Hacking Trial Date Set For September 2013

The trial date for defendants in the News Of The World (NOTW) hacking case has been set for September 2013.

Former News International chief executive Rebecca Brooks appeared in court this morning for a pre-trial hearing along with other News International employees.

Brooks was charged in July with conspiring to intercept communications without lawful authority between October 2000 and August 2006.

Also appearing on the same charge at the Old Bailey was David Cameron's former communications director and former NOTW editor, Andy Coulson.

Five other NOTW journalists charged with offences relating to phone hacking also appeared.

They included the defunct paper's chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck, managing editor Stuart Kuttner, news editor Ian Edmondson, assistant news editor Tim Weatherup and news editor Greg Miskiw.

All seven have vigorously denied the allegations.

Private investigator Glenn Mulcaire has also appeared in court on four charges relating to intercepting voicemail messages belonging to the murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler, Guardian journalist Andrew Gilchrist, television cook Delia Smith and former MP Charles Clarke.

Separately, Brooks is also charged with perverting the course of justice. It is alleged she made attempts to conceal evidence of phone hacking and illegal payments to public officials (Operation Sacha).

Also charged with the same offence are her husband Charles, her personal assistant Cheryl Carter, and other News International staff, including head of security Mark Hannah, chauffeur Paul Edwards, and security guards Lee Sandell and Daryl Jorsling.

Brooks resigned from the NOTW in the wake of the phone-hacking revelations in 2011.