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/apr/02/rebekah-brooks-husband-hide-porn-phone-hacking

The article has changed 4 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 1 Version 2
Rebekah Brooks's husband told me he wanted to hide porn, says security chief Rebekah Brooks's husband told me he wanted to hide porn, says security chief
(about 2 hours later)
The husband of Rebekah Brooks told her security chief that he wanted to hide his pornography collection on the day she was arrested, the Old Bailey has heard.The husband of Rebekah Brooks told her security chief that he wanted to hide his pornography collection on the day she was arrested, the Old Bailey has heard.
Mark Hanna, the head of security at News International, told jurors at the phone-hacking trial on Wednesday that Charlie Brooks explicitly told him that he had hidden pornography behind bins in the underground carpark at the couple's Chelsea Harbour home on July 17 2011.Mark Hanna, the head of security at News International, told jurors at the phone-hacking trial on Wednesday that Charlie Brooks explicitly told him that he had hidden pornography behind bins in the underground carpark at the couple's Chelsea Harbour home on July 17 2011.
"Once it became apparent what it was, it was no great surprise that he didn't want it to fall into the hands of the police or Rebekah," said Hanna."Once it became apparent what it was, it was no great surprise that he didn't want it to fall into the hands of the police or Rebekah," said Hanna.
The 50-year-old former soldier had driven Charlie Brooks's car from their Oxfordshire home that morning and had arrived in Chelsea Harbour at 2.06pm, two hours after Rebekah Brooks had been driven to a pre-arranged appointment at Lewisham police station.The 50-year-old former soldier had driven Charlie Brooks's car from their Oxfordshire home that morning and had arrived in Chelsea Harbour at 2.06pm, two hours after Rebekah Brooks had been driven to a pre-arranged appointment at Lewisham police station.
He drove down to the carpark where Charlie Brooks was waiting for him, following a brief phone call. Earlier that day Hanna told jurors that Brooks had asked him to look after a bag in the back of the Range Rover. He could not recall exactly what he said, but believed he "probably would have acknowledged" that and said "OK".He drove down to the carpark where Charlie Brooks was waiting for him, following a brief phone call. Earlier that day Hanna told jurors that Brooks had asked him to look after a bag in the back of the Range Rover. He could not recall exactly what he said, but believed he "probably would have acknowledged" that and said "OK".
When the pair met in the carpark, Brooks "indicated towards where the bins were" and "indicated there was some property by the bins" and "indicated he wanted me to look after that too", Hanna said.When the pair met in the carpark, Brooks "indicated towards where the bins were" and "indicated there was some property by the bins" and "indicated he wanted me to look after that too", Hanna said.
"He explained he had left it over there and indicated what it was and again that it was his own personal property and that it was pornography," said Hanna."He explained he had left it over there and indicated what it was and again that it was his own personal property and that it was pornography," said Hanna.
He was giving evidence for a second day to defend a charge, that he denies, that he conspired with Charlie Brooks, Rebekah Brooks, and other security personnel, to hide material from the police investigating the News International chief executive.He was giving evidence for a second day to defend a charge, that he denies, that he conspired with Charlie Brooks, Rebekah Brooks, and other security personnel, to hide material from the police investigating the News International chief executive.
Giving his account of what happened in the underground carpark that day, Hanna told jurors he went over to the bins and spotted Brooks's property – a Jiffy bag and a Sony Vaio computer. "I flipped the lid of the Jiffy Bag and could see it's porn," he said.Giving his account of what happened in the underground carpark that day, Hanna told jurors he went over to the bins and spotted Brooks's property – a Jiffy bag and a Sony Vaio computer. "I flipped the lid of the Jiffy Bag and could see it's porn," he said.
He then returned to News International's headquarters at Thomas More Square in east London and placed it in the "lost and found" property area. Before arriving, he rang a member of staff at the security concierge and asked her to bring down some black bin bag liners and some Sellotape.He then returned to News International's headquarters at Thomas More Square in east London and placed it in the "lost and found" property area. Before arriving, he rang a member of staff at the security concierge and asked her to bring down some black bin bag liners and some Sellotape.
He went there because it was secure and central and convenient for Charlie Brooks, who wanted the property back. Asked why he did not take it home, he said it was "slightly embarrassing".He went there because it was secure and central and convenient for Charlie Brooks, who wanted the property back. Asked why he did not take it home, he said it was "slightly embarrassing".
The jury had previously heard that Brooks had asked Hanna to look after two bags in the back of his Range Rover earlier that day – a brown satchel and a black nylon brief case. Handed both items in court on Wednesday, Hanna said he recognised the first but not the second bag.The jury had previously heard that Brooks had asked Hanna to look after two bags in the back of his Range Rover earlier that day – a brown satchel and a black nylon brief case. Handed both items in court on Wednesday, Hanna said he recognised the first but not the second bag.
He also testified that he had not seen the black briefcase, which was later found to be in the bin liners the next day when the attempt to hide the porn and computers backfired, after they were found by the cleaners.He also testified that he had not seen the black briefcase, which was later found to be in the bin liners the next day when the attempt to hide the porn and computers backfired, after they were found by the cleaners.
At 5.30pm Hanna received a call from Charlie Brooks asking for the property back and a security guard was dispatched to Thomas More Square to collect it. He got stuck in traffic and by 8.30pm another security guard was on his way to the News International offices. He was also asked to fetch some pizza after a request to Hanna from Brooks.At 5.30pm Hanna received a call from Charlie Brooks asking for the property back and a security guard was dispatched to Thomas More Square to collect it. He got stuck in traffic and by 8.30pm another security guard was on his way to the News International offices. He was also asked to fetch some pizza after a request to Hanna from Brooks.
Charlie Brooks testified earlier this week that he and a friend drank six bottles of wine on the evening of his wife's arrest. He recalled his friend Chris Palmer went downstairs to the carpark to collect the pizza but that he did not think about his bags until the next morning.Charlie Brooks testified earlier this week that he and a friend drank six bottles of wine on the evening of his wife's arrest. He recalled his friend Chris Palmer went downstairs to the carpark to collect the pizza but that he did not think about his bags until the next morning.
Hanna told jurors his understanding was the bags were handed back to Charlie Brooks and were in his flat and didn't know otherwise until a call from Rebekah Brooks's driver at around 12.52pm the next day. He was at Chelsea Harbour and rang him to find out where the bags were. Hanna said he "couldn't help him" and he would have to phone the security guard dispatched the night before to deliver them.Hanna told jurors his understanding was the bags were handed back to Charlie Brooks and were in his flat and didn't know otherwise until a call from Rebekah Brooks's driver at around 12.52pm the next day. He was at Chelsea Harbour and rang him to find out where the bags were. Hanna said he "couldn't help him" and he would have to phone the security guard dispatched the night before to deliver them.
He says he was told by either the driver or one of the security staff that "Charlie is not best pleased". Hanna at this stage was in Thomas More Square working on plans for security for Rebekah Brooks's appearance before a select committee the next day.He says he was told by either the driver or one of the security staff that "Charlie is not best pleased". Hanna at this stage was in Thomas More Square working on plans for security for Rebekah Brooks's appearance before a select committee the next day.
He told jurors he did not know the whereabouts of the bags until later that day when he was told they were in the possession of the police.He told jurors he did not know the whereabouts of the bags until later that day when he was told they were in the possession of the police.
Under cross-examination by Neil Saunders, counsel for Charlie Brooks, he said he could not "dispute" his assertion that Brooks's recollection is that he did not tell him the material behind the bin was pornography, but that he definitely say that there was a porn magazine and porn DVDs in the bag.Under cross-examination by Neil Saunders, counsel for Charlie Brooks, he said he could not "dispute" his assertion that Brooks's recollection is that he did not tell him the material behind the bin was pornography, but that he definitely say that there was a porn magazine and porn DVDs in the bag.
He also confirmed that his recollection was that he filled one bin bag, not two bags.He also confirmed that his recollection was that he filled one bin bag, not two bags.
Hanna told police when he was charged in May 2012 that he was "totally innocent of the charges" and "could not believe" he was in this "situation".Hanna told police when he was charged in May 2012 that he was "totally innocent of the charges" and "could not believe" he was in this "situation".
Under cross-examination, he told Andrew Edis QC that he first became aware of the black briefcase in the "middle of last year". Edis put it to him that he had been questioned extensively about the bag when he was interviewed by police the previous year and that one reason he claimed ignorance of it was "that you made it up since". Hanna replied: "No, that's not true at all."
He said being arrested in full view of NI staff in the reception area and his subsequent questioning was "absolutely the worst part of my life so far". He said his recollection of what he had signed for police was tainted by his mental state. Sometimes after such a trauma, he said, "you are psychologically switched on, sometimes you are psychologically down in the ditch."
Hanna said be looked in the Jiffy bag and that it would seem that anyone looking at the magazine or DVD covers would have judged the porn to be "legal", and that he had "the word of Charlie Brooks" that the items belonged to him.
"I made a decision when Charlie told me they were some personal items, I believe it was legal... I made the assumption that what I was doing was not illegal."
Edis asked how he knew this, as the adult content could have been illegal. "I had the word of Charlie Brooks that it was legal. I took his word that it was not illegal."
Hanna said the Jiffy bag and computer were "propped up against the wall" in the bin area and could have been seen by passers by. He bagged it up on Thomas More Street and then handed it to security. Bagging up was perfectly normal, he said. "Security and pornography do not go well togethe'r," said Hanna.
The trial continues.The trial continues.