Phone hacking: Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson face charges

24 July 2012 Last updated at 11:29



Phone hacking: Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson face charges

[You must be registered and logged in to see this image.] The revelation Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked led to the closure of the tabloid newspaper in 2011
Eight people will face a total of 19 charges relating to phone hacking, the Crown Prosecution Service has said.

They include the former News International chief executive, Rebekah Brooks, and the PM's ex-head of communications Andy Coulson.

Seven are charged with conspiring to intercept communications between 13 October 2001 and 9 August 2006.

The Met Police launched an inquiry after details of phone hacking at the News of the World emerged last year.

Mrs Brooks will face two charges - one relating to the alleged accessing of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone messages.

Mr Coulson is also accused in relation to allegedly hacking into Milly's phone, CPS legal adviser Alison Levitt QC said.

The revelation that the schoolgirl's phone had been hacked led to the closure of the tabloid newspaper in July last year.

The others facing charges are former NoW managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former assistant editor Ian Edmondson, former chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck, former assistant editor James Weatherup and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.

Ms Levitt said that 13 files had been passed to the CPS by the Metropolitan Police and she had decided that there was a "realistic prospect of conviction" in relation to eight of them.

All of the suspects apart from Mr Mulcaire will be charged with conspiring to intercept communications without lawful authority.

Prosecutors will allege that more than 600 people, including Hollywood actors Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, were victims of this offence.

The CPS said it would be taking no further action against five others.

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So this is another charge on top of the other charges for attempting to pevert the course of justice. Deary me.

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Phone hacking statement in full, plus a list of those charged and charges against them here........



[snipped]





The following statement was made by Alison Levitt QC, Principal Legal Advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions in relation to Operation Weeting, the investigation into the alleged hacking of phones:

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How the mighty have fallen! Indeed, they haven't been found guilty of any charges but they are now getting a taste of the misery they caused many people in their days at the helm of NoTW.

Everyone gets their comeuppance in the end!

Ross Hall, transcriber of the infamous "For Neville" email and now husband of Lori Campbell has been told he won't be charged as part of the phone-hacking investigation. One wonders if he cut a deal with Scotland Yard to sing like a canary in return for his "freedom".

How is it that these ultra-powerful people with all their connections can get charged with such serious crimes, and still the McCanns get away scot free? In fact only this morning I heard the whining Scouse voice on my radio (probably something to do with this story, although of course "their phones weren't hacked"). Let's hope one of these accused is able to shed some light on the Maddie affair in court.

Ashwarya wrote:How is it that these ultra-powerful people with all their connections can get charged with such serious crimes, and still the McCanns get away scot free? In fact only this morning I heard the whining Scouse voice on my radio (probably something to do with this story, although of course "their phones weren't hacked"). Let's hope one of these accused is able to shed some light on the Maddie affair in court.

Exactly my thoughts Ashwarya - and my sympathies for having to listen to that ghastly whining Scouse voice this morning. I expect she was pushing her bewk in our faces as much as anything else....

Leveson inquiry: Rebekah Brooks criticises Met police chief


Former News International chief says deputy assistant commissioner's testimony led to 'highly damaging' reporting

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• [You must be registered and logged in to see this link.], Wednesday 25 July 2012 18.22 BST
  

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Rebekah Brooks said she had no opportunity to deal with the issues at the time because she had not been granted core participant status. Photograph: Carl Court/AFP/Getty Images

Rebekah Brooks has launched an attack on the police chief in charge of the investigations into allegations of wrongdoing at the Sun and the News of the World.



The former chief executive of News International said the Leveson inquiry testimony of Metropolitan police deputy assistant commissioner Sue Akers in February involved unsubstantiated allegations and led to "highly damaging press reporting" in relation to Scotland Yard's ongoing investigations into phone hacking, corruption of public officials and computer hacking.



In a closing witness statement to the Leveson inquiry, Brooks also criticised the testimonies of three other witnesses, Brian Paddick, a former Scotland Yard deputy assistant commissioner, and former police officer and Crimewatch presenter Jacqui Hames. She has also criticised former News of the World colleague Paul McMullan.



Brooks invited the inquiry to conclude that these three witnesses either made assertions "for which there is little or no evidence", "gave evidence as to matters which are yet to be tested in court", or "appeared to be using the inquiry to settle old scores".



She said she had no opportunity to deal with the issues at the time because she had not been granted core participant status at the inquiry, which allowed advance sight of witness statements and the opportunity to have statements redacted or publicly challenged by counsel to the inquiry.



The former News International boss urged Lord Justice Leveson not to repeat such allegations made by these witnesses in his final report.



Brooks's statement was published the day after she learned she found out she is facing charges over phone hacking in addition to the charges of perverting the course of justice announced in May.



She went on to say that Akers's evidence "went well beyond the proper requirements of the inquiry. It was, in particular, untempered by caution of the care that should have been given in making accusations against those who might have explanations or defences, or where, as may often happen in criminal proceedings, the evidence is insufficient to prove the suspicion, or is inadmissable".



Brooks said Akers had delivered a view of the ongoing investigation "as if it was fact" and when "highly identifiable and high-profile suspects were the subject of active proceedings".



The former editor of the Sun also returned to the circumstances surrounding the revelations about Gordon Brown's son's cystic fibrosis. Brooks had told the inquiry when she testified that the newspaper ran a story in 2006 with the express permission of the Browns.



But Brown, when he appeared at the inquiry, claimed that was untrue. In her witness statement, Brooks said News International had information which it could not divulge to Brown and therefore the former prime minister had "reached a conclusion on the basis of less than the full picture, against a background of a plain grievance against News International because of the way that he perceives he was treated in connection with the 2010 general election".

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Rebekah Brooks has been formally charged today with phone hacking...............

8:31pm, Thu 2 Aug 2012

Rebekah Brooks formally charged with phone hacking

Last updated Thu 2 Aug 2012


Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks was formally charged with phone hacking today and will appear in court next month, Scotland Yard said.

Brooks, who is 44, answered bail at Lewisham police station tonight and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 3.

Six others journalists from the News of the World, including David Cameron's former spin doctor Andy Coulson, have been officially charged and will appear at the same court on August 16.

The seven stand accused of one general charge of alleged phone hacking between October 2000 and August 2006 that could affect as many as 600 victims.

Brooks, of Churchill, Oxford, and Coulson face specific charges of illegally accessing the voicemail of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler

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The price for 'forgetting' all she knew perhaps?

Sources told the newspaper "substantial" clawback clauses will entitle News International to recover some of the payment from Ms Brooks "in certain circumstances".

Meaning cover up money pay out conditional upon her silence.

Everyone has a price.

I hope she is convicted as that might invoke her to drag a few more big names down.

Wonder what she knows about so-vile and is she going to disclose the cover up?

aiyoyo wrote:

Sources told the newspaper "substantial" clawback clauses will entitle News International to recover some of the payment from Ms Brooks "in certain circumstances".

Meaning cover up money pay out conditional upon her silence.
Everyone has a price.
I hope she is convicted as that might invoke her to drag a few more big names down.
Wonder what she knows about so-vile and is she going to disclose the cover up?

It is no accident that press and politicians hold so much power. They have access to knowledge.

Yeap, but who was she protecting when she accepts the *silence* money?

If she were to sell her serialisation right to the Newspaper to tell all, in installments, plus if she were to write a few books (yes it would take at least a few volumes) she would make more than the payout, which begs the question why did she accept the pay out which isn't much if one takes into account in her handsome 7-figure annual salary and bonus for the ensuing unforeseeable years or until her retirement had she stayed in the job.

So the answer has to be: she was protecting herself, in that she can't expose anyone without being complicit in it.
It's not so much just knowledge that gives her power, but she was embroiled in the corruption deep up to her neck.

Sure more than a few people, including politicians, will be grateful or her silence no doubt.
She's a despicable woman. Even at this stage she's her self interest before all else.

The revelations about the size of Brooks's payoff are likely to be raised at the company's annual shareholder meeting at News Corp's Fox studios lot in Los Angeles. Some investors, such as the British group Hermes, are expected to vote against Rupert Murdoch remaining as chairman in the wake of the phone-hacking scandal, but the media tycoon controls 40% of the votes so he is unlikely to lose.

The Independent newspaper reported on Tuesday that private emails between David Cameron and Brooks were withheld from the Leveson inquiry into press standards.

A government lawyer advised the prime minister that the emails involved were not "relevant". They were said to reveal the close friendship between Cameron and Brooks and were described by sources as containing "embarrassing" exchanges.

A Downing Street spokesman said: "All the material the inquiry asked for was given to them."

It is understood that there was an agreement between No 10 and the Leveson inquiry that Cameron would provide all emails and texts relevant to the News International bid for broadcaster BSkyB, as Cameron set out in his witness statement to the inquiry. Government sources said this was accepted by the Leveson inquiry and some texts or emails handed to the inquiry by Cameron, deemed to be on the margin of this definition, were not published by Leveson.

No 10 is not challenging the newspaper's claim that Cameron had sought legal advice on the nature of the exchanges to be given to Leveson.

Cameron was making a mockery of Leveson Inquiry.
It defeats the purpose when the whole point of transparency of the Inquiry is breached by the very man who set it up to force transparency.

Rebekah Brooks trial over phone-hacking charges delayed
Former News International chief executive, Andy Coulson and six others will appear in court at end of October

The trial of former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has been delayed by seven weeks.
Brooks and seven other defendants, including her racehorse trainer husband, Charlie, and David Cameron's former head of communications Andy Coulson, were due to face phone-hacking charges in a three-month trial, starting 9 September.
The trial will now not start until 28 October after Mr Justice Saunders adjourned the case for legal reasons at a hearing in the Old Bailey. Those reasons cannot be reported.
The other defendants are Stuart Kuttner, a former managing editor of News of the World, Ian Edmondson, a former head of news on the now defunct tabloid, Cheryl Carter, Rebekah Brooks's former secretary, Mark Hanna, head of security for News International, and Clive Goodman, a former NoW royal correspondent.
Brooks faces five charges in relation to allegations of conspiracy to hack phones, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.
Coulson is facing three charges in relation to allegations of conspiring to hack phones and allegations over a conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office when he was NoW editor.
Brooks, Coulson and the other defendants have all denied the charges and pleaded not guilty.

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Another seven weekks to wait,  Legal reasons, I hope there hasn't been any comments made to stop the trail going ahead.

Hackgate: All Rise – Mr Justice Saunders At Southwark

9062013

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With the Mail speculating an alleged affair said to be political dynamite to No 10 and multiple News International appearances to answer charges at Southwark Crown Court, reporting (and non-reporting) of Hackgate was busy last week.  Defendants have understandably been the main focus of attention, whilst one person in the courtroom has largely escaped notice – the judge. The Honourable Mr. Justice Saunders, a.k.a. Sir John Henry Boulton Saunders, is handling pre-trial case management and may be the anticipated Hackgate replacement for newly-promoted Lord Justice Fulford.

Mr Justice Saunders was called to the Bar (Gray’s Inn) in 1972, and was appointed as a Queen’s Counsel in 1991. He was appointed as a Recorder in 1990, and became a Senior Circuit Judge and the Recorder of Birmingham in 2004. In 2007 he was appointed as a High Court Judge in the Queen’s Bench Division. Saunders was appointed as Presiding Judge on the South Eastern Circuit in January 2009, again replacing Fulford who was unable to take up the post due to his commitments at the International Criminal Court. (here)

As one of ‘London’s 1000 most Influential People 2011′, it was said that his “self-assured approach in the media spotlight means he is being increasingly trusted for major criminal cases.” (here)

Mr Justice Saunders has long experience as trial judge, such as high profile cases of corruption and misconduct in public office, including senior police officers.  The legal issues of public trust will stand him in good stead.

In 2006, Saunders jailed two corrupt police officers in Nottingham who passed data on serious enquiries to suspected criminals. The convictions were for ‘conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office’ and ‘conspiracy to pervert the course of justice’.  Saunders said their activities put the lives of vital witnesses and informants at risk, damaged the morale of the Nottinghamshire police force and undermined the trust placed in the police by members of the public. He added, “Corrupt police officers do untold damage to the criminal justice system.” (here)

More recently, Saunders was trial judge for cases in the Parliamentary expenses scandal. He “presided over three trials – those of Lords Taylor and Hanningfield, and former MP Jim Devine, and has sentenced others who pleaded guilty before their trials began – Elliot Morley, David Chaytor and Eric Illsley.”  He also proved fearless in publicly remonstrating with Gordon Brown, Nick Clegg and David Cameron for taking part in a “pre-election frenzy” which risked jeopardising the trials. (here)

Fortunately, Saunders J seems to value transparency through the frequent publication of his sentencing remarks. His reasoning in the case of Labour MP Jim Devine shows a keen awareness of concerns which may be relevant to Hackgate (p2 Sentencing Remarks, 31 March 2011):

By the time that Mr. Devine committed these offences the parliamentary expenses’ scandal was front page news. Disclosure of MP’s expenses claims had been ordered by the Information Commissioner and, although disclosure had not yet taken place, there had been regular leaks appearing in the press including one concerning Mr. Devine’s expenses claims. I, of course, ignore the content of that report, but it does mean that Mr. Devine made his false claims at a time when the papers were full of stories about MP’s claims for expenses and the public were already making clear the sense of outrage they felt. He made his false claims knowing full well just how wrong it was and the effect that false claims were having on the public’s belief and confidence in Parliament.

In another MP prosecution case, Saunders drew press criticism for a decision which took account of the defendant’s psychiatric reports. In the face of much adverse publicity, he adhered to his legal obligations in ruling she was “not fit mentally to defend herself…What the court has done and has to do is to act in accordance with the law of the land and on the basis of the evidence that it hears.” (here)

He has already undertaken a similar – and deft – handling in the case of a journalist previously charged under Operation Elveden, following “medical reports which had been sought by both the prosecution and defence.”  (here)

In Feb 2012, Mr Justice Saunders jailed a senior Metropolitan Police officer for three years for ‘misconduct in public office’ and ‘perverting the course of justice’. Commander Ali Dizaei had previously been described by the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) as a “criminal in uniform”.  (here)

In his sentencing remarks (here), Saunders told Dizaei:

You are a very senior officer. The breach of trust that the public has placed in you is the more serious because of your senior appointment. You have been a role model to many other people as a result of your achievements as a police officer.

Mr Justice Saunders was also trial judge for one of the cricket spot-fixing cases in 2011-12, that of Essex cricketer Mervyn Westfield.

[The more infamous spot-fixing trials under a different trial judge were those of Pakistan cricketers - exposed by a News of the World (NOTW) undercover sting by 'fake sheikh' Mazher Mahmood. One of the defendants (Aamer) pleaded guilty, but the jury was not told and reporting restrictions were imposed so as not to prejudice the trials of the others who had pleaded not guilty. (Daily Mail)  The Prime Minister's older brother, Alex Cameron QC, was involved in defending those accused (here).  Alex Cameron was at Eton with his friend Charlie Brooks and is Head of Chambers of Rebekah Brooks' Hackgate defence QC, Hugo Keith. (here) The chambers, Three Raymond Buildings, have responded (here) by denying this association is in any way inappropriate.]

Whilst these two spot-fixing trials were otherwise unconnected, the convictions went jointly to the Court of Appeal on the grounds of shared technical issues of law. Essex cricketer Mervyn Westfield had been sentenced by Justice Saunders to accepting corrupt payments, contrary to s.1(1) of the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906.  Saunders’ ruling was considered correct by the Court of Appeal and the appeal dismissed. (here)

[As an aside - whilst not relevant to the spot-fixing cases - the Prevention of Corruption Act 1906 has no public interest defence.]

In December 2012, Mr Justice Saunders was trial judge  in the case of R-v – Edward Devenney. It was a complex case involving the defendant attempting to give top secret material to another state whilst a serving Royal Navy officer. The intended recipients of the secrets were in fact security services agents in a sting operation (Sentencing Remarks)

The Defendant was in a position, by virtue of his job, to access top secret information that could be of use to another country. He had taken and downloaded onto his computer photographs of part of the Crypto code system to which he should not have had access… he had to obtain access to a locked safe. This suggests that he was prepared to take risks to obtain secret information and had the ability to get away with it.”  It is of note that the abuse of trust was regarded as extremely serious even though there was no actual harm done to national security, nor was it ever alleged that Devenney’s actions were motivated by financial gain: “The Court also has to mark the Defendant’s attempted betrayal of not only his country but also his colleagues who must feel great anger at his behaviour. Those who serve their country loyally must know that those who don’t will receive proper punishment.

Saunders’ profile clearly demonstrates his experience and familiarity with issues that will be central to Hackgate trials in the glare of press and media scrutiny.    His extensive trial experience is witness to his ability to deal with press, police and politicians without fear or favour.  In April 2013 he was appointed to the Sentencing Council, appointed by the Lord Chief Justice with the agreement of the Lord Chancellor. (here)  He will be serving on the Sentencing Council with other notable senior judiciary such as The Right Honourable Lord Justice Leveson and Surrey Police Chief Constable Lynne Owens.  (Council Members here)

At Southwark this week, Saunders showed empathy for public and press in a rare occurrence of a judge allowing standing room only in his courtroom. However, he has proved less sympathetic to anyone risking the breach of imposed reporting restrictions – or those perceived as jeopardising fair trial via social media.

In January 2011, during the trial of a member of the House of Lords, Mr Justice Saunders ordered Lord Alan Sugar to delete a tweet which he thought could prejudice a fair trial – Lord Sugar complied with Saunders’ ruling within 20 minutes. “When he learnt of the peer’s message, Mr Justice Saunders cleared the court and said ‘can someone contact Lord Sugar and get that removed’.  He also referred the matter to the Attorney General Dominic Grieve – who has the power to bring charges against individuals deemed to have harmed the judicial process. Mr Grieve decided to take no action on the matter.” (here)

Saunders said:

I reported the matter to the attorney general not for the purpose of taking any action against Lord Sugar but to investigate whether entries on Twitter sites of high profile figures relating to trials which were going to take place or were taking place posed a risk of prejudicing the fairness of a trial… And if so whether there were steps that could be taken to minimise that risk.

It was reported in the week that a celeb (can't remember who) had tweeted about the trial and  that it was hoped that the tweet would not jeopardise the proceedings.
Apparently the tweet was removed.

Thanks for posting all that information Tony, makes very interesting reading. Judge Saunders  "The Law is the Law"

Could this be the legal reason?

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Cherry Blossom wrote:Thanks for posting all that information Tony, makes very interesting reading. Judge Saunders  "The Law is the Law"

Could this be the legal reason?

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You might be right. Of course, any celebrity or well-known person can try the ruse of saying 'But I won't get a fair trial because of all the publicity'. No doubt there are numerous tweets, websites and blogs discussing the case - as we are doing - and the lawyers for Brooks, Coulson and the rest will 'milk' them for all they are worth to see if they could get the trial halted. So we have to be careful here also.

I always think it's a bit of an insult to 12 honest jury men and women, good and true, to suggest that some newspaper reports could 'prejudice' them - and jurors are always warned repeatedly by the trial judge only to rely on evidence they see and hear in court.

The trial of former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has been delayed by seven weeks.
Brooks and seven other defendants, including her racehorse trainer husband, Charlie, and David Cameron's former head of communications Andy Coulson, were due to face phone-hacking charges in a three-month trial, starting 9 September.
The trial will now not start until 28 October after Mr Justice Saunders adjourned the case for legal reasons at a hearing in the Old Bailey. Those reasons cannot be reported.

Perhaps THIS is the legal 'reason' that cannot be reported!

CONSERVATIVE Party Conference 2013 is being held in Manchester from Sunday 29th September to Wednesday 2nd October 2013.

I don't imagine Cameron's country supper 'mates' and Andy 'second chance' Coulson being on trial BEFORE and during his party's 'conference' would go down to well!

jeanmonroe wrote:The trial of former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has been delayed by seven weeks.
Brooks and seven other defendants, including her racehorse trainer husband, Charlie, and David Cameron's former head of communications Andy Coulson, were due to face phone-hacking charges in a three-month trial, starting 9 September.

The trial will now not start until 28 October after Mr Justice Saunders adjourned the case for legal reasons at a hearing in the Old Bailey. Those reasons cannot be reported.

Perhaps THIS is the legal 'reason' that cannot be reported!

CONSERVATIVE Party Conference 2013 is being held in Manchester from Sunday 29th September to Wednesday 2nd October 2013.

I don't imagine Cameron's country supper 'mates' and Andy 'second chance' Coulson being on trial BEFORE and during his party's 'conference' would go down to well!

Maybe Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson are calling David Cameron as a character witness!

He knows more about both of them than most...

lol

Tony Bennett wrote:

jeanmonroe wrote:The trial of former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has been delayed by seven weeks.
Brooks and seven other defendants, including her racehorse trainer husband, Charlie, and David Cameron's former head of communications Andy Coulson, were due to face phone-hacking charges in a three-month trial, starting 9 September.

The trial will now not start until 28 October after Mr Justice Saunders adjourned the case for legal reasons at a hearing in the Old Bailey. Those reasons cannot be reported.

Perhaps THIS is the legal 'reason' that cannot be reported!

CONSERVATIVE Party Conference 2013 is being held in Manchester from Sunday 29th September to Wednesday 2nd October 2013.

I don't imagine Cameron's country supper 'mates' and Andy 'second chance' Coulson being on trial BEFORE and during his party's 'conference' would go down to well!

Maybe Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson are calling David Cameron as a character witness!

He knows more about both of them than most...

lol

They KNOW a LOT more about HIM than most!
Perhaps Becca even gave him a 'SPECIAL' phone, ala Sara Payne, as a crimbo present,.......... many years ago.

Tony Bennett wrote:

jeanmonroe wrote:The trial of former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has been delayed by seven weeks.
Brooks and seven other defendants, including her racehorse trainer husband, Charlie, and David Cameron's former head of communications Andy Coulson, were due to face phone-hacking charges in a three-month trial, starting 9 September.

The trial will now not start until 28 October after Mr Justice Saunders adjourned the case for legal reasons at a hearing in the Old Bailey. Those reasons cannot be reported.

Perhaps THIS is the legal 'reason' that cannot be reported!

CONSERVATIVE Party Conference 2013 is being held in Manchester from Sunday 29th September to Wednesday 2nd October 2013.

I don't imagine Cameron's country supper 'mates' and Andy 'second chance' Coulson being on trial BEFORE and during his party's 'conference' would go down to well!

Maybe Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson are calling David Cameron as a character witness!

He knows more about both of them than most...

lol

Maybe worst, maybe the Defendants reveal DC knew about the hacking all along.

Anyhow, must be something unexpected and serious that the Defense lawyers filed that Court needs time to consider and/or verify.
Otherwise I cant see why the reason for the adjournment cannot be disclosed. It must be something where revelation of the reason could sub-judice the case.

Connecting justice


 

this week on tv news there has been little mention of phonehacking. We have had a succession of stories covering:

Peaches Geldof
Max Clifford's
Oscar Pistorious
A few "pings" from flight MH370
Hillsborough
Omagh Bombing

And finally

Nigel Evans

Almost nothing of nearly 5 days of phonehacking trial???