Update | Rebekah Brooks cleared, Andy Coulson convicted in UK phone hacking trial
British Prime Minister David Cameron apologises for hiring ex-media chief Andy Coulson who was convicted over phone-hacking
Former Rupert Murdoch confidante Rebekah Brooks was cleared of all charges, while British Prime Minister David Cameron's one-time media chief Andy Coulson was convicted of phone hacking in a dramatic end to the News of the World trial yesterday.
A jury unanimously found Coulson, the paper's former editor, guilty of conspiring to intercept communications. Fellow editor Brooks was acquitted of that charge and of bribing officials and obstructing police.
The trial at London's Old Bailey 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, even crime victims.
Three other defendants - Brooks' husband Charlie, her former secretary Cheryl Carter and News International security chief Mark Hanna - were acquitted of perverting the course of justice by trying to hide evidence. Former News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner was found not guilty of phone hacking.
The defendants stood silently in the dock as the forewoman of the 11-member jury announced the verdicts. Brooks mouthed "thank you" after she was cleared of all charges.