Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson to appear at phone hacking trial at Old Bailey
Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, the former head of communications for Number 10 and editor of the News of the World, will appear at the Old Bailey today for the start of the phone hacking trial.
The pair will appear in court, alongside six others, to face charges in relation to phone hacking practices that took place within News UK (then News International), and their knowledge of the actions of several journalists who have been charged with accessing voicemails between October 3 2000 and August 9 2006.
Charges include conspiracy to intercept communications in the course of transmission, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.
The allegations led to the parent organisation of the News of the World, which at the time held the largest circulation figures of a Sunday newspaper, to suddenly close the newspaper two years ago in an effort to safeguard the reputation of its sister titles.
The Drum will be delivering a blog throughout the trial, beginning today, with full daily coverage and social media updates from James Doleman, who received acclaim in Scotland for his blog on the Tommy Sheridan perjury trial in 2010.
Following the end of this trial, another into the payment of public officials by journalists will begin, involving the evidence collected by Operation Elveden, while a third around an investigation run by Met Police into allegations over the attempted cover up of phone hacking, is also scheduled.
Chris Boffey, a former news editor of the Observer, Sunday Telegraph and the Daily Mirror, offered his view on the impending trial last week to The Drum.
The Drum will be delivering a blog through-out the trial, beginning today.