Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson back in court

DAVID Cameron’s ex-spin doctor Andy Coulson and former News International boss Rebekah Brooks appeared in court yesterday accused of corruptly paying public officials.

Rebekah Brooks arriving at court yesterday Rebekah Brooks arriving at court yesterday

The pair and three other defendants sat at the back of the court for the 10-minute hearing.

Judge Mr Justice Fulford said they need not go into the dock. He told them to return to the Old Bailey on March 8 for a plea and case management hearing.

Coulson and ex-News of the World royal correspondent Clive Goodman are charged with conspiracy to pay for information, including a royal phone directory known as the “Green Book”.

The pair and three other defendants sat at the back of the court

Coulson, 44, and Goodman, 55, face two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in a public office – one between August 2002 and January 2003, and the other between January and June 2005.

Brooks, 44, and ex-Sun chief reporter John Kay, 69, are charged with conspiring to pay Ministry of Defence official Bettina Jordan-Barber, 39, around £100,000 to provide information for The Sun between 2004 and January this year. All defendants are on bail.

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