Rebekah Brooks Trial

[FrankelInFoal]

I'm no fan of Rebekah Brooks but having watched the news reporting from court today I'm finding myself feeling incredibly sorry for her.

Apparently today she was questioned about her fertility issues. I mean what the hell does that have to do with phone hacking? According to the report I watched she was asked about her problems conceiving with Ross Kemp which prompted her to ask for a break in proceedings and she left the room in tears. Later she was questioned about the surrogacy that she and her current husband had gone through to get their daughter.

Seriously, how is that relevant/appropriate?! If she was a man I sincerely doubt she'd have been asked about such a private matter.

'Bet she ditches that gormless husband as well'

He really is a twit, isn't he? I heard him being interviewed on the radio yesterday and he came across as nice (ish) but extremely dim.

If it hadn't come years before I'd have sworn Harry Enfield's Tim Nice But Dim was based on him

Can't see her marriage lasting. She'll be moving on to pastures new in no time at all. IMHO only of course.

Not surprised she was aquitted. She had a very expensive legal team and friends in high places. Andy Coulson was the patsy ie fall guy.

The entire trial was an example of manipulation of news and media. Something Murdoch and RB excel at.

Agree with pp that during the Levison trial she charmed and charmed and charmed. Quite staggering that she had the arrogance to laugh off, and joke with the enquiry when answering such serious questions about other peoples right to privacy.

Cynical manipulation of her own infertility is exactly what you'd expect.

Depressing day for news media and the criminal justice system.

whole thing seems to be falling apart now. Jury discharged because of PM's prejudicing comments about Coulson yesterday.

Seems like that was planned. They should declare a mistrial and try the lot of them again.

no it wasn't planned. Just massive cock up
I'd have thought Coulson's lawyers could now successfully argue that he can never get a fair trial.

Surely the PM would have been briefed if the case was still ongoing, what do they call it sub judice?

Surely the PM is a bright enough chap to not make prejudicial statements to the media?

Ah, I see, manipulation of the news and media, now who could be behind that?

Attorney General tried to stop PM making statement but it was too late.
Left wing press and commentators were baying for Cameron to apologise - backfired now innit?

So...does anyone here know anyone (real people, not her 'media mates) who believe her innocence? I personally have only encountered disbelief at the verdict.

Every single report I heard yesterday stated they had to be careful as it's on going.
Then that idiot Cameron (leader of our country!) talks to sky (hmmmmmm).

Private businesses (and their money) are far too involved in politics, it's all wrong.

Not the first time this year the PM has been ticked off for making stupid comments about an ongoing court case. Remember his "team Nigella" comment?

I haven't heard of anyone who truly believes her innocence.

Nancy the BBC were saying the Attorney General was in the room when he made the statement. They didn't mention he was trying to stop him, but when I was watching the jury discharge was being reported as being because they hadn't been able to reach a verdict. Then I switched over to Wimbledon. Are there developments on that then?

Petite, I got that wrong. AC's counsel attempted to contact the AG to warn him not to let PM comment but couldn't reach him as he was with PM filming the apology.

So the PM was not stopped by the AG from commenting. I'm no legal expert but that's a little worrying, both re the AG and the PM.

Was anyone baying for the PM to apologise? Seriously?

The "apology" seems an irrelevant misdirection - trying to cast this as something than can be apologised for.

Rather than the question of WTAF Shiny Dave was doing, recruiting him on in the face of explicit warnings. And who was actually running the country.

Sorry, I'm reading backwards.

Coulson's trial has been halted because of Cameron's prejudicial comments? WHAT?

Tell me it's not so.

great isn't it?
£100million well spent

How convenient. What an utter cock up.

...although it wasn't 'halted' per se.

Coulson's team argued that PM's comments had prejudiced jury. Judge agreed they were unwisely made but said he trusted jury to make the right decision and disregard.

It was the jury who said they now felt unable to reach verdicts on remaining charges

I'd say it's a bad day for women bosses; she gets off because it is generally accepted/credible that a woman boss would know nothing about what she is signing off, or how her newsroom works. Mind you, Rupes did a similar thing at the Parliamentary Inquiry, pitched himself as a doddery, humble old so and so, played well, plus you had Louise Mensch lining herself up for a job with him.

Some fella from The Guardian on the increasingly risible Newsnight last night saying, hey, I was at the trial every day and she could only be acquittted 'LEAVE BROOKSIE ALONE!!!' but you did have to wonder if he knew her personally and was simply another who'd been charmed.

I heard on the radio that Ed Milliband behaved like a wet lettuce during PMQs today - on today of all days, when he should have had him right against the ropes. I despair of the whole flaming lot of them.

Ed is limp all round. They should cut him loose.

I don't think Ed did too badly in PMQs today.

So the jury might have just been unable to reach a verdict, nothing to do with Cameron's comments?

I profoundly hope so.

Not his fucking fault that it's not his fucking fault, though. The reporting and commentary rules are there for a reason, and he broke them.