Rebekah Brooks Found Not Guilty, Andy Coulson Convicted in Phone Hacking Trial

The former News of the World editor walks free as her former colleague faces jail time

Rebekah Brooks, former News International chief executive, arrives for the first day of the phone-hacking trial at the Old Bailey in London on October 28, 2013. (Getty Images)

Rebekah Brooks, the former News of the World editor, was on Tuesday cleared of all four charges she faced of conspiring to hack phones.

Her successor at NOTW, Andy Coulson, who once served as the chief of communications for Prime Minister David Cameron, was found guilty on one count of conspiring to hack phones and faces jail time.

The Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid shut down in 2011 over revelations that the newspaper was hacking the phones of celebrities to get scoops.

Also read: Rebekah Brooks Was Hacked by Her Own Tabloid

Brooks had been accused of covering up the alleged phone hacking conspiracy from investigators and hiding evidence –including “documents and computers” — from police.

Also read: Bill Maher Mocks Rupert Murdoch By Reading Fox News-Themed Harlequin Novel (Video)

While Brooks acquittal was a welcome outcome for Murdoch, Coulson became the fifth member of NOTW to face jail time over the scandal. Sentencing is expected in the days to come following the trial.

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