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Andy Coulson perjury jury hears Tommy Sheridan trial evidence Andy Coulson perjury jury hears Tommy Sheridan trial evidence
(about 1 hour later)
The perjury trial of David Cameron’s former media chief Andy Coulson has opened in Scotland with a recording of evidence he gave in a court case in which he is alleged to have lied. The perjury trial of David Cameron’s former media chief Andy Coulson has heard a recording of his testimony in a court case in which he is alleged to have lied.
Over two-and-a-half hours, the 15 jurors heard Coulson being questioned by the former socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan during an earlier trial in 2010. Over two-and-a-half hours, 15 jurors at the high court in Edinburgh listened to Coulson being questioned by the former socialist MSP Tommy Sheridan during an earlier trial in 2010.
The charge facing Coulson, 47, centres on the evidence he gave during the trial, in which Sheridan was prosecuted on a perjury charge. The charge against Coulson, 47, centres on the evidence he gave during the trial, in which Sheridan was prosecuted on a perjury charge.
At the high court in Edinburgh on Monday, the jury heard Sheridan, who defended himself, question Coulson extensively about his knowledge of hacking at the News of the World, which he edited from 2003-07. The jury heard Sheridan, who defended himself in his trial, question Coulson extensively about his knowledge of hacking at the News of the World, which Coulson edited from 2003-07.
They heard how the paper’s royal editor, Clive Goodman, and a private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, had been arrested in 2006 for hacking the phones of members of the royal household. They heard that the paper’s royal editor, Clive Goodman, and a private investigator, Glenn Mulcaire, had been arrested in 2006 for hacking the phones of members of the royal household.
Coulson, who gave his occupation at the time as director of communications, Downing Street, denied knowing Mulcaire until the time of his and Goodman’s arrest in 2006. Coulson, who gave his occupation at the time as director of communications, Downing Street, denied having known Mulcaire before his and Goodman’s arrest in 2006.
Prosecutors allege Coulson, from Preston in Kent, lied under oath on 9 and 10 December 2010 after being sworn in as a witness at Sheridan’s trial. He was recorded saying: “I stress that I never met, heard of, emailed, spoke to Glenn Mulcaire prior to when the Clive Goodman affair started.” Prosecutors allege that Coulson, from Preston, Kent, lied under oath on 9 and 10 December 2010 after being sworn in as a witness at Sheridan’s trial. He was recorded saying: “I stress that I never met, heard of, emailed, spoke to Glenn Mulcaire prior to when the Clive Goodman affair started.”
Coulson said he did remember a company, Nine Consultancy, being on a list of those used by the newspaper. It was a firm owned by Mulcaire and was paid £105,000 in one year, but it was “for legitimate work”, Coulson said at the time.Coulson said he did remember a company, Nine Consultancy, being on a list of those used by the newspaper. It was a firm owned by Mulcaire and was paid £105,000 in one year, but it was “for legitimate work”, Coulson said at the time.
The jury heard Coulson on tape tell Sheridan that he “had no knowledge” of phone hacking at the paper but that he had resigned in 2007 and was unemployed for five months before joining the Conservative party team. “I felt I had to take responsibility for it [the hacking case],” Coulson had said. The jury heard Coulson on tape tell Sheridan that he had no knowledge of phone hacking at the paper. He said he had resigned in 2007 and was unemployed for five months before joining the Conservative party team. “I felt I had to take responsibility for it [the hacking case],” Coulson said.
“I resigned, Mr Sheridan. I took responsibility for it. It was clear to me that something had gone wrong that was why I resigned,” he said.“I resigned, Mr Sheridan. I took responsibility for it. It was clear to me that something had gone wrong that was why I resigned,” he said.
“Is it collective amnesia, Mr Coulson, you’ve got – or are you just lying?,” Sheridan was heard asking the former editor. Sheridan was heard asking the former editor: “Is it collective amnesia, Mr Coulson, you’ve got – or are you just lying?”
“I’m not lying to you, Mr Sheridan, I’m doing my very best to answer your questions.” “I’m not lying to you, Mr Sheridan, I’m doing my very best to answer your questions,” Coulson replied.
Sheridan sued the News of the World in 2006 after it had claimed he had visited “a swinger’s club” called Cupids in Manchester. He was subsequently charged with perjury and brought to trial in 2010. Sheridan sued the News of the World in 2006 after it claimed he had visited a “swingers club” called Cupids in Manchester. He was subsequently charged with perjury and brought to trial in 2010.
Coulson stands accused of lying under oath in the Sheridan perjury trial, which followed a libel action taken by the former socialist MP.Coulson stands accused of lying under oath in the Sheridan perjury trial, which followed a libel action taken by the former socialist MP.
In the 2010 case, Sheridan asked Coulson if he knew how much money the paper had been willing to spend destroying him. In the 2010 case, Sheridan asked Coulson if he knew how much money the paper had been willing to spend destroying him. “I had no interest to destroy you, Mr Sheridan,” Coulson was heard replying.
“I had no interest to destroy you, Mr Sheridan,” Coulson was heard replying. Earlier the first witness in Coulson’s trial, PC James Smith, was called to give evidence. Cross-examining Smith, Coulson’s barrister Murdo McLeod cited the closing speech of the prosecutor in Sheridan’s trial in 2010.
The tape was played after the first witness, PC James Smith, was called. The trial continues. Smith agreed that the advocate depute had said: “There is no evidence of illegal interception of Mr Sheridan’s telephone, pure and simple.”
The trial continues.