Brooks and Coulson to face hacking investigation charges

Eight people, including former Sun editor Rebekah Brooks will face charges in connection with phone hacking, the British Crown Prosecution Service announced today.

Mrs Brooks will face two charges, one relating to the alleged accessing of murdered schoolgirl Milly Dowler's phone messages.

David Cameron's former director of communications Andy Coulson is also accused in relation to allegedly hacking into Milly's phone, CPS legal adviser Alison Levitt QC said.

Those who are facing charges include: Mrs Brooks, Mr Coulson, private investigator Glenn Mulcaire and a series of former staff members from the News of the World (NOTW).

These are ex-managing editor Stuart Kuttner, former news editor Greg Miskiw, former head of news Ian Edmondson, former chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck and former reporter James Weatherup.

Ms Levitt said that 13 files were passed to the CPS by the police and she had decided that there was a "realistic prospect of conviction" in relation to eight of them.

All of them apart from Mulcaire will be charged with conspiring to intercept communications without lawful authority between October 3, 2000 and August 9, 2006.

Prosecutors will claim that more than 600 people, including Hollywood superstars Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie, were victims of this offence.