Lone NOTW Honcho Convicted of Phone Hacking

Former News of the World editor Andy Coulson was convicted of phone hacking today, but fellow editor Rebekah Brooks was acquitted after a monthslong trial centering on illegal activity at the heart of Rupert Murdoch's newspaper empire. A jury unanimously found Coulson, an ex-adviser to Prime Minister David Cameron, guilty of conspiring to intercept communications. Brooks was acquitted of that charge and of counts of bribing officials and obstructing police.

The nearly eight-month trial was triggered by revelations that for years the News of the World used illegal eavesdropping to get stories, listening in on the voicemails of celebrities, politicians, and even crime victims. Three others—Brooks' husband, Charles Brooks; her former secretary Cheryl Carter; and News International security chief Mark Hanna—were acquitted of perverting the course of justice by attempting to hide evidence from police. Former News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner was found not guilty of phone hacking. The scandal led Murdoch to shut down the 168-year-old tabloid.