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Phone hacking: Coulson and others face crown court in September
Josh Halliday Guardian and BBC News web site
DATELINE: 17/8/12
Andy Coulson, the prime minister's former director of communications, and five other former News of the World journalists are due to appear at Southwark crown court to face phone hacking charges on 26 September. The group of six former News of the World journalists, plus the private investigator Glenn Mulcaire, were informed of their next court date during a short hearing at Westminster magistrates' court on Thursday morning.
Coulson and Mulcaire sat in a glass dock alongside Stuart Kuttner, the former managing editor of the News of the World; Ian Edmondson, former assistant editor (news); Greg Miskiw, a former news editor; Neville Thurlbeck, former chief reporter; and James Weatherup, former assistant news editor.
Each of the journalists, except Mulcaire, were charged in July with conspiring to intercept the voicemail messages of well-known people and their associates between 2000 and 2006.
Daphne Wickham, the deputy chief magistrate, referred the case for the preliminary hearing next month.
The seven, who have all vigorously denied the allegations, spoke only to confirm their name, date of birth and address at the magistrates' court. They all looked straight ahead as the court clerk read out a detailed charge sheet of allegations against them.
Nigel Pilkington, prosecuting, said the case should next be heard by Mr Justice Fulford at Southwark crown court because it was "linked to other matters effecting some of those here today".
The seven were then bailed with conditions including that they do not contact their co-accused or the former News International chief executive Rebecca Brooks, Neil Wallis, the former News of the World executive editor, or Dan Evans, a former reporter at the now-closed Sunday tabloid. Brooks, Wallis and Evans are also on police bail after being arrested on suspicion of phone hacking.
They are the first people to appear in court on charges relating to phone hacking at the News of the World since Scotland Yard reopened its investigation in January 2011.
Prosecutors said in July that more than 600 people, including the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler and actor Jude Law, were victims of voicemail hacking.Meanwhile, a former news editor at the News of the World Scotland has been arrested and charged in connection with the perjury trial of former MSP Tommy Sheridan. Douglas Wight, 39, has been charged with perjury, conspiracy to hack telephones and multiple charges of conspiracy to obtain personal data.
Strathclyde Police said that Mr Wight was detained as part of Operation Rubicon. A report will be sent to prosecutors who will decide how to proceed.
© 2012 Guardian News and Media Limited or its affiliated companies. All rights reserved and BBC News web site
Last modified: Friday, August 17, 2012
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Previous stories
Journalism Ethics
Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks to be charged over phone hacking
Operation Motorman: 72 people told they were targeted by investigator
Guardian hacking journalist David Leigh won't be charged
Disabled people slam media libels
Phone hacking: No charges for Guardian reporter Amelia Hill over 'leaks'
Phone-hacking police charge Rebekah Brooks
11 referred to prosecutors by phone-hacking squad
News of the World phone-hacking cases launched in US
News Corporation's Australian branch in new hacking row
Chris Jefferies: Only press fines can prevent trial by media
Paying cash for stories: a demeaning trade that spawned phone hacking and illegal payments to Police officers
The Sun has eroded British justice, fairness and freedom: now it is feeling the effects
Sun in crisis
Evidence to the Joint Committee on Privacy and Injunctions from CPBF Chair Julian Petley
A Chance for Change
Phone hacking: Leveson inquiry into press ethics starts
The People in libel payout over Dale Farm slavery slur
News of the World hired investigators to spy on hacking victims' lawyers
Phone hacking: NoW warned about 'culture of illegal information access'
Milly Dowler police investigation may have been targeted
Wall Street Journal circulation scam claims senior Murdoch executive
Journalist wins legal battle after refusing to reveal sources
Phone hacking: News International faces more than 60 claims
Journalistic bad practice: more "icebergs" on the way
Phone hacking update
Phone hacking: News of the World reporter's letter reveals cover-up
The Sun and Hillsborough
News of the World accused of hacking Milly Dowler's phone
News of the World prints phone-hacking apology
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