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| Judge Dismisses British Hacking Jury, Hung on Remaining Charges | Judge Dismisses British Hacking Jury, Hung on Remaining Charges |
| (2 months later) | |
| LONDON — It was an unspectacular denouement to Britain’s spectacular phone hacking trial: The jury was dismissed Wednesday after failing to reach a verdict on two outstanding charges against Andy Coulson, a former tabloid editor who had been found guilty of conspiracy to intercept voice mail messages a day earlier. | |
| But in a last-minute moment of drama, Mr. Coulson’s conviction abruptly shifted much of the attention to a former boss, Prime Minister David Cameron, who suddenly found himself in an uncomfortable public spat with the presiding judge. | But in a last-minute moment of drama, Mr. Coulson’s conviction abruptly shifted much of the attention to a former boss, Prime Minister David Cameron, who suddenly found himself in an uncomfortable public spat with the presiding judge. |
| On Wednesday, Judge John Saunders, who is expected to announce a sentence for Mr. Coulson next week, took the unusual step of castigating the prime minister for making a public statement about Mr. Coulson, his former spokesman, while the jury was still deliberating on two bribery charges against Mr. Coulson and Clive Goodman, a former royals editor at The News of the World, a tabloid that is now shuttered. | On Wednesday, Judge John Saunders, who is expected to announce a sentence for Mr. Coulson next week, took the unusual step of castigating the prime minister for making a public statement about Mr. Coulson, his former spokesman, while the jury was still deliberating on two bribery charges against Mr. Coulson and Clive Goodman, a former royals editor at The News of the World, a tabloid that is now shuttered. |
| Under attack by the opposition Labour Party for bringing a “criminal” into 10 Downing Street, Mr. Cameron hastily summoned television news crews for a “full and frank” apology on Tuesday after the hacking verdict was announced, saying that he was sorry he had hired Mr. Coulson, and that it had been a mistake to do so. He also said that before hiring Mr. Coulson in 2010, he asked Mr. Coulson about earlier allegations of phone hacking, and that Mr. Coulson denied having any knowledge of it. | Under attack by the opposition Labour Party for bringing a “criminal” into 10 Downing Street, Mr. Cameron hastily summoned television news crews for a “full and frank” apology on Tuesday after the hacking verdict was announced, saying that he was sorry he had hired Mr. Coulson, and that it had been a mistake to do so. He also said that before hiring Mr. Coulson in 2010, he asked Mr. Coulson about earlier allegations of phone hacking, and that Mr. Coulson denied having any knowledge of it. |
| Judge Saunders was not shy about showing his irritation. “I don’t know whether it’s been done in ignorance or been done deliberately,” he said after seeing Mr. Cameron’s statement. | Judge Saunders was not shy about showing his irritation. “I don’t know whether it’s been done in ignorance or been done deliberately,” he said after seeing Mr. Cameron’s statement. |
| Briefly, it looked as if Mr. Cameron might have even been at risk of being held in contempt of court for prejudicing jurors, which could have derailed a trial that had lasted eight months and by some estimates cost 100 million pounds, or almost $170 million. Mr. Coulson’s and Mr. Goodman’s lawyers asked the judge on Wednesday to dismiss the jury, saying a fair trial could no longer be guaranteed. | Briefly, it looked as if Mr. Cameron might have even been at risk of being held in contempt of court for prejudicing jurors, which could have derailed a trial that had lasted eight months and by some estimates cost 100 million pounds, or almost $170 million. Mr. Coulson’s and Mr. Goodman’s lawyers asked the judge on Wednesday to dismiss the jury, saying a fair trial could no longer be guaranteed. |
| Their request was refused, but the judge said in his ruling, “I consider that what has happened is unsatisfactory so far as justice and the rule of law are concerned.” | Their request was refused, but the judge said in his ruling, “I consider that what has happened is unsatisfactory so far as justice and the rule of law are concerned.” |
| Judge Saunders said he had written to Mr. Cameron’s private secretary. “I asked for an explanation from the prime minister as to why he had issued his statement while the jury was still considering verdicts,” he said. “My sole concern is to ensure that justice is done. Politicians have other imperatives, and I understand that. Whether the political imperative was such that statements could not await all the verdicts, I leave to others to judge.” | Judge Saunders said he had written to Mr. Cameron’s private secretary. “I asked for an explanation from the prime minister as to why he had issued his statement while the jury was still considering verdicts,” he said. “My sole concern is to ensure that justice is done. Politicians have other imperatives, and I understand that. Whether the political imperative was such that statements could not await all the verdicts, I leave to others to judge.” |
| Mr. Cameron’s office insisted that the prime minister had sought legal advice. “The prime minister was careful to make no further comment about any matters that might still be before the court,” his office told the judge, who swiftly retorted that that explanation “misses the point.” | Mr. Cameron’s office insisted that the prime minister had sought legal advice. “The prime minister was careful to make no further comment about any matters that might still be before the court,” his office told the judge, who swiftly retorted that that explanation “misses the point.” |
| “He has now told the public, and therefore the jury, that he was given assurances by Mr. Coulson before he employed him, which turned out to be untrue,” Judge Saunders said. “The jury were not aware of that before, and it is a matter which is capable of affecting Mr. Coulson’s credibility in their eyes.” | “He has now told the public, and therefore the jury, that he was given assurances by Mr. Coulson before he employed him, which turned out to be untrue,” Judge Saunders said. “The jury were not aware of that before, and it is a matter which is capable of affecting Mr. Coulson’s credibility in their eyes.” |
| Later in the day, the jurors were dismissed anyway because they could not reach a verdict on charges that Mr. Coulson and Mr. Goodman had illegally paid police officers in return for in-house royal telephone directories. Prosecutors said they would announce on Monday whether they would seek a retrial. | Later in the day, the jurors were dismissed anyway because they could not reach a verdict on charges that Mr. Coulson and Mr. Goodman had illegally paid police officers in return for in-house royal telephone directories. Prosecutors said they would announce on Monday whether they would seek a retrial. |
| Out of eight hacking suspects the police had their sights on, five pleaded guilty before the trial. Mr. Coulson’s conviction brings the number of those found guilty to six. He could face up to two years in prison. | Out of eight hacking suspects the police had their sights on, five pleaded guilty before the trial. Mr. Coulson’s conviction brings the number of those found guilty to six. He could face up to two years in prison. |
| Rebekah Brooks, who edited The News of the World for three years before Mr. Coulson took over in 2003 and was once regarded as one of the most powerful people in British tabloid journalism, was acquitted of all charges on Tuesday. | Rebekah Brooks, who edited The News of the World for three years before Mr. Coulson took over in 2003 and was once regarded as one of the most powerful people in British tabloid journalism, was acquitted of all charges on Tuesday. |