Coulson & Brooks hacking trial starts today

[EskimoArapaho]

carinaman said:

I'm finding the idea that RB and AC were in a relationship and work colleagues but didn't discuss news stories and their source difficult to believe. I don't think such a thing would happen in other work environments but somehow it didn't happen in an industry whose raison d'etre is to discover and propagate tittle tattle?

Every reporter has to generate news stories. Every reporter will develop a moral sense of how far they will go to find those stories. An editor might want a company lawyer to check if a story stands up without necessarily wanting to know anything about the source him/herself. The editor may hide behind some sort of 'confidential source protocol' to maintain the necessary distance formally. Some editors might then want to know the details at a boozy night at The Dog and Duck, others would just say "don't ever tell me".

I never worked in the newstrade, but I did edit a magazine with a news section. The biggest surprise to me about a reporter's morals was when a reporter and I were offered a lift by a PR after an event. It was nice of him, rain meant a lack of London taxis. We accepted. She (reporter) was in the back and I was in the front, constantly chatting to the PR. What I found out afterwards was that she used my conversation with him as a distraction to rummage through the stack of (his) paperwork that he'd left sitting on the backseat. Personal stuff and confidential business stuff about his client - whose presentation we'd just seen. This, for me, was a BIG step too far, but for her, it was just an opportunity to fish for a story.

[carinaman]

Thanks EskimoArapaho. I've known of similar from somebody not in the press or PR.

[jmorgan]

Plausible deniability then?

[El Guapo]

The same kind of plausible deniability used by a puppy sitting next to a pile of poo.

[carinaman]

I guess this passed Coulson by then:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-522508/Cha...

[TheSnitch]

Coulson sentenced to 18 months

[heebeegeetee]

Christ almighty, given how some people have suffered through this I'm gobsmacked by the leniency. Clearly another example of the establishment looking after its own and evidence that the judiciary is not independent,.

[Justin Cyder]

heebeegeetee said:

Christ almighty, given how some people have suffered through this I'm gobsmacked by the leniency. Clearly another example of the establishment looking after its own and evidence that the judiciary is not independent,.

2 years is the maximum sentence under the law. Ungobsmack yourself.

[kev1974]

Is he getting sent to that half-assed prison with the farm and ornamental gardens attached, that Huhne had a few weeks' holidays in recently? Leyhill I think?

[audidoody]

heebeegeetee said:

Christ almighty, given how some people have suffered through this I'm gobsmacked by the leniency. Clearly another example of the establishment looking after its own and evidence that the judiciary is not independent,.

Leniency?

I'd be interested in your views on this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2656574/
Spanish-thug-28-pushed-Scottish-holidaymaker-49-13ft-ledge-death-a
nti-British-attack-jailed-just-three-years.html

To my certain knowledge no human or animal was physically harmed by Mr Coulson in the production of his newspapers/

[Soov535]

kev1974 said:

Is he getting sent to that half-assed prison with the farm and ornamental gardens attached, that Huhne had a few weeks' holidays in recently? Leyhill I think?

He'll spend some time in Wandsworth or Brixton before that.

I wouldn't want to spend ten minutes in either.

[Adrian W]

Justin Cyder said:

heebeegeetee said:

Christ almighty, given how some people have suffered through this I'm gobsmacked by the leniency. Clearly another example of the establishment looking after its own and evidence that the judiciary is not independent,.

2 years is the maximum sentence under the law. Ungobsmack yourself.

They new that when they charged him, out in less than nine months, nice cushy open prison, not really worth the effort or cost.

Yet if I refuse to pay my TV license................

[MarshPhantom]

audidoody said:

heebeegeetee said:

Christ almighty, given how some people have suffered through this I'm gobsmacked by the leniency. Clearly another example of the establishment looking after its own and evidence that the judiciary is not independent,.

Leniency?

I'd be interested in your views on this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2656574/
Spanish-thug-28-pushed-Scottish-holidaymaker-49-13ft-ledge-death-a
nti-British-attack-jailed-just-three-years.html

To my certain knowledge no human or animal was physically harmed by Mr Coulson in the production of his newspapers/

Wait until you see how long Rolf gets.

[Justin Cyder]

Adrian W said:

They new that when they charged him, out in less than nine months, nice cushy open prison, not really worth the effort or cost.

Yet if I refuse to pay my TV license................

Good point. Perhaps in hindsight they should have pinned a couple of murders on him, satisfy the public outrage.

[audidoody]

She and Coulson were lovers
She was his boss
She ran the newspaper

Yet £100,000,000 of trial later we find out that she had no knowledge or what he was up to.: never asked "so how did we get that Jude Law /Sienna Miller/Daniel Craig/ etc etc scoop Andy?".

Money talks and bullst walks (or is banged up 18 months in this case).

[Soov535]

MarshPhantom said:

audidoody said:

heebeegeetee said:

Christ almighty, given how some people have suffered through this I'm gobsmacked by the leniency. Clearly another example of the establishment looking after its own and evidence that the judiciary is not independent,.

Leniency?

I'd be interested in your views on this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2656574/
Spanish-thug-28-pushed-Scottish-holidaymaker-49-13ft-ledge-death-a
nti-British-attack-jailed-just-three-years.html

To my certain knowledge no human or animal was physically harmed by Mr Coulson in the production of his newspapers/

Wait until you see how long Rolf gets.

My money is on 4 years.

[Justin Cyder]

One thing's for sure, this years Prison panto & the subsequent internal jail newspaper review are going to be fantastic.

[MarshPhantom]

Soov535 said:

MarshPhantom said:

audidoody said:

heebeegeetee said:

Christ almighty, given how some people have suffered through this I'm gobsmacked by the leniency. Clearly another example of the establishment looking after its own and evidence that the judiciary is not independent,.

Leniency?

I'd be interested in your views on this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2656574/
Spanish-thug-28-pushed-Scottish-holidaymaker-49-13ft-ledge-death-a
nti-British-attack-jailed-just-three-years.html

To my certain knowledge no human or animal was physically harmed by Mr Coulson in the production of his newspapers/

Wait until you see how long Rolf gets.

My money is on 4 years.

I think less than that.

[Soov535]

MarshPhantom said:

Soov535 said:

MarshPhantom said:

audidoody said:

heebeegeetee said:

Christ almighty, given how some people have suffered through this I'm gobsmacked by the leniency. Clearly another example of the establishment looking after its own and evidence that the judiciary is not independent,.

Leniency?

I'd be interested in your views on this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2656574/
Spanish-thug-28-pushed-Scottish-holidaymaker-49-13ft-ledge-death-a
nti-British-attack-jailed-just-three-years.html

To my certain knowledge no human or animal was physically harmed by Mr Coulson in the production of his newspapers/

Wait until you see how long Rolf gets.

My money is on 4 years.

I think less than that.

Disagree. Serious offences over a long period, lots of victims, abuse of trust, abuse of power, not guilty plea. I reckon four.

[Steffan]

Soov535 said:

MarshPhantom said:

Soov535 said:

MarshPhantom said:

audidoody said:

heebeegeetee said:

Christ almighty, given how some people have suffered through this I'm gobsmacked by the leniency. Clearly another example of the establishment looking after its own and evidence that the judiciary is not independent,.

Leniency?

I'd be interested in your views on this:

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2656574/
Spanish-thug-28-pushed-Scottish-holidaymaker-49-13ft-ledge-death-a
nti-British-attack-jailed-just-three-years.html

To my certain knowledge no human or animal was physically harmed by Mr Coulson in the production of his newspapers/

Wait until you see how long Rolf gets.

My money is on 4 years.

I think less than that.

Disagree. Serious offences over a long period, lots of victims, abuse of trust, abuse of power, not guilty plea. I reckon four.

The crimes of Harris are appalling and against very young children in some cases. However two factors will favour Harris I regret to say. Firstly he can only be imprisoned in accordance with the law pertaining at the time of tyevoffences which had much lower sentencing levels than the laws nowadays. In addition his age (85)? Is a consideration. For those reasons, whereas I would like to see four years even for a first offence, I expect a maximum of two years as the more likely outcome.

Harris is a wealthy man. It will be almost certain compensation will be sought for the victims which could easily bankrupt him. That might be more of a punishment, although the fall from grace and favour may be the greatest punishment. From being a loved and respected artist of truly exceptional abilities in Art, Music and Entertainment his fall will be great. Good.