Exposing the "comfortable" lifestyle of James Bulger's killer behind bars was more important than sparing the feelings of a man who did "despicable things", a News of the World reporter told a court. (Picture: Reuters)
The journalist, who cannot be named for legal reasons, is on trial at the Old Bailey for conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by using prison officer Scott Chapman as the paid source for two stories on Jon Venables after he was sent back to jail in 2010 for child porn offences.
In a heated exchange under cross-examination, the defendant told jurors it was in the public interest to highlight Venables's special treatment by the prison service.
You've reached your limit of free articles
Please register now to continue reading