Day 34: The jury at the Old Bailey phone hacking trial yesterday heard evidence relating to the allegations of conspiracy to prevert the course of justice. Prosecution Counsel, Andrew Edis QC, told that jury that for the next two to three weeks they would hear evidence on Counts 6 and 7.
Rebekah Brooks and her former PA Cheryl Carter are charged, under Count 6, with removing boxes for archived material from News Internationalin July 2011. Count 7 involves Rebekah Brooks, her husband Charlie Brooks and News International Head of Security, Mark Hanna. They are accused of concealing evidence.
The prosecution took the jury through a schedule for “Operation Sacha” which sets out the events around Counts 6 and 7.
The prosecution called News International archivist, Nick Mayes. He told the jury that, in his desk diary of 8 July 2011, he had recorded a phone call from Cheryl Carter and noted “request PLS return Rebekah’s Notebooks”. This was the day after staff were told of the closure of the News of the World.
Eight items were ordered seven of which were to be delivered to Cheryl Carter. She collected the notebooks and told the archivist that the notebooks belonged to her and that they would be premanently removed.
Mr Mayes also told the jury that Charlie Brooks arranged to buy surplus silver, previously used in the News International dining rooms.
Under cross-examination, by Counsel for Cheryl Carter, Mr Mayes said that lawyers and the police did nothing to protect or preserve Rebekah Brooks’ archives even after her arrest. He said that the removal of the notebooks was entirely within company policy. He denied that the decision to deliver the notebooks urgently was made by him.
Mr Mayes said that that he did not know that Cheryl Carter wrote a beauty column and did not link the boxes with her career as a journalists.
Mr Mays will continuing giving evidence tomorrow.
All the defendants deny the charges. The trial continues.
Other Trial reports
James Doleman, “Phone-hacking trial: The archivist, the PA and the boxes“
BBC News “Phone-hacking trial: Brooks PA ‘wanted NoW notes back‘”
#pressform has a full collection of links and tweets for “Phone Hacking Trial – Day 34“
Reblogged this on David Hencke and commented:
The trial now moves to whether Rebekah Brooks was involved in concealing evidence to prevent the police investigating. Andy Coulson was excused a court appearance as he is not involved in these charges. The court also learnt about Charlie Brooks,Rebecca’s husband buying up surplus News International silverware used to wine and dine the great, the good and the not so good.
Reblogged this on Vox Political.