Archer case: The charges

Lord Archer has pleaded not guilty to the charges

The jury have acquitted Lord Archer of one count of perverting the course of justice and one count of using a false instrument, after being directed to do so by the judge. The remaining charges are as followed:

That, on a day between the 22 December 1986 and 7 April 1987, in relation to an action commenced by Mr (as he then was) Archer against Express Newspapers Plc and the then Daily Star editor Lloyd Turner who had said that Mr Archer had sexual intercourse with prostitute Monica Coghlan on 10 September 1986, he procured Edward John Francis to provide his solicitors with a version of events in relation to the evening of 9 September 1986 which he knew to be false.

Perverting the course of justice between 26 March 1986 and 7 July 1987, in relation to diaries relating to September 1986, he failed to reveal the existence of his main office diary: provided Angela Peppiatt with a blank diary which he instructed her with details to write in the diary. The new diary was then handed to his solicitors for use in the court case.

Ted Francis: Faces one charge of perverting the course of justice

Perjury: On 23 June 1987, made a statement under oath for use in judicial proceedings that the diary and a list of appointments were the only documents of that type which had been in his possession.

Perjury: On the 8 July 1987 as a sworn witness in judicial proceedings at the High Court, made a false statement that the diary was in existence before 26 October 1986.

Perverting the course of justice: That, on a day between the 6 April and 7 July 1987, he made entries in a diary for September 1986 which purported to have been made on or before that date. Photocopies were then sent and the diaries handed to his solicitors for use in the court case.

The full perverting the course of justice charge faced by Mr Francis, accused under the name Edward John Francis:

That between 22 December 1986 and 27 March 1987 he agreed to provide and later provided solicitors acting for Mr Archer, a version of events on 9 September 1986, which he knew to be false.