Phone hacking trial: Andy Coulson 'was out of office' on day accused of hearing Daniel Craig voicemail

1EmailCoulson’s lawyer said his client was not in the city but ex-News of the World reporter Dan Evans insisted, even if he muddled up dates, he did play the message

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News of the World journalist: I turned to drink and drugs to self-medicate stress of phone hacking

Dan Evans tells trial he started hacking phones when he was at the Sunday Mirror and continued after he joined the NotW and former editor Andy Coulson knew all about it

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Phone hacker tried to do a deal with police to save his own skin, trial hears

Andy Coulson, left, and Dan Evans arriving at the Old Bailey on Tuesday Photo: ANDY RAIN/EPA By Martin Evans, Crime Correspondent

6:46PM GMT 29 Jan 2014

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A former News of the World reporter, who has admitted phone hacking, described in court how he sought a deal with police to avoid being prosecuted for his role in the scandal.

Dan Evans, 38, initially lied about his phone hacking activities, after he was accused of attempting to listen to the voicemail of interior designer Kelly Hoppen.

In civil proceedings in August 2011 he claimed his Nokia phone had been faulty, something that was described in court as the “sticky keys defence”.

But just months later, he changed his story, admitting his role in hacking and agreeing to cooperate with police in a bid to seek immunity from prosecution.

Mr Evans, who appeared as a prosecution witness, claimed Andy Coulson, the News of the World’s former editor, knew about his phone hacking activities.

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He told the jury: “I did not broadcast it because that would have been crass but everybody knew.

“The truth is that Andy Coulson knew exactly what was going on on his watch.”

Mr Evans said he was sorry he had lied about hacking initially, claiming he had been a “very frightened man” who had not known what to do at the time.

The Old Bailey heard how Mr Evans had told his lawyers: “My ultimate goal is that there is not evidence against me and prosecution.”

He also told police that he had wanted to “look his children in the eye” and get back on the “right path in life”.

Earlier in the trial the jury was told how Mr Evans had hacked the phone of James Bond actor, Daniel Craig and had recorded a message from Jude Law’s girlfriend Sienna Miller, telling him she loved him.

He had told the court that after playing the tape in the News of the World office, Mr Coulson became animated and declared it “brilliant”.

But under cross-examination from Mr Coulson’s barrister, Timothy Langdale QC, Mr Evans was forced to admit that he had been “paraphrasing” when describing the incident.

Mr Langdale said: “Yesterday you told this court Mr Coulson, when you played the voicemail message of Sienna Miller, to you said, ‘Brilliant’. Is that truthful evidence?”

Mr Evans replied: “That is truthful. The exact word may be paraphrasing.”

Mr Langdale said: “You have got a bit of a habit of doing that.”

Pressed about why he had initially lied about the hacking of Miss Hoppen’s phone, Mr Evans said he had been “toeing the line” but added: “I bitterly regret I did not take a braver course of action at the time.”

Mr Evans joined the News of the World in 2005 after being poached from the rival tabloid the Sunday Mirror.

The former tabloid reporter, who has been in therapy for the last 18-months, claimed he had turned to drink and drugs to “self-medicate” amid the stress of phone hacking.

He told the court: “The secret made me unhappy. Carrying an enormous secret and delving into the lives of people who did not deserve it made me unhappy.

The court has heard that he has admitted conspiracy to hack phones at the Sunday Mirror between February 2003 and January 2005, and the same offence at the News of the World between April 2004 and June 2010.

He also pleaded guilty to conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office between January 2008 and June 2010, and perverting the course of justice by giving a false statement in High Court proceedings.

Mr Coulson, 46, from Charing, Kent, denies conspiring to hack phones and conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office.

Seven defendants, including former Sun and News of the World editor Rebekah Brooks, deny all the charges against them.

 Phone HackingNews »UK News »Crime »Martin Evans »

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Mark Duggan 'had mobile phone in his hand when he was shot dead by police', inquest hears

Mark Duggan, whose fatal shooting by police in north London triggered riots across England Photo: FACEBOOK By Agencies

2:04PM GMT 03 Dec 2013

Mark Duggan, whose fatal shooting triggered riots across England, was clutching a mobile phone in his hand when he was shot dead by armed police, a witness has told an inquest into the 29 year-old's death.

The man, referred to as Witness B to protect his anonymity, told the hearing he saw Mr Duggan still holding the device as he collapsed after being shot by a police marksman stood ''five to seven steps away''.

The witness said he used his own mobile to film the aftermath of the fatal shooting in August 2011.

More than 50 members of the public packed into an annexe of the courtroom at the Royal Courts of Justice to watch via a video-link as the footage was shown to the jury.

Ashley Underwood QC, counsel to the inquest, asked the witness whether he heard a ''commotion'' shortly after 6pm on August 4, 2011.

''I heard tyres screeching and then I heard shouting'' he said. ''The shouting was either 'put it down or get down'.''

Witness B told the inquest he saw armed police wearing blue jackets close to the mini cab Mr Duggan was travelling in.

''When I saw him (Mr Duggan) he was on the sidewalk,'' he said.

''He tried to run off towards Tottenham Hale but then there was a police officer standing there.''

The witness said he then saw Mr Duggan turn around to run towards Blackhorse Road.

''Could you see his hands?'' Mr Underwood asked.

''Yes,'' Witness B replied. ''It looked like a phone clutched in his hand. I've said that since day one.

''That was definitely a phone clutched in his hand.''

Asked where Mr Duggan was holding his hands at the time, the witness raised his own hands above his shoulders, the hearing was told.

The man told the jury he saw Mr Duggan collapse on the pavement after being shot twice.

''How did you know he had been shot?'' Mr Underwood asked.

''I heard the shots,'' he replied. ''The way he fell as well. He just collapsed.''

Asked how far away the police marksman was from Mr Duggan when the shots were fired, Witness B said: ''About a couple of steps. Five to seven steps.''

The BBC challenged an order by the coroner, Judge Keith Cutler, that the broadcaster should reveal the name of the eyewitness who filmed the aftermath of the shooting.

Witness B, who gave his footage to the BBC, admitted he had been reluctant to give evidence at the hearing and had moved out of London following the shooting.

''I took the video, I gave it to the BBC so they could put it out there,'' he said. ''I had to move out of London because of it. I wanted to be left alone.''

''What were you worried about?'' Mr Underwood asked.

''It's not everyday you see someone get shot in London and dying,'' Witness B said.

''It played on my mind a bit.''

The witness said he was also concerned after hearing about gang links in relation to the shooting.

Police have told the inquest that Mr Duggan was being watched by officers involved in investigating a gang known to use firearms and violence.

(Edited by Andy Hooper)

 Law and OrderNews »UK News »Crime »Mobile »

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Phone Hacking: Calum Best Paid By NOTW

The celebrity is accused of "encouraging" media intrusion into his life but a court hears he was also targeted by the paper. 4:04pm UK, Wednesday 13 November 2013

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Phone Hacking Trial: Kate Middleton on target list as hackers closed in on the Royals

The Duchess of Cambridge was one of a number of high-profile figures, including other members of the Royal family, apparently identified by convicted phone hacker Mr Mulcaire as potential targets

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