Cameron's former media chief due in court over hacking

Prime Minister David Cameron's ex-media chief Andy Coulson will appear at a London court on Thursday to answer phone-hacking charges.

Coulson, former editor of Rupert Murdoch's now defunct News of the World tabloid, will appear at Westminster Magistrate's Court along with five other former News International employees and private investigator Glenn Mulcaire.

The seven face charges of conspiring to unlawfully intercept the voicemail messages of some 600 people, including Hollywood stars Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie and Jude Law as well as politicians and crime victims.

The defendants are expected to receive their charges before being referred to the higher Crown Court.

Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks will appear at the same court on September 3 to answer hacking charges.

Australian-born media tycoon Murdoch, 81, was forced to close the paper amid a storm of revelations that its staff hacked into the voicemail messages of a murdered schoolgirl and a slew of public figures.

Others in court on Thursday include Stuart Kuttner, the News of the World's former managing editor, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former head of news Ian Edmonson, former chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck, and reporter James Weatherup.

Coulson, 44, edited the News of the World from 2003 to 2007 and went to become Cameron's spokesman, but resigned in January 2011 after he was questioned over the scandal. He was arrested last year.

He is accused of accessing the voicemails of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, former interior ministers David Blunkett and Charles Clarke and reality TV celebrity Calum Best, son of footballer George Best.

Source: http://news.yahoo.com/camerons-former-media-chief-due-court-over-hacking-030008655.html

xbox update nba schedule nhl realignment nhl realignment new earth light year light year