Brooks and Coulson to appear in court over phone hacking charges‏

Andy Coulson and Rebekah Brooks will be facing trial next year over allegations linked to the phone hacking scandal.

Brooks and Coulson appeared at the Old Bailey this morning with several former journalists from defunct tabloid the News of the World.

Also facing charges, along with private detective Glenn Mulcaire, are ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former head of news Ian Edmondson, ex-chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and former reporter James Weatherup.

Kuttner was excused from attending the hearing today.

The seven former News of the World staff face one general accusation of conspiracy to illegally access voicemails that prosecutors say could affect up to 600 victims, along with other charges related to specific individuals.

Glenn Mulcaire is accused of four counts related to particular individuals.

Brooks is also accused of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice over allegations that she tried to conceal information from police investigating the phone hacking scandal and claims of corrupt payments to public officials at The Sun and the News of the World papers.

Sitting at the back of the dock, she spoke only to confirm her name during today’s hearing.

Furthermore, Brooks, her husband Charlie Brooks, her former personal assistant Cheryl Carter, head of security at News International Mark Hanna, Brooks’s chauffeur Paul Edwards and security staff Daryl Jorsling and Lee Sandell have all been accused of perverting the course of justice.

All defendants were released on bail. As part of her bail conditions, Brooks was told she could not contact former News of the World reporter Dan Evans and the paper’s former executive editor Neil Wallis, who are on bail following the Scotland Yard investigation into phone hacking.

The provisional trial date is 9^th September 2013.

Zanib Asghar