This article is from the source 'guardian' 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.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014/mar/18/andy-coulson-transcript-voicemail-prince-harry-phone-hacking-trial-now
The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 2 | Version 3 |
|---|---|
| Coulson saw transcript of voicemail left by Prince Harry, court told | Coulson saw transcript of voicemail left by Prince Harry, court told |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World, was shown a transcript of a hacked voicemail left on a royal aide's phone by Prince Harry, it has been claimed at the Old Bailey. | Andy Coulson, the former editor of the News of the World, was shown a transcript of a hacked voicemail left on a royal aide's phone by Prince Harry, it has been claimed at the Old Bailey. |
| The paper's former royal editor, Clive Goodman, told the court on Tuesday he had to show the transcript to Coulson and another member of the paper's editorial staff "so they could assess how strong the story was". | The paper's former royal editor, Clive Goodman, told the court on Tuesday he had to show the transcript to Coulson and another member of the paper's editorial staff "so they could assess how strong the story was". |
| Goodman said he discovered from a voicemail in December 2005 that Prince Harry had asked his private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former soldier, for help on an essay about the 1980 Iranian embassy siege while studying at Sandhurst military training academy. | Goodman said he discovered from a voicemail in December 2005 that Prince Harry had asked his private secretary, Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, a former soldier, for help on an essay about the 1980 Iranian embassy siege while studying at Sandhurst military training academy. |
| He added that the voicemail was originally played down the phone to him by the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire and that it was transcribed in the News of the World offices. | He added that the voicemail was originally played down the phone to him by the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire and that it was transcribed in the News of the World offices. |
| "It was a good story but you need to be able to convince people it's a good story. I had to show the transcript to the editor and to [another journalist who cannot be named for legal reasons]," said Goodman. | "It was a good story but you need to be able to convince people it's a good story. I had to show the transcript to the editor and to [another journalist who cannot be named for legal reasons]," said Goodman. |
| Coulson needed to see the transcript, Goodman claimed, so "they could assess for themselves just how strong the information was and make a story out of it." | Coulson needed to see the transcript, Goodman claimed, so "they could assess for themselves just how strong the information was and make a story out of it." |
| His counsel, David Spens QC, asked: "And did you do that?" Goodman replied: "Yes." | His counsel, David Spens QC, asked: "And did you do that?" Goodman replied: "Yes." |
| The jury was shown an email exchange from 8 December 2005 in which Goodman claims to a journalist on the paper that Coulson had "a full briefing" on the transcript. | The jury was shown an email exchange from 8 December 2005 in which Goodman claims to a journalist on the paper that Coulson had "a full briefing" on the transcript. |
| Goodman was asked by the journalist whether Coulson was "fully aware of the facts" in relation to the Harry story. | Goodman was asked by the journalist whether Coulson was "fully aware of the facts" in relation to the Harry story. |
| He replied: "Completely. He had a full briefing last night and his verdict was 'steam in'... ." | He replied: "Completely. He had a full briefing last night and his verdict was 'steam in'... ." |
| In an email to Coulson the following day, Goodman referred to the story and how he is going to "hit the private secretary tomorrow, then go toe to toe with Clarence House" and contact the Ministry of Defence. | In an email to Coulson the following day, Goodman referred to the story and how he is going to "hit the private secretary tomorrow, then go toe to toe with Clarence House" and contact the Ministry of Defence. |
| "As you know, it's 100% fact," Goodman told Coulson. Asked by his counsel, Spens, why he said it was 100% fact, Goodman said: "Because he had seen the transcript of the message." | "As you know, it's 100% fact," Goodman told Coulson. Asked by his counsel, Spens, why he said it was 100% fact, Goodman said: "Because he had seen the transcript of the message." |
| Goodman claimed he referred to Mulcaire's work in a series of emails he sent to Coulson. | Goodman claimed he referred to Mulcaire's work in a series of emails he sent to Coulson. |
| Earlier the jury heard that Coulson allegedly agreed to pay Mulcaire £500 after being approached by the paper's former royal editor with a proposal to monitor royal aides' phones. | |
| The jury was shown an email from Coulson to Goodman, dated 28 April 2006, querying a story about Prince Harry. Goodman replied that the story was from "the same source we had on a retainer. We absolutely know it to be true". | The jury was shown an email from Coulson to Goodman, dated 28 April 2006, querying a story about Prince Harry. Goodman replied that the story was from "the same source we had on a retainer. We absolutely know it to be true". |
| Spens asked Goodman why he told Coulson he knew the story about the prince to be true. "Because it was on a voicemail," he replied. | Spens asked Goodman why he told Coulson he knew the story about the prince to be true. "Because it was on a voicemail," he replied. |
| In another he told Coulson that the source of a story was "that fellow that used to be on the monthly retainer for us". He described the information he had as "rock solid". Asked by Spens if "'rock solid' means product of voicemail interception?", Goodman said: "Yes it is." | In another he told Coulson that the source of a story was "that fellow that used to be on the monthly retainer for us". He described the information he had as "rock solid". Asked by Spens if "'rock solid' means product of voicemail interception?", Goodman said: "Yes it is." |
| Earlier, he told the jury that a journalist on the paper, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been shown transcripts of voicemails to a royal aide in relation to an incident that happened at Prince Harry's passing out parade in April 2006. "Clearly he needed to know whether it was true" that Harry had been involved in the drunken incident, Goodman said. | Earlier, he told the jury that a journalist on the paper, who cannot be named for legal reasons, had been shown transcripts of voicemails to a royal aide in relation to an incident that happened at Prince Harry's passing out parade in April 2006. "Clearly he needed to know whether it was true" that Harry had been involved in the drunken incident, Goodman said. |
| The jury was shown an email from Goodman to an administrator on 12 April 2006 requesting cash payment for "Mr Alexander" be made as soon as possible. He told her he was "relying" on him to help get information about Prince Harry's passing out ball at Sandhurst. | The jury was shown an email from Goodman to an administrator on 12 April 2006 requesting cash payment for "Mr Alexander" be made as soon as possible. He told her he was "relying" on him to help get information about Prince Harry's passing out ball at Sandhurst. |
| A transcript of a voicemail from a general at Sandhurst to the prince's private secretary regarding the incident was subsequently found at Mulcaire's home. | A transcript of a voicemail from a general at Sandhurst to the prince's private secretary regarding the incident was subsequently found at Mulcaire's home. |
| In another email dated 25 July 2006, Goodman sent Coulson a draft of a story about Prince William being upset after two cadets at Sandhurst almost "die" in front of him during an army training exercise. Goodman told Coulson the story is from the "same source" as a previous "Kate tale" and that "these are William's exact words" in the story. | In another email dated 25 July 2006, Goodman sent Coulson a draft of a story about Prince William being upset after two cadets at Sandhurst almost "die" in front of him during an army training exercise. Goodman told Coulson the story is from the "same source" as a previous "Kate tale" and that "these are William's exact words" in the story. |
| Goodman also told the court that Coulson approved a two-month contract with Mulcaire in 2005. | Goodman also told the court that Coulson approved a two-month contract with Mulcaire in 2005. |
| Goodman told the trial that Mulcaire, who pleaded guilty to phone hacking charges after being arrested in 2006, came to him after he was told the paper was trying to cut his weekly £2,019 payments in October 2005. | Goodman told the trial that Mulcaire, who pleaded guilty to phone hacking charges after being arrested in 2006, came to him after he was told the paper was trying to cut his weekly £2,019 payments in October 2005. |
| "[Mulcaire] was pretty sore because he felt he believed the News of the World was trying to cut his budget by £500 a week. I think he was looking to make up this shortfall and through Greg Miskiw [the news editor] knew that I had been monitoring some royal voicemails," said Goodman. | "[Mulcaire] was pretty sore because he felt he believed the News of the World was trying to cut his budget by £500 a week. I think he was looking to make up this shortfall and through Greg Miskiw [the news editor] knew that I had been monitoring some royal voicemails," said Goodman. |
| He told jurors that Mulcaire offered to provide him with direct dial numbers (DDNs) for voicemails and secure pin numbers to people close to Princes William and Harry. | He told jurors that Mulcaire offered to provide him with direct dial numbers (DDNs) for voicemails and secure pin numbers to people close to Princes William and Harry. |
| Goodman added that he had no budget of his own to pay Mulcaire, so he approached Coulson. | Goodman added that he had no budget of his own to pay Mulcaire, so he approached Coulson. |
| "I said [to Coulson] 'Greg's old contact Glenn Mulcaire had offered to monitor three royal telephones for us'. He would give us the DDNs and pin numbers. We could monitor them or he could monitor them and for £500 a week we could see what the results were," Goodman told jurors. | "I said [to Coulson] 'Greg's old contact Glenn Mulcaire had offered to monitor three royal telephones for us'. He would give us the DDNs and pin numbers. We could monitor them or he could monitor them and for £500 a week we could see what the results were," Goodman told jurors. |
| Asked if he had told Coulson how Mulcaire would be doing this, Goodman said he told the editor there was "a suggestion" the information had come from the security sources. | Asked if he had told Coulson how Mulcaire would be doing this, Goodman said he told the editor there was "a suggestion" the information had come from the security sources. |
| Goodman's counsel David Spens QC asked: "At that point when you spoke to him did he know you have been hacking?" | Goodman's counsel David Spens QC asked: "At that point when you spoke to him did he know you have been hacking?" |
| He replied: "No, no, he didn't." | He replied: "No, no, he didn't." |
| Goodman said the "editor agreed to a two-month trial to see what it produced". | Goodman said the "editor agreed to a two-month trial to see what it produced". |
| The money would be paid in addition to Mulcaire's annual £104,000 contract with the paper, he added. | The money would be paid in addition to Mulcaire's annual £104,000 contract with the paper, he added. |
| On Monday, the trial heard that Goodman had already been hacking the phones of Helen Asprey and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, aides to Princes William and Harry in 2005. | On Monday, the trial heard that Goodman had already been hacking the phones of Helen Asprey and Jamie Lowther-Pinkerton, aides to Princes William and Harry in 2005. |
| Goodman said on Tuesday this was how he came by information about an injury that Prince Harry picked up in Sandhurst in January 2005 but that Coulson "didn't know about hacking at this stage". | Goodman said on Tuesday this was how he came by information about an injury that Prince Harry picked up in Sandhurst in January 2005 but that Coulson "didn't know about hacking at this stage". |
| He also testified that he did not know that hacking was illegal at the time but knew that it was underhand and unethical. | He also testified that he did not know that hacking was illegal at the time but knew that it was underhand and unethical. |
| Goodman emailed Coulson in January 2005 to tell him the information about Harry's injuries had been "scammed from Helen Asprey (William and Harry's personal assistant) so it's solid". | Goodman emailed Coulson in January 2005 to tell him the information about Harry's injuries had been "scammed from Helen Asprey (William and Harry's personal assistant) so it's solid". |
| On Tuesday he told jurors he did not intend the word scam "to convey hacking because Andy didn't know about hacking at this stage". | On Tuesday he told jurors he did not intend the word scam "to convey hacking because Andy didn't know about hacking at this stage". |
| Goodman said that after the agreement for a trial period with Mulcaire for royal monitoring, he created an identity for him for payments. The deal between Mulcaire and Goodman, approved by Coulson, was known as the "Alexander project". | Goodman said that after the agreement for a trial period with Mulcaire for royal monitoring, he created an identity for him for payments. The deal between Mulcaire and Goodman, approved by Coulson, was known as the "Alexander project". |
| Goodman added that he would have put the payment request through to the paper's then managing editor Stuart Kuttner, who would have authorised cash payment. Kuttner has denied a charge that he conspired to hack phones. | Goodman added that he would have put the payment request through to the paper's then managing editor Stuart Kuttner, who would have authorised cash payment. Kuttner has denied a charge that he conspired to hack phones. |
| It was claimed that Coulson agreed to extend Mulcaire's Alexander project for one month, and again for one week in February 2006 after Goodman emailed him to tell him that Prince William was out of Sandhurst that weekend and having the private investigator on board would make it "a whole lot more probable" that they could find out where he was spending the weekend. | It was claimed that Coulson agreed to extend Mulcaire's Alexander project for one month, and again for one week in February 2006 after Goodman emailed him to tell him that Prince William was out of Sandhurst that weekend and having the private investigator on board would make it "a whole lot more probable" that they could find out where he was spending the weekend. |
| The jury was shown an email from Goodman to Coulson after a decision by Kuttner about the payments. | The jury was shown an email from Goodman to Coulson after a decision by Kuttner about the payments. |
| Goodman protested that Coulson had asked him to find new ways of getting close to the young royals and said that he had "come up with this safe, productive and cost effective" means of getting stories. He added: "I'm confident it will become a big story goldmine if we let it run for a little longer." | Goodman protested that Coulson had asked him to find new ways of getting close to the young royals and said that he had "come up with this safe, productive and cost effective" means of getting stories. He added: "I'm confident it will become a big story goldmine if we let it run for a little longer." |
| Goodman told jurors how he got a story in January 2005 about William displaying two photos by his bed at Sandhurst, one of the Queen and one of Kate Middleton, from a hacked voice message. | Goodman told jurors how he got a story in January 2005 about William displaying two photos by his bed at Sandhurst, one of the Queen and one of Kate Middleton, from a hacked voice message. |
| He told jurors Mulcaire did the hack "under the new arrangement" he had with him. | He told jurors Mulcaire did the hack "under the new arrangement" he had with him. |
| Separately Goodman was asked about the discussion of hacking at the paper's editorial conference. | Separately Goodman was asked about the discussion of hacking at the paper's editorial conference. |
| He said one journalist, who cannot be named for legal reasons, would "occasionally talk about messages" between couples they were monitoring. | He said one journalist, who cannot be named for legal reasons, would "occasionally talk about messages" between couples they were monitoring. |
| Goodman claimed the journalist discussed how they might identify the location of a rapist who had won the lotto after he was released from prison. He talked about "how his man could triangulate a position for Iorworth Hoare from his mobile phone signal". | Goodman claimed the journalist discussed how they might identify the location of a rapist who had won the lotto after he was released from prison. He talked about "how his man could triangulate a position for Iorworth Hoare from his mobile phone signal". |
| Spens asked Goodman whether Coulson "said anything after that" discussion. Goodman said Coulson said: "That's enough of that. We are not talking about this sort of thing in conference." | Spens asked Goodman whether Coulson "said anything after that" discussion. Goodman said Coulson said: "That's enough of that. We are not talking about this sort of thing in conference." |
| Goodman said he never raised phone hacking with the journalist as he would "not have tolerated sharing Mulcaire" and that if he had known he had a separate side deal with him there would have been "world war three". | Goodman said he never raised phone hacking with the journalist as he would "not have tolerated sharing Mulcaire" and that if he had known he had a separate side deal with him there would have been "world war three". |
| Goodman said he initially knew Mulcaire as an "enquiry agent" who had a "reputation as being able to crack apparently impossible stories". | Goodman said he initially knew Mulcaire as an "enquiry agent" who had a "reputation as being able to crack apparently impossible stories". |
| He first learned what Mulcaire's actual techniques were in January 2005 when the News of the World's then news editor, Greg Miskiw, approached him and gave him some direct dial numbers for the voicemails of royal aides and their pin codes. Miskiw has already pleaded guilty to conspiring to hack phones. | He first learned what Mulcaire's actual techniques were in January 2005 when the News of the World's then news editor, Greg Miskiw, approached him and gave him some direct dial numbers for the voicemails of royal aides and their pin codes. Miskiw has already pleaded guilty to conspiring to hack phones. |
| "He said dial these, enter the pins and pick up the messages," Goodman said. | "He said dial these, enter the pins and pick up the messages," Goodman said. |
| Goodman was imprisoned in 2007 for phone hacking related offences and has not been charged with hacking along with Coulson and others in this trial. | Goodman was imprisoned in 2007 for phone hacking related offences and has not been charged with hacking along with Coulson and others in this trial. |
| It has been alleged that Coulson and others conspired with Goodman, Mulcaire and others to hack phones between October 2000 and August 2006. Coulson and others deny this charge. | It has been alleged that Coulson and others conspired with Goodman, Mulcaire and others to hack phones between October 2000 and August 2006. Coulson and others deny this charge. |
| The trial continues. | The trial continues. |