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Andy Coulson 'do his phone' email was order to find NoW mole, jury told Andy Coulson 'do his phone' email was order to find NoW mole, jury told
(about 2 hours later)
An email from News of the World editor Andy Coulson to a senior journalist investigating George Best's son telling them to "do his phone" was an order to investigate a suspected mole on the paper, the Old Bailey has heard.An email from News of the World editor Andy Coulson to a senior journalist investigating George Best's son telling them to "do his phone" was an order to investigate a suspected mole on the paper, the Old Bailey has heard.
Coulson, News of the World editor between 2003 and early 2007, was asking his staff to check the mobile phone records of the then showbusiness columnist Rav Singh, who was friendly with Calum Best, and not to hack his phone as claimed by the prosecution, the jury in the hacking trial were told on Friday.Coulson, News of the World editor between 2003 and early 2007, was asking his staff to check the mobile phone records of the then showbusiness columnist Rav Singh, who was friendly with Calum Best, and not to hack his phone as claimed by the prosecution, the jury in the hacking trial were told on Friday.
In 2006, the paper was investigating Best, who was thought to be the father of a child of a woman, Lorna Hogan, he was seeing around the time of his father's memorial in March that year.In 2006, the paper was investigating Best, who was thought to be the father of a child of a woman, Lorna Hogan, he was seeing around the time of his father's memorial in March that year.
The News of the World wanted the story as an exclusive and was paying the woman a lot of money, but was worried that Best might "leak" the story to their competition, the court heard.The News of the World wanted the story as an exclusive and was paying the woman a lot of money, but was worried that Best might "leak" the story to their competition, the court heard.
During an email exchange one of Coulson's staff raised concerns about a possible mole, saying he had heard Best was "bragging I have close mates inside NoW".During an email exchange one of Coulson's staff raised concerns about a possible mole, saying he had heard Best was "bragging I have close mates inside NoW".
Timothy Langdale QC, for Coulson, told the jury that this led to suspicions about Singh. This was why Coulson had immediately responded to that email with the three words "Do his phone", the court was told.Timothy Langdale QC, for Coulson, told the jury that this led to suspicions about Singh. This was why Coulson had immediately responded to that email with the three words "Do his phone", the court was told.
Langdale also accused the police of failing to find a critical email that would have substantiated the defence's claim about Coulson's mole hunt.Langdale also accused the police of failing to find a critical email that would have substantiated the defence's claim about Coulson's mole hunt.
He said the police only unearthed the email five days before the hacking trial started on 28 October and only provided a disc containing the email to the defence team on the day that Best gave evidence on 13 November.He said the police only unearthed the email five days before the hacking trial started on 28 October and only provided a disc containing the email to the defence team on the day that Best gave evidence on 13 November.
Addressing the police officer responsible for the Best investigation, Langdale said: "It is clear from submissions by Mr Coulson in pre-trial hearing that Mr Coulson's case was 'do his phone' was not an instruction to hack Calum Best's phone but referred to checking the billing of another News of the World phone due to a suspected leak." Addressing the police officer responsible for the Best investigation, Langdale said: "It is clear from submissions by Mr Coulson in pre-trial hearing that Mr Coulson's case was [that] 'do his phone' was not an instruction to hack Calum Best's phone but referred to checking the billing of another News of the World phone due to a suspected leak."
Detective Sergeant John Massey, who had conducted the keyword search of News International's emails, apologised to the court for failing to find this particular one.Detective Sergeant John Massey, who had conducted the keyword search of News International's emails, apologised to the court for failing to find this particular one.
The email linked to the "do his phone" message was sent from a reporter to a newsdesk executive on the paper on 20 May 2006 and suggested that Best might have got inside information on the Hogan story.The email linked to the "do his phone" message was sent from a reporter to a newsdesk executive on the paper on 20 May 2006 and suggested that Best might have got inside information on the Hogan story.
In November the jury heard Best had texted Hogan after he discovered she was about to sell her story about her pregnancy, including a copy of a scan of the unborn baby, which she claimed was his. "How could you be so low to sell pictures of an unborn child," Best texted Hogan.In November the jury heard Best had texted Hogan after he discovered she was about to sell her story about her pregnancy, including a copy of a scan of the unborn baby, which she claimed was his. "How could you be so low to sell pictures of an unborn child," Best texted Hogan.
In the email read to the jury on Friday the News of the World reporter, Chris Tate, told his newsdesk he just had a call from Hogan claiming Best had texted her asking how could she be "so low" as to sell a scan of the unborn child to the paper. "She says he must have been alerted from within NoW and that she had a similar text before our other story on pregnancy."In the email read to the jury on Friday the News of the World reporter, Chris Tate, told his newsdesk he just had a call from Hogan claiming Best had texted her asking how could she be "so low" as to sell a scan of the unborn child to the paper. "She says he must have been alerted from within NoW and that she had a similar text before our other story on pregnancy."
Langdale said the original Metropolitan police investigation deemed this email irrelevant and it was not until a review of the evidence was taken that it was flagged up.Langdale said the original Metropolitan police investigation deemed this email irrelevant and it was not until a review of the evidence was taken that it was flagged up.
However, he told the jury that Coulson's legal team was only handed a disk containing this email on the day Best gave evidence. "It was only as Calum Best was leaving the witness box that the Crown Prosecution Service provided Mr Coulson's team with the password to get into that disk."However, he told the jury that Coulson's legal team was only handed a disk containing this email on the day Best gave evidence. "It was only as Calum Best was leaving the witness box that the Crown Prosecution Service provided Mr Coulson's team with the password to get into that disk."
Earlier the jury heard how the managing editor on the News of the World, Stuart Kuttner, had been emailed a computer file with Singh's phone records on 11 May 2006, listing 799 calls. The jury has heard that Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator who worked for the paper, hacked Singh's phone in March 2006, around the time Best was with Hogan.Earlier the jury heard how the managing editor on the News of the World, Stuart Kuttner, had been emailed a computer file with Singh's phone records on 11 May 2006, listing 799 calls. The jury has heard that Glenn Mulcaire, the private investigator who worked for the paper, hacked Singh's phone in March 2006, around the time Best was with Hogan.
Coulson has been charged with a conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages, which he denies.Coulson has been charged with a conspiracy to intercept voicemail messages, which he denies.
The trial continues.The trial continues.
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