Coulson 2Nd & 3Rd Verdict

[Jomlett]

BREAKING; #hackingtrial jury not able to bring in a verdict on Coulson Goodman Counts 2 & 3 - jury discharged: decision about retrial Monday

[Jomlett]

Andy Coulson and five others who admitted phone hacking expected to be sentenced a week on Friday.

[mikey4444]

I can't see how they can be retried again, after all that has come out in the last few months.

[Jomlett]

Judge says jury could not reach verdict on outstanding charges because of reaction yesterday inc. from David Cameron and Ed Milliband.

[mikey4444]

Where are you reading this jom ?.....not much on the BBC yet.

[mikey4444]

What a bl**dy fiasco !

[Jomlett]

From the Guardian and wire service...After discharging the jury, the judge extended Coulson's bail to return to the court in central London on Monday when he faces a prison sentence for plotting to hack phones.

[mikey4444]

If Coulson has been found guilty yesterday, why should he be entitled to freedom on bail until he is sentenced ? Shouldn't he be in a cell somewhere ?

[Jomlett]

Before the trial resumed this morning Judge Saunders threw out the motion to dismiss trial because of prejudicial statements by politicians. Then the jury couldn't agree. I cant see the CPS bringing this case to trial again, though they could keep it on file.

[Jomlett]

There are more News staff awaiting sentence after pleading guilty and Coulson, who's been on bail for 8 months has had it extended, but not for much longer.

[mikey4444]

Thanks jom...Guardian feed very useful and informative.

[Jomlett]

Coulson's lawyer Timothy Langdale accused the PM of "astonishing and unprecedented" comment while jury was still sitting.

[New Judge]

Yes and he's quite right. The PM and others should have better sense (or their advisors should ensure they have).

[mikey4444]

Sense and politicians.....uneasy bedfellows I would have thought NJ !

[sunny-dave]

Anyone else saying what DC said would be hauled into court to apologise - or even charged with contempt.

I await the Judge's detailed comments with interest ...

[Jomlett]

It can be reported now that yesterday Justice Saunders said he didn't know if Cameron's contemptuous intervention out of "ignorance" or "deliberate" - There's going to be a full ruling soon.

[New Judge]

"If Coulson has been found guilty yesterday, why should he be entitled to freedom on bail until he is sentenced ?"

The Bail Act of 1976 is quite clear. Defendants have a right to bail unless it can be shown that there is a substantial risk of them either:

absconding
committing further offences
or interfering with the course of justice.

Mr Coulson has been on unconditional bail throughout his trial, so presumably no risks as outlined above were raised. Although now he has been convicted he no longer has the right to bail under the 1976 Act, it is customary for bail to be extended until sentencing even when an immediate custodial sentence seems most likely, providing the conviction does not alter those risks. The most likely risk to be raised now would be one of absconding. Presumably the prosecution raised no objection to bail being extended (or if they did, the judge ruled against them).

It actually makes no difference because if he had been remanded in custody until sentencing that time would be seen as part of his sentence to be served.

[mikey4444]

Once again, we are grateful for your superior knowledge NJ...thanks !

Do you have any idea of the sentence that can be handed down to Coulson in this case ?

[Jomlett]

I have heard 9 months to 3 years but being on bail for 8 months he'll miss out on the first cut in sentence not having served any time!

[youngmafbog]

Didnt plead guilty either so no cut there!

[Jomlett]

Andy Coulson, Dan Evans, Greg Miskiw, Neville Thurlbeck, James Weatherup and Glenn Mulcaire are due to be sentenced next Friday. All except Coulson pleaded guilty before or during the hacking trial.