UK phone hacking: Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson charged
This article was written by Our reporter on 24 July, at 18 : 51 PM Print
Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson are among eight people being charged in connection with allegations of phone hacking at the News of the World in the United Kingdom.
Crown Prosecution Service legal adviser Alison Levitt told reporters there was sufficient evidence to consider charges against eight suspects answering bail today.
Alongside former News International chief executive Mrs Brooks and ex-News of the World editor Mr Coulson, also formerly director of communications for prime minister David Cameron, are Stuart Kuttner, Glenn Mulcaire, Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck and James Weatherup.
With the exception of Mr Mulcaire, all have been charged with conspiring to intercept communications, namely voicemails, without lawful authority between October 3 2000 and August 9 2006.
The UK Metropolitan police’s phone hacking investigation Operation Weeting had passed on 13 files to prosecutors, with three unnamed individuals today exonerated.
Ms Levitt told reporters the CPS was considering charges against two other people.
All eight suspects are due to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court on August 16.
Mrs Brooks faces two additional charges of conspiracy to unlawfully intercept communications relating to the voicemails of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and Andrew Gilchrist.
Mr Coulson will face four additional charges relating to Ms Dowler, former Labour home secretaries David Blunkett and Charles Clarke, as well as Calum Best.
