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Ex-NoW royal editor tells court of his regret over hacking princes' phones Ex-NoW royal editor tells court of his regret over hacking princes' phones
(about 1 hour later)
The former royal editor of the News of the World has told a court he is “not the slightest bit proud” of hacking the phones of princes William and Harry.The former royal editor of the News of the World has told a court he is “not the slightest bit proud” of hacking the phones of princes William and Harry.
Clive Goodman, 57, said “nobody seems to let me move on”, speaking of the period of his life when he regularly listened into the royals’ voicemails in the hunt for a scoop to impress his editor.Clive Goodman, 57, said “nobody seems to let me move on”, speaking of the period of his life when he regularly listened into the royals’ voicemails in the hunt for a scoop to impress his editor.
He also claimed he regretted hacking the voicemails of Kate Middleton when she was dating Prince William in 2005 and 2006, including once on Christmas Day.He also claimed he regretted hacking the voicemails of Kate Middleton when she was dating Prince William in 2005 and 2006, including once on Christmas Day.
Goodman was giving evidence for the third day during the perjury trial of his former editor Andy Coulson in Edinburgh’s high court.Goodman was giving evidence for the third day during the perjury trial of his former editor Andy Coulson in Edinburgh’s high court.
Records of phone calls prepared by police for the trial showed he hacked the now Duchess of Cambridge’s phone 155 times, including on 25 December 2005.Records of phone calls prepared by police for the trial showed he hacked the now Duchess of Cambridge’s phone 155 times, including on 25 December 2005.
“I hacked Kate Middleton’s phone just to see if there was a message from Prince William,” he said when asked what he was doing on Christmas Day by Coulson’s barrister Murdo Macleod QC.“I hacked Kate Middleton’s phone just to see if there was a message from Prince William,” he said when asked what he was doing on Christmas Day by Coulson’s barrister Murdo Macleod QC.
Asked how he felt about hacking the phones of the royals, Goodman told the court: “Now, it feels very wrong, I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on this, it’s not something I’m proud of, not the greatest move of my career. I’d dearly love to be able to move on but nobody seems to let me move on, we still seem to be discussing it nine years on.” Asked how he felt about hacking the phones of the royals, Goodman told the court: “Now, it feels very wrong. I’ve had plenty of time to reflect on this, it’s not something I’m proud of, not the greatest move of my career. I’d dearly love to be able to move on but nobody seems to let me move on. We still seem to be discussing it nine years on.”
When it was put to him that there were 155 hacks of Middleton’s phone he said: “I don’t deny any of this; it’s there, I did it. I wish I hadn’t but I can’t take it back.”When it was put to him that there were 155 hacks of Middleton’s phone he said: “I don’t deny any of this; it’s there, I did it. I wish I hadn’t but I can’t take it back.”
Coulson is on trial after being charged with committing perjury for allegedly lying about his knowledge of hacking in the 2010 perjury trial of the former Scottish politician Tommy Sheridan. He denies the charge.Coulson is on trial after being charged with committing perjury for allegedly lying about his knowledge of hacking in the 2010 perjury trial of the former Scottish politician Tommy Sheridan. He denies the charge.
Goodman, of Surrey, who was jailed in 2007 along with private investigator Glenn Mulcaire for hacking royal aides phones, was repeatedly accused of lying when giving evidence by Macleod. Goodman, of Surrey, who was jailed in 2007 along with private investigator Glenn Mulcaire for hacking royal aides’ phones, was repeatedly accused by Macleod of lying when giving evidence.
During the second day of tense cross-examination, Coulson’s barrister put it to him that he was “not telling the whole truth” when he testified earlier this week that Coulson knew he and Mulcaire were hacking the royals.During the second day of tense cross-examination, Coulson’s barrister put it to him that he was “not telling the whole truth” when he testified earlier this week that Coulson knew he and Mulcaire were hacking the royals.
Macleod accused Goodman of bearing a grudge against Coulson after emails showed he was unhappy with being put under pressure to bring in bigger and better stories.Macleod accused Goodman of bearing a grudge against Coulson after emails showed he was unhappy with being put under pressure to bring in bigger and better stories.
In one email shown to the jury, Goodman told his sister Fran – who also worked on the paper – that he felt like hitting him in a way “that would have pushed his larynx out the back of his neck”.In one email shown to the jury, Goodman told his sister Fran – who also worked on the paper – that he felt like hitting him in a way “that would have pushed his larynx out the back of his neck”.
“It was an exaggerated bitch about the boss. It’s simply a turn of phrase,” Goodman told jurors, saying there was never any violence between them.“It was an exaggerated bitch about the boss. It’s simply a turn of phrase,” Goodman told jurors, saying there was never any violence between them.
Goodman had told jurors that Coulson had sanctioned a £500-a-week deal with Mulcaire to hack phones of royal aides even though he was already on a contract for more than £100,000 a year with the tabloid. Goodman had told jurors that Coulson sanctioned a £500-a-week deal with Mulcaire to hack phones of royal aides even though he was already on a contract for more than £100,000 a year with the tabloid.
He claimed he had the conversation in Coulson’s office and outlined the targets of the hacking and the results it might yield. Macleod put it to him that this was not a credible version of events.He claimed he had the conversation in Coulson’s office and outlined the targets of the hacking and the results it might yield. Macleod put it to him that this was not a credible version of events.
“If you told him that this was from someone who was already on £100,000 and you told him this chap was already hacking, would he not have said, ‘What’s the point?’ if he was being paid that much?”“If you told him that this was from someone who was already on £100,000 and you told him this chap was already hacking, would he not have said, ‘What’s the point?’ if he was being paid that much?”
Nodding towards Coulson, Goodman replied: “You’d have to ask your client.”Nodding towards Coulson, Goodman replied: “You’d have to ask your client.”
He added: “There was a small value to be wrenched out of this on a special project and quite frankly £500 a week, it wasn’t a considerable sum for a newspaper, of this size.” He added: “There was a small value to be wrenched out of this on a special project and, quite frankly, £500 a week, it wasn’t a considerable sum for a newspaper of this size.”
Macleod responded: “The truth is you never mentioned hacking to Mr Coulson at all.”Macleod responded: “The truth is you never mentioned hacking to Mr Coulson at all.”
“That’s not true,” replied Goodman.“That’s not true,” replied Goodman.
On re-examination by prosecutor Richard Goddard on Friday, Goodman said he did not bear any grudge now against Coulson.On re-examination by prosecutor Richard Goddard on Friday, Goodman said he did not bear any grudge now against Coulson.
“I don’t bear Andy any personal animosity, but he did behave badly,” he said.“I don’t bear Andy any personal animosity, but he did behave badly,” he said.
Goodman said he did not want to give evidence but was advised he was compelled to do so under Scottish law.Goodman said he did not want to give evidence but was advised he was compelled to do so under Scottish law.
He told the court: “I would much rather be at home with my family getting on with my life and not having to relive this nightmare over and over again.He told the court: “I would much rather be at home with my family getting on with my life and not having to relive this nightmare over and over again.
“I find myself having to recall phone hacking years and years after I’ve served my sentence … and being labelled the rogue reporter [by News International], with the full weight of News International bearing down.”“I find myself having to recall phone hacking years and years after I’ve served my sentence … and being labelled the rogue reporter [by News International], with the full weight of News International bearing down.”
The trial continues.The trial continues.