Ex-News of the World editor Coulson denies phone hacking

Andy Coulson, British prime minister David Cameron's former media chief and ex-editor of the now defunct News of the World, pleaded not guilty this morning to charges related to phone hacking.

Mr Coulson resigned from his job as Mr Cameron’s director of communications in 2011 after allegations emerged that he had known of phone hacking by journalists at the tabloid he edited between 2003 and 2007.

Mr Coulson, appearing in the dock for less than five minutes, pleaded not guilty to charges of unlawful interception of voicemail messages and to conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office.

Rebekah Brooks, a former top executive in Rupert Murdoch's media empire and Mr Coulson's predecessor at the Sunday tabloid, denied charges related to phone hacking in court yesterday.

Reuters