The case against former News of the World editor Andy Coulson was neither "rigorous, open-minded or fair", the hacking trial heard.

A number of "gaps in the evidence" in the prosecution against Coulson (pictured) were highlighted by his lawyer in his closing speech at the Old Bailey yesterday.

Among them was the failure by police to fingerprint members of the royal household to check if one of their number, and not unidentified police officers, was the source of royal directories sold to the NoW, jurors were told.