Hacking Trial Live Tweets – 13 Mar

Thursday 13 March 2014

Summary
Rebekah Brooks Case continues with Defence Witnesses
Defence Witnesses Annette Witheridge – Former NOTW Journalist
Prosecution Cross Examines Annette Witheridge
Defence Witnesses Deborah Weir – Rebekah Brooks’ Mother
Prosecution Cross Examines Deborah Weir
Defence Witnesses Statement Eve Carlton Giles – Partner at Kingsley Napley
Defence Witness of Character Statement – Claire Formby
Defence Witness of Character Statement – Peter Greengross
Defence Witness of Character Statement – Francie Clarkson
The Defence of Clive Goodman Begins
Clive Goodman’s Defence Case proceeds that of Andy Coulson
David Spens QC Opens Clive Goodman’s Defense Case
Goodman’s Career at News of the World
Count 2 – The Purchase of Royal Internal Telephone Directories

Rebekah Brooks Case continues with Defence Witnesses
Defence Witnesses Annette Witheridge – Former NOTW Journalist
Jonathan Laidlaw QC, counsel for Rebekah Brooks calls two witnesses: first is Annette Witheridge
Witheridge takes the oath. She is a journalist from the Midlands, and then moved to London, worked at the News of the World 87-94
Witheridge worked on both features and news at NOTW: she moved to New York in 1994
Witheridge first met Greg Miskiw when he worked at the People/Mirror and then he came to NOTW.
Witheridge freelanced for NOTW: “many times Greg would commission me” she says of Miskiw.
Witheridge says she would talk to Thurlbeck and work on stories. She’s known Clive Goodman for many years too.
Witheridge says she was friends with Clive Goodman “we’ve known each other a long time”
Laidlaw cites an NOTW article 02/06/02 about McCartney Mills dispute
“As everyone, indeed the world knows, this case is about allegations of phone hacking,” says Laidlaw, asking Witheridge about her knowledge
“I’d never heard of it,” says Witheridge of phone hacking in 2002. “I’d never heard of the possibility you could hack phone messages”
Witheridge says the first time she ever heard of phone hacking was when Cive Goodman was arrested.
Witheridge says her and Brooks “were colleagues briefly in London. I was in the news room. Rebekah would have been in feature department”
“We have mutual friends,” says Witheridge of Brooks. She’s had no professional or social contact with Brooks since 2002
Laidlaw says that it’s been suggested the source of this story was a “phone hack”. Witheridge says the police phone her up about it.
Witheridge says the police contacted her in July 2012 via a managing editor that DC Andrea Fletcher wanted to talk to her. She called back
Witheridge said the Weeting detective was interested in the McCartney Mills story. They provided a copy of the story.
Witheridge says she wasn’t asked for a formal witness statement until December 2013 – after DC Fletcher gave evidence 02/12/13
“Quite vivid” says Witheridge of her memory of this story: “I got on a plane and travelled to Miami. After Sept 11…. it was quite nice”
“At last I’m going to Miami and do a celebrity story” says Witheridge of the McCartney article. She’d been reporting before 9/11 victims
“Someone at the night desk said there was a tip off from a man in Florida, his wife worked in a beauty salon,” says Witheridge.
“They said ‘we’ve got a story’ would they be interested..” says Witheridge. Wife at hotel had told husband who phone news orgs to sell story
Witheridge “I was given the man’s number, I would have certainly called him before I left. Can we have lunch… I’m wearing these clothers”
Witheridge says she only keeps her notebooks for seven years: Saunders says Witheridge doesn’t have to name source. She’s forgotten anyway
Witheridge met source in shopping mall outside the hotel in Miami.
Witheridge has “no recollection” of negotiating the deal: she thinks that had been agreed in advance with NOTW night desk.
The met in a restaurant called the Cheesecake Factory, Witheridge says of her source.
Witheridge ‘seems to recall’ a conversation about how the source got to the News of the World.
“The source was his wife who works at the Beauty Salon…. the fight was the talk of the hotel,” says Witheridge. “She wouldn’t go on record
Witheridge says he provided names of manager who flew back to UK with the ring, the security guard that found it.
Witheridge says she didn’t meet the wife. Instead she spoke security guard and get a quote. “The manager didn’t particularly want to talk”
Witheridge met a security guard who happened to be beneath the hotel window when McCartney threw the ring out.
A photographer flew down to Miami the next day to meet Witheridge and take snaps of the hotel.
Laidlaw asks how much of the NOTW would have been written by her. “I would have written the story…. first half…. all the quotes…”
Witheridge says the bottom last column “would be background added in London”. Louise Osborne, a staffer in London, credited on by line.
Witheridge says she would have charged about $800 plus expenses: taxis, flights, hotel, dinners – estimates $2.5k.
Laidlaw cites Macca Ring Story Txt payments and expenses to Big Apple – Witheridge’s company at the time
Sharon Sweeney was the freelance photographer sent down to cover the Macca rings story.
Prosecution Cross Examines Annette Witheridge
Edis cross examines: establishes the fees to Witheridge and Shannon, but no one knows who Samantha Edri is who was also paid about £2k
Total cost of the story was about £6k. Edis: “You never met anyone called Samantha Edri in relation to this story?” Witheridge: “No”
Edis asks about Witheridge’s recollection of conversation with night editor: “It’s not great. It was 12 years ago”.
Witheridge says she’s always interested how foreigners would contact British newspapers. “I believe he said he called the National Inquirer”
Witheridge says there were free phones to call NI and the Mirror. National Inquirer told source to call the NOTW.
The night news editor at NOTW “wasn’t someone I knew” says Witheridge.
Witheridge says she “would have copied him into overnight memo” for the Macca rings story commission
Witheridge confirms that she could stand the story up with plenty of sources. Edis finishes. Saunders than Annette Witheridge
Defence Witnesses Deborah Weir – Rebekah Brooks’ Mother
Laidlaw calls Rebekah Brooks‘ mother – Deborah Weir
Weir takes the oath. “I’m not going to ask you anything about Rebekah, or your feelings about the trial,” says Laidlaw.
Laidlaw says he wants to focus on “two or three topics” in the lead up to Brooks’ address.
Weir has copies of texts and emails and a statement she made to Angus McBride, Brooks’ Kingsley Napley lawyer.
04/07/11 is the first date for a document for Weir, Brooks’ mother: the day the Milly Dowler story broke in the Guardian
Laidlaw points out that Brooks was at an IVF clinic that day.
Weir was living in a farmhouse in Cheshire at that time in 2011.
Weir confirms she knows Cheryl Carter.
Weir calls Cheryl “CC” – she’d know her ever since Carter worked for Brooks: “We became great friends…”
Weir says she’d see Cheryl Carter in London: “I didn’t see her a lot. I talked to her a lot… on the phone.”
Weir saw Carter a couple times in Cheshire when Brooks was absent.
04/07/11 texts show Weir calling Brooks “Becky” and arranging meeting at IVF clinic.
Weir says the IVF appointment last about an hour. She recalls the breaking story of Milly Dowler that night.
“Going to bed. News so awful” Laidlaw notes of this texts between Brooks and her mother over Milly Dowler.
“Please don’t watch the news, mum” says one Brooks text from this period. Weir says it was “not easy” to get hold of her.
We’re now on 06/07/11 with more texts between Rebekah Brooks and her mother Deborah Weir.
Weir offers to come down to London to support Brooks in this week in July 2011.
Weir says she was always up early “because of the cattle”: Laidlaw cites another email from the 08/07/11 about coming down to London.
Weir talks about her cattle farm, and how she needed to get her cow nuts from Gibson’s Mill
“A little breath of country in the mists of London,” says Saunders of Weir’s farm.
Weir explains that she normally leaves after milking when she travels down to London: got to Jubilee Barn around lunchtime.
Weir thinks Brooks came home in the evening the night NOTW was shut: “I think it would be late… can’t remember… in the evening”
Laidlaw turns to the Sunday 10/07/11 “for reasons the jury understand an important day”: Weir says they left that morning.
“I have dealt with this with Angus” says Weir of McBride, and the Brooks’ departure “To see Mr Murdoch… could have been James”
Weir says that Cheryl Carter and her husband Geoff came to lunch that day.
“I am 70” says Weir of not understanding Laidlaw’s question. Saunders jokes “I’m not that old” but he doesn’t understand it either. Laughter
Weir made Mr and Mrs Carter lunch: “the only thing she brought… was jam or marmalade for David. May have brought biscuits”
“Did she bring any boxes?” asks Laidlaw show pictures of archive boxes. “Anything like this?” Weir: “Certainly not. Not at all”
More texts and emails between Brooks and her mother cited. “You looked well on TV with Mr M” – Weir means Rupert Murdoch
Weir text talks of Brooks helping up a journalist who had been jostled by media coverage of her and Murdoch 10/07/11
Weir had tea in bed, and stopped for hot chocolate on the way back to Cheshire on 11/07/11
Brooks texts back to her mother on that Monday “Don’t look at the papers or watch the TV”
No, Weir must still be Oxfordshire. She cooks Charlie’s breakfast on the Wednesday. A driver picked her up and took Weir to Euston.
Weir remembers Brooks’ resignation on 15/07/11: she was planning to go back down to Oxfordshire.
“I didn’t want her to resign” says Weir of her daughter that week. “I must have been asked to go, because I knew what would happen”
“They wanted me there for a delivery” says Weir. She was shocked at the resignation. Charlie telephoned her to explain.
Weir explains that Enstone Manor is only about 20 mins away from Jubilee Barn by car.
Weir came down to Oxfordshire on 16/07/11 – stayed with Charlie’s mother. She didn’t see Brooks that weekend. “She was busy” Weir was told
Weir says: “I think Jeremy Clarkson called a some point” during that weekend. She describes journalists at the top of the drive.
Weir says she saw Brooks at Enstone on the day of her arrest 17/07/11: Charlie called on Brooks’ phone.
Weir followed Charlie to Enstone Manor in her jeep. Brooks was having a bath. Weir was upset. Muhammad didn’t know how to work cooker
Mark Hanna helped Weir cook breakfast that morning at Enstone Manor.
Hanna accompanies Weir back to Jubilee Barn that morning.
A lawyer was waiting a Jubilee Barn says Weir: “I was told police were going to come at 10 am that morning, they came at five”
William Clegg QC, counsel for Hanna, has some questions for Weir about Hanna’s “cooking the bacon” that morning
“He put the bacon in a frying pan and squashed it with a spatula” explains Weir of Hanna. She’d never met him before.
Weir didn’t realise Hanna was in charge of all the security, she tells Clegg. “I was quite upset,” says Weir.
Weir thinks Hanna was alone in his car, driving ahead. She can’t recall if there was another car. “There could have been. Didn’t notice it”
Weir says Hanna never went the whole way to the Barn with her. “No one came to the building only myself”.
Prosecution Cross Examines Deborah Weir
Edis for the prosecution has some questions for Weir over 10/07/11 driving herself in her own car down to Oxfordshire with her dog Tommy.
“I was on my own… unless Hazel was with me” says Weir. Edis: “Do you remember that day?” Weir: “Hazel could have been with me”
Edis moves onto the Sunday 10/07/11: Weir says she didn’t know Cheryl was coming. Never visited at Jubilee Barn before
Weir confirms Carter arrived ‘unannounced’: Weir knew Geoff Carter and went to Mr Carter’s 40th birthday.
Weir can remember Carter putting her arms round her. She can’t remember if anyone else for lunch “we did have people popping in”
Weir is shown an extract from Brooks’ Blackberry with emails. 12.23 message from Carter says “Having lunch with Deborah and Hazel”
Weir says she thinks Carter stayed for an hour/hour and a half. Weir says she’s never been to Carter’s home.
Edis asks Weir of Carter: “how do you know she didn’t bring anything”. “I would have seen her come into the barn” says Weir.
“Did she have any notebooks with beauty clippings in them?” asks Edis. Weir: “No I don’t remember that”
Weir tells Edis she’d been to Enstone Manor before with the doctor, Muhammad. She’d been visiting the area since 2007
“So you know the area well?” asks Edis. “Not particularly well… I went the same way to the Barn” says Weir, who has been driving 50 years
“Have you ever driven to Enstone, it’s not easy at all to find” says Weir
Weir says she goes the farm shop and Chipping Norton when she stays at Jubilee Barn.
“You didn’t need any help in finding Jubilee Barn did you” says Edis of following Hanna back. “I wanted to get back quickly to see police”
“I didn’t think twice actually. I don’t think you understand how I was feeling my daughter had just been arrested” Weir says.
“You were able to drive yourself and you knew the way” says Edis. “Were there more than one car driving along the driveway?”
“I can’t believe you’re asking me this” Weir protests. Saunders intervenes and asks Weir if she remembers.
Edis: “How far do you say Mark Hanna went down the driveway to Jubilee Barn” Weir replies: “Half a mile to where the road divides”
Weir says there were vehicles she thought were press, and one security van.
“Did you pass him” Edis asks of Hanna. “I must have done because he was in front of him,” says Weir.
“It was quite traumatic for me as well as Rebekah” says Weir of that Sunday Brooks was arrested.
Weir thinks it was probably Charlie who told her police would be coming. Lawyer introduced himself to her when she returned.
“Mark Hanna wasn’t there to give you moral support because he didn’t talk to you,” says Edis. “No he wasn’t” says Weir.
“I haven’t got a lasting memory of him” says Weir of Hanna, “I got out to meet the solicitor at Jubilee Barn.”
Edis says he has no questions about the first page of texts. But on the second page, when Weir is making arrangements to come down on 9th.
Weir confirms Brooks left around 11.45 to meet James and Rupert Murdoch on 10/07/11. Another text 13.54 saying Carter just gone.
Weir thinks Carter and her husband arrived about noon.
Weir explains the topography of Jubilee and Castle Barn – the latter where Charlie’s mother lives – who “popped in and out all the time”
14/07/11 around 4.30 Carter emails Weir about delivery of furniture to barn on Saturday and “IT boys” on the Monday.
“They wouldn’t send the IT boys when I was there. I wouldn’t understand it” says Weir. Edis “You wouldn’t need to understand to let them in”
Weir says she thinks the furniture was from Rebekah’s office and it never came because she wasn’t allowed to move it.
Edis asks if the mention in Weir’s text “they could pay” for the office” “Nothing to do with News International” Weir says.
“I very rarely asked Rebekah about the paper in all the years she was there. I just wanted her to be happy and well,” says Weir
Edis ends his cross examination. No further questions. Junior Counsel for Brooks is going to read some statements, says Laidlaw.
Defence Witnesses Statement Eve Carlton Giles – Partner at Kingsley Napley
Witness statement of Eve Carlton Giles read out before the jury: a 7 page statement.
This is from a partner at Kingsley Napley who acts on Operation Elveden since end of Jan 2013.
This lawyer has produced documents on Sun articles on armed forces for the defence jury bundles.
This statement effectively explains the methodology of defence jury bundles.
Defence Witness of Character Statement – Claire Formby
Three witnesses of character to be read to the jury for Rebekah Brooks.
Claire Formby is the first character witness: from fashion Brand ‘Me and M’: met Brooks 9 years ago. Many holidays, book club.
Formby talks about the first time she met Brooks: “editor of Sun so could only be an awful person… but I was wrong”
“I went from being intimidate to being totally at ease” writes Formby of her qualities of humour, warmth, and “strong family values”
“If ever I should find myself in trouble Rebekah would be the first person I would turn to” concludes Formby.
Defence Witness of Character Statement – Peter Greengross
Peter Greengross, a fellow of RCS, writes of knowing Brooks for six years.
Greengross says when he first met Rebekah he did not know who she was: she never told him until asked. Great with his two kids.
“Contrary to the usual stereotype of tabloid editor… someone who would never hurt anyone… fiercely intelligent, compassionate”
Defence Witness of Character Statement – Francie Clarkson
Francie Clarkson, who has managed her husband’s media career for 20 years, has written a character reference. First met when Brooks NOTW.
Clarkson remembers Brooks concern for McCann’s and Sarah’s Law: co-founder of Help for Heroes with the Sun’s support for wounded soldiers
Francie Clarkson also writes of Brooks “she is the most loyal, kind and trusted person I’ve ever met”
Break till 2pm Saunders tells the jury “when we’ll move onto someone else’s case”
The Defence of Clive Goodman Begins
Clive Goodman’s Defence Case proceeds that of Andy Coulson
Back at the #hackingtrial after the lunch break with a new defendant about to go into the witness box.
BREAKING: Justice Saunders explains to the jury there’s been a change in the order of defendants. Clive Goodman precedes Coulson
Saunders says it’s in the “interests of justice” that Goodman precedes Coulson because he may be asked about phone hacking.
Saunders says that it is his decision not Mr Goodman’s to put him before Coulson.
David Spens QC Opens Clive Goodman’s Defense Case
Clive Goodman, former Royal Reporter for NOTW, takes the oath. He’s not been in the best of health explains Saunders.
David Spens QC questions his client Clive Goodman.
Goodman has had an operation to correct an irregular heartbeat, and still has hypertension. He’s had an operation for a cataract in his eye.
Saunders asks Spens to keep some gaps in his questions and answers.
Goodman explains he got married on June 10 2006 in his second marriage: he has a 9 year old daughter from second marriage.
Goodman’s wife works in the city, she’s effectively the sole bread winner.
Goodman explains his first wife left the household in November 2001, He met his second wife to be in 2002
The decree absolute and financial settlement of first marriage was in 2003.
Goodman left school at 18, went into Kentish Times a series of newspapers in Kent. Saunders asks Goodman to keep his voice up
Goodman was trained for 2 years 1977-79. Then he freelanced, some casual work around Fleet St.
Goodman’s Career at News of the World
Goodman joined Daily Mail in 1985 on Old Fleet Street: worked with Nigel Dempster for a year. Then offered job at NOTW with them Royal Ed.
He started at NOTW at Wapping in 1986 on a salary of £26k
Goodman became Royal Editor in 2000.
Spens goes back to the death of Diana in 1997 and the ages of Harry and William at the time.
Goodman says “almost instantly” the media made an agreement not to follow the Royal Princes until they’d finished full time education.
Goodman says this restriction applied until Prince William went to Sandhurst in 2006. Prince Harry went there in 2005
“It had a very depressive effect on Royal Reporting…” says Goodman: “All we were left to write about was Camilla and Charles.”
Goodman went to conferences at NOTW while he was Royal Editor. Promoted in 2001 by Rebekah Brooks as Assistant Editor.
Goodman says he was working directly to the editor then, and not to the news desk. He attended conferences. His work filed thru newsdesk
“The News desk couldn’t tell you what to do?” asks Spens. “No,” says Goodman,
Spens has a bundle for the jury with samples of Goodman’s work. “Just the one bundle,” asks Saunders. “Yes, mercifully” says Spens.
This bundle has an index, explains David Spens QC for Goodman to the jury.
Jury shown the last edition of News of the World – it says it’s been running for 168 years. In the supplement are the top 48 stories
Four of these top 48 stories from commemorative News of the World are attributable to Goodman
Camilla, the death of Princess Margaret and the Queen Mother are among these top four stories authored by Goodman.
14/01/03 Andy Coulson appointed editor of NOTW. Another journalist is mentioned who arrived after Coulson.
For legal reasons I can’t name this NOTW journalist “who didn’t like” Goodman: “aggressive”. “I found my position further down graded”
“In conferences the pecking order is quite important” Goodman had been 4th or 5th but then was put “behind Jamie Oliver recipes” if at all
Goodman explained that he was “further demoted… at the beck and call of the news desk” around 01/07/05
Goodman kept his title as assistant editor – but stories now in gift of news editor “I had not control whatsoever… no court of appeal”
01/11/05 Goodman was further demoted. “There was a row in the office. I’d been due to go to America to follow Charles and Parker Bowles”
Goodman says he was accredited to go on the US trip but asked to be excused as his wife had an urgent business trip.
Coulson was “quite cross. Told me I was off the trip. Appointed another NOTW journalist Royal Reporter” says Goodman.
“Shortly after… the news editor told me (new reporter) would be responsible for young royals…. quite a massive chunk of my reporting”
Goodman talks of another NOTW journalist who went over to another Sunday and then returned with a promotion.
Goodman then had to report directly to this NOTW journalist who returned.
Goodman describes this NOTW journalist as “very aggressive and a bully… stories were never good enough… they just withered and died”
“He had a conference on a Tuesday morning, and he dressed me down ‘there’s got to be a bigger story” says Goodman.
Goodman got on with Brooks “very well” when she was NOTW editor: they worked together on a story of Prince Harry smoking cannabis
Goodman says Brooks “wasn’t very interested in getting into feuds and spats”
Goodman and Coulson had joint friend called Chris Blythe: he died and memorial service brought them together: went to each other’s weddings
Goodman says apart from “events to do with death of Chris” he and Coulson didn’t really socialise.
Goodman says Coulson became “aggressive and bullying” when he became editor “forever being berated for lack of quality of my stories”
“These things sound quite petty, but they were meant to degrade you in the eyes of other people in the newspaper” says Goodman of Coulson
Goodman talks about Sean Hoare as one of Coulson’s best friends: “When he became a difficult person at office he was pretty much sacked.”
Goodman explains that “Andy was a showbusiness reporter…. who started at Bizarre showbusiness desk….. not hard news”
“Investigations, gritty show business stuff” says Goodman of hard news. The other NOTW journalist had worked in hard news and features.
“He was very old school, from the 80s, when Kelvin Mackenzie was editor of Sun, thought the best way of getting stuff….was aggression”
“He liked action, action, action all the time” Goodman says of other NOTW journo “like dogs chasing cars”
Goodman says he was well regarded before editorial bosses changed: had the record for most front page splashes at NOTW before then.
Jury are shown a picture from “Headlines in Histor” from the Newseum in Washington affiliated to the Smithsonian with Goodman’s work
“He didn’t like me, he made it his business to tell everyone he didn’t” says Goodman of new arrival above him at NOTW.
“Stories are driven by contacts, not running around like a headless chicken so we had a real clash of cultures” says Goodman of new arrival
“He had quite a list of characters he didn’t like” says Goodman, naming Sean Hoare among others. He would diss them at conference.
Goodman says his relationship with Coulson was good before the new arrival: got worse “You could see the influence on Andy all the time”
Goodman says Coulson tried to prove himself tougher than this new arrival, and this had a “corrosive relationship”
Goodman describes Kuttner as “difficult… not just to me… just difficult” He would “arbitrarily cut” money to sources.
“It’s not very productive” says Goodman of Kuttner: “It wasn’t just me”
Goodman says she only saw Carter on the way to see Brooks “helpful, nice” he describes her.
Goodman is asked about Greg Miskiw: no professional difficulties with him.
Goodman talks about the various roles of Neville Thurlbeck. They worked together for years “a very straightforward chap” says Goodman
Goodman has known James Weatherup since they both started at NOTW. No professional problems: “Very straightforward”
Goodman is asked about another NOTW journalist named in Dan Evans’ evidence. Goodman worked for him on book serialisations when suspended 06
Spens turns to an 22/07/05 email about Sienna Miller, and then Earl Spenser which mentions Goodman.
Goodman was being consulted over the Jude Law story because the nanny had worked for Earl Spenser.
Goodman talks about Dan Evans: “I didn’t even know he was a contemporary of mine”: never worked nor socialised with him.
Spens asks about the “culture of NOTW between 2003 and 2006” Goodman “extraordinarily competitive, extraordinarily fast bullying, menacing”
“Not only were we competitive with other papers, but with each other – departments, reporters… an extreme drive for results” says Goodman
Goodman says the by line count mean you’d be “hauled over the coals” if you didn’t deliver. Competition encouraged by management
Goodman talks of Mazer Mahmood about a household name model “suggestion was she was working as upmarket prostitute in Europe”
“Maz set up one of his fake Sheikh operations – independent of news – so NOTW journo phone model’s agent and warned her” says Goodman
Goodman says this is an example of the level of internal competition between news and investigations.
Goodman talks about rivalry between NOTW journos “you’re really only as good as the contacts you have”; He had offer from Mirror for job
Goodman told Marunchak of job offer at Mirror. Marunchak knew Goodman met his contact. “He put a PI from Southern Investigations…”
Goodman alleges PI tracked contact and then Marunchak threatened to expose contact if he to Mirror.
Goodman remembers being “berated” by Kuttner for performance, even though he had 7 front pages of NOTW and spread inside on Di’s bodyguard
29/11/06 Goodman pleads guilty at this court. 26/01/07 Sentenced to 4 months in prison 05/02/07 dismissed by NOTW
Goodman released from prison in late Feb 2007. 02/03/07 Goodman gave notice of internal appeal against NOTW for unfair dismissal
30/05/07 Goodman’s appeal rejected. Settlement in July 2007 from NOTW for £140k
Goodman says this was about a year and half salary at the time in 2007
Goodman says he didn’t get work for a year: then some casual work for Daily Star and some from an Austrian based newsagency.
Goodman says he was on about a quarter of his former salary though working 7 days a week.
Goodman explains that he was arrested again in July 2011 and lost his job at the Daily Star. Central European News work dried up
Goodman says he’s been the sole carer of his nine year old daughter, doing school run and Brownie run.
Count 2 – The Purchase of Royal Internal Telephone Directories
Count 2, explains Spens, the purchase of Royal Internal Telephone Directories – one published in Sept 02. A Green Book from same year.
Count 2, explains Spens, involves the purchase of an ITD (internal telephone directory) around May June 2005
Spens goes to the jury bundle on these two directories.
This page lists the documents found at Goodman’s home in 2006: 7 ITDs and 8 Royal Green Books
Goodman explains the Royal Green Books – “a directory of names addresses and telephone numbers of senior members of Royal Household”
Goodman confirms some listings contain home numbers of individuals. And “very few… some” mobile numbers.
01/08/98 Directory shown. August 92 directory no mobile numbers. Sept 97 no mobile numbers. Oct 99 no mobile numbers.
04/10/2000 is the first time mobile numbers are included in Royal Green Books. Few more in 2001.
“Farm shop, apothecary, royal accountant, helicopter pilot” have mobile numbers. Few extras the next year Spens notes.
Spens points out there were 400 entries in Green Book. Goodman says the internal directories are more for “foot soldiers in Royal Household”
Goodman says “most the information in the directories could be found elsewhere… important that it’s gathered together in one book”
BREAKING: Goodman denies every using information in Green Books for either phone hacking or blagging.
Spens goes through the internal phone directories: only one mobile number by 97, only one in 98, 3 by 99, 6 by 2001, few more later years
ITD’s would name 650 members of the Royal Staff says Spens – some contracting and part time jobs not listed says Goodman.
Goodman says “there are public employees…. private secretaries appear in Green Book… personal employees would appear in ITDs”
Goodman says Green Books contained no personal details “barely any names at all… just job role and numbers”
“It sounds very Upstairs/Downstairs” says Spens of distinction between Green Books and ITDs: “Yes, Very Downton Abbey’ says Goodman
Goodman says he’d use the directories during the deadline for NOTW on Saturday to “put stories to people… out of hours”
“You could see who’s going where, who’s up or down” says Goodman of Green Books: “I used them as a glorified phone directory” he says
Of ITDs Goodman says you “could ring Chauffeur. Get around press office and get an honest reaction from them”.
Goodman says they also helped with knowing size of households, and tracking the back stories of employees where they’d worked before.
I can now report that the comments about allegedly aggressive new arrival at NOTW in previous Goodman evidence was Neil Wallis
Back after a break in the #hackingtrial
Spens resumes his questioning of Goodman: he goes back to a previous document “a bit out of context”
Spens is back on rivalries: Goodman email from 10/07/01 about “sensitive” sources “not keen on them hanging countersigned by desk”
Goodman talks about the death of Princess Diana. Call in the middle of the night ‘Palace press office was quite frankly useless”
“Using the Green Book I was able to contact Sir Robin Janver, the Queen’s private secretary” says Goodman of Diana’s death.
“Through that frank conversation we managed to mobilise press into some kind of strategy” says Goodman of 1 am call to Janver.
Goodman talks about the “apparent lack of respect” shown to Diana and the “stuffy protocol” about flags being at half mast.
Goodman talks about 20 minute half mast flag at the Palace: he claims a Fireman had done this out of disgusts. Using ITD Goodman called him
Fireman confirmed the incident. This did appear in the newspaper.
Goodman talks of Sir Michael Peate, who was private secretary to Charles, and the “Big PR campaign around Camilla Parker Bowles.”
Goodman “I had his number from the Green Book, I called about 3.30 pm… his wife said he was out walking. I had his mobile number from mtg”
Wife said “he’s mobile isn’t working but there was a public phone box he stops at at 4pm” says Goodman. He called public box. Peate answered
Goodman talks about staff of Prince Charles selling off foreign gifts: Sir Michael Peate had press conference saying Charles very frugal.
Goodman explains how he used the ITD to “expose” the fact Prince Charles had 3 valets.
Goodman talks of 21st Birthday of Prince William when a man dressed as Osama Bin Laden crashed the party and stood next to him.
“Using the Green Book I was able to contact household members” says Goodman of getting a “response” about the Bin Laden lookalike:
Goodman: “this was a great scoop – it went over 7 pages” Saunders: “You filled 7 pages with that story. You took 30 seconds to explain it”
Goodman relates another story of “many items of incredibly valuable Georgian silver” being stolen from Palace. Press office denied it.
Goodman: “Using internal telephone director… able to call, to show something had happened and Palace Press office not telling the truth”
Spens asks about the 15 books found in his home in August 2006: he was questioned about them, and whether taken illegally.
All these exhibits were used in the 2006 case: Goodman not prosecuted for any offence related to that.
Goodman says the NOTW already had copies of the Green Book when he arrived there in 1996
BREAKING: Goodman says two directories came from, Kenneth Stronach, valet to the Prince of Wales – 98 and 93
Goodman corrects it was 88 Green Book, supplied by Stronach in 1995. First approached by son selling stories to NOTW.
“It became clear his father was thoroughly fed up with working for the Royal Household, and the Prince of Wales in particular” Goodman says
“He gave the two books as an act of goodwill” says Goodman: He says he never paid any money for them or considered them stolen
BREAKING: Goodman claims Princess Diana gave him one of the Royal Green Books in 1992
Goodman says the Green Book arrived at NOTW office in an envelope with his name on it. He had no notice of it.
Princess Diana called later that day asking Goodman whether he received it. “She had a relationship with several journalists” says Goodman
Goodman talks of Diana’s other contacts, Bashir, Kaye etc.
BREAKING: Goodman says Diana wanted him to “see the scale of her husband’s household compared to hers…. being swamped by his household”
Goodman says Diana was looking for “an outlet to take them on”: “They were quite a powerful organisation: they still are”
Of the other 12 directories, 9 of these from 1997-2001, Goodman cannot remember who supplied them.
Goodman says he never gave any thought to whether they were stolen.
“Not one” of these books says Goodman were procured from a police officer. He never paid anyone for them.
Goodman says he’s never obtained any information or any book from a Royal Protection Officer.
“Royal Protection Officers are not great fans of journalists, Sunday journalists in particular. We’re a distracton” says Goodman
Goodman says it was not a good relationship with Royal Protection Officers and journalists. Never met one of them socially.
Goodman says Royal Protection they were “hostile” to him and NOTW: any stories would not be “good news” and “unflattering”
Goodman talks of Klosters, and invitation to the press to photo the Royal Family. They’d follow bodyguards hoping for lead to Parker Bowles
Goodman explains how the Royal Protection officers hemmed them in and then abandoned their car.
Goodman explains how he hired house opposite Royals in Mauritius: a flotilla of boats including coastguard and protection threatened arrest
Another example Goodman gives is a canoeing trip in Canada: They found out route. As detective spotted them – ordered them to leave.
“This happened all the time” says Goodman. Relationship with SO 14 officers was “hostile” says Goodman. Back tomorrow at 10 am

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

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Previous Posts
Hacking Trial Live Tweets – 10 Mar
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