This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-27589371
The article has changed 5 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| Hacking trial: Sale of royal phone books 'storm in tea cup' | Hacking trial: Sale of royal phone books 'storm in tea cup' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| The sale of royal telephone directories to the former royal editor of the News of the World was a "storm in a tea cup", the Old Bailey has heard. | The sale of royal telephone directories to the former royal editor of the News of the World was a "storm in a tea cup", the Old Bailey has heard. |
| Clive Goodman's lawyer told the phone-hacking trial that the directories contained almost "no private information at all". | Clive Goodman's lawyer told the phone-hacking trial that the directories contained almost "no private information at all". |
| Mr Goodman, 56, denies conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. | Mr Goodman, 56, denies conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. |
| He is accused of paying a royal police officer for internal directories and "green books" - palace contacts lists. | |
| The former royal editor is one of seven people, including former News of the World editors Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks, currently on trial for various offences related to hacking. They all deny the charges against them. | |
| Giving his closing defence speech, Mr Goodman's lawyer, David Spens QC, told the jury: "If you think that counts two and three are no more than a storm in a tea cup, then you must say so." | |
| 'No numbers hacked' | |
| He said the "more restricted" palace green books contained only a limited number of mobile phone numbers, including those for the chief helicopter pilot and a horse bloodstock adviser. | |
| None of the mobile numbers contained in the green books had been hacked, Mr Spens said. | |
| The lawyer also said emails from Mr Goodman to Mr Coulson asking him to authorise payment for the books were the "only evidence that the green books were supplied by a police officer". | |
| Reference in the emails to a royal police officer was only made to "exaggerate" the status of the source, Mr Spens said. | |
| This was to ensure payment to the source, which would mean he would be "more likely" to come back with other stories, he said. |