Coulson charged with perjury in Sheridan case

Mr Coulson, a former editor of the News of the World, did not appear in person for the hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on Wednesday.

It is alleged that Mr Coulson, 46, made false claims on 9 and 10 December 2010 while under oath as a witness at the trial of former MSP Tommy Sheridan and his wife Gail.

Phone hacking

The indictment alleges that Mr Coulson falsely testified that before the arrest of private investigator Glenn Mulcaire and News of the World journalist Clive Goodman on 8 August, 2006 he did not know that Goodman was involved in phone hacking, and did so together with Mr Mulcaire.

It claims he falsely said that he had not heard of Mr Mulcaire and did not know that Mr Goodman made payments to him.

It also alleges that Mr Coulson said he was not aware of a culture of phone hacking at the News of the World, apart from a “very unfortunate case” involving Mr Goodman.

According to the indictment Mr Coulson was in fact aware of a number of instances of phone hacking at the News of the World between 1 April 2002 and 8 August 2006 while he was editor and acting editor of the newspaper.

These involved Milly Dowler, Kimberley Quinn or Fortier and Daniel Craig.

‘Green book’

It also claims that between 1 December 1, 2002 and 26 January, 2007, while editor and deputy editor of the newspaper, Coulson understood that payments had been made to corrupt police officers by Mr Goodman.

The payments included £750 in or around December 2002, £1,000 in or around January 2003 and £1,000 in or around June 2005.

These were made to procure a “green book” or other similar directories containing information including telephone numbers relating to the Royal Family and their members of staff, the indictment states.

Prosecutors allege that between 10 October 2005 and 8 August 2006 Mr Coulson had heard of Mulcaire, who as well as being a private investigator was contracted to the News of the World newspaper.

They allege he knew that Goodman was involved in phone hacking and did so together with Mr Mulcaire.

It is claimed that Coulson knew Goodman made payments to Mr Mulcaire of £500 a week until February 2006 followed by payments amounting to £4,800.

The prosecution also allege that Coulson knew that Mr Mulcaire was employed by the News of the World and had email exchanges about him with Mr Goodman.

No pleas were entered and another hearing was set for October.