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Andy Coulson perjury jury hears Tommy Sheridan trial evidence Andy Coulson perjury jury hears Tommy Sheridan trial evidence
(about 2 hours later)
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.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, 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. 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 a trial in 2010.
The charge against 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 that trial, in which Sheridan himself was beingprosecuted for perjury.
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. The jury heard Sheridan, who defended himself in the trial, question Coulson extensively about his knowledge of phone hacking at the News of the World, which Coulson edited from 2003-07.
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.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 having known Mulcaire before 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.
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.”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. 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. The jury heard Coulson 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 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 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.”
Sheridan was heard asking the former editor: “Is it collective amnesia, Mr Coulson, you’ve got – or are you just lying?” Sheridan was heard asking the former editor: “Is it selective 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,” Coulson replied. Coulson replied: “I’m not lying to you, Mr Sheridan, I’m doing my very best to answer your questions.”
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. Sheridan sued the News of the World for libel 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. In that 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.
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. Earlier, the first witness in Coulson’s trial, police officer James Smith, was called to give evidence. Cross-examining PC Smith, Coulson’s barrister, Murdo McLeod, cited the closing speech of the prosecutor in the 2010 trial.
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.
Smith agreed that the advocate depute had said: “There is no evidence of illegal interception of Mr Sheridan’s telephone, pure and simple.”Smith agreed that the advocate depute had said: “There is no evidence of illegal interception of Mr Sheridan’s telephone, pure and simple.”
A second police witness, Det Ch Insp Steve McCabe testified that the police had identified that the “potential and likely victims [of phone hacking] was over 4,700”.
Under questioning by Coulson’s barrister, he confirmed that there were “no emails whatsoever between Glenn Mulcaire and Andy Coulson” in the archives of News International emails reviewed by police.
The trial continues.The trial continues.