Rupert Murdoch has been told by police that he is to be questioned over phone hacking allegations at his UK newspapers, according to The Guardian.
The 83-year-old was first informed he would be interviewed as a suspect late last year, however reached an agreement with police not to be questioned until after the News of the World hacking trial, which ended on Tuesday with former executives Andy Coulson found guilty of conspiracy to hack phones and Rebekah Brooks acquitted on all charges.
Nick Davies, one of the journalists responsible for breaking the hacking scandal, reported immediately after the trial that Scotland Yard detectives would interview the ageing proprietor “under caution” about the criminal acts that took place within his UK newspaper operation.
Following news of the verdicts, Labour leader Ed Miliband slammed David Cameron for hiring Coulson as a spin doctor, saying his conviction for phone hacking on Tuesday meant the prime minister "brought a criminal into the heart of Downing Street". Cameron and George Osborne both apologised for their roles in hiring Coulson to be the Tories' media chief, a role he stood down from in 2011.
Cameron gave a "full and frank apology" for employing Coulson as his spin doctor at 10 Downing Street, saying: "It was the wrong decision and I am very clear about that." But Labour leader Miliband said that the apology did not go far enough, and that Cameron had "very serious questions to answer" about why he stuck by Coulson long after serious allegations about him had become public.
Cameron's government was "tainted" as a result, Miliband said, accusing the prime minister of putting his relationship with press tycoon Murdoch ahead of the public interest.
The Phone Hacking Verdicts
Rebekah Brooks(01 of11)
Open Image ModalBrooks was acquitted of all charges she faced over phone hacking.NOT GUILTY: Count 1: Conspiracy to intercept communications between 2000 and 2006.NOT GUILTY: Count 4: Conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office between January 2004 and January 2012, which related to an alleged attempt to bribe an official to acquire a picture of Prince William in a bikini.NOT GUILTY 5: Conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office between 2006 and 2008.NOT GUILTY: Count 6: Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in July 2011 - she was alleged to have tried to conceal notebooks. NOT GUILTY: Count 7: Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in July 2011 - alleged to have attempted to hide documents and computers from the police. (credit:Getty)
Andy Coulson(02 of11)
Open Image ModalCoulson was convicted of phone hacking in his time at the NoTW. The jury failed to reach verdicts in two other counts.GUILTY: Count 1: Conspiracy to commit intercept communications between September 2000 and August 2006.NO VERDICT: Counts 2 and 3: Conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. (credit:Press Association)
Charlie Brooks(03 of11)
Open Image ModalBrooks was acquitted of one charge he faced that related to an alleged attempt to conceal evidence from police who were investigating phone hacking.NOT GUILTY: Count 7: Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in July 2011. (credit:Press Association)
Stuart Kuttner(04 of11)
Open Image ModalThe former managing editor of the NoTW was cleared of one charge of phone hacking.NOT GUILTY: Count 1: Conspiracy to intercept communications between September 2000 and August 2006. (credit:Press Association)
Cheryl Carter(05 of11)
Open Image ModalCarter, Brooks' PA, was acquitted of the one count she faced. She was accused of conspiring to conceal Rebekah Brooks' incriminating notebooks.NOT GUILTY: Count 6: Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in July 2011. (credit:Press Association)
Mark Hanna(06 of11)
Open Image ModalHanna, News International's then head of security, was cleared over allegations he helped conceal evidence from police.NOT GUILTY: Count 7: Conspiracy to pervert the course of justice in July 2011. (credit:Press Association)
Clive Goodman(07 of11)
Open Image ModalThe jury went back to consider verdicts relating to the charges Goodman, former royal editor at the NoTW, faces but failed to reach any verdict.NO VERDICT: Counts 2 and 3: Conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office. (credit:Press Association)
Neville Thurlbeck(08 of11)
Open Image ModalThurlbeck, former news editor at the NoTW, admitted phone hacking before the trial began.GUILTY: Count 1: Conspiracy to intercept communications between September 2000 and August 2006.
Glenn Mulcaire(09 of11)
Open Image ModalThe private investigator had already admitted phone hacking.GUILTY: Count 1: Conspiring to intercept communications between September 2000 and August 2006. (credit:Press Association)
James Weatherup(10 of11)
Open Image ModalWeatherup, also a former news editor at the NoTW, has pleaded guilty to phone hacking.GUILTY: Count 1: Conspiring to intercept communications between September 2000 and August 2006. (credit:Press Association)
Greg Miskiw(11 of11)
Open Image ModalFormer journalist at The NoTW Greg Miskiw also pleaded guilty to phone hacking.GUILTY: Count 1: Conspiring to intercept communications between September 2000 and August 2006. (credit:Press Association)