Phone hacking scandal: Brooks & Coulson charged

Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson and five other former News of the World journalists...

15:45 25 July 2012

Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson and five other former News of the World journalists, as well as private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, have all been formally charged over the phone hacking scandal.

 

Six of those eight (including those at the top Brooks and Coulson) will face charges of conspiracy in direct relation to the illegal interception of murdered teenager Milly Dowler's voicemail messages. 

 

The formal list of those charged is as follows:

 

• Rebekah Brooks ( Chief Executive Officer of News International from 2009 to 2011) 
• Andy Coulson (editor of the News of the World from 2003 until his resignation in 2007)
• Stuart Kuttner (former managing editor of the News of the World)
• Glenn Mulcaire (private detective)
• Greg Miskiw (former news editor)
• Ian Edmondson (former assistant editor: news)
• Neville Thurlbeck (former News of the World chief reporter)
• James Weatherup (ex-assistant news editor)

 

The scandal and investigation by the Leveson Inquiry has already resulted in the closure of Rupert Murdoch's shamed newspaper The News of the World and a widespread condemnation of media practices. 

 

All of those charged except Mulcaire will have to answer for a six-year plot to monitor private voicemail messages of hundreds of celebrities and officials including the likes of Paul McCartney, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, John Prescott, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Wayne Rooney, Jude Law, Delia Smith, Calum Best and David Blunkett.

 

Brooks issued a statement which read: "I am not guilty of these charges. I did not authorise, nor was I aware of, phone hacking under my editorship. I am distressed and angry that the CPS have reached this decision when they knew all the facts and were in a position to stop the case at this stage. 

 

"The charge concerning Milly Dowler is particularly upsetting not only as it is untrue but also because I have spent my journalistic career campaigning for victims of crime. I will vigorously defend these allegations."

 

Andy Coulson responded to the charges with a flat-out denial: "I am extremely disappointed by the CPS decision today. I will fight these allegations when they eventually get to court.

 

"I would like to say one thing today about the Milly Dowler allegation. Anyone who knows me, or who worked with me, would know that I wouldn't, and more importantly that I didn't, do anything to damage the Milly Dowler investigation.

 

"At the News of the World we worked on behalf of the victims of crime, particularly violent crime, and the idea that I would sit in my office dreaming up schemes to undermine investigations is simply untrue.

 

"That's all I've got to say today."

 

Private investigator Mulcaire released a statement after being charged: "I am extremely disappointed by today's decision given that in 2006 I was the subject of a comprehensive police investigation on this matter. I subsequently pleaded guilty and served the prison sentence imposed on me by the court.

 

"As far as I am aware the police did a thorough investigation at that time. I intend to contest these allegations strenuously."

 

Brooks and other staff members are also still under investigation for alleged corrupt payments to officials. 

 

Here is the full charge sheet from the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS):

 

CHARGE 1

 

Rebekah Brooks, Andrew Coulson, Stuart Kuttner, Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup, between the 3rd day of October 2000 and the 9th day of August 2006 conspired together, and with Glenn Mulcaire and Clive Goodman and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of well-known people and those associated with them, including but not limited to those whose names appear on schedule 1.

 

CHARGE 2

 

Rebekah Brooks, Andrew Coulson, Stuart Kuttner, Glenn Mulcaire, Greg Miskiw and Neville Thurlbeck, between the 9th day of April 2002 and the 21st day of April 2002, conspired together and with persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Amanda Dowler, also known as Milly Dowler.

 

CHARGE 3

 

Greg Miskiw and Neville Thurlbeck, between 13th day of May 2002 and the 29th day of June 2006, conspired together and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Sven-Goran Eriksson and persons associated with Sven-Goran Eriksson, including Faria Alam.

 

CHARGE 4

 

Greg Miskiw between the 22nd day of October 2002 and the 21st day of July 2006, conspired with Glenn Mulcaire and with persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Abigail Titmuss and John Leslie and those associated with Abigail Titmuss and John Leslie, including Matthew McGuiness..

 

CHARGE 5

 

Rebekah Brooks, Glenn Mulcaire and Greg Miskiw, between the 3rd day of December 2002 and the 22nd day of January 2003, conspired together and with persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Andrew Gilchrist.

 

CHARGE 6

 

Andrew Coulson, Stuart Kuttner, Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup, between the 1st day of January 2004 and the 29th day of July 2006, conspired together and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of persons associated with The Right Honourable David Blunkett MP, including some or all of the following: Kimberley Quinn, Sally King (nee Anderson), Andrew King, John Anderson and Jason Carey

 

CHARGE 7

 

Glenn Mulcaire and Greg Miskiw, between the 28th day of February 2005 and the 12th day of March 2005 conspired together and with persons unknown to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Delia Smith and of persons associated with Delia Smith, including Michael Wynn-Jones and Ian Christmas.

 

CHARGE 8

 

Andrew Coulson, Glenn Mulcaire, Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup, between the 6h day of April 2005 and the 22nd day of June 2005, conspired together and with persons unknown to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of persons associated with The Right Honourable Charles Clarke, who included either or both of the following: Hannah Pawlby and Lucy Pawlby.

 

CHARGE 9

 

Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson and James Weatherup between the 1st day of July 2005 and the 1st day of June 2006, conspired together, and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Jude Law and persons associated with Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Sienna Miller, who included some or all of the following: Jade Schmidt, Archie Keswick and Ben Jackson.

 

CHARGE 10

 

Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup, between the 5th day of July 2005 and the 4th day of May 2006, conspired together, and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of persons associated with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who included Eunice Huthart.

 

CHARGE 11

 

Ian Edmondson and Neville Thurlbeck, between the 9th day of January 2006 and the 6th day of May 2006, conspired together and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Mark Oaten.

 

CHARGE 12

 

Ian Edmondson and James Weatherup, between the 17th day of January 2006 and the 1st day of August 2006, conspired together, and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Wayne Rooney and persons associated with Wayne Rooney, who included either or both of the following: Laura Jane Rooney and Patricia Tierney.

 

CHARGE 13

 

Greg Miskiw, between the 17th day of January 2006 and 1st day of August 2006 conspired with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Wayne Rooney and persons associated with Wayne Rooney, who included either or both of the following: Laura Jane Rooney and Patricia Tierney

 

CHARGE 14

 

Andrew Coulson and Ian Edmondson, between the 23 March 2006 and the 21st day of May 2006, conspired together and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Calum Best.

 

CHARGE 15

 

Ian Edmondson and Neville Thurlbeck between the 2nd day of March 2006 and the 26th day of July 2006, conspired with Greg Mulcaire and with persons unknown to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of The Right Honourable Dame Tessa Jowell MP and David Mills

 

CHARGE 16

 

Ian Edmondson and James Weatherup, between the 24th day of April 2006 and the 22nd day of June 2006, conspired together and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of persons associated with The Right Honourable Lord Prescott, who included some or all of the following: Tracey Temple, Joan Hammell and Alan Schofield

 

CHARGE 17

 

Ian Edmondson, between the 25th day of April 2006 and the 15th day of May 2006, conspired with Glenn Mulcaire and with persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Professor John Tulloch and persons associated with Professor John Tulloch, who included some or all of the following: John Davies, Maire Messenger Davies and Janet Andrew.

 

CHARGE 18

 

Ian Edmondson, between the 25th day of April 2006 and the 1st day of June 2006, conspired with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Lord Fredrick Windsor.

 

CHARGE 19

 

Ian Edmondson and James Weatherup, between the 15th day of May 2006 and the 29th day of June 2006, conspired together and with Glenn Mulcaire and with persons unknown, to intercept communications in the course of their transmission, without lawful authority, namely the voicemail messages of Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, and of persons associated with Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills, including some or all of the following: Fiona Mills, Stuart Bell, Alan Edwards and Chris Terrill