Phone-hacking trial begins
October 28, 2013
Altogether eight defendants are facing a jury for the first time over the scandal that broke two years ago, rocking the very foundations of the British press world and establishment.
The defendants, who include Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, both former editors of the now defunct News of the World, have been charged with illegally accessing mobile phone voicemails of politicians, celebrities, as well as crime victims and ordinary people, in order to secure exclusive reports.
The other defendants, who face varying related charges, are Stuart Kuttner, long-time ex-managing editor at the News of the World, Ian Edmondson, the paper's ex-news editor, Clive Goodman, former royal editor at the paper, Cheryl Carter, Brook's personal assistant, Brooks's husband Charlie and Mark Hanna, News International's head of security.
They deny all charges.
Murder victim's voicemails
The scandal erupted in July 2011, when it was revealed that the News of the World had hacked the voicemails of Milly Dowler, a missing 13-year-old girl who was later found murdered. The furor led to media magnate Rupert Murdoch closing down the newspaper in disgrace in 2011.
The affair revealed close ties between Britain's press barons, police chiefs and senior politicians, and prompted a year-long inquiry into newspaper ethics led by judge Brian Leveson.
More than 125 people have been arrested and more than 40 charged with offenses connected with the scandal.
Complex trial
The involvement of Andy Coulson, who was media chief in the team of Prime Minister David Cameron from 2007 to 2011, meant that the scandal reached the highest level of British politics.
Coulson, who left the News of the World in 2007 to become Cameron's communications chief, resigned from the post in 2011, saying the issue had become a distraction for the government.
The trial was originally scheduled to last four months, but its complexity could mean it runs for six months.
The first day of the trial is likely to be taken up with jury selection and clarifiying the charges.
The prosecution's opening statement is not expected until later in the week.
Britain's newspaper industry is fighting the introduction of tough regulatory proposals in the wake of the Leveson Inquiry.
tj/ipj (Reuters, AFP)