Brooks, Coulson Trial Begins

The trial of Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson kicked off Monday, two years after they were arrested for their alleged roles in News Corp.’s phone-hacking scandal. Brooks, the former editor of the now-defunct News of the World and the Sun as well as the chief executive of News International, faces charges of conspiracy to intercept voicemails, conspiracy to cause misconduct in public office, and charges related to alleged payments from journalists to public officials. Coulson, who was Prime Minister David Cameron’s communications chief and the former editor of the News of the World, faces charges related to phone hacking and the alleged payments from journalists to public officials. Five others also face charges related to phone hacking.