Andy Coulson, the prime minister’s former spin doctor, has been found guilty at the phone-hacking trial while his former colleague Rebekah Brooks was cleared of all charges.
The former News of the World editor was convicted on the 138th day of the Old Bailey trial, while ex-News International chief executive Mrs Brooks was cleared of all charges, BBC reported. An emotional Mrs Brooks had to be taken away by the court matron on hearing the verdicts.
She and Mr Coulson were among seven defendants on trial.
Mrs Brooks was found not guilty of conspiracy to hack voicemails, two counts of conspiracy to pay public officials and two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
BBC political correspondent Robin Brant was in court as the verdicts were read out on the 138th day of the trial. He said Coulson stood with his hands behind his back and showed no emotion as the verdict was returned.
Mrs Brooks appeared to mouth “thank you” to the jury and also held the hand of her former personal assistant Cheryl Carter, who looked close to tears.
Charlie Brooks, the husband of the former News International chief executive, also showed “virtually no emotion”. There was silence in court on instruction of the judge as the verdicts were delivered by the jury forewoman. Some 70 people were present in the room at the time.
The verdicts:
- Mrs Brooks was found not guilty of conspiracy to hack voicemails, two counts of conspiracy to pay public officials and two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice
- Andy Coulson was found guilty of a charge of conspiracy to intercept voicemails
- Former News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner was found not guilty of conspiring to hack voicemails
- Ms Carter, Charlie Brooks and News International’s former head of security Mark Hanna were cleared of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice