Coulson declines familiarity to special code for phone hacking

In his second week of testimony for the trial of the embattled UK unit of News Corp, former editor News of the World Andy Coulson denied claims made by a reporter that the tabloid has coined the term "special checks" to signify phone hacking, Bloomberg said. Coulson is among the seven people accused of wrongdoing including voice-mail interception and bribing public officials. Following his exit at the tabloid, Coulson became Prime Minister David Cameron's media adviser, the news agency added.

Timothy Langdale, Coulson's attorney, said that the phrase in question was used in an email that described a story involving British actors Jude Law and Sienna Miller. When Langdale asked Coulson about his client's knowledge of the phrase, Coulson said in his testimony that he has no clue. Coulson reportedly referred to the idea that all reporters consider checks as special.

Bloomberg said Coulson's answers about the "special checks" phrase was his response to Dan Evans' witness testimony, Bloomberg reported. Evans, who is a former reporter also at the paper, had testified earlier this year on behalf of the prosecution. In his testimony, Evans had focused on stories about Miller and the validity of her alleged affair with Daniel Craig. Craig is known as the latest actor who has played the titular character James Bond in the Ian Fleming film franchise.

Also in his testimony today, Coulson had also denied hearing a 2005 recording that Evans claimed to have played for him. The message was supposedly left on Craig's phone, in which the British actress had allegedly admitted to the actor that she loved him.

Last week, Coulson had told jurors that he was aware of phone hacking as the interception of voicemail messages. However, Bloomberg said that Coulson downplayed his knowledge on the illicit activity, claiming in court that he is only aware of the activity in "vague terms."

Tags

Andy Coulson, News Corp, News of the World phone hacking scandal, Sienna Miller, Jude Law, Dan Evans

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