Andy Coulson Found Guilty of Hacking Phones; Rebekah Brooks Acquitted

Former News of the World tabloid editor Andy Coulson was found guilty on one charge of conspiring to hack phones, accused of simply entering in passwords on mobile phones to listen to voice messages  The charge has a two-year maximum sentence.

Meanwhile, Rebekah Brooks, former Sun and News of the World newspaper editor, was acquitted alongside her husband and former staff members. Brooks was originally charged with conspiracy to hack phones, conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, and conspiracy to corrupt public officials.

Brooks’ husband, Charlie Brooks, avoided being found guilty for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, accused of hiding a laptop from police authorities.

Once the best-selling newspapers in England, things unraveled after accusations that News of the World hacked voicemails of Milly Dowler, a 13-year-old girl murdered in 2002.

Meanwhile, here is what Boris Johnson, London Mayor, said regarding the case:

“Phone hacking was, and is, a disgraceful method of journalism, and it is right that the culprits should pay a heavy price for their behavior. The scandal gave way to one of the biggest police investigations in Scotland Yard’s history.”

The trial took eight months and reportedly cost upwards of £100 million, becoming one of the most expensive legal cases in British history.

Thank you to Telegraph for providing us with this information

Image courtesy of Huffington Post