Former Murdoch editor Rebekah Brooks and senior journalists plead not guilty over News International phone hacking

Rebekah Brooks, former editor of The Sun and the News of the World (Getty Images)

The former chief executive of Rupert Murdoch’s UK print business, Rebekah Brooks, along with other senior journalists who worked inside News International, have pleaded not guilty to criminal charges related to phone hacking.

Former News of the World journalists, the paper Mr Murdoch closed in July 2011 during the phone hacking scandal, also appeared at Southwark Crown Court and pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiracy to illegally intercept mobile phone communications.

The offences are connected to the work of three separate specialist Scotland Yard investigations, Weeting, Eleveden and Sacha, which looked at hacking and the fall-out from the scandal,

Mrs Brooks, 45, also pleaded not-guilty on further charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and on charges relating to the perversion of the the course of justice.

The News of the World’s former assistant news editor James Weatherup and former managing editor Stuart Kuttner, both pleaded not guilty to charges relating to phone hacking conspiracy.

Mrs Brooks, sat in the dock of court four at Southwark alongside her husband Charles Brooks.

The race horse trainer and close friend of Prime Minister, David Cameron, was among five others, including his wife, who pleaded not guilty to a charge of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.

In a packed out court room and full dock, Mrs Brooks, a former editor of both the News of the World and the Sun, denied two charges of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office - one between 1 January 2004 and 31 January 2012, and a second between 9 February 2006 and 16 October 2008.

All the accused sat in two rows inside the dock and faced out through thick glass towards the judge Mr Justice Saunders

All the accused stood as the court clerk read out the charges.

A further charge relating to perverting the course of justice also included an allegation that Mrs Brooks and her personal assistant Cheryl Carter, who also pleaded not guilty, had conspired together between 6 and 9 July 2011.

Along with Rebekah and Charlie Brooks, the former head of security at News International, Mark Hanna, security officials Lee Sandell and David Johnson, and driver Paul Edwards were also accused of conspiring to pervert the course of justice between 15 and 19 July 2011.

All denied the conspiracy charge against them.

The News of the World's former royal editor Clive Goodman also appeared in court and denied two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.

All the defendants were released on bail and are due to face trial later in this year. The trial is expected to begin sometime in September.