Hacking trial: Brooks cleared of charges, Coulson guilty
Source: BBC
Ex-News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has been cleared of all charges in the phone-hacking trial.
Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson was found guilty at the Old Bailey of conspiring to hack phones.
The jury found Mrs Brooks 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.
...
Ms Carter was cleared of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, as was Charlie Brooks and News International's former head of security Mark Hanna.
Read more: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27997688
I'm surprised at the not guilty verdicts for conspiracy to pervert the course of justice - it looked to me pretty sure they had done something to cover up evidence, even if it couldn't be shown what the evidence was.
davidpdx
(22,000 posts)dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)Our system is based on admissible evidence presented and not trial by media as seems to be the case in the US at times.
Kelvin Mace
(17,469 posts)and police who try their case in the media by leaking selective information to taint the jury pools. Then when they get the public worked up against the defendant to the point of a lynch mob, the DA "graciously" offers to cut a deal so they can score an easy conviction and advance their political careers. If you refuse the deal, may gawd have mercy on your soul, because the DA and police will pull out all the stops to convict you, regardless of the evidence.
Or at least, that is how it seems to me for those of us who cannot afford a top-notch lawyer. If you have enough money, almost anything, up to an including murder, is allowed.
1monster
(11,012 posts)Unfortunatley. And the Public Defenders play right along with the prosecutors, which is why so many mentally incompetent and developmentally delayed people are sitting in prisons with sentences far longer than those of people with more normal metal processing.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,082 posts)"I am extremely sorry I employed him. It was the wrong decision," he said.
"I gave someone a second chance and it turned out to be a bad decision."
...
Asked what checks he had made before employing Coulson, he said: "I asked him questions, if he knew about phone hacking, and he said he didn't and I accepted those assurances and I gave him the job.
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-27998411
Trying to spin it as being nice and trusting, and hoping he can 'draw a line under it', I think.
muriel_volestrangler
(101,082 posts)billhicks76
(5,082 posts)I wonder who she had to bribe to get it.
dipsydoodle
(42,239 posts)24601
(3,938 posts)as the prosecutors' cheering section.
To side with the state, take a right turn and go down the hall.