The trial of a former Daily Mirror journalist charged with making illegal payments to a public official been delayed pending a Crown Prosecution Service review.
Journalist Greig Box Turnbull had been due to stand trial alongside prison officer Grant Pizzey and his partner Desra Reilly.
All three are charged with conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office as part of the Metropolitan Police's Operation Elveden inquiry.
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But yesterday the start of the trial was delayed pending the outcome of a review by the CPS into all Elveden cases which is expected to be completed later this month.
Last month the CPS revealed the review after the conviction of a News of the World journalist, who cannot be named, was quashed by the Court of Appeal. It was found that the trial judge in that case misdirected the jury on the “level of seriousness” which was required to convict under the ancient common law offence of misconduct in a public office.
The CPS is currently looking at the implications the judgement has on other Elveden cases.
Nine trials and re-trials relating to Operation Elveden, involving 11 journalists, are due to take place over the summer.
A further hearing in the case of Box Turnbull, Pizzey and Reilly is due to take place on 27 April.
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