LONDON – The trial of two former top editors of Rupert Murdoch's defunct News of the World began Monday with the selection of a jury to hear the complex and high-profile case sparked by a tabloid phone-hacking scandal that has shaken Murdoch's media empire and tarnished the image of British journalism.
Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson — both one-time senior Murdoch aides and associates of British Prime Minister David Cameron — are charged with conspiring to hack the phones of celebrities and other people in the public eye and with making illegal payments to officials for information. They sat side-by-side in the dock at London's Central Criminal Court along with six other defendants on the first day of a trial that Judge John Saunders said could last up to six months.
This is the first criminal trial stemming from revelations in 2011 of tabloid phone-hacking — a scandal that exposed a murky web of ties binding Britain's media, political and police establishments. Exposure of illegal eavesdropping by the News of the World led Murdoch to shut the 168-year-old newspaper and spurred a judge-led, media-ethics inquiry and several wide-ranging criminal investigations. Dozens of journalists and officials have been arrested.
The judge told about 80 prospective jurors that the case centered on allegations of criminal activity at the News of the World and its sister paper, The Sun. A jury of 12 will be chosen and sworn in Tuesday. The prosecution will then begin its opening statements, outlining in detail the allegations of wrongdoing against the former media high-flyers.
The eight defendants, all but one former Murdoch employees, all deny the charges.
associated Press
