Brooks 'Baffled' By Hacking Scandal Charge

Rebekah Brooks has said she is "baffled" by the decision to charge her in relation to the phone-hacking scandal.

The former News International chief executive spoke outside the offices of her lawyers, hours after she and her racehorse trainer husband Charlie had been charged with conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

The 43-year-old said claims that they and others had plotted to hide evidence were "an expensive sideshow and a waste of public money".

"While I have always respected the criminal justice system, I have to question today whether this decision was made on a proper impartial assessment of the evidence."

She added: "I cannot express my anger enough that those closest to me have been dragged into this unfairly."

Charlie Brooks, standing side-by-side with his wife, said she was the victim of a "witch hunt" and expressed doubt over whether she would have a fair trial, saying the charges were attempts to make him and others "scapegoats".

He said: "There are 172 police officers, about the equivalent of eight murder squads,
working on this, so it doesn't surprise me that the pressure is on to bring prosecutions, no matter how weak they may be."

Brooks was News Of The World (NOTW) editor when the voicemails of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's mobile phone were intercepted.

She faces three charges, including conspiring to conceal documents, computers and other electronic equipment from Scotland Yard detectives and conspiring to remove seven boxes of material from the archive of News International.

Her husband, a friend of David Cameron, is also accused of conspiring to hide material from detectives.

Four other people also face the same charge - that they attempted to pervert the course of justice by concealing documents and computer data from officers investigating phone hacking.

They are News International's head of security, Mark Hanna and Rebekah Brooks' former PA Cheryl Carter, as well as her chauffeur Paul Edwards, who was employed by NI and Daryl Jorsling, who provided security.

All the offences are alleged to have taken place in July last year.

It is understood that News International - owner of the now-defunct NOTW as well as The Sun, The Sunday Times and The Times - has suspended Hanna and Edwards on full pay until the outcome of the case is known.

The decision to charge was announced by the director of public prosecutions' principal legal advisor, Alison Levitt QC.

Ms Levitt said: "All these matters relate to the ongoing police investigation into allegations of phone hacking and corruption of public officials in relation to the News Of The World and The Sun newspapers."

A statement from Cheryl Carter said she "vigorously denies" any offence.

A statement from Hanna said: "I am also innocent of the charges against me and I have no doubt that ultimately justice will prevail and I will be totally exonerated."

The charges are the first to be brought following Scotland Yard's multimillion-pound investigations into phone hacking, computer hacking and corruption, which have led to 50 arrests since they began in January last year.

Brooks and the others charged will appear at Westminster Magistrates Court on June 13.

The decision from prosecutors comes just days after Brooks gave almost an entire day's evidence at the Leveson Inquiry into media standards - and her close relationship with the PM.

David Cameron's official spokesman declined to discuss the charges, saying it would be "improper" for him to comment on an ongoing investigation.