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As it happenedended

Manafort trial: Jury to deliberate after prosecutor accuses former Trump campaign manager of lying - as it happened

Paul Manafort denies all of the charges against him

Clark Mindock
New York
,Mythili Sampathkumar
Wednesday 15 August 2018 21:13 BST
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Manafort Trial Turns from Prosecution to Defense as Manafort's wife and attorneys arrive

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Closing arguments have concluded in the case against former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort, who is on trial on financial fraud charges.

The trial, in Alexandria, Virginia, is the first to arise from US Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation of Russia's meddling in the 2016 presidential election. But the charges involve tax and bank fraud, not possible collusion between Russia and Donald Trump's campaign for president.

Prosecutors called more than two dozen witnesses to the stand during their case since it started on 31 July, including Mr Manafort's long-time right-hand man, Rick Gates, who pleaded guilty to two charges and is cooperating with the government.

They also put 388 exhibits into evidence, including doctored financial statements, loan applications, tax documents, emails and photographs.

Mr Manafort's lawyers decided not to call any witnesses, and Mr Manafort himself will not testify in his own defence.

The defence have sought to portray Mr Gates as being at the centre of any fraud, saying Mr Manafort was merely too trusting.

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The judge has begun giving jurors  instructions, a process that can take as long as an hour and a half.

Kristin Hugo15 August 2018 21:24

During his instructions, the judge told jurors who are preparing to deliberate Mr Manafort's case that IRS audits are not required in order for an individual to be charged with tax crimes.

The judge told jurors that after Mr Manafort's lawyers noted during testimony that their client was never audited.

Kristin Hugo15 August 2018 22:47

The judge's instructions to the jury — a routine part of a trial — include telling them that "it is not my function to determine the facts. It is yours".

He also told them not to draw inferences from any time he may have rebuked lawyers on either side of the courtroom.

Kristin Hugo15 August 2018 22:49

That's a wrap on our coverage of day 12 of Paul Manafort's federal trial. We'll be back for more coverage once the jury reaches a verdict.

Thanks for reading, and spending this time with us!

Kristin Hugo15 August 2018 22:57

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