Rebekah Brooks cleared of hacking charges

London, June 24 (IANS) Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks has been cleared of all charges in the phone-hacking trial, BBC reported Tuesday. However, ex-News of the World editor Andy Coulson was found guilty by the court of conspiring to hack phones.

The verdict was announced at the Old Bailey, which is the Central Criminal Court of England and Wales.

The jury found Brooks not guilty of conspiracy to hack voicemails, two counts of conspiracy to pay public officials and two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

She and Coulson both had denied all charges against them. They were among seven on trial at the Old Bailey.

An emotional Brooks was taken away by the court matron on hearing the verdicts.