Missing Milly Dowler's voicemail "hacked by News of the World"

[Wilf]

'Criminal allowed into top secret briefings without security clearance..'

 

[DaveCinzano]

No story on the Sun website yet (though the @Sun_politics twitter account is running with it: 'Rebekah Brooks denies phone hacking charges and will contest: "The charge concerning Milly Dowler is particularly upsetting".') - but I notice they're going hard on corrupt payments and undermining of the legal process elsewhere:



Cabals of corrupt Asian court clerks

 

[Teaboy]

Well, if Coulson stands up in court and says that Cameron has told the world a pack of lies about him and his relations/work practices etc then he is in serious trouble - potentially killer trouble.

I hope so, I just can't imagine a scenario in which that will happen though. Should Coulson plead not guilty the questions will all be about his time at NI and not when he moved to join Cameron. Also I will be flabbergasted if it turns out that Cameron was explicitly told that Coulson was up to his neck in phone hacking, there is no way he could have taken him on under those circumstances.

I have a inkling that Coulson in particular may yet fall on his sword and plead guilty thereby protecting the government and Cameron in particular, I'm sure they would make it worth his while.

 

[DexterTCN]

Blunkett? While he was a minister? Isn't that a different charge (like treason?)

Have any tory mps been hacked?

 

[Fedayn]

He'll never sue, they filled his mouth with gold.

No, more brown than 'golden'......


(doesn't resist)

 

[Wilf]

No, more brown than 'golden'......

©

 

[Teaboy]

Blunkett? While he was a minister? Isn't that a different charge (like treason?)

Exactly! And why didnt Blunkett say anything? Instead he just took a highly paid job with the company that had just allegedly hacked his phone. Surely a home office minister wouldnt turn a blind eye to illegal practices or allow himself to be brought off? Inconcievable.

 

[Tankus]

well done on the CPS getting this in before the olympics .........

several weeks coming of where "its good day .... to bury bad news"

 

[butchersapron]

well done on the CPS getting this in before the olympics .........

several weeks coming of where "its good day .... to bury bad news"

Eh? You think people are going to forget about this? A series of trials that no one notices?

 

[butchersapron]

Is it me or does the last line of this statement from RB make no sense?

"I am distressed and angry that the CPS have reached this decision when they knew all the facts and were in a position to stop the case at this stage. The charge concerning Milly Dowler is particularly upsetting not only as it is untrue but also because I have spent my journalistic career campaigning for victims of crime. I will vigorously defend these allegations."

 

[Tankus]

no ...but there would be a fight for the headlines though

 

[two sheds]

Exactly! And why didnt Blunkett say anything? Instead he just took a highly paid job with the company that had just allegedly hacked his phone. Surely a home office minister wouldnt turn a blind eye to illegal practices or allow himself to be brought off? Inconcievable.

What we need is a proper Inquiry into these things, headed up by a judge and stuff, where he could be made to answer these questions ...

 

[DaveCinzano]

I have a inkling that Coulson in particular may yet fall on his sword and plead guilty thereby protecting the government and Cameron in particular, I'm sure they would make it worth his while.

That wouldn't really protect them though.

"Hey Andy, thinking about giving you a job. You never did anything naughty, did you?"
"No, honest!"
"Good show - you're hired!"

...

"Hey Dave, all that bad stuff they're saying about me isn't true, but I'm resigning anyway."
"Sorry to hear that, all the best!"

...

"Hey Dave, all that bad stuff they're saying about me is true after all, and before, when I said it wasn't, I was lying. Sucker!"
"Jumping Jehosaphat!"

 

[butchersapron]

That wouldn't really protect them though.

"Hey Andy, thinking about giving you a job. You never did anything naughty, did you?"
"No, honest!"
"Good show - you're hired!"

...

"Hey Dave, all that bad stuff they're saying about me isn't true, but I'm resigning anyway."
"Sorry to hear that, all the best!"

...

"Hey Dave, all that bad stuff they're saying about me is true after all, and before, when I said it wasn't, I was lying. Sucker!"
"Jumping Jehosaphat!"

Exactly, who is the real victim here. Poor Dave.

 

[Wilf]

Exactly, who is the real victim here. Poor Dave.

'George, I know it's not your birthday, but I saw this Sacrifical Lamb costume and thought of you'.

 

[DaveCinzano]

If Coulson goes down, whether he cops for it or - to borrow that Brooksism - "vigorously defends the allegations" but is disbelieved by the jury, Dave looks a dick who either (i) knowingly hired a crook or (ii) unknowingly hired a crook, on the word of the crook.

That's a straight choice between being bent himself, or just a credulous twat with poor judgement, with varying shades of shit in between.

So Coulson coming over all Abe Lincoln this late in the game would not really work if he wanted to 'protect the government'

 

[DaveCinzano]

Read this chunk from Nev's statement and tell me it doesn't make you smile with its implicit message:

"I am most surprised and disappointed in the outcome. I have always operated under the strict guidance and advice of News International's lawyers and under the instructions of the newspaper's editors which will be abundantly clear when this matter comes to court.

 

[Wilf]

Fredy Patel will really earn his money on this one.

 

[Teaboy]

Read this chunk from Nev's statement and tell me it doesn't make you smile with its implicit message:

Umm, I'm pretty sure that style of defence has been used before, unsuccesfully as I recall.

But yeah, he appears to have a big bucket of shit he's going to pour over NI, to use the tabloid venacular.

 

[Teaboy]

If Coulson goes down, whether he cops for it or - to borrow that Brooksism - "vigorously defends the allegations" but is disbelieved by the jury, Dave looks a dick who either (i) knowingly hired a crook or (ii) unknowingly hired a crook, on the word of the crook.

That's a straight choice between being bent himself, or just a credulous twat with poor judgement, with varying shades of shit in between.

So Coulson coming over all Abe Lincoln this late in the game would not really work if he wanted to 'protect the government'

But option 2 has already happened really hasnt it? the Coulson lied line is one the tories have been trotting out for a while. I really can't see this in itself being terminal unless a lot more comes out in the trial then I expect.

 

[Teaboy]

What we need is a proper Inquiry into these things, headed up by a judge and stuff, where he could be made to answer these questions ...

Was Blunkett called before Leveson? If not why not? Some research needed here I think.

 

[agricola]

Was Blunkett called before Leveson? If not why not? Some research needed here I think.

It is worth pointing out that Blunkett has had a lot of money off NI since he left office:

Rupert Murdoch's News International has approved a confidential payout to the former home secretary David Blunkett over allegations that his phone was hacked.
The exact size of the payout is not clear. However, three well-placed sources familiar with the negotiations suggest the payout to Blunkett and several others is worth around £300,000.

....

His register of interests entry shows that he advises News International on corporate social responsibility issues on a six-month contract, worth £25,000. He also has an advice column for the Times, worth up to £5,000 per financial year. Before October 2009 he wrote a column for the Sun worth around £45,000 a year.

 

[Wilf]

His register of interests entry shows that he advises News International on corporate social responsibility issues

Isn't this a bit like Henry Kissinger getting the Nobel Peace Prize.

 

[Teaboy]

Isn't this a bit like Henry Kissinger getting the Nobel Peace Prize.

Yup, it looks well suss. There was something in Leveson from Blair (not that one, the copper) saying he made Blunkett aware of phone hacking right back in 2006. Blunkett appears not to have been called to Leveson, all very odd indeed.

 

[Schmetterling]

'George, I know it's not your birthday, but I saw this Sacrifical Lamb costume and thought of you'.
L.O.L. Dave

You forgot the signature line!

 

[1%er]

Many a slip between charge and guilty verdict

 

[Wilf]

Many a slip between charge and guilty verdict

Yep, if I was forced to put a fiver on it now I'd predict not guilty for Coulson and Wade (didn't know, ddn't ask...), though we haven't seen how bad the evidence is yet. Mr Mulcaire may well be revisiting his old haunts though.

 

[Kaka Tim]

Well - as with the other charges agasint the Brookses - you'd expect that the CPS must have some pretty good evidence before talking them on - witnesss from NI prepared to drop them in the shit, evidence on computers (one is reminded of a certain lap top dumped in a bin) , e-mails etc.

Any news on likely trial dates?

 

[Ted Striker]

Or they could just be playing to the public demands on a flimsy as shite 'case' (see also John Terry).

Fingers crossed they've got it right this time...

 

[agricola]

Well - as with the other charges agasint the Brookses - you'd expect that the CPS must have some pretty good evidence before talking them on - witnesss from NI prepared to drop them in the shit, evidence on computers (one is reminded of a certain lap top dumped in a bin) , e-mails etc.

Any news on likely trial dates?

The eight will make their first appearance at Westminster Magistrates on August 16th.