The trial of Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson, two former editors Ropert Murdoch's News of the World publication began on Monday with the selection of the jury involving Britain's phone hacking scandal, The Associated Press reported.
Brooks and Coulson have been charged with phone hacking and illegal payments to officials, news reports said.
"Revelations of illegal eavesdropping by News of the World sparked the closure of the 168-year-old newspaper and led to a judge-led-media-ethics inquiry and several wide-ranging criminal investigations that have seen dozens of journalists and officials arrested," The AP also reported.
In addition to being the former editor of News of the World, Brooks also served as chief executive of Murdoch's British newspapers. Coulson also served as communications chief until 2011 for Prime Minister David Cameron. The two are charged with conspiracy of phone hacking, "and with conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office, which covers bribing officials such as police or prison guards," The AP also reported.
"They face trial alongside former News of the World managing editor Stuart Kuttner;, ex-news editor Ian Edmondson; former royal editor Clive Goodman; Rebekah Brooks' former assistant Cheryl Carter; and Mark Hanna, former security chief at Murdoch's News International unit," news reports said.
It was revealed in 2011 that News of the World reporters had eavesdropped on the cellphone voice-mail messages of all kinds of people in the public eye, news reports said.
The crux of the trial lies in what the two knew in terms of the unsavory methods at the publication. The trial will also determine how widespread it had been, as well.
"The maximum sentence for phone hacking is two years in prison, while the other charges carry a maximum life sentence, although the average term imposed is much shorter," The AP also reported.
