Brooks and Coulson among eight charged over phone hacking
Rebekah Brooks and David Cameron’s former communications adviser Andy Coulson are to be charged following an investigation into phone hacking at News International.
Those being charged as part of Operation Weeting are journalists: Rebekah Brooks, Andy Coulson, former News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck, assistant editor Ian Edmonson, ex-news editor Greg Miskiw, former assistant news editor James Weatherup and the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.
Coulson, Brooks, Kuttner, Miskiw and Thurlbeck all face charges relating to the hacking of Milly Dowler’s mobile phone. All with the exception of Glenn Mulcaire are being charged with conspiring to intercept communications without authority, accessing voicemail messages of well-known people and those associated with them.
Mrs Brooks and her husband have already been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Operation Weeting continues, as does a parallel investigation – Operation Elveden – into alleged corrupt payments to officials, and Operation Tuleta, which focuses on allegations of computer hacking and privacy infringement.
Political Editor Gary Gibbon considers if News International may face corporate charges
Non-journalists arrested include Ms Brooks’ chauffeur and personal assistant, both of whom have also been charged.
In a statement, Rebekah Brooks said: “I am not guilty of these charges. I did not authorise, nor was I aware of, phone hacking under my editorship.
“I am distressed and angry that the CPS have reached this decision when they knew all the facts and were in a position to stop the case at this stage.
“The charge concerning Milly Dowler is particularly upsetting not only as it is untrue but also because I have spent my journalistic career campaigning for victims of crime. I will vigorously defend these allegations.”
Neville Thurlbeck has also defended himself in relation to the charges. In a statement he said: “Following today’s announcement that I am to be charged in relation to Operation Weeting, I am most surprised and disappointed in the outcome.
“I have always operated under the strict guidance and advice of News International’s lawyers and under the instructions of the newspaper’s editors which will be abundantly clear when this matter comes to court. I will vigorously fight to clear my reputation.”
David Cameron’s former spin doctor Andy Coulson today said that he never had done anything to harm the Milly Dowler investigation and would “fight these allegations”.
Delia Smith
Charge: That Glenn Mulcaire and Greg Miskiw, between the 28 February 2005 and the 12 March 2005 conspired together and with persons unknown to intercept communications namely the voicemail messages of Delia Smith and of persons associated with Delia Smith, including Michael Wynn-Jones and Ian Christmas.
Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie
Charge: That Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup, between 5 July 2005 and 4 May 2006, conspired together, and with Glenn Mulcaire and persons unknown, to intercept communications namely the voicemail messages of persons associated with Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, who included Eunice Huthart.
Andy Gilchrist (former general secretary of the FBU)
Charge: That Rebekah Brooks, Glenn Mulcaire and Greg Miskiw, between 3 December 2002 and 22 January 2003, conspired together and with persons unknown, to intercept communications namely the voicemail messages of Andrew Gilchrist.