Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard set to appear in court

Feb 6 2008

Liverpool footballers Jamie Carragher and Steven Gerrard and rugby star Jonny Wilkinson have been named as prosecution witnesses in the trial of two men accused of selling fake autographs.

Graeme Walker, 45, owner of Chester-based Sporting Icons, and his former business partner, Faisal Madani, 42, face 74 charges under the Trade Descriptions Act.

The pair are accused of selling a variety of sporting memorabilia items, including shirts and photographs, with faked autographs of the stars.

Walker, of Mountain View Close, Connah’s Quay, Deeside, and Madani, of Grange Road, Stockport, Greater Manchester, deny the charges.

Judge David Hale at Chester Crown Court on Tuesday selected a jury panel of 18 people who were also told to expect Newcastle United’s Michael Owen and former Liverpool players Ian Rush and Brian Hall to appear in the witness box.

Final jury selection will take place on Wednesday and the trial, which is expected to last six weeks, is due to begin on Thursday.