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Phone Hacking: Case against Andy Coulson 'cavalier' Phone-hacking trial: Case against Andy Coulson 'cavalier'
(about 2 hours later)
The case against Andy Coulson has been "broad brush" and "cavalier", the hacking trial has heard. The case against Andy Coulson has been "broad brush" and "cavalier", the phone-hacking trial has heard.
There are a number of "gaps in the evidence" against the former News of the World editor, Mr Coulson's defence said on Wednesday. There are a number of "gaps in the evidence" against the former News of the World editor, Mr Coulson's defence said.
Timothy Langdale QC also criticised the police investigation saying it had not been "rigorous, open-minded or fair." Timothy Langdale QC also criticised the police investigation saying it had not been "rigorous, open-minded or fair".
Mr Coulson is one of seven defendants on trial at the Old Bailey. They all deny the charges against them.Mr Coulson is one of seven defendants on trial at the Old Bailey. They all deny the charges against them.
Mr Langdale said that during the trial, prosecution theories had been proved to be impossible and criticisms of the police had been "cast aside".Mr Langdale said that during the trial, prosecution theories had been proved to be impossible and criticisms of the police had been "cast aside".
He said it was "almost as if the juggernaut… of the police investigation and prosecution must keep moving, whatever legitimate obstacles are thrown in it's path." He said it was "almost as if the juggernaut… of the police investigation and prosecution must keep moving, whatever legitimate obstacles are thrown in its path".
Examples of prosecution failings were cited by Mr Langdale. Mr Langdale called into question the evidence of Dan Evans, who has pleaded guilty to phone hacking and is only a witness in the current trial, and Clive Goodman, who was jailed in 2007 for the same offence.
He called into question the evidence of Dan Evans, who has pleaded guilty to phone hacking, and Clive Goodman, who was was jailed in 2007 for the same offence. Both men "had an agenda" and were "thoroughly unreliable", Mr Langdale said.
Both men "had an agenda" Mr Langdale said, and were "thoroughly unreliable".
The jury was told the prosecution case was that phone hacking was an "open secret" at the News of the World.The jury was told the prosecution case was that phone hacking was an "open secret" at the News of the World.
Sienna Miller voicemailSienna Miller voicemail
If that was the case, suggested Mr Langdale: "Why are there no emails requesting hacking, or sanctioning hacking or anything of the kind?"If that was the case, suggested Mr Langdale: "Why are there no emails requesting hacking, or sanctioning hacking or anything of the kind?"
Recounting evidence given by Mr Evans, the barrister said the former News of the World reporter's confusion surrounding dates of alleged events "will just not do". The barrister highlighted confusion surrounding dates of alleged events in the former News of the World reporter's evidence.
Mr Evans had told the trial he played a voicemail left by the actress Sienna Miller on Bond star Daniel Craig's phone to a number of senior executives - including Mr Coulson - at the News of the World office in Wapping. Evans had told the trial he played a voicemail left by the actress Sienna Miller on Bond star Daniel Craig's phone to a number of senior executives - including Mr Coulson - at the News of the World office in Wapping.
The former journalist had said he played the tape around "dusk" on 27 September 2005.The former journalist had said he played the tape around "dusk" on 27 September 2005.
Mr Langdale reminded the jury that evidence suggested Mr Coulson was not in London that day, but rather at the Labour Party conference in Brighton.Mr Langdale reminded the jury that evidence suggested Mr Coulson was not in London that day, but rather at the Labour Party conference in Brighton.
Recalling Mr Evans' evidence, Mr Langdale said his response at the time to Mr Coulson's whereabouts was: "Maybe it was another day, or the next day". Recalling Evans's evidence, Mr Langdale said his response at the time to Mr Coulson's whereabouts was: "Maybe it was another day, or the next day."
'Own agenda''Own agenda'
"That, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, will just not do," Mr Langdale said."That, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, will just not do," Mr Langdale said.
The barrister also said the prosecution, in its closing speech, realised "that their ship had been holed" and tried to "salvage something from the wreckage" by quoting Mr Evans' earlier police statements. The barrister also said the prosecution, in its closing speech, realised "that their ship had been holed" and tried to "salvage something from the wreckage" by quoting Evans's earlier police statements.
He described Mr Evans and former News of the World royal editor Mr Goodman as "unreliable" witnesses in the prosecution's case. He described Evans and former News of the World royal editor Mr Goodman as "unreliable" witnesses in the prosecution's case.
"A notable feature of this case is that the prosecution failed to call before you a single witness to testify that Andy Coulson was involved in phone hacking at the News of the World who does not have an agenda of their own to pursue," he said."A notable feature of this case is that the prosecution failed to call before you a single witness to testify that Andy Coulson was involved in phone hacking at the News of the World who does not have an agenda of their own to pursue," he said.
Mr Langdale then branded Mr Goodman's performance in the witness box a bit "prima donna-ish" and a "remarkable exhibition".
He said the jury had seen for themselves that the former royal editor was a "bit of a tricky customer", as Mr Coulson had suggested.
He also criticised Mr Goodman's assertion that he had taken no pleasure in outlining Mr Coulson's involvement in the phone-hacking affair, saying: "You could have fooled me."
Mr Coulson denies charges of conspiring to hack phones and conspiring to commit misconduct in public office by agreeing with Mr Goodman to pay for two royal phone books.Mr Coulson denies charges of conspiring to hack phones and conspiring to commit misconduct in public office by agreeing with Mr Goodman to pay for two royal phone books.
As well as Mr Coulson and Mr Goodman, former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks, former managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former head of security at News International Mark Hanna, Mrs Brooks's husband Charlie Brooks and her executive assistant Cheryl Carte are on trial in connection with phone hacking. As well as Mr Coulson and Mr Goodman, former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks, former managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former head of security at News International Mark Hanna, Mrs Brooks's husband Charlie Brooks and her executive assistant Cheryl Carter are on trial in connection with phone hacking.