Rebekah Brooks acquitted of committing misconduct in public office charge
Former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks has been acquitted of one charge of misconduct in a public office relating to allegations that she authorised a payment to acquire a picture of Prince William dressed in a bikini.
Trial: Rebekah Brooks is still facing other charges
Judge Mr Justice Saunders instructed the jury at the trial in the Old Bailey to acquit Brooks due to a lack of evidence. However, Brooks is still on trial for four other counts; one of conspiring to hack phones, two of perverting the course of justice, and one of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office.
Brooks is said to have stood up and smiled as the not guilty verdict was recorded. The charge alleged that Brooks authorised a £4,000 payment to a public official for a picture of Prince William dressed as a Bond girl at a Sandhurst party, wearing a bikini.
Brooks was sworn into the witness stand on Thursday morning and is the first of the seven defendants to defend her case. She has been on trial since October alongside Andy Coulson, Stuart Kuttner, Clive Goodman, Cheryl Carter, Mark Hanna and Charlie Brooks.
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