John Terry Race Trial: Final Speeches Made

The final speeches from the defence and prosecution are being made in John Terry's trial over claims he used a racially abusive insult.

The 31-year-old is accused of accused of calling QPR player Anton Ferdinand a "f****** black c***" during a Premier League game on October 23 last year.

He denies a racially aggravated public order offence, and claims that he was sarcastically repeating the slur that Ferdinand mistakenly thought he had used.

On Wednesday, England and Chelsea team mate Ashley Cole said Terry should not have been brought to court over the claims.

Cole, also 31, told Westminster Magistrates' Court: "I think we shouldn't be sitting here."

He said while racism should never be tolerated, repeating what you thought someone said was "completely different".

Cole said: "If I repeated something that I thought you said, that's totally different than if someone just says something."

The court was read a statement from former Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho, who denied Terry was racist.

Several players - including Frank Lampard, Fernando Torres and Petr Cech - had signed copies of a prepared statement that said: "I have never heard John Terry use any form of racist language and have never heard any suggestion that he may have done so."

It is expected that prosecution and defence counsel will give their closing speeches today, and Chief Magistrate Howard Riddle will give his verdict tomorrow afternoon.