Phone-hacking trial: Rebekah Brooks' mother is called as a witness
Charlie and Rebekah Brooks
Court resumed this morning to hear witnesses called by defendant Rebekah Brooks in her defence on charges of conspiracy to illegally intercept voicemails, pervert the course of justice and commit misconduct in a public office. The first witness called was Annette Witheridge, a New York-based freelance journalist.
The witness was then shown a News of the World article from June 2002 headlined "War of the Rings" about an argument between Paul McCartney and his then fiancée Heather Mills which led to an engagement ring being thrown out of a window in a Miami hotel room. Jonathan Laidlaw QC told the witness that there had been suggestions made in court that this story had been sourced via convicted phone hacker Glenn Mulcaire and asked Witheridge how she came to write the article. The journalist told the jury that she had received a call from a night editor at the News of the World who told her they had received a tip-off from a man whose wife worked as a hairdresser at the hotel. As a result Witheridge flew to Florida to meet the contact. Laidlaw asked the witness the the name of the source but she was unable to remember. Judge Saunders then reminded the defence QC that journalistic sources are protected and the witness did not need to name him if she chose. "I just don't remember," Witheridge said.
The witness told the court that she met the contact at "The Cheesecake factory" and they told her the ring incident was the "talk of the hotel". She then went there and spoke to a number of the staff, including a security guard who told her he had been under the window when the ring had, allegedly, been thrown out of it. She also met with the hotel manager who had arranged for the ring to be flown back to London. She then sent the story back to London. For her work Witheridge was paid $800 and around $2,500 in expenses. The court was then shown accounting records from the News of the World showing a payment to "Big Apple news" which the witness confirmed was her company.
Andrew Edis QC, for the prosecution, then rose to cross-examine the witness. He asked about another payment related to the story to a Samantha Eddery. The witness said she had no knowledge of who that was. The prosecution barrister asked Witheridge what she could recall about the original conversation with the night editor, "It was 12 years ago," the journalist said and her memory was not very precise. She told the court she could not remember the name of the night editor. Edis asked what the witness could tell the court about why an American would call a British newspaper with a story. Witheridge replied that she believed the source had called the National Enquirer in America and been advised that it was not interested in the story but the British press might be. As no other barrister had any questions the witness was allowed to leave the stand.
The final witness called in Brooks' defence was her mother, Deborah Weir. Jonathan Laidlaw QC told the witness he was not going to ask her any questions about her daughter or how she felt about the current trial. The witness was given a document of text messages between Brooks and her mother from July 2011, the month the former News of the World editor was first arrested. The witness told the court that she drove down to London from her farm in Cheshire on 9 July that year, after the Guardian newspaper had published a story that murdered teenager Milly Dowler had her voicemail messages hacked by a private detective working for the News of the World.
Brooks' defence lawyer then asked about events on Sunday 10 July. Weir told the court that her daughter and Charlie Brooks left their Oxfordshire home, Jubilee Barn, early in the morning to meet James Murdoch. At lunchtime, the witness told the court, Brooks' then personal assistant Cheryl Carter, and her husband Geoff, joined her for lunch. The witness told the court that she was sure Carter did not bring any boxes or documents. "If they had I would have known," Weir told the jury. The next day, Monday 11 July, the witness returned to Cheshire. While she was driving home Brooks sent a text message to her mother saying "don't read the papers please".
The defence QC then moved on to the next weekend, when Weir again came down to Oxfordshire to be with her daughter. Laidlaw reminded the witness that Brooks had resigned from her role as News International CEO on 14 July. "I didn't want her to resign," Weir said, and told the jury she was shocked when she heard the news. "I knew how upset she would be about leaving the paper," the witness added. On the Saturday, Weir said, Brooks was at another Oxfordshire property, Entstone Manor, and she was unable to visit as she was told her daughter was "too busy to see her". Weir told the jury that she thought Jeremy Clarkson may have came to see her. On Sunday 17 July she drove to Entstone Manor and had breakfast with her daughter. Brooks then left to go to London and Weir then drove back to Jubilee Barn following a car driven by Mark Hanna, News International's head of security.
William Clegg QC, for Mark Hanna, rose to question the witness. He asked the witness to confirm that his client had been at Entstone Manor farm on the Sunday. Weir confirmed he was and he had "cooked the bacon" for breakfast and confirmed that she had followed his client back to Jubilee Barn. The witness told the court Hanna had only come as far as the security gate before driving off. "No-one came to the building, only myself," she said.
Andrew Edis QC, for the prosecution, then questioned the witness. He began by asking about the weekend of 10 July. The prosecution barrister asked if anyone else was with her on the Saturday. Weir said she was often joined by her friend Hazel but she was not there that day. "It was two and a half years ago and I've not really thought about it," she said. Edis then moved on to the Sunday and Cheryl Carter's visit. "Had she ever came to the farm before," he asked. The witness replied that she was not sure but didn't think so. Edis asked if there was anyone else at the lunch. Weir said she did not think so though there may have been people coming and going.
The witness was then shown an email, extracted from Rebekah Brooks phone by the police, in which Carter emails Brooks, "Having lunch with Cheryl and Hazel." "She must have been there then" Weir said. Edis asked if Carter "had brought anything for Rebekah" "No" the witness said, "how do you know" Edis asked "I would have to have let her in" the witness responded.
The prosecution barrister then moved on to the next Sunday when she visited her daughter at Entstone manor farm. Edis asked if she had been there before and the witness said she had. "You knew the area well," Edis suggested. "Not really," Weir said. Edis asked the witness that as she was farmer she would be used to driving in the country and following directions why would she have to follow Charlie Brooks to Entstone, "It's not easy to find," Weir replied. Edis then moved on to the return journey and asked the witness "you knew where Jubilee barn was?". Weir replied she was in a hurry as she was expecting the police to come and search the house. "I don't think you understand how am I feeling. My daughter was being taken to a police station, I was upset, I think any mother would understand," the witness said. "I can't believe you are asking me these questions. It was two and a half years ago." Judge Saunders then intervened and reminded the witness to answer the questions.
The prosecution barrister asked the witness if she recalled another car following her and the car Hanna was driving. Weir said she could not recall. "I just followed Mark," she said. Edis then asked the witness "Who told you the police were coming at ten o'clock?" Weir said it might have been Charlie Brooks or a solicitor. The prosecutor asked Weir if she saw what Hanna did at Jubilee barn. "He was sitting in his car," the witness replied, but she did not have a clear memory of the event. As there were no further questions the witness was allowed to leave the stand.
The court was then told that Weir was the last witness Brooks would be calling in her defence. The jury was then read a series of "admissions" which are facts in the case relating to the charges that are agreed by all parties such as the source of newspaper articles and address and telephone details of the defendant and people associated with her.
The jury was then read three witness statements relating to Rebekah Brooks' character. The first was from Claire Formby, the founder of an online fashion brand. Hornby's statement said she was a long-term friend of Brooks and went on to say that the defendant had "great family values". Two other statements read were from Peter Greengross, a doctor at a London hospital and Francie Clarkson, the wife of Jeremy Clarkson.
The defence then rested its case and the court rose for lunch.