Rupert Murdoch's media companies have been told they will not face prosecution in America over allegations of phone-hacking and payments to public officials in Britain.
The United States Department of Justice had been investigating both News Corp and 21st Century Fox but, after completing its probe, said it was "declining to prosecute".
Both companies are headed by the Australian media mogul. News Corp's headquarters are in New York, while 21st Century Fox runs television channels including Fox News.
General counsel for News Corp Gerson Zweifach said: “21st Century Fox and News Corp have been notified by the United States Department of Justice that it has completed its investigation of voicemail interception and payments to public officials in London, and is declining to prosecute either company. We are grateful that this matter has been concluded and acknowledge the fairness and professionalism of the Department of Justice throughout this investigation.”
"The police can't even get access to the documents controlled by News International.
"This prosecution was controlled and instigated by the prime suspect."
Rumfitt said News International had withheld critical evidence of the payment authorisation system, including documents showing former chief executive Rebekah Brooks' involvement while editor of The Sun.
He said just one authorisation form signed by Brooks had been produced by the prosecution during the trial at Kingston Crown Court.
"Do you really believe that one document is the only such document in the possession of News International?", asked Rumfitt.
"Do you think Rebekah Brooks only ever signed one of those?
"The evidence of Charlotte Hull (news desk secretary) is Mrs Brooks must have signed hundreds of them – where are they?"
On News International, he suggesting the defendants in the dock had been "shopped" in a bid to stave off corporate prosecution.
He said: "The release of misleading information to the police force and the prosecuting authorities so desperate to atone for the earlier bungle, they have made it ten times worse by launching a prosecution without having all the evidence and without the power to get it."
He said: "The Management and Standards Commmitte has acted as a front for News International, plainly engaged in a wholesale cover-up for more senior people at the company at the expense of the more junior.
"News International were terrified that the company would itself be prosecuted, and if it was that would mean the US authorities might withdraw licences held by the American parent company, bringing down the whole Murdoch empire with the loss of 46,000 jobs."
Rumfitt told the court News International thought it could dodge a corporate prosecution by "ingratiating themselves with police", and launched the investigation into payments at The Sun of their own accord.
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