Rebekah Vardy left the courtroom after Coleen Rooney's lawyer accused her of destroying evidence.
The wife of footballer Jamie Vardy, left the Royal Court of Justice with a laptop in her hand about half an hour after the hearing started. Mrs Rooney's lawyer, David Sherborne, accused Mrs Vardy, 40, of 'lying under oath' in his closing statement.
The High Court libel battle is expected to draw to a close today, as lawyers for each of the women set out their cases. Coleen and Wayne were not present as they missed the final day of the trial to jet off on holiday with their four sons.
READ MORE: Updates from 'Wagatha Christie' trial as Coleen sued for libel
Following the WAG's lawyers closing statements, the judge will reserve her ruling on the case to a later date. Mrs Rooney's lawyer David Sherborne QC gave his closing argument first and said the court “can and should conclude” the loss of WhatsApp messages between Rebekah Vardy and her agent Caroline Watt was "the result of deliberate deletion".
He said the evidence showed "Mrs Vardy deleted the WhatsApp chats and has lied on oath. There is only one reason for her having taken such a step. It was done to cover up incriminating evidence. Mrs Vardy deliberately deleted those messages to cover up the collusion between her and Ms Watt.''
Addressing Rebekah Vardy's credibility in the case, David Sherborne also said she had given "implausible, throwaway explanations," during her time in the witness box. He added: "These are the hallmarks of a witness whose evidence is ill considered and lacking in candour." Mr Sherborne later continued: "We say Mrs Vardy was a highly unreliable witness and her evidence should be treated with caution."
Vardy denies leaking stories to the media and is suing her fellow footballer's wife for libel, while Mrs Rooney is defending the claim on the basis her post was “substantially true”. It all started when Mrs Rooney accused Mrs Vardy of leaking "false stories" about her private life in October 2019 after carrying out a "sting operation".
Mrs Rooney said she had had her suspicions for years that someone was sharing stories with The S*n, and so laid a trap to try and catch the person out. Mrs Vardy has denied the accusation and said that several people had had access to her account. In return Mrs Vardy has s ued the fellow footballer's wife for damages for libel over the "untrue and unjustified defamatory attack".
Mrs Rooney is defending the claim on the basis of truth and public interest.
*Mrs Vardy later returned to court to sit in front of her lawyers.
Wagatha Christie Rebekah Vardy trial messages in full including 'I want paying'
Coleen Rooney and Rebekah Vardy's 'Wagatha Christie' trial paused by judge
