Phone-hacking trial: Kuttner describes police as 'hostile and suspicious'
Court resumed after lunch to hear the final part of evidence in chief from former News of the World managing editor, Stuart Kuttner, who is defending himself from a charge of conspiracy to illegally intercept voicemail communications while working at the now defunct tabloid.
Kuttner's counsel, Jonathan Caplan QC, asked his client about his history of ill health. Kuttner told the court that a heart attack had affected his vision and his memory, which was now "piecemeal", going on to say that he had forgotten many issues raised in the case including details of his contacts with the police over the disappearance of schoolgirl Milly Dowler. Since his arrest, the defendant said he had been interviewed by police seven times adding: "I might regret saying this, but the police had an attitude of extreme suspicion and extreme hostility."
Andy Coulson's QC, Timothy Langdale, then rose to cross-examine the witness. He asked Kuttner about his impression of Coulson as an editor. The defendant told the court that he had "never witnessed Coulson being a bully," adding that he was "the most hospitable editor I ever worked with". Kuttner was then asked about "paranoia" at the News of the World about leaks. The defendant told the court that as a Sunday paper had only one chance to publish a story, leaks could be "devastating" so there was a understandable concern over the issue.
The court was then shown an 2006 email, sent by a member of the News of the World's staff, to the defendant asking about "unbilled calls" made by a member of the paper's staff. Kuttner confirmed that there had been concerns about this member of staff passing information to people outside the organisation.
The defence barrister then asked the witness about his contacts with the police. Kuttner said that in general he would be the person who would liaise with them over issues such as the Milly Dowler disappearance and he could not recall Coulson being involved in any discussions over that case.
Kuttner was then asked about the significance of the £93,000 paid to phone hacker Glenn Mulcaire. The defendant agreed that significant stories could cost "six figure sums". The court was then shown a document listing sums paid to contributors. One football columnist received £165,000 a year, and another four writers received over £150,000. Judge Saunders asked that the people involved not be named as there were issues of "commercial confidentiality" involved.
The defence QC then asked Kuttner about his impression of fellow defendant, former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman. The witness agreed that Goodman confronted him with a blizzard of emails and could be prone to "embellishment". The former managing editor said that Coulson "indulged" Goodman and "could be a bit too soft on him". The court was shown an email from 1999 in which Kuttner complains about the paper having to pull a story about Prince Andrew as Goodman had produced inaccurate information after "adding up two and two and getting five". Further examples of emails criticising Goodman's performance were then brought into evidence and Kuttner agreed that there had been ongoing concerns about the quality of the stories the then royal editor brought to the paper and the number of cash payments he made to to secure them.
Kuttner told the court about "one of the most memorable moments of his career" was Clive Goodman claiming a cash payment for a contact over a story that had appeared in the Sunday People 12 weeks before. The defendant told the court that he had given Goodman two stories he had rejected as untrue: the first was that Prince Charles was going to marry Camilla, the second that Prince Harry had a girlfriend called Chelsea.
Court then took a short break
When proceedings resumed more emails from Kuttner to Goodman over who he should report to were brought into evidence. In one, after a long exchange, Kuttner asks the former royal editor to "bring an end to this reporting pantomime". The witness told the court that the issue was "a childish waste of time at a newspaper". "I'm sorry he is not here" the defendant added. "He is getting full reports," Judge Saunders said, "Good," Kuttner responded. Further emails from various members of staff critical of Goodman were then shown to the court. Langdale then thanked the witness and sat down.
Judge Saunders then told the court that as Goodman was not in court he was unable to instruct his barrister on how to cross-examine the witness so court would adjourn until tomorrow.
All of the defendants deny all of the charges, the trial continues.