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| Hacking trial: Coulson guilty, Brooks cleared of charges | Hacking trial: Coulson guilty, Brooks cleared of charges |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has been found guilty of conspiracy to hack phones. | Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson has been found guilty of conspiracy to hack phones. |
| His predecessor Rebekah Brooks was cleared of all charges in the phone-hacking trial. | |
| Coulson went on to become director of communications for the prime minister, who has apologised and said hiring him was "the wrong decision". | Coulson went on to become director of communications for the prime minister, who has apologised and said hiring him was "the wrong decision". |
| Royals, celebrities and victims of crime were among those whose phones were hacked by the News of the World. | Royals, celebrities and victims of crime were among those whose phones were hacked by the News of the World. |
| The paper was closed by its parent company, News International, in July 2011 after it emerged that it had instructed a private investigator to intercept - or "hack" - voicemails left on the mobile phone of murdered Surrey teenager Milly Dowler in 2002. | The paper was closed by its parent company, News International, in July 2011 after it emerged that it had instructed a private investigator to intercept - or "hack" - voicemails left on the mobile phone of murdered Surrey teenager Milly Dowler in 2002. |
| Coulson and former News International chief executive Mrs Brooks were among seven defendants on trial at the Old Bailey. | |
| The verdicts in full are: | The verdicts in full are: |
| The jury is continuing to consider misconduct in public office charges against Coulson and former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman. | The jury is continuing to consider misconduct in public office charges against Coulson and former News of the World royal editor Clive Goodman. |
| An emotional Mrs Brooks had to be taken away by the court matron on hearing the verdicts. | An emotional Mrs Brooks had to be taken away by the court matron on hearing the verdicts. |
| BBC political correspondent Robin Brant was in court as the verdicts were read out on the 138th day of the trial. | BBC political correspondent Robin Brant was in court as the verdicts were read out on the 138th day of the trial. |
| He said Coulson - who was News of the World editor from 2003-07 then worked for the Conservative Party from 2007 and became the PM's director of communications after the 2010 election - stood with his hands behind his back and showed no emotion. | He said Coulson - who was News of the World editor from 2003-07 then worked for the Conservative Party from 2007 and became the PM's director of communications after the 2010 election - stood with his hands behind his back and showed no emotion. |
| Mrs Brooks appeared to mouth "thank you" to the jury and also held the hand of her former personal assistant Cheryl Carter, who looked close to tears. | Mrs Brooks appeared to mouth "thank you" to the jury and also held the hand of her former personal assistant Cheryl Carter, who looked close to tears. |
| Charlie Brooks, the husband of the former News International chief executive, also showed little emotion, our correspondent said. | Charlie Brooks, the husband of the former News International chief executive, also showed little emotion, our correspondent said. |
| The conspiracy to pervert the course of justice charges against Mr and Mrs Brooks, Ms Carter and Mr Hanna related to July 2011. | The conspiracy to pervert the course of justice charges against Mr and Mrs Brooks, Ms Carter and Mr Hanna related to July 2011. |
| Mrs Brooks was accused of retrieving boxes, with the help of Ms Carter, from the News International archive relating to her time as editor of the News of the World and the Sun. | Mrs Brooks was accused of retrieving boxes, with the help of Ms Carter, from the News International archive relating to her time as editor of the News of the World and the Sun. |
| She was also accused, along with her husband and Mr Hanna, of hiding personal computers from the police. | She was also accused, along with her husband and Mr Hanna, of hiding personal computers from the police. |
| Analysis | Analysis |
| By Peter Hunt, BBC News | By Peter Hunt, BBC News |
| Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson were once colleagues, lovers and close to the prime minister. | Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson were once colleagues, lovers and close to the prime minister. |
| Now a jury of eight women and three men - chosen at random and on the evidence before them - have delivered these two defendants two very different fates. | Now a jury of eight women and three men - chosen at random and on the evidence before them - have delivered these two defendants two very different fates. |
| Coulson showed no emotion and stared straight ahead when he learnt that the jury had found him guilty of conspiracy to hack. | Coulson showed no emotion and stared straight ahead when he learnt that the jury had found him guilty of conspiracy to hack. |
| The full consequences of his actions have finally caught up with him and he faces the prospect of a prison sentence. | The full consequences of his actions have finally caught up with him and he faces the prospect of a prison sentence. |
| In stark contrast, Mrs Brooks - standing close by in the dock - smiled as the jury foreman returned the first of four not guilty verdicts. | In stark contrast, Mrs Brooks - standing close by in the dock - smiled as the jury foreman returned the first of four not guilty verdicts. |
| She held the hand of her former assistant, Cheryl Carter, as she too was found not guilty. | She held the hand of her former assistant, Cheryl Carter, as she too was found not guilty. |
| As a teenager, Mrs Brooks swept the floors and made the tea at the Warrington Guardian. | As a teenager, Mrs Brooks swept the floors and made the tea at the Warrington Guardian. |
| As an adult, she ran one of Rupert Murdoch's companies. | As an adult, she ran one of Rupert Murdoch's companies. |
| Now, after three years in limbo awaiting this trial, Mrs Brooks can resume her life. | Now, after three years in limbo awaiting this trial, Mrs Brooks can resume her life. |
| The police's phone-hacking investigation found numerous allegations relating to the period between 2000 and 2006. | The police's phone-hacking investigation found numerous allegations relating to the period between 2000 and 2006. |
| In court the jury heard: | In court the jury heard: |
| Jurors also listened to recordings of voicemail messages left by former Labour cabinet minister David Blunkett. | Jurors also listened to recordings of voicemail messages left by former Labour cabinet minister David Blunkett. |
| Former Home Secretary Mr Blunkett has told the BBC revelations about his private life in the News of the World almost caused him to have a nervous breakdown. | Former Home Secretary Mr Blunkett has told the BBC revelations about his private life in the News of the World almost caused him to have a nervous breakdown. |
| "The honest truth is I don't know how I managed to continue doing the job in the way I did," he said. | "The honest truth is I don't know how I managed to continue doing the job in the way I did," he said. |
| 'Thousands' targeted | 'Thousands' targeted |
| Five other people have already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hack in relation to the charges faced by Mrs Brooks and Coulson. | Five other people have already pleaded guilty to conspiracy to hack in relation to the charges faced by Mrs Brooks and Coulson. |
| Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator, former news editors Greg Miskiw and James Weatherup and reporters Dan Evans and Neville Thurlbeck had previously admitted their role in the plot to get stories by intercepting voicemails. | Glenn Mulcaire, a private investigator, former news editors Greg Miskiw and James Weatherup and reporters Dan Evans and Neville Thurlbeck had previously admitted their role in the plot to get stories by intercepting voicemails. |
| The investigation found that Mulcaire had been tasked to obtain private information by hacking mobile phone voicemails to uncover leads for stories. | The investigation found that Mulcaire had been tasked to obtain private information by hacking mobile phone voicemails to uncover leads for stories. |
| Police estimate that he targeted approximately 5,500 people and that at least 1,000 of them were "definite victims". | Police estimate that he targeted approximately 5,500 people and that at least 1,000 of them were "definite victims". |
| Police have told 3,500 people that their names featured in notes that Mulcaire kept of his work for the News of the World. | Police have told 3,500 people that their names featured in notes that Mulcaire kept of his work for the News of the World. |
| 'Extremely sorry' | 'Extremely sorry' |
| Speaking after the verdicts were delivered, Mr Cameron said: "I take full responsibility for employing Andy Coulson. | Speaking after the verdicts were delivered, Mr Cameron said: "I take full responsibility for employing Andy Coulson. |
| "I did so on the basis of undertakings I was given by him about phone hacking and those turn out not to be the case. | "I did so on the basis of undertakings I was given by him about phone hacking and those turn out not to be the case. |
| "I always said that if they turned out to be wrong I would make a full and frank apology and I do that today. | "I always said that if they turned out to be wrong I would make a full and frank apology and I do that today. |
| "I am extremely sorry I employed him. It was the wrong decision and I am clear about that." | "I am extremely sorry I employed him. It was the wrong decision and I am clear about that." |
| Labour leader Ed Miliband said the government had been "tainted" by the appointment of Mr Coulson. | Labour leader Ed Miliband said the government had been "tainted" by the appointment of Mr Coulson. |
| News UK, formerly known as News International and part of Mr Murdoch's News Corp, said in a statement: "We said long ago, and repeat today, that wrongdoing occurred, and we apologised for it." | News UK, formerly known as News International and part of Mr Murdoch's News Corp, said in a statement: "We said long ago, and repeat today, that wrongdoing occurred, and we apologised for it." |
| "We have been paying compensation to those affected and have co-operated with investigations. | "We have been paying compensation to those affected and have co-operated with investigations. |
| "We made changes in the way we do business to help ensure wrongdoing like this does not occur again." | "We made changes in the way we do business to help ensure wrongdoing like this does not occur again." |