February 4, 2014

Hacking trial told police have evidence of 282 News of the World voicemail targets

A total of 282 people had their voicemails accessed 6,813 times by the News of the World, according to data presented to the hacking trial.

Detective Constable Richard Fitzgerald examined billing data from private investigator Glenn Mulcaire's phone, two communal lines at the News of the World and the phone of former royal editor Clive Goodman.

Data from 191 days in 2005 and 2006 showed Mulcaire made 1,450 calls to 87 different voicemails plus messages accessed via an Orange platform to 45 numbers, Fitzgerald told the Old Bailey.

He also examined call data from two News International internal phones between 2004 and 2006 which showed 4,714 calls to 98 voicemails, he said.

There were more calls made to access messages of 37 customers via the Orange platform, the jury was told.

Data from Goodman's home number showed 649 calls to 14 voicemail numbers between January 2005 and August 2006, the officer said.

The jury was told the trial of former News of the World editor Andy Coulson and six others could last until May.

Coulson, 46, of Charing, Kent denies conspiring to hack phones with former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks, 45, of Churchill, Oxfordshire and the tabloid's ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, 73, from Woodford Green, Essex.

He also denies two allegations that he conspired with Goodman, 56, from Addlestone in Surrey, and other unknown people to commit misconduct in public office.

All seven defendants in the trial deny the charges against them.

The trial continues.