Doubts cast over Higgins video

Jul 7 2010 by Richard Mooney, Wishaw Press

A JOURNALIST investigating the News of the World video sting on Wishaw Wizard John Higgins has said the national newspaper “cut and pasted” sections of the film which “misrepresented events.”

Higgins, and manager Pat Mooney, were suspended from the sport in May after the Sunday newspaper reported the snooker ace had allegedly agreed to throw frames for money. Undercover reporters filmed the pair on camera.

Nick Harris of website sportingintelligence.com, reported that a forensic musicologist’s analysis of the video suggests some of the audio was “manipulated and rearranged.”

Harris claims there are “multiple examples” where words “attributed to speakers in the subtitles were wrongly transcribed, or not actually said at all.”

The investigative journalist also writes there are “anomalies in the film” including the end section where Higgins and Mooney, and the two NoTW reporters toast each other with vodka. Harris states that they toast “next to a table laid out differently to a table featured only seconds before in scenes supposedly from the same meeting.”

Former Metropolitan Police Chief David Douglas headed World Snooker’s investigation into the allegations, but, according to Harris, was not able to get the unedited and original video footage because the NoTW have to protect identities.

The investigation into match fixing allegations surrounding John Higgins has been passed onto an independent body.

World Snooker have referred their investigation to Sports Resolution UK – a dispute resolution service for sport.

The World Professional Billiards and Snooker Association said this move will bring a “fair conclusion”.

A spokesperson for News of the World wouldn’t comment until the outcome of the tribunal.