This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-26272727
The article has changed 14 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Phone-hacking trial: Rebekah Brooks begins her evidence | Phone-hacking trial: Rebekah Brooks begins her evidence |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks is giving evidence for the first time at the phone-hacking trial. | Former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks is giving evidence for the first time at the phone-hacking trial. |
| Earlier, she was formally cleared of one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. She denies four other charges. | Earlier, she was formally cleared of one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. She denies four other charges. |
| The judge directed the jury to acquit her of a charge that she authorised a Sun reporter to pay for a picture of Prince William in a bikini. | The judge directed the jury to acquit her of a charge that she authorised a Sun reporter to pay for a picture of Prince William in a bikini. |
| Mrs Brooks is one of seven defendants on trial at the Old Bailey. | Mrs Brooks is one of seven defendants on trial at the Old Bailey. |
| So far in her evidence she has spoken about her early career in journalism, including work experience at the Warrington Guardian at the age of 14. | So far in her evidence she has spoken about her early career in journalism, including work experience at the Warrington Guardian at the age of 14. |
| She said the idea of becoming a journalist "probably stemmed" from her grandmother, who wrote a poetry column for her local paper. | |
| Her first job was at the Post, which she said proved to be a "short-lived" publication. | |
| In April 1989, she got a job as a features researcher at the News of the World's Sunday magazine, before being promoted to feature writer in September that year, she said. | |
| Mrs Brooks told the court she moved to the News of the World's features department in 1992, and became deputy features editor in 1994. | |
| She became aware early on of the importance of having good contacts, she said. | |
| Prince picture | Prince picture |
| Mr Justice Saunders said there was "no case to answer" on the count relating to Prince William. | Mr Justice Saunders said there was "no case to answer" on the count relating to Prince William. |
| "Whether or not there is a case to answer is for me to decide on a matter of law," he said. | "Whether or not there is a case to answer is for me to decide on a matter of law," he said. |
| In that count, Mrs Brooks was accused of authorising a reporter to pay a serving member of the armed forces £4,000 for a picture of Prince William dressed in a bikini at a fancy dress party at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. | In that count, Mrs Brooks was accused of authorising a reporter to pay a serving member of the armed forces £4,000 for a picture of Prince William dressed in a bikini at a fancy dress party at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst. |
| Mrs Brooks, 45, still faces two charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, one of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and one of conspiracy to hack voicemail messages - all of which she denies. | Mrs Brooks, 45, still faces two charges of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, one of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and one of conspiracy to hack voicemail messages - all of which she denies. |
| Making an opening statement for Mrs Brooks, her lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw QC said jurors might have found the trial hard to follow so far. | Making an opening statement for Mrs Brooks, her lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw QC said jurors might have found the trial hard to follow so far. |
| He said "on occasions absolutely critical information was overlooked or left out" by the prosecution. | He said "on occasions absolutely critical information was overlooked or left out" by the prosecution. |
| And he told the jury that at the end of the trial, he would "have a lot more to say" about Mrs Brooks's treatment by the prosecution and the police. | And he told the jury that at the end of the trial, he would "have a lot more to say" about Mrs Brooks's treatment by the prosecution and the police. |
| Mr Laidlaw reminded the jury that Mrs Brooks was not "on trial for having worked for Rupert Murdoch's company", or for being the editor of a tabloid newspaper. | Mr Laidlaw reminded the jury that Mrs Brooks was not "on trial for having worked for Rupert Murdoch's company", or for being the editor of a tabloid newspaper. |
| All seven defendants deny the various charges against them. | All seven defendants deny the various charges against them. |