THE jury have been sent out to reach a final verdict in the trial of Russ Bowden, leader of Warrington Borough Council.

Cllr Bowden stands accused of three counts relating to his address being improperly listed on election forms.

The jury heard a final summary from Judge Louise Brandon, which covered all the evidence provided over the course of the week-long case.

Read our summary of the closing statements from the Prosecution and Defence

In Judge Brandon’s summary, the jury heard how the prosecution believed that Cllr Bowden had incorrectly listed his address on forms relating to his election as councillor in 2021.

The council leader listed the address where he had previously been living with his wife, who at the time of the election he was estranged from. Due to this estrangement, he was living, permanently according to the prosecution, at an address in Lower Walton. On his forms he had listed an address in Birchwood.

Defending Cllr Bowden, Tanveer Qureshi has made the argument throughout the trial that Cllr Bowden was only staying at the Lower Walton temporarily whilst working out his marital issues.

According to Mr Qureshi, due to a legal interpretation of your electoral address being where you consider “home” to be, Cllr Bowden’s plans to repair his marriage and move back in to the address in Birchwood frees the Warrington Borough Council leader of wrongdoing.

The jury will now consider its verdict.

Case continues.