Hacking trial: ‘I’m extremely sorry’, says PM David Cameron

David Cameron says he is “extremely sorry” that he employed Andy Coulson as his director of communications.

 

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson who later went on to become director of communications for the prime minister has been found guilty of conspiracy to hack phones, while his predecessor Rebekah Brooks was cleared of all charges in the phone-hacking trial.

In one of UK’s largest case of phone hacking enquiry, Royals, celebrities and victims of crime were among those whose phones were hacked by the News of the World. It was not until 2011 during the Milly Dowler’s murder investigation that it emerged that her phone voicemails have been hacked into. It came to light then that the News of the World  had hacked into her phone. The newspaper giant was then closed down by its parent company News International a Rupert Murdock’s empire.

2 years ago, Rebekah Brooks was captured here admitting to them paying the police for information before Andy Coulson silences her.

Then, a youtuber had predicted –

Tom Raftery

They own the police and the politicians, all the way to the top. It will be fascinating to see if there are any significant prosecutions (apart from a few scapegoats).
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Tom Raftery

Hopefully – though I don’t see Brooks being prosecuted. That’s too close to Murdoch. Coulson is toxic at this point – let him take the fall will be the attitude, I suspect.
More and more people have taken to social media to express their disbelief of the verdict .
John Taylor wrote on Facebook  “Rebekah Brooks must be the only newspaper editor ever who never knew where her papers stories were coming from yeah ok pull the other one utter nonsense”.
Karen Lincoln wrote also on Facebook – “Brooks not guilty? Oh do me a favour and tell me how a jury managed to come to that conclusion.”

However, The verdicts reads:

  • Andy Coulson was found guilty of a charge of conspiracy to intercept voicemails
  • Mrs Brooks was found not guilty of conspiracy to hack voicemails, two counts of conspiracy to pay public officials and two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
  • Former News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner was found not guilty of conspiring to hack voicemails
  • Cheryl Carter, Charlie Brooks and News International’s former head of security Mark Hanna were cleared of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice

 

PM David Cameron says sorry