Andy Coulson and other former News of the World staff arrive at court to face phone hacking charges

• The PM's former spin doctor and NotW editor joined six others at Westminster Magistrates' Court
• They are accused of hacking voicemails of up to 600 people during a six year period
• Andy Coulson, Stuart Kuttner, Greg Miskiw, Ian Edmondson, Neville Thurlbeck, James Weatherup and Glenn Mulcaire appeared this morning
• When the hearing started it took the court clerk 15 minutes to read out all the charges against them
• They will appear again at Southwark Crown Court on September 26
• Rebekah Brooks due to appear in front of magistrates separately next month

By Martin Robinson

Former News of the World staff including David Cameron’s former spin doctor Andy Coulson arrived at court today to face phone hacking charges.
Six journalists plus private investigator Glenn Mulcaire appeared at Westminster Magistrates’ Court this morning.
Former editor Mr Coulson is accused of illegally accessing voicemails along with ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former head of news Ian Edmondson, ex-chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and former reporter James Weatherup.
Mr Mulcaire, who was not staff on the defunct paper, appeared alongside them.

SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO

Court sketch: This image drawn inside Westminster Magistrates' shows Andy Coulson in the centre of the dock flanked by his former colleagues and Glenn Mulcaire this morning

They all face one general charge of alleged phone hacking between October 2000 and August 2006 that could affect as many as 600 victims including murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, along with other specific accusations.
It took the court clerk 15 minutes to read out all the charges against them.

 

Coulson is charged with allegedly accessing the phone messages of murder victim Milly Dowler, former Labour ministers David Blunkett and Charles Clarke, and George Best’s son Calum.
Kuttner is accused in relation to Milly and Mr Blunkett, and Miskiw faces charges linked to Dowler, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Abi Titmuss and John Leslie, former union boss Andrew Gilchrist, Mr Blunkett, Delia Smith, Mr Clarke, Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Sienna Miller, and Wayne Rooney.

Co-defendants: Former News of the World editor, Andy Coulson, left, the paper's chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck, centre, and private detective Glenn Mulcaire, right,  arriving separately at court today

Case: The seven men had to sit and listen for 15 minutes as the court clerk read out all the charges brought against them by the CPS

Edmondson faces charges in relation to Mr Blunkett, Mr Clarke, Law, Frost, Miller, former MP Mark Oaten, Rooney, Best, former Labour minister Tessa Jowell and her husband David Mills, Lord Prescott, Professor John Tulloch, Lord Frederick Windsor, and Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.
Thurlbeck will face charges over Milly, Eriksson, Mr Blunkett, Mr Clarke, Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Mr Oaten, Ms Jowell and Mr Mills.
Weatherup is accused in relation to Mr Blunkett, Mr Clarke, Law, Frost and Miller, Jolie and Pitt, Rooney, Lord Prescott and Sir Paul and Ms Mills.

Charges:  Ian Edmondson, left, and Greg Miskiw, right, who helped run the news operation at the paper also walked into court to hear the charges

Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire is charged over Milly Dowler, Mr Gilchrist, Smith and Mr Clarke.
The six and Mulcaire appeared before Deputy Chief Magistrate Daphne Wickham and spoke only to confirm their names and addresses during the short hearing and are next due to appear at Southwark Crown Court on September 26.
The seven defendants were released on bail on the condition that they live at given addresses, do not contact their fellow accused and give the police seven days' notice should they wish to travel
The CPS announced last month that ex-NOTW editor Rebekah Brooks will also be facing the general phone-hacking charge and two separate counts in relation to Milly and Mr Gilchrist, but she is due to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on September 3.

Appearance: Former reporter James Weatherup and ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner were among the seven in court today

THE FORMER NEWS OF THE WORLD STAFF CHARGED OVER PHONE HACKING

Former editor Andy Coulson is charged with allegedly accessing the phone messages of murder victim Milly Dowler, (pictured right) former Labour ministers David Blunkett and Charles Clarke, and George Best's son Calum.
Ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner is accused of hacking Milly Dowler and David Blunkett's phones.
Former news editor Greg Miskiw is charged with intercepting voicemails from Milly Dowler, Sven-Goran Eriksson, Abi Titmuss, John Leslie, former union boss Andrew Gilchrist, David Blunkett, Delia Smith, Charles Clarke, Jude Law, Sadie Frost, Sienna Miller, and Wayne Rooney.
Head of news Ian Edmondson faces charges in relation to David Blunkett, Charles Clarke, Jude Law, Sadie Frost, Sienna Miller, former MP Mark Oaten, Wayne Rooney, Calum Best, former Labour minister Tessa Jowell and her husband David Mills, Lord Prescott, Professor John Tulloch, Lord Frederick Windsor, and Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.
Former chief reporter Neviile Thurlbeck will face charges over Milly Dowler, Sven Goran Eriksson, David Blunkett, Charles Clarke, Hollywood stars Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Mark Oaten,Tessa Jowell and Heather Mills.
James Weatherup is accused in relation to David Blunkett, Charles Clarke, Jude Law, Sadie Frost and Sienna Miller, Angelina Jolie and Brad Pitt, Wayne Rooney, Lord Prescott, Sir Paul McCartney and Heather Mills.

Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire is charged over Milly Dowler, Andrew Gilchrist, Delia Smith and Charles Clarke.

Posted in: World news