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| Andy Coulson trial: jurors fail to reach verdicts on remaining charges | Andy Coulson trial: jurors fail to reach verdicts on remaining charges |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The trial of Andy Coulson has ended after the jury failed to reach majority verdicts on two remaining counts that he conspired to commit misconduct in public office by paying public officials for the acquisition of royal phone books. | The trial of Andy Coulson has ended after the jury failed to reach majority verdicts on two remaining counts that he conspired to commit misconduct in public office by paying public officials for the acquisition of royal phone books. |
| Mr Justice Saunders formally discharged the jury at around 12.30pm on the ninth day of their deliberations in relation to the two charges, which were also faced by the News of the World's former royal editor Clive Goodman. | Mr Justice Saunders formally discharged the jury at around 12.30pm on the ninth day of their deliberations in relation to the two charges, which were also faced by the News of the World's former royal editor Clive Goodman. |
| Both Coulson, David Cameron's former director of communications, who was found guilty of conspiring to hack phones on Tuesday, and Goodman deny the charges. The judge said the Crown Prosecution Service would decide whether it wanted a retrial on the second two charges by Monday. | Both Coulson, David Cameron's former director of communications, who was found guilty of conspiring to hack phones on Tuesday, and Goodman deny the charges. The judge said the Crown Prosecution Service would decide whether it wanted a retrial on the second two charges by Monday. |
| Earlier, Saunders complained about the prime minister's decision to issue a "full and frank" apology for employing Andy Coulson before the jury had completed its work. The judge said Cameron's intervention immediately after the jury found Coulson guilty of hacking charges caused him great concern. | Earlier, Saunders complained about the prime minister's decision to issue a "full and frank" apology for employing Andy Coulson before the jury had completed its work. The judge said Cameron's intervention immediately after the jury found Coulson guilty of hacking charges caused him great concern. |
| "I don't know whether it's been done in ignorance or been done deliberately," he said in a closed hearing on Tuesday after reading his comments. | |
| The judge was asked to discharge the jury by Coulson's lawyer who accused Cameron, Ed Miliband and George Osborne of putting their political interests ahead of justice. Timothy Langdale QC told Saunders that Miliband had said Cameron had made an "ill-judged and premature" intervention on Tuesday, pronouncing on Coulson before the jury had returned verdicts on two of the three counts he faced. The defence's application was refused. | The judge was asked to discharge the jury by Coulson's lawyer who accused Cameron, Ed Miliband and George Osborne of putting their political interests ahead of justice. Timothy Langdale QC told Saunders that Miliband had said Cameron had made an "ill-judged and premature" intervention on Tuesday, pronouncing on Coulson before the jury had returned verdicts on two of the three counts he faced. The defence's application was refused. |
| But the judge said in his ruling, "I consider that what has happened is unsatisfactory so far as justice and the rule of law are concerned." | |
| No 10 said the prime minister had spoken after the verdict had been given in open court and was only speaking about the hacking conspiracy verdict and not other charges against Coulson. | No 10 said the prime minister had spoken after the verdict had been given in open court and was only speaking about the hacking conspiracy verdict and not other charges against Coulson. |
| Downing Street said Cameron made his statement after receiving legal advice, but was reluctant to confirm whether that advice had come from the attorney general, Dominic Grieve. They confirmed they had received a letter from the judge on Tuesday night and had replied giving an explanation of why Cameron had made his statement and on what basis. | Downing Street said Cameron made his statement after receiving legal advice, but was reluctant to confirm whether that advice had come from the attorney general, Dominic Grieve. They confirmed they had received a letter from the judge on Tuesday night and had replied giving an explanation of why Cameron had made his statement and on what basis. |
| Saunders told the jury: "Thank you for trying. We accept you have done as much as you can to reach verdicts, so I am going to discharge you from giving verdicts, so your service is at an end." | Saunders told the jury: "Thank you for trying. We accept you have done as much as you can to reach verdicts, so I am going to discharge you from giving verdicts, so your service is at an end." |
| Charges that Coulson and Goodman had allegedly purchased royal phone books from police officers were brought after Scotland Yard was handed emails from their former employer, News International, in which the royal reporter requested £1,000 for "a rare and just printed palace staff phone book" from "a palace cop". | Charges that Coulson and Goodman had allegedly purchased royal phone books from police officers were brought after Scotland Yard was handed emails from their former employer, News International, in which the royal reporter requested £1,000 for "a rare and just printed palace staff phone book" from "a palace cop". |
| The first charge related to directories known as green books, issued in 2002, which contained contact numbers for royal staff and senior members of the household. | The first charge related to directories known as green books, issued in 2002, which contained contact numbers for royal staff and senior members of the household. |
| Detectives found 15 confidential royal phone books in a police search of Goodman's home in 2005, but charges were not brought until the emails were discovered six years later. | Detectives found 15 confidential royal phone books in a police search of Goodman's home in 2005, but charges were not brought until the emails were discovered six years later. |
| Coulson will be sentenced on Friday next week on the phone-hacking charge. | Coulson will be sentenced on Friday next week on the phone-hacking charge. |