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Rebekah Brooks: I feel vindicated after phone-hacking verdicts Rebekah Brooks: I feel vindicated after phone-hacking verdicts
(35 minutes later)
A drawn and emotional Rebekah Brooks gave her first statement since she was acquitted of all phone-hacking charges on Tuesday, declaring she was "vindicated" by the unanimous verdicts of the jury. A drawn and emotional Rebekah Brooks has given her first statement since she was acquitted of all phone-hacking charges on Tuesday, declaring she was "vindicated" by the unanimous verdicts of the jury.
With her husband, Charlie, by her side, and her voice breaking, Brooks said she was very grateful to the jury and hoped she had learned some "valuable lessons" from the ordeal she had been through.With her husband, Charlie, by her side, and her voice breaking, Brooks said she was very grateful to the jury and hoped she had learned some "valuable lessons" from the ordeal she had been through.
"I am innocent of the crimes I was charged with and I feel vindicated by the unanimous verdicts," the former editor of the Sun and the News of the World editor said to cameras and a press pack outside her home in central London."I am innocent of the crimes I was charged with and I feel vindicated by the unanimous verdicts," the former editor of the Sun and the News of the World editor said to cameras and a press pack outside her home in central London.
"When I was arrested it was in the middle of a maelstrom of controversy, of politics and of comment. Some of that was fair but much of it was not, so I'm grateful to the jury."When I was arrested it was in the middle of a maelstrom of controversy, of politics and of comment. Some of that was fair but much of it was not, so I'm grateful to the jury.
"It's been a time of reflection for me, I've learned some valuable lessons and hopefully I'm the wiser for it," she added."It's been a time of reflection for me, I've learned some valuable lessons and hopefully I'm the wiser for it," she added.
In a short statement punctuated by shouted questions from the media, she promised to support former colleagues who were facing criminal trials.In a short statement punctuated by shouted questions from the media, she promised to support former colleagues who were facing criminal trials.
But she declined to say anything about Andy Coulson, her successor as editor at the News of the World, although reporters repeatedly asked her what she thought of the guilty verdict against him. "Today my thoughts are with my former colleagues who face future trials and I'm going to do everything I can to support them as I know how anxious the times ahead are," she said.
"Today my thoughts are with my former colleagues who face future trials and I'm going to do everything I can to support them as I know how anxious the times ahead are," she said She declined to say anything about Andy Coulson, her successor as editor at the News of the World, although reporters repeatedly asked her what she thought of the guilty verdict against him.
Brooks said the past few years had been tough for her and those close to her. In a reference to phone-hacking victims she said: "It's been tough for everyone on all sides that have been affected by the case." As they pushed through the media scrum to get into an awaiting car, Charlie Brooks was asked if he had anything to say about Coulson. "I am very sad about it," he replied.
She added: "We've always tried to keep our troubles in perspective – after all, we have a happy and healthy daughter, our brave and resolute mums who have been at court." He said they had not heard from the prime minister – a friend from their Eton school days – since Tuesday's verdict.
Charlie Brooks spoke first to say that he was "proud" of his wife and how she had coped with the eight-month trial. He had little to add to the statement he made two years ago when she was charged, blaming the prosecution's decision on a "witch-hunt" against his wife. Rebekah Brooks was unable to say anything when she was cleared of all charges on Tuesday, on the instructions of the judge who was concerned about prejudicing the jury's continuing deliberations over Coulson, which ended 24 hours later.
On Thursday she said she had little to add to the statement she made two years ago when she was charged. "Of course the last two years have been tough for us and those close to us, but more important they've been tough on everyone on all sides that have been close to this case. We've always tried to keep our troubles in perspective," she said.
"After all we have a happy and healthy daughter, we have our brave and resolute mums who have been at court. We've had strong and unwaivering support from our friends and from of our legal team."
Charlie Brooks spoke first to say that he was "proud" of his wife and how she had coped with the eight-month trial. He too said he had little to add to the statement he made two years ago, when he accused prosecutors of a "witch-hunt" against his wife.
He said: "The last 48 hours I've had to focus on being a racehorse trainer but actually I've very little to add to what we both said over to years ago when we were charged. Everything we said two years has proved to be true. Rebekah has been through an unprecedented investigation of an incredibly forensic and personal nature, the likes of which we've probably never seen."
The couple's remarks were made on the same day that Rupert Murdoch flew into London for a pre-arranged visit to his newspaper operation. He has given Rebekah Brooks unstinting support throughout the trial and has been in touch with her frequently on the phone.
It is highly likely they will meet, but away from the cameras as they will both be keen to avoid a repeat of the scene following the closure of the News of the World when he told the world's media that she was his "top priority".