr Bird told the court about a “cloak-and-dagger” meeting with Mr Sheridan’s best man, and former friend, George McNeilage.
The trial had previously heard how Mr McNeilage sold a video tape to the News of the World in which Mr Sheridan is alleged to have confessed to visiting a swingers club.
Mr Bird told the court that he had to undress down to his underwear for the meeting.
At that point, he said, his blood ran cold as he thought Mr Sheridan was going to burst into the room with a video camera.
Mr Bird said that, to his relief, Mr McNeilage said he was going to show him a video tape.
It is alleged that Mr Sheridan made false statements as a witness in his defamation action against the News of the World on 21 July 2006.
He also denies another charge of attempting to persuade a witness to commit perjury shortly before the 23-day legal action got under way.
Mrs Sheridan denies making false statements on 31 July 2006, after being sworn in as a witness in the civil jury trial at the Court of Session in Edinburgh.
The trial, before Lord Bracadale, continues.
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