Operation Elveden a ‘misconceived witch-hunt’ says Sun journalist’s counsel
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Version 0 of 1. The police operation into journalists paying for stories from public officials was branded a “flailing octopus” at the Old Bailey Oliver Blunt QC, defending Sun journalist Brandon Malinsky, described the Metropolitan Police inquiry Operation Elveden as a “misconceived witch-hunt” He said that four journalists accused of paying prison guards for inside information about notorious prisoners had been treated like “exhibits in a zoo” while on trial. Elveden had “cherry picked” activities at the Sun to pander to police operations and official agendas, he told the Old Bailey jury. Sun reporters Tom Wells, Neil Millard, and Malinsky, are accused of paying prison guards, including immigration guard Mark Blake, for scoops on Jon Venables, George Michael and Boy George. Graham Brough, a former Mirror journalist, is also in the dock facing similar charges. Wells is accused of paying two prison guards for tips on murderer Venables, and funnelling money to Blake for stories about the way detainees were being held at Colnbrook Immigration Centre. Brough, Millard and Malinsky are accused of paying Pentonville prison guard Reggie Nunkoo for stories, including details of the jail time of singers George Michael and Boy George. Millard is also accused of paying 999 call centre boss Rosemary Collier for details of a Met Police anti-terrorism briefing, and paying a prison officer for news about Venables. Blunt said Malinsky, who worked on the Sun night desk, was on trial merely for trying to speed up the process of authorising two stories written by Millard. “He is alleged to have conspired with Reggie Nunkoo to commit misconduct in a public office, yet he’d never met him nor did he even know his name,” said Blunt. The QC told jurors there was absolutely no evidence Malinksy could have authorised any of the payments relating to the indictment. “His signature, if it exists at all, counts for absolutely nothing,” said Blunt. He told jurors that the evidence showed that before Malinsky was approached by Millard, each of the articles had already been passed through journalists, news editors, lawyers and managing editors. The night desk was an “extremely hectic, pressurised environment with phones constantly ringing” and within that “maelstrom of activity, two events have been cherry-picked in this misconceived witch-hunt called Operation Elveden,” he said. “Like a flailing octopus it has been released into the inner sanctums of the Sun. “These men are perfectly decent, law-abiding people simply doing their jobs, producing perfectly accurate stories,” Blunt continued. Wells and Millard both deny three counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. Brough denies one count of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. Blake denies conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and one charge of misconduct in public office. Malinsky also denies one charge of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office. The trial continues. |