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Hacking trial: Andy Coulson denies role in hacking Milly Dowler's phone Hacking trial: Andy Coulson denies role in hacking Milly Dowler's phone
(about 4 hours later)
Andy Coulson denied he was part of any alleged operation organised by the News of the World which decided to hack the phone of the murdered schoolgirl, Milly Dowler, a jury at the Old Bailey has heard. Andy Coulson claimed he was not part of any agreement made inside the News of the World to hack the phone of the murdered schoolgirl, Milly Dowler, a jury at the Old Bailey has heard.
The former editor of the Sunday tabloid, closed by Rupert Murdoch in July 2011, told the jury in the phone hacking trial that he was unaware in 2002 that the interception of voicemails was a crime, and claimed he was only vaguely "aware” of the procedure as something "gossiped about". Mr Coulson, who edited the Murdoch-owned title for four years before resigning in 2007, told the jury in the phone-hacking trial that he was unaware in 2002 that the interception of voicemails was a crime, and claimed he was only vaguely “aware” of the procedure as something “gossiped about”.
Asked by his counsel, Timothy Langdale QC, about his perception of phone hacking, Mr Coulson said he thought it was an “intrusive” breach of privacy that he regarded as “lazy” journalism. Asked by his counsel, Timothy Langdale QC, about his perception of hacking, Mr Coulson said he thought it was an “intrusive” breach of privacy that he regarded as “lazy” journalism.
Mr Coulson was deputy editor of the NOTW in April 2002 when the paper ran a story about Milly that contained information taken from her mobile phone. The former editor, who went on to head David Cameron’s communications team in 10 Downing St, was in charge because his editor, Rebekah Brooks, was on holiday in Dubai. Mr Coulson was deputy editor of the NOTW in April 2002 when the paper ran a story about Milly that contained information taken from her mobile phone.
The court has heard evidence that the paper’s private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, was tasked to illegally access the schoolgirl’s phone. Mr Coulson, who went on to head David Cameron’s communications team in 10 Downing St, was in charge because the editor at the time, Rebekah Brooks, was on holiday in Dubai.
Asked by Mr Langdale if he was  involved in, or aware of, the Dowler hacking by individuals on his newspaper, he said "No I was not." The court has heard evidence that the paper’s private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, who was paid £105,000 a year for his services, was tasked with illegally accessing the schoolgirl’s phone.
The first edition of the NOTW on 14 April 2002 referred to material taken from voicemails on Milly's phone. The voicemail references however did not appear in later editions of the paper. Asked by Mr Langdale if he was involved in, or aware of, the Dowler hacking by individuals on his newspaper, Mr Coulson said, “No I was not.”
The jury has heard that public outrage over the discovery of the Dowler hacking nine years earlier led Rupert Murdoch to close the NOTW.  He told the jury he regarded the story of Milly apparently applying for a job in a Midlands factory as “unremarkable” and it did not occur to him that any detail had been obtained by someone inside the NOTW illegally accessing the schoolgirl’s voicemail.
Mr Coulson, looking back on the weekend of April 2002, told the court that the changes made to the positioning of the story inside the NOTW between the first and third editions moving from page 9 to page 30 - were essentially cosmetic, because he wanted more “glamorous” content moved up the paper, to improve the “mix” of stories. “I may have concluded that it came from sources, maybe police sources,” he told the court. Mr Coulson said “catching criminals” was part of the NOTW’s “DNA” and told the court this involved working closely with the police.
He told the jury he regarded the story of Milly apparently applying for a job in Midland’s factory, and the involvement of a “hoaxer” as an "unremarkable" and it did not occur to him that any detail had been obtained from someone inside the NOTW illegally accessing the schoolgirl’s voicemail. Although this relationship was not “without tensions”, he claimed there was no attempt by the paper “to interfere in police investigations”.
"I may have concluded that it came from sources, maybe police sources," he told the court. Asked hypothetically how he would have felt if he had known the newspaper was involved in phone hacking, he said he would have been “very concerned”, adding : “I think my instinctive concern would be that this was interference in a police investigation.”
Mr Coulson said "catching criminals" was part of the NOTW’s "DNA" and told the court this involved working closely with the police. The first edition of the NOTW on 14 April 2002 referred to material taken from voicemails on Milly’s phone. The voicemail references did not appear in later editions of the paper.
Although this relationship was not "without tensions or fall-outs", he claimed there was no attempt by the paper "to interfere in police investigations". The jury has heard that public outrage over the discovery of the Dowler hacking nine years later led Rupert Murdoch to close the NOTW in 2011. Mr Coulson, looking back on the story of April 2002 that contained the Dowler voicemail, told the court that the changes made to the positioning of the story inside the NOTW between the first and third editions were essentially cosmetic, because he wanted more “glamorous” content moved up the paper. 
Asked hypothetically how he may felt if he had known the newspaper was involved in phone hacking, he said he would have been "very concerned" adding: "I think my instinctive concern would be that this was interference in a police investigation." Mr Coulson said the decision to send eight reporters and photographers to the factory where they, wrongly, believed Milly would be found, was taken by the newsdesk, not by him.
Mr Coulson, 46, was giving evidence for the second day in his defence. Mr Langdale took the court over a sequence of phone calls and texts that took place between Mr Coulson and Mrs Brooks in the week running up the publication of the Dowler story. Mr Coulson, 46, was giving evidence for the second day in his defence. Mr Coulson told the court  he could not remember conversations with Mrs Brooks involving any discussion about Milly Dowler.
Mr Coulson told the court he could not remember the conversations with Mrs Brooks involving any discussion about Milly Dowler.
Mr Coulson is one of seven defendants in the trial. All the charges are denied.Mr Coulson is one of seven defendants in the trial. All the charges are denied.
The trial continues.The trial continues.