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Rupert Murdoch's second grilling by parliamentary committee postponed Rupert Murdoch's second grilling by parliamentary committee postponed
(6 days later)
Plans to bring Rupert Murdoch before the culture, media and sport committee for a second grilling about the activities of his British newspaper empire have been shelved after the attorney general and his own lawyers intervened.Plans to bring Rupert Murdoch before the culture, media and sport committee for a second grilling about the activities of his British newspaper empire have been shelved after the attorney general and his own lawyers intervened.
Murdoch wrote to the parliamentary committee on Tuesday to tell them that his lawyers have advised him that he should not submit himself for questioning until all the criminal trials relating to the News of the World and the Sun are over.Murdoch wrote to the parliamentary committee on Tuesday to tell them that his lawyers have advised him that he should not submit himself for questioning until all the criminal trials relating to the News of the World and the Sun are over.
Under the current court schedule this may not be until July 2014 but with potential appeals and more trials it could be 2015.Under the current court schedule this may not be until July 2014 but with potential appeals and more trials it could be 2015.
John Whittingdale, chairman of the committee, said: "The committee received a letter from News Corp setting out legal advice that he had received, but at the same time the committee received its own advice that there was a risk that any questions might prejudice the trials. On that basis we have decided not to pursue it at this stage."John Whittingdale, chairman of the committee, said: "The committee received a letter from News Corp setting out legal advice that he had received, but at the same time the committee received its own advice that there was a risk that any questions might prejudice the trials. On that basis we have decided not to pursue it at this stage."
It is understood that the attorney general, Dominic Grieve, and the speaker's counsel, Michael Carpenter, wrote to the committee counselling them not to go ahead with their planned interrogation.It is understood that the attorney general, Dominic Grieve, and the speaker's counsel, Michael Carpenter, wrote to the committee counselling them not to go ahead with their planned interrogation.
A spokesman for News Corp said its advice was that "there is, to put it at its lowest, a substantial risk that any questions from the committee on the subject you identify would touch on matters relevant to the criminal trial, and a substantial risk that any answers would seriously impede or prejudice the course of justice".A spokesman for News Corp said its advice was that "there is, to put it at its lowest, a substantial risk that any questions from the committee on the subject you identify would touch on matters relevant to the criminal trial, and a substantial risk that any answers would seriously impede or prejudice the course of justice".
Murdoch had agreed to appear before the committee when invited in July to answer fresh questions over secret tape recordings of a meeting he had with more than 20 Sun journalists who have been arrested in connection with alleged unlawful payments to police and other public officials for stories.Murdoch had agreed to appear before the committee when invited in July to answer fresh questions over secret tape recordings of a meeting he had with more than 20 Sun journalists who have been arrested in connection with alleged unlawful payments to police and other public officials for stories.
The first trial related to the activities of News International, which is now renamed News UK, is scheduled to start on 28 October and involves eight defendants including Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International, and David Cameron's former spin doctor, Andy Coulson, who was a former News of the World editor. Brooks and Coulson have pleaded not guilty; their trial is expected to last until mid February.The first trial related to the activities of News International, which is now renamed News UK, is scheduled to start on 28 October and involves eight defendants including Rebekah Brooks, the former chief executive of News International, and David Cameron's former spin doctor, Andy Coulson, who was a former News of the World editor. Brooks and Coulson have pleaded not guilty; their trial is expected to last until mid February.
Three more trials have been scheduled to take place after that with the latest pencilled in for June.Three more trials have been scheduled to take place after that with the latest pencilled in for June.
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