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Rebekah Brooks's PA gave her a false alibi, phone-hacking trial told Rebekah Brooks's PA gave her a false alibi, phone-hacking trial told
(35 minutes later)
Rebekah Brooks's PA gave the former News International chief executive a false alibi for the day her notebooks were removed and hidden from police, prosecutors have claimed at the phone-hacking trial.Rebekah Brooks's PA gave the former News International chief executive a false alibi for the day her notebooks were removed and hidden from police, prosecutors have claimed at the phone-hacking trial.
Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC accused Cheryl Carter of deliberately lying to police when asked about the withdrawal of seven boxes from the News International archive.Prosecutor Andrew Edis QC accused Cheryl Carter of deliberately lying to police when asked about the withdrawal of seven boxes from the News International archive.
In the second day of his closing speech at the Old Bailey, Edis reminded the jury that Carter claimed in her police interview that her boss had been out of the office at a fitness "boot camp" on 8 July 2011.In the second day of his closing speech at the Old Bailey, Edis reminded the jury that Carter claimed in her police interview that her boss had been out of the office at a fitness "boot camp" on 8 July 2011.
Phone records showed that Brooks was at the office that day. She had also been addressing staff at a "town hall" meeting with News of the World staff, which had been recorded.Phone records showed that Brooks was at the office that day. She had also been addressing staff at a "town hall" meeting with News of the World staff, which had been recorded.
During her evidence, Carter apologised to the court for suggesting Brooks had been at a boot camp, claiming she had made a genuine mistake. But Edis said: 'It doesn't support her general credibility as a witness that she said things like that.During her evidence, Carter apologised to the court for suggesting Brooks had been at a boot camp, claiming she had made a genuine mistake. But Edis said: 'It doesn't support her general credibility as a witness that she said things like that.
"But it is not an easy position to find yourself, having been tasked to do her boss's dirty work, and finding yourself in the witness box trying to explain yourself away."But it is not an easy position to find yourself, having been tasked to do her boss's dirty work, and finding yourself in the witness box trying to explain yourself away.
"That was a lie, but it wasn't a particularly clever one."That was a lie, but it wasn't a particularly clever one.
"Once you know it was 8 July, Mrs Brooks was quite clearly not at a boot camp – she was among other things addressing a town hall meeting to people about to lose their jobs.""Once you know it was 8 July, Mrs Brooks was quite clearly not at a boot camp – she was among other things addressing a town hall meeting to people about to lose their jobs."
Edis also challenged Carter's claim that the seven boxes contained her notepads of cuttings of her beauty columns.Edis also challenged Carter's claim that the seven boxes contained her notepads of cuttings of her beauty columns.
The Crown's case is that the boxes contained Brooks's notepads and were retrieved by Carter after her boss instructed her on 8 July 2011.The Crown's case is that the boxes contained Brooks's notepads and were retrieved by Carter after her boss instructed her on 8 July 2011.
Edis told jurors they had to consider if Brooks wanted the notepads "tucked out of sight". "Do you accept that or do you think perhaps they were 30 notebooks belonging to Mrs Carter?" he asked.Edis told jurors they had to consider if Brooks wanted the notepads "tucked out of sight". "Do you accept that or do you think perhaps they were 30 notebooks belonging to Mrs Carter?" he asked.
Carter and Brooks have been charged with a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, which they deny.Carter and Brooks have been charged with a conspiracy to pervert the course of justice, which they deny.
Addressing a separate count faced by Brooks and her husband Charlie, Edis told jurors that the former News International chief executive had been "treated pretty well" by police ahead of her arrest. She was given a choice of police stations to go to for a prearranged interview and had been given time to consult with her lawyers when other people are "simply arrested, dawn raid, arrest you, cart you off, get you a duty solicitor".Addressing a separate count faced by Brooks and her husband Charlie, Edis told jurors that the former News International chief executive had been "treated pretty well" by police ahead of her arrest. She was given a choice of police stations to go to for a prearranged interview and had been given time to consult with her lawyers when other people are "simply arrested, dawn raid, arrest you, cart you off, get you a duty solicitor".
He put it to the jury that Brooks had "rewarded" this by "taking the opportunity" to set in train a series of events that resulted in black bin bags containing her husband's computers and other material such as pornographic DVDs, being found behind a bin in the underground car park in their Chelsea Harbour home.He put it to the jury that Brooks had "rewarded" this by "taking the opportunity" to set in train a series of events that resulted in black bin bags containing her husband's computers and other material such as pornographic DVDs, being found behind a bin in the underground car park in their Chelsea Harbour home.
Edis said there was "nothing wrong" with Brooks having pornography but "why arrange for it to be sent to the premises of his wife's former employers?" He said he thought others might be "more inclined to throw it in the Thames".Edis said there was "nothing wrong" with Brooks having pornography but "why arrange for it to be sent to the premises of his wife's former employers?" He said he thought others might be "more inclined to throw it in the Thames".
He also said there were inconsistencies in the defendants' accounts relating to the two bags – one a brown satchel, the other a black briefcase – and how they got to be in the bin liners behind the rubbish skip on the day of Brooks's arrest.He also said there were inconsistencies in the defendants' accounts relating to the two bags – one a brown satchel, the other a black briefcase – and how they got to be in the bin liners behind the rubbish skip on the day of Brooks's arrest.
He pointed out the differences in the testimony of Brooks and the News International head of security Mark Hanna, who said he had not seen the black briefcase before the trial.He pointed out the differences in the testimony of Brooks and the News International head of security Mark Hanna, who said he had not seen the black briefcase before the trial.
Edis put it to the jury that the only reasons the computers, documents and jiffy bag with porn and other material were put into into black bin liners was to hide them.
"They are probably in bin bags to protect and conceal them," he said, adding that if the briefcase and satchel had just been left behind the bins in Chelsea Harbour, they may have been noticed by passers by.
Edis said "the only thing that makes sense" was the Crown's version of events.
The jury were also reminded of missing devices, including Blackberrys and iPhones, that were linked to Rebekah Brooks.
"We are talking about seven expensive pieces of electronic equipment," said Edis. He told the jury that the business records of News International for four of these devices will all show "no record of return – assume still with user".
Rebekah Brooks, Charlie Brooks and Hanna all deny the charges against them.Rebekah Brooks, Charlie Brooks and Hanna all deny the charges against them.
The trial continues.The trial continues.