A JUDGE trying the father of German tennis star Steffi Graf for tax evasion said yesterday he expected to give his verdict next month. Judge Joachim Plass said that he expected to conclude the hearing of evidence on January 7th, and that the following sessions would be given over to the final prosecution and defence statements.

Peter Graf, 58, is accused along with family tax adviser Joachim Eckardt of evading 19 million marks (£12.2 million) of tax on the world tennis number one's earnings between 1989 and 1993.