Hacking Trial Live Tweets – 10 Dec

Tuesday 10 December 2013

Summary
	The Prosecution Case Continues
		Back at the Hacking Trial
	Timeline – Jordan-Barber
		Counsel for Rebekah Brooks cross examines DC Briddon
		Further Prosecution questions to DC Briddon
	Witness – Michelle Light (Head of telephony at the Royal Household)
		Prosecution Counsel questions Michelle Light
		Counsel for Clive Goodman cross examines Michelle Light
		Counsel for Andy Coulson cross examines Michelle Light
	Witness – Jonathan Spencer (Deputy Controller of Lord Chamberlain’s office)
		Prosecution Counsel questions Jonathan Spencer
		Counsel for Clive Goodman cross examines Jonathan Spencer
		Counsel for Andy Coulson cross examines Jonathan Spencer
		Further Prosecution questions to Jonathan Spencer
	Witness Statement – Peter Smith (Head of IT and Telecoms for Royal Household)
		Prosecution Counsel questions read Peter Smith Statement
	Witness – Michael Godfrey (Former Metropolitan Police Officer)
		Prosecution Counsel questions Michael Godfrey
		Counsel for Clive Goodman cross examines Michael Godfrey
	Witness – Gregory Gillhan (Retired Police Officer)
		Prosecution Counsel questions Gregory Gillhan
		Counsel for Clive Goodman cross examines
		Further Prosecution questions to Gregory Gillhan

The Prosecution Case Continues
	Back at the Hacking Trial
		Back to the #HackingTrial I’m told I typed 70k words in tweets – apparently the equivalent of a novel in three weeks http://wp.me/P1YHIt-94
		Jury back in #hackingtrial. Justice Saunders explains Ian Edmondson is ill and has been for about 10 days.
		Edmondson’s lawyer’s have no been instructed by him so some of the forthcoming evidence cannot be cross examined and may be delayed
Timeline – Jordan-Barber
	Counsel for Rebekah Brooks cross examines DC Briddon
		We’re back with DC Briddon now, being cross examined by Laidlaw for Brooks on the timeline related to Jordan-Barber and corruption charges
		Laidlaw corrects himself from yesterday on the Jordan-Barber timeline about whether an article was a Sun exclusive or not
		DC Briddon has done some further investigations on the request of Brooks’ counsel on payments to other sources by the Sun
		DC Briddon explains a payment schedule came via News Corp’s MSC – Management and Standards committee – in regard to a Sun journalist
		There were other payments on that schedule. Briddon has a statement by DC Martinez about investigations in other payments
		DC Briddon has also checked whether an intelligence officer killed in action was named in other papers beyond the Sun
		Laidlaw refers Justice Saunders‘ statement the Birmingham Post is a published PM. “I wouldn’t want you to rely on me,” says Saunders
		Laidlaw analysing online publication and various different editions in regard to some of the exclusive Sun stories adduced to Jordan-Barber
		Laidlaw alights on another Jordan-Barber Sun story about a ‘bonking’ colonel’ which, from payment records, someone else was paid 350 Euros
		A story about a female soldier having sex with her sergeant from the Sun appears to be an exclusive. #Hackingtrial
		Laidlaw now onto last three stories referenced in emails addressed to Brooks, which he cross references to MOD briefings and other papers
		On the last of these Sun stories, sourced to Jordan-Barber, Laidlaw notes another £250 was paid to another contributor from NI records
		Of the eleven requests for approval from Sun journalist, Brooks replied to all but two according to police evidence.
		DC Briddon says they only have a ‘limited snapshot’ of the emails sent to Brooks handed over by the MSC.
		Edis for the crown concedes Brooks would have received a lot of emails in a week.
		Laidlaw asks DC Briddon if there is any evidence of the Sun journalist exposing Jordan-Barbers name. He replies: “No, sir”
		DC Briddon confirms some the payments to Jordan-Barber were either when she was on maternity leave or had left previous job
		The police have not been able to establish how Bettina Jordan-Barber came by the the stories she sold to the Sun
		DC Briddon confirms that her husband Nigel Jordan-Barber was an adjutant at Sandhurst between 2004-6.
		Laidlaw goes over an email the jury have read (but press haven’t seen) from one Sun journalist to a ‘tipster’ who is a policeman.
		The email the jury can see is forwarded to Brooks by journalist.
		Laidlaw asks DC Briddon if the police have investigated this alleged ‘police tipster’ and if there’s any info: “No as far as I’m aware, Sir”
		Laidlaw refers to email exchange between 2 Sun journalists in 2010 about “Don’t want to put the name in email for security purposes”
		By this time in 2010, Brooks had left the editorship of the Sun and was CEO of News International
		Another email seen by jury (but not press because of ‘sensitive’ matters): 3rd sun journalist referring to a drug dealer and a celebrity
		The internal email also talks about a man who met old flame on friends reunited and wife hiring hitman: seems to refer to secret source
		An email from March 06 from Malinsky to Brooks refers to “prison source” about two child killers. Sun journo claims “good prison source”
		DC Briddon confirms MSC would only provide assistance on records if police confirmed payments were made to public officials
		MSC replied to request over prison source – “payment was to a journalist”
		Saunders apologises to the jury for a brief interruption: he was just seeking clarification “which wasn’t in evidentiary form”
		Another email to Brooks for another cash payment from another Sun journo: “I want to keep it secret because the source is a police officer”
		The Sun journalist email seemed to contain info from Sun police source about Mayor of Tetbury
		Laidlaw cross refers to a Sun article and witness statement from Mr Hurst that piece seems to “have nothing to do with police business”
		Laidlaw for Brooks then shows court Sun front page article from April 06 which suggests a policeman was killed by a soldier
		Laidlaw then refers back to an email to Brooks about someone going to Sandhurst to retrieve picture of soldier. No response from Brooks
		“Different individuals are involved in this email chain,” says Laidlaw about this payment. “Consistent with Mrs Brooks not having responded”
		“I can’t say there was no response,” says DC Briddon about email from Sun journalist to Brooks: “No email was found”
		Another email cc’ed Kavanagh and Mohan refers to someone at MI5. Police have no found any information of payment to source there
		Email from Jamie Pryor to Brooks about ‘Prince Harry‘ (read y’day) about his service in Afghanistan: press had agreed to restrict reports
		In reply to Laidlaw, counsel for Brooks, DC Briddon says there’s no record of payment for this “from the information we have, Sir.”
		On a story that troops may have been contaminated with infected blood, the police didn’t find any evidence Brooks authorised payment
		DC Briddon looks through writings by Brooks on Sun journalist; they were recovered from his home address. “She thought very highly of him”
	Further Prosecution questions to DC Briddon
		Chalkley for crown reexamines DC Briddon over the Brooks indictments over conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office
		Chalkley goes back to a request for £3k payment to Brooks from November 2007. It’s forwarded onto Richard Barun to be processed.
		Chalkley shows another payment email Brooks approves, forwarded to Charlotte Hull, who emails another “please delete this email afterward”
		That email then results in a payment to Jordan-Barber, authorised by Richard Barun
		Going back to that approval email had no response from Brooks, Sun journalist writes to “Dicky Boy” payment authorised by Richard Barun
		Saunders asks for a short break
		DC Briddon confirms that names and payment numbers of some of these payments have been redacted by MSC because of journalistic privilege.
		Email from Mike Sullivan at Sun to Brooks over a Sun source: “not wise to put this thing down on email as a permanent record”
		Bryant Heron for the prosecution is now focusing counts 2 and 3 of conspiracy to commit misconduct against Goodman and Coulson
		15 Royal directories were found in Goodman’s home address when they were searched 8th August 2006
Witness – Michelle Light (Head of telephony at the Royal Household)
	Prosecution Counsel questions Michelle Light
		Prosecution call Michelle Light; head of telephony at the Royal Household for 15 years
		Light explains the Royal Household refers to support to for Queen & family based at “all different locations” – majority Buck Palace/Windsor
		Light explains the internal directory has all the extensions listed by ‘hierarchy and dept” about 2000 names. The Green Book lists family
		The directories, discoloured and forensically treated, are shown to Light and jury: the beige one is the internal directory. This from 2002
		Light holds up the ‘Green Book’ – Offices and Addresses of members of Royal family, friends and senior members of household.
		The Green Book is updated annually. The books are now shown to jury and judge. They can’t be taken out of forensic bags sat the moment
		Bryant Heron produces a further directory from 2005 – that’s count 3 subject. It’s an admitted fact that these came from Goodman’s home
		Light confirms Goodman was not a named recipient of the internal direcory.
		Light says about 1000-1200 directories are printed in Buckingham Palace each year.
		Light says each department how many they require – they pick them up, or her office delivers them.
		The directories are desk based only and must stay in office. Balmoral, Sandringham have their own copies so no need to transport
		Light confirms Clive Goodman had no authority to possess a directory.
		Goodman’s counsel says “you’ve probably forgotten who I am and who I represent.” Saunders asks if photocopies can be done over lunch
		The forensically treated directories could be carcinogenic so jury can’t handle them. Copies needed. Break till 2pm
		Back at #hackingtrial with Michelle Light and the prosecution have obtained unredacted copies of the Royal Directories for jury to inspect
	Counsel for Clive Goodman cross examines Michelle Light
		Mr Spens, counsel for Clive Goodman, cross examines Michelle Light, head of telephony for Royal Household
		Light confirms that before she was responsible for compiling the internal directories she worked in telephony department
		The internal directory (IDT) has no mobile numbers. It’s purely internal landlines. It aids communication between Royal Department
		Loosely bound, copies of the ITD are given to judge, witness and jury on request of Goodman’s counsel, Mr Spens
		Saunders points out entries in the directories have some interesting titles such as ‘The Royal Pastry’
		Light confirms that the ITD’s are internally printed: “they have a man,” who does the printing. The are produced twice a year “ish”
		Light explains the royal household has an internal Royal Mail section and couriers – nothing goes through public mail
		Light says 8-900 are actually distributed and confirms they have a spare capacity of a few hundred. They’re not individually numbered
		When directories are delivered, there’s an internal record of how many to each department, head of Telephony at Royal Household tells jury
		No record for each individual copy of the ITDs. They don’t have to sign official secrets act, but have been security cleared, says Light
		Light confirms nothing secret or classified about the numbers themselves. If lost, there’s no obligation for person responsible to report
		Light agrees it’s quite difficult to trace the provenance of individual directories. The spares are kept in Light’s locked office
		Spens asks Light if she was aware of staff selling IDTs to the press. She confirms she “knew nothing of that.”
		Light also confirms that securing the IDTs is responsibility of each individual. Old copies supposed to be shredded.
		Light has to trust the individual who has the IDTs to destroy them securely. “They could be put in waste paper basket or bin,” she agrees
		7 of these IDTs were found at Goodman’s home in 2006. Light was not aware of this fact until 2 Feb 2012 when police took witness statement
		DS Paul, according to Light’s witness statement, interviewed her on the 26 Jan. That’s when she first learned 7 IDTs recovered from Goodman
		Light hasn’t introduced any new security system since she heard about the recovery of IDTs from Goodman
		Light confirms she never spoke Goodman: “not that I remember”. Spens gives her a phone number ending in 916. She says it’s possibly familiar
		Light says that the number sounds like a police number. But there are 600 mobile numbers within the Royal Household range
		Light asks “Do I get a prize if I know it?” about the number Spens has written out for her. “Does it ring a bell?” asks Spens
		Light identifies the number as Elsa Anderson – deputy press secretary, now head of communication.
		CORRECTION: “Ailsa Anderson” is former deputy press secretary
	Counsel for Andy Coulson cross examines Michelle Light
		Langdale for Coulson asks Light how many offices receive IDTs. “A lot,” Bright says.
		Light confirms to Anthony Langdale QC there were no protocols or procedures for tracking missing IDTs. Marked ‘RH Secure’ but now warning
		Langdale: “There’s a very wide range of people… really quite grand people, keeper of the privy purse, down to low level in directories.”
		Langdale shows a redacted page of 2002 directory to the jury with a witness Sir Michael Peat, secretary to Prince of Wales
		We see extra gentleman usher, lady in waiting, stud warden, Swan Warden in the Royal Directory: “A professor at Oxford,” notes Saunders
		“The ones in my possession are shredded,” says Light of her IDTs. “There is no instruction” to others about shredding
Witness – Jonathan Spencer (Deputy Controller of Lord Chamberlain’s office)
	Prosecution Counsel questions Jonathan Spencer
		Prosecution call Jonathan Spencer as a witness: he’s deputy controller of Lord Chamberlain’s office at Buckingham Palace
		Spencer is a line manager for collation of the Green Book – an address book of member of the royal family, members, senior employees
		Spencer identifies an exhibit as the Green Book. It is distributed to all those offices and personnel listed in it – all the Royal Houses
		One or two extra distributions include house at Ascot, Spencer tells #hackingtrial jury
		Spencer says some people, who live outside the palaces, but listed in book, are given copies. Queens’ police officer given 6: some to others
		6 for Royal Protection Officers – some for the Royalty Protection Department, and control rooms at Buckingham Palace and Windsor
		Spencer explains of the Green Book “recipients are all known to us… information held on central office database.”
		Spencer says the books remain property of the Royal Household, stated in the book.
		Spencer says they would never send Green Book to unauthorised person, “only those with a duty to perform in the Royal Household”
		Spencer says around 900 Green Books, paper copy only, were produced at that time. That’s been reviewed recently
		A slip of paper with Green Book asked for it to be ‘properly destroyed’ or returned to them when a new version arrived. Printed internally
		Spencer explains that there no specific instructions about handling “but you will understand the sensitivities’: since recipients senior
		The Royal Household operate a ‘clear desk’ policy and so the Green books should have been locked away. Goodman not authorised recipient
		Spencer explains the Green Book was a ‘restricted’ document – now been upgraded to ‘classified – RH secure’
	Counsel for Clive Goodman cross examines Jonathan Spencer
		Spencer, of the Royal Chamberlain’s office, is cross examined by David Spens, QC, for Clive Goodman
		Spencer confirms to Spens that the personal responsible for compiling book is relatively new, someone responsible in 2002 has now retired
		Spencer confirms some of the numbers and addresses in the book are private. Spens hands the 2002 Green Book to the jury to examine.
		Spens takes the Jury to page three of the Green Book – with an address for Prince Phillip. It’s the main Buckingham Palace switchboard
		Spencer confirms the Green Books usually only issued once a year in february: 8 Green Books recovered from Goodman
		1st Green Book recovered from Goodman was dated August 1998 – the last of seven was issued October 2002.
		In the past, Spencer says there were two versions a year in late nineties. Depended on volume of out of date material
		Spencer confirms that in 2002 there were about 400 part time members of Royal Household. Some got more than 1 if they worked in 2 locations
		The vast majority of the Green Books are allocated to various Royal offices, says Spencer. Probably 150-200 spares. 700 in circulation
		Chefs, chauffeurs, gardeners, firemen, groomsmen, would not be issued with a Green Book “not necessary in course of duty” says Spencer
		Spencer says RH rarely use outside contractors – daily cleaning contractors are confined to basements, and not offices or Royal apartments
		Green Books delivered by courier or internal Royal Mail. The spares locked away in Royal Chamberlain’s office. Very few spare issued
		Spencer says he’s never heard of staff selling Green Books to the press, in response to Spens, counsel for Goodman
		As with the IDTs, recovered Green Books cannot be traced back to original source by any numbering.
		When receiving the Green Books recipient would have signed a contract of confidentiality. It’s not coded as a classified or secret document
		If someone wanted an extra copy of the Green Book, they would have to make a justifiable application.
		No Green Books went missing during time of previous collator, who retired just over a year ago.
		Spens asks about distribution to police officers: Queens police officer at Buckingham gate is given 7 copies. Commander of spec proc 3
		1 copy Green Book to police at St James: 2 to police at Windsor
		Spencer confirms that with only one copy, St James’ office would have reported any copy missing
		Spencer is “Absolutely certain, not” Green Book ever reported missing from St James police control room
		Spencer can be fairly certain about protection of Green Book at Buckingham Palace and Holyrood Palace if the ‘clear desk’ policy observed
		“Quite often officials bring copies of them so we can put them through the confidential shredder,” Spencer says of Green Book. About 100
		Last question from David Spens, QC: “when did you learn a large number of these books were found in Goodman’s home?” Around 16th Nov 2012
		BREAKING: Royal Chamberlain wasn’t told by police that Royal directories were found in Goodman’s house until 2012 2006 – six years later.
		Since the Royal Household discovered about the 15 directories, they’re revised their procedures: do no dispatch to private numbers anymore
	Counsel for Andy Coulson cross examines Jonathan Spencer
		Langdale for Coulson has one cross examination question for Spencer from the Royal Household. Previously the Tower of London was part of it
		Spencer explains that Clarence House decides whether Highgrove need a new copy of the Green Book.
	Further Prosecution questions to Jonathan Spencer
		Bryant Heron, for prosecution, asks Spencer to read out “Restricted Document – not to be distributed, on receipt of new copy please destroy”
Witness Statement – Peter Smith (Head of IT and Telecoms for Royal Household)
	Prosecution Counsel questions read Peter Smith Statement
		Prosecution read out statement of Peter Smith on the Green Book: an email is sent when new copy is to be produced.
		Peter Smith confirms in written statement that the directory in possession of Goodman was not authorised.
		Peter Smith is head of IT and telecoms for Royal Household – never heard of press requesting or receiving a directory
Witness – Michael Godfrey (Former Metropolitan Police Officer)
	Prosecution Counsel questions Michael Godfrey
		Prosecution calls Michael Godfrey as a witness: former Met officer, in March of 1991 he joined SO14 uniformed security for Royal family
		Godfrey was attached to Windsor Palace, sometimes Richmond Park and Balmoral in the summer
		Godfrey explains how there was armed police post known as ‘side door’ used by members of staff – a ‘tradesmen’s door’
		The procedure at the police post was to check visitors without a pass by calling internal numbers using the internal directoriess
		Godfrey was approached by officers from Operation Elveden when his fingerprints were found in 1999 ITD found in Goodman’s house
		CORRECTION: 1993 royal phone directory was found in Goodman’s house. Godfrey doesn’t know Goodman, never supplied the directory
		This 1993 directory is outside the dates of the Count 3 indictment against Goodman
	Counsel for Clive Goodman cross examines Michael Godfrey
		Spens cross examines Godfrey on behalf of his client Clive Goodman.
		Godfrey explains that the side door posting was just one of many jobs during his ten years working in the Royal Palaces
		Godfrey estimates about 20 to 50 people would enter Windsor Castle door every day. Some with business, or guests of the staff living there
		Generally, former Royal Protection officer tells court, police would use directory over night shift when porter not present
		Another of Godfrey’s postings was the control room at Windsor where they’d monitor CCTV and alarm systems around the castle
		Godfrey can’t recall creating much paper waste. The delivery porter worked alongside him – three working alternate shifts
		Godfrey, former uniformed Royal Protection officer, says the internal directory wasn’t locked away to his memory.
		Godfrey when asked about Green Books. “There were many Green books. Sorry I didn’t mean to be facetious.” “Well you managed!” jokes Saunders
		Godfrey was never aware of directory going missing. The side door was manned 24 hours a day he tells Justice Saunders
Witness – Gregory Gillhan (Retired Police Officer)
	Prosecution Counsel questions Gregory Gillhan
		Prosecution call witness Gregory Gillhan: he confirms to Bryant Heron he’s a retired police officer, service from 1971 to 2011
		Gilhan worked in the SO14 in the last twenty years until his retirement. Mainly worked at Buckingham House.
		Gilhan was approached in October 2012 by Operation Elveden because his signature came up on a 1999 Green Book recovered from Goodman
		An ESDA test (showing indentations on paper) revealed his signature. If you use Green Book as a pad, a signature is revealed.
		Gilhan ran operations and wrote operational orders on things such as state opening of Parliament.
		Gilhan worked at most the royal palaces, but for operational matters he’d be based at Buckingham Palace or Buckingham Gate
		As a uniformed officer Gilhan mainly worked at Buck Palace: in latter phase of his career mainly at St James
		When Gilhan was an operational sergeant he generally had less intimate ITD rather than the Green Book, which was more personalised
		Gilhan says the internal directories were restricted “unusual to find one laying open on a table.”
		Gilhan was an operational supervisor: at the office four at the most, but during an operation could go up to thirty staff.
		Gilhan says the “Green Book had more delicate information so was less available.. you’d go to a supervisor to get a copy of it.”
		Gilhan “worked for the royal family for a long time… and the protection of the family was paramount.”
	Counsel for Clive Goodman cross examines
		Spens establishes Gilhan worked for Royal Household for 24 years. In 1987 he was the team sergeant: supervising palace shift work
		After that, Gilhan worked at the operations office and then the officer in charge of Kensington Palace between 1997 to 2011
		My previous BREAKING: on 6 year long failure to inform Palace tha Goodman had Royal Directories https://twitter.com/peterjukes/status/410430250104152064 …
		Gilhan explains that there were some private security officers employed by the Met guarding the palaces
		Gilhan says he didn’t have a green book while employed as head of operations at Kensington Palace.
		The Green Book with the impress of his signature was dated in 1999: “Does that not suggest there must have been a green book?” asks Spens
		“Although my signature may be on that, I’ve not seen a green book like that” Gilhan on the exhibit showed to him in Court 12
		Spens for Goodman suggests the signature must have come from another office than Kensington Palace, maybe Buckingham Palace.
		Gilhan can’t remember ever seeing a Green Book lying around, you always had to go and get it.
		The straw book or pink book was located by number: alterations to staff names while office and extension would stay fixed.
		If it was Gilhan’s book, he’d expect alteration to names in his handwriting. Police disposed of directories in confidential waste sacks
		Gilhan can’t remember disposing of green book or directory himself.
	Further Prosecution questions to Gregory Gillhan
		Re examination of Gilhan by Bryant Heron for the prosecution: he explains Buckingham Palace was much busier than Kensington Palace
		Back 11 am tomorrow

Note: All the defendants deny all the charges. The trial continues.

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