View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Media Law
March 4, 2014updated 05 Mar 2014 8:00pm

Rebekah Brooks tells hacking trial: ‘I received death threats’ after Milly Dowler revelations were published

By PA Mediapoint

Former News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks has told the Old Bailey she received death threats after it emerged that murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone had been hacked.
But, giving evidence for an eighth day, Brooks said she was also sent messages of support as she found herself the "central figure" of the story, including one from former prime minister Tony Blair.
Under questioning from her lawyer Jonathan Laidlaw QC, Brooks was asked about the events of July 2011, when the Guardian broke the "horrific" story.
Brooks, who was by that time chief executive of News International, told jurors that she and her colleagues were horrified by the allegations and desperately tried to find out if they were true.
She said that as the story made headlines around the world, "we were completely at a loss and all over the place really, trying to find out what was true and what wasn't".
Jurors heard a text, sent from Blair to Brooks on 5 July 2011, read: "Let me know if there's anything I can help you with. Thinking of you. I've been through things like this."
Brooks replied: "Thank you, I know what's it's like. GB (Gordon Brown) pals getting their own back. Rupert and James (Murdoch) have been brilliant.
"Hopefully even in this climate the truth will out."
Referring to the abusive messages she was sent, Brooks, 45, told jurors: "The allegations were, I think, met with universal revulsion and I was the central figure of that."
Brooks denies conspiring to hack phones, conspiring to commit misconduct in public office and conspiring to cover up evidence to pervert the course of justice. All seven defendants deny the charges against them.
Jurors were also read messages of support that Brooks received from former Mirror editor Piers Morgan.
"When it rains, it f***ing pours. Grit your teeth and stay strong," Mr Morgan wrote.
Jurors heard that Brooks replied: "Can't believe any reporter would do that. Must have been (Glenn) Mulcaire."
Mr Morgan then wrote back: "If it wasn't a staffer you've got to get it out there fast. Lots of fury building on internet."
There was laughter in the court room as Brooks said Morgan was an "avid tweeter". "I was going to say twit," she added.
Laidlaw interrupted: "I'm going to save you digging deeper."
A message from Mike Dunn, who was sports editor of the News of the World and the Sun under Brooks' editorship, was also read out.
He wrote: "I've known you long enough to know that it's completely impossible for you to have had any hint of these activities at the News of the World.
"You remain the greatest editor and journalist I've ever known. I've always felt privileged to work alongside you, you've done absolutely nothing wrong.
"It is totally alien to your character and soul."
Brooks said it was believed that whoever had hacked Milly's phone was not a staff member at the paper.
"Obviously the accusation of Milly Dowler's phone in itself was terrible, but it was the deletion of the messages, the false hope, that was rightly sparking fury," she said.
The allegation that voicemails had been deleted, and therefore given Milly's parents the impression she could still be alive, was later found to be untrue.
Jurors heard that in a message to a friend, Brooks said she felt there was a "witch hunt" against her.
She said that she and senior colleagues had first discussed closing the News of the World in June 2011 due to the mounting number of civil liability cases brought against it by celebrities.
The final edition of the paper was published just days after the Milly story broke, on July 10. Brooks went on to resign on July 15. She told jurors: "I felt it was the right thing to do."

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network