David Cameron’s former director of communications facing jail as former News of the World editor walks free
Former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks has walked free from the Old Bailey after she was found not guilty of all charges related to the phone-hacking trial.
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.
She was overcome by emotion on hearing the verdicts and was taken away by the court matron.
Mrs Brooks' fellow editor and former No 10 spin doctor Andy Coulson was found guilty of plotting to hack phones while he worked at the News of the World.
Coulson, who was forced to resign as Prime Minister David Cameron’s director of communications over the scandal, now faces the possibility of jail following the high-profile trial.
Retired managing editor Stuart Kuttner was also cleared of being part of a conspiracy dating back to 2000 and spanning six years.
Brooks’s former personal assistant Cheryl Carter was cleared of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. Brooks’s husband Charlie and NI director of security Mark Hanna were also cleared of perverting the course of justice.
The jury is still considering further charges against Coulson and former NotW royal editor Clive Goodman of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying police officers for two royal directories.
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