Phone-hacking suspects 'could use inquiry to sabotage cases'

The Metropolitan police and the Crown Prosecution Service fear suspects in the phone-hacking criminal investigation could try to sabotage prosecutions, it has emerged.

The concerns arise because Lord Justice Leveson will start hearing evidence into his phone-hacking inquiry next month, before any criminal trials have taken place and, most likely, before charges have been brought.

In a submission to the Leveson inquiry, the Met and CPS said: "It is inevitable that this inquiry will touch on areas that may … impact on any subsequent trial. We are anxious that nothing should be said or done that might jeopardise either the investigation or trial."

Police and the CPS fear that any person who is later charged could claim the Leveson inquiry put them in such an impossible position that it breached their right to a fair trial.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2011/oct/26/phone-hacking-suspects-leveson-inquiry