Phone-hacking trial: Coulson says affair with Brooks was wrong

London: Andy Coulson, the former editor of Rupert Murdoch’s scandal-hit erstwhile tabloid ‘News of the World’, today denied that his affair with ex-colleague Rebekah Brooks breached professional standards as he took to the stand to testify in the ongoing phone-hacking trial here. Coulson also served as British Prime Minister David Cameron’s director of communications until 2011, earning him the unofficial title of spin doctor. He resigned from the post soon after allegations of phone-hacking at Britain’s major tabloid offices hit the headlines. [caption id=“attachment_1480023” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  Reuters[/caption] He arrived at court hand-in-hand with wife Eloise Patrick before taking to the witness box. He denied his affair with Brooks breached professional standards but agreed it was “wrong” and “shouldn’t have happened” as he gave evidence. “I take my full share of responsibility for the pain it has caused other people, not least my wife,” he said. Coulson’s counsel Timothy Langdale QC said: “In particular, it has been suggested as a result of the closeness of your relationship you would share sensitive or exclusive stories.” But father-of-three replied: “No, that did not happen. With the caveat, unless on very particular occasions there was a pre-determined deal when there was a share between the two papers ( The Sun and News of the World ).” The 46-year-old denies conspiracy to hack phones and conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. Brooks also denies conspiracy to hack phones, conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice and has already given her evidence. Coulson was the last of seven defendants, who deny all charges against them, to take the stand. Coulson also told the court that shortly after he resigned, he and his family had spent a pre-arranged weekend with Cameron in April. He said after that he had experienced “no further contact” with Cameron. He was also asked what contact he had experienced with Murdoch, the owner of News International, after he had left the ‘News of the World’. He told the court contact with the media magnate had been “entirely at social events”, notably Murdoch’s summer party, and also saw him at “two” or “three” meetings between David Cameron and Murdoch. PTI