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Rupert and James Murdoch are likely to be summonsed for questioning in court over the way they ran their UK newspaper businesses, reports Rodney E. Lever.
(Image courtesy Avaaz.)
AUSTRALIAN-BORN newspaper magnate Keith Rupert Murdoch and his son James may be summonsed as key witnesses in the forthcoming criminal trials of the employees and senior executives of his British newspapers, according to legal sources in London.
The defence of the News Corporation staff may centre on whether they carried out their work without being aware that it was illegal, because such activities were a normal part of their duties and were common knowledge throughout the industry.
It will be suggested to the courts that they could not have been expected to be aware that the duties to which they were assigned were illegal when their employers ordered them to do so.
The trials are expected to begin in September.
Defence counsel will also be submitting to the courts that the Leveson Inquiry was prejudicial to the trials of the Murdoch executives and employees. Not because the illegalities were mentioned, but because they were not mentioned (on legal grounds) when Murdoch was questioned.
The central role that Rupert and James Murdoch played in the hacking scandal will need to be subjected to much more intense scrutiny under formal oath in the Old Bailey. In these circumstances, both would be liable to imprisonment if they lied.
Both had previously claimed, publicly at first, that the scandal was the work of one rogue reporter and later, when more information emerged that there had in fact been an army of rogue reporters, they denied all knowledge.
Next month, Rupert Murdoch turns 82. His influence around the world is waning. His Australian newspapers are bleeding money. There is some irony in the knowledge that the Chinese have recently been hacking stories from his US newspaper The Wall Street Journal.
Admitting that this was happening, the old man answered a question he received on Twitter the other day:
‘What do I know about hacking? Nothing until about two years ago. One newspaper guilty several years ago. Nothing since.’
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Australia License
18 Comments
A public hanging would be nice eh? – sort of like what they did to Saddam.
Live on Pox News
Oh for Christ’s sake, what’s the point ? Don’t you remember when they were called as witnesses back in 2011 ? “This is the most humble day of my life.” “I have no specific recollection of that”. “I own 3000 newspapers and I can’t be expected to have control over the content of all of them”. This just gives Murdoch a platform from which to piss in the faces of people who mistakenly think they can restrain him.
Not quite the same NewsFlip.org.
That was a parliamentary inquiry with MPs wielding limp lettuce leaves and truth telling is optional.
Under the gaze of a forensic barrister this could be far more devastating and don’t forget, it’s Rupert’s broadcasting licenses where the profits are that could all vanish if anything is sheeted home to the top banana.
I’ve said it for years to pals in the UK : Britain’s tabloid culture was spinning out of control and a catastrophe was inevitable and it came to pass with the hacking scandal.
Combine that with a total distaste for Rupert as an “establishment” outsider who thumbed his nose at them whilst courting them and manipulating them all the same time. And when “they” finally decide your usefulness is has run it’s course, they dispense with you very easily.
I feel that time is at hand.
@OscarJones – “I feel that time is at hand.”
I see your point, but that’s where we differ. I don’t remember the last time someone with eye-watering power actually went down for their crimes. A ‘forensic barrister’ is a great tool maybe but I don’t think there’s any reason to believe that Murdoch will not survive this latest ‘blip’…
‘What do I know about hacking? Nothing until about two years ago.Rupert’s twit is nothing more than a bare faced lie. Read the following:
http://www.rollingstone.com/politics/news/rupert-murdochs-american-scandals-20110803
News America Marketing in 2003-4 was involved in hacking the data bases of Floorgraphics Inc., Valassis Com. and Insignia. News was taken to court and Valassis was awarded $300 mill and then coughed up a further $355 mill to stop further court action.
Paul Carlucci who was head of News America was promoted to publisher of New York Post.
You have to love Paul Carlucci business aplomb. To Floorgraphics on News attempted take over,”Sell to Murdoch or be destroyed as I work for a man who wants it all and does not understand anyone telling him he can’t have it all”
the only interesting part of the Leveson Inquiry was when the guy hit Rupert in the face with a pie.
I have a gut feeling nothing will eventuate.
Rupert still has an immense amount of Media power.
There will be a conga line of Pommie pollies ready for his annointment.
Same as here in OZ.
Thanks Rodney.
I hope Oscar is correct, but I cannot imagine any Murdoch going down for their crimes, the world is just not that fair.
As much as I sincerely hope that Oscar’s prediction comes to fruition, I can’t ignore Newsflip’s comment and that, sadly, is the one I agree with. Von Rupertsclacker is treating this as a pissing contest, and he will get off. He owns the English coppers, he owns the English Parliament – what more does he need to crush any attempt to bring him to justice.
I’m with you Tungstenator, this ogre and co own so many that I doubt justice will ever be served.
The best justice is to spread the word and refuse to add to his empire.
But,sadly having said that so many “ordinary” people are not aware of his political,global, corporate influence upon their minds and how their daily lives are affected by his “governance”.
Only on the weekend we stayed at some “friends” aka in my campervan, lo and behold at breakie was The Saturday Hun on the table.
I was grateful for their hospitality, shower etc and they are old dear friends- not into politics or the larger picture.
Hard working/blue collar aspirational family that would have no idea of Murdochs wrath on the world. They have enough day to day struggles with 4 kids to get to school,feed, clothe etc, the mortgage to pay.
They just don’t understand the manipulation and maybe don’t care.
I do.
I await the day for justice- but I doubt we’ll see it. Murdoch and friends deserve to be hung out to dry, upside down and with Bamboo water treatment under his fingernails.
It won’t happen, regretably.
And then of course at Monktons inference, we’ve also got Gina to deal with now.
Errgh!
Oh I don’t think anyone is going to jail apart from some lesser mortals and perhaps a certain redhead.
But I do think TV broadcasting licenses may be lost but of course, various Murdochs still have their shares. It’s the power that will be lost and at 82/83, there’s not a lot in that either.
As lindalom points out, we will have Gina to contend with but if the current Fairfax board is any indication, she could be a disaster as well.
If News is successful in electing Abbott what will be their reward ?. Not much by the looks of things.
Broadcasting licences are no loss in these years. Public control by paper has gone and being put in people’s government management system and by privatisation and corporate rule. Corporate institution has made great ground in the last three decades.
I think hacking and eavesdropping has been rampant and more widespread globally than most and many could ever imagine. Everyman and his dog. I also don’t believe establishment making out they have been behind the times with it all for 3 decades. Especially when phone tapping has been such a heavy pastime here prior to the net. Beyond belief. I’m sure US net business in many areas is overseen. There was a nervous breakdown and a suicide here in another world a bit over 20 yrs ago. A guy building a firewall for Australia monstered by security. Not allowed to talk to anyone,followed and watched. The hacking was from the US. The security there is privatised and widespread now. Militant conservatism seems to be well connected these days and for the last two decades.
When something like the Rupert matter comes to light, you know it is only the sparkle on the tip of the iceberg. I do from experience. I was on the streets amongst the carnage prior to 75 and through the years of the joke. I have no doubt the corporate neo lib and conservative are well connected globally. To such an extent I feel security agency information is used for corporate political gain and purpose. Protected species. Little else explains so much and the extent of captured audience and hardship in this country below the ilk as we fund and work for our corporates and other smugs dining on foreign labour heavily from prior to the boom overseas and here. Pig fest, and ours are dying for it with wasted go no where lives treading water for two decades from the organised global institution and corporate hit. Militant corporate and institution wowserism and gouging excuses, a sign of the gangster and serial killer.
As Gough learnt, as ten thousand others, the monster even eats it’s own. And to look apart at many times after purpose served.
Do you think those in institution forced to be on the other side of the bench from him aren’t worried of Rupert’s contacts? I think the matter is also a great distraction for the global forces that make Rupert look like a kindergarden child. Especially with the advent of the net and corporate doctrines based on high science and military grade psychologies. You wait and see what comes out in or over the next 20 years about the net and mobile phones.
The ills I see in this country, very aligned with Rupert’s whole media persona.
The matter of my father and families lives, the cover ups in this country that could’ve balanced or forced good long term change for all with public voting attention,the wealth of all us better by dollar , community and relationships. Lost to gougers and powers smug laughter ,bludging and pigfest.
A couple of people may get in trouble over hacking in Britian and with a bigger evil wanting to hide and bury it’s existence ,past and long life into the future with one old man.
But there’s no comeback. That’s the rules of the game.It is only a very small minority in comfort above who care for anything other than themself but they sure can sing otherwise in perfect note.
I still say we need a leveson type enquire here in Australia , and before the election in September. These crooks in my opinion, in the LNP , Pyne, Brandes,or is it Lord Brandes,as the senate calls him, Brough, Ashby and the rest of them should be brought to justice for their part in the propaganda they have been preaching.
I followed the leveson enquire until all hours and i know it is a long process but worth it, but the damage has been done, the Australians minds have been poisoned by Tony Abbott’s and Alan Jones Hitler type propaganda on Julia Gillard,
It’s a shame that people don’t read instead of listening to Alan Jones lies , if they read more they wouldn’t be voting for this man they don’t know much about.
Well we know who to blame if Abbott gets in , the media the LNP, and the ignorance of the Australian people who just doesn’t know what is good for them.
Watching Q&A last night sent a shiver down my spine, with Tony Jones behaving like a fool, kept interrupting the Ambassador,this man is past due date, then Malcolm Turnbull behaving like Kevin Rudd. What Tony Abbott is to Julia Gillard Malcolm Turnbull is to Kevin Rudd.
I am now down to watching SBS. The rest is crap.
All my comments have been rejected by SMH re Katharine Murphy’s article . The only on line media to publish my last comment was the Guardian UK.
I’v gone off line here sorry about that.
My next complaint will be with the Radio Broadcasting Comp regarding Alan Jones he is still using the Nazi propaganda every time he is on Radio , I haven’t heard him because I don’t listen to crap but my brother who is a retired Master Mariner happen to put his car radio on while driving back to the Sunshine coast in that deluge , rang me twice to say what a foul mouth monster Jones is and he was writing to complain to the right authority.
Jim, you say: ” I have no doubt the corporate neo lib and conservative are well connected globally. To such an extent I feel security agency information is used for corporate political gain and purpose.”
The US situation is spelled out in graphic detail by Naomi Wolf in The Guardian:
http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/cifamerica/2012/mar/28/helping-chris-hedges-lawsuit-ndaa
She describes the Domestic Security Alliance Council (DSAC), a council of US military and intelligence agencies, the FBI, Homeland Security and major US corporations set up to monitor “domestic terrorists” — you know, environmentalists, trade union officials and the like. In 2011 US intelligence services surveilled peaceful Occupy movement protestors in over 50 US cities and gave confidential briefings to corporations on their findings. They then shut down the movement in a nationally coordinated exercise while Obama was out of the country visiting South East Asia. A nationwide protest movement was shut down by a coordinated action between corporate and intelligence services with hardly a peep from the MSM. US corporations and policing services are now a seamless entity with the same goal — domestic population control. It’s not hyperbole, it’s here.
If Rupert goes down then he will take Andrew Bolt with him.
Good info Kenji,I stick my head into anything for a look and I would underline that the extents of what you have written are what would shock.
It would be a great thing to have the names and associations of the people employed by public funding and other in media, to write, comment ,confuse, placate on movements etc in public media etc and on politics,trying to legitimize the distracting bullshit of politics, put up for public scrutiny.
The movement with Thatcher as the public front personality couldn’t implement Friedman’s and Pinochet plan because public consent was needed. It gets put through by force in background of the illusion of representation. And no one is allowed to talk about it and media definitely doesn’t.
Many years ago,a dentist came from England and was put in politics here, that spelled the death and forced destruction of the public dental service.
The big move underway is to destroy affordable health care overseas. It is hated like the medical heights hated Che. It will get the gun too with a fury of public placatory illusion and psychologies.
Fred Hollows 50 cent eye operation is how much here and how long is the wait? How many Australians have gone blind? How much will that 50 cent eye op be in the coming years?
Oh it is all so hard,China this ,nth Korea that,economy this ,be a good citizen and understand-or else.
Private jails? Productivity agreements? everyone gets a go in jail in America. They have them and they will be used. Accidently turning into a one way street- gone. Accidently riding your pushbike or not seeing the sign stating no riding on the grass- 6 weeks. Americans thought it would never happen too.
Those Australians sucked in to duopoly voting,smug now in housing comfort and shadow boxing with banners barracking for one or the other side of the duopoly until it is their turn to die in silence under a thug health market with no representation. Americans thought that would never happen too.
If anyone thinks matters will not crank up to that you are a fool.
A republic cements it all in and is the long practiced people control, part of the corporates and institutions mechanics and grandiose mindset, though it is practiced ,put in play without a republic vote or not. Cement it in and have fake politics and sock puppet Presidents fighting for eterninty for you. And this is sold to our children and drips in Uni, many though who see dollar signs and safety under corporate thugs and investors in their chosen careers.Foot soldiers ,lackeys and fools.
@jim, as someone on this site commented the other day, light needs to be shone in dark places and on dark practices. The things you speak of are very dark. I’ve looked into them too, read about a lot of them, tried to get my head around the wickedness, corruption and power. But living like that, all the time with that dark knowledge in front of me, perceiving everything going on around through it, was near impossible. After a couple of years I couldn’t do it and I don’t think any normal person can without becoming deeply and angrily depressed, emotionally narrowed and hopelessly pessimistic. The will becomes paralysed eventually, I think.
Hope springs and renews from people being who they are, normal, nice people. Maybe ripe for exploitation and control you might think, perhaps, and there does need to be light shone in dark places so that what goes on is known about and exposed as much as we collectively can, and so it can be not-chosen. Exposed but not hung on to and allowed to infect our minds with its darkness.
I won’t believe, despite everything, that this power they have will defeat us. I can’t and won’t live my limited time here with that terrible infection colouring my world view every day.
This is not in any way a criticism of you. I’m just giving my perspective, because your posts made me think back.
@reddragon, good on you, people like you give me hope.
That’s why opal, some survive years of front line war trenches and some don’t. Some last twenty minutes of shelling and run,sometimes in such a state they run the wrong way. Some go as stiff as boards, blank, staring. That’s why the average Joe is lorded over and conned, why the ruthless have fine lives.
The truth is what it is. There are paths from the past that have headings. Americans have already worn these things.
What you must turn from, I have already tempered on and in as a child. Been in shock many times and had to function through it.
I know where you are in what you say.
This is a nation of headturners. No reference to you. You spoke out.I think you saw the truth. There are things I can’t fill my life with either. True history is different than the books.Daily happenings never put to press.For the psyche of people and up coming generations and children and much other of it deviously rooted in opportunism and head turning. “Wait and it will go away if I ignore it and the let someone else clean it up” lives there too.
People here as else where in the media go from page to page , from article to article and don’t see the connections or relationships of matters or root causes backgrounding. They take the easy route for their minds or haven’t the insight to see. Facing off on fearful things has a science to it. I’ve had to rally to function through nervous breakdowns as a child. I’ve gone to school and sat in stone silence in primary school classes in utter shock and despair damaged for weeks. I have no fear of evil, what murdered my Father and gave us our lives and my siblings shaking and problems.
Elites are gathering, the world is shaping for what I wrote. As you sleep,24 hrs a day, it will always head there. Find America’s true stories of health system history and woes,here even.Not the feel good stuff. Then picture China, India etc on this bandwagon too that’s been planted and growing around the globe.
One world,and the smug and powerful and spoilt who can live and function when you can’t and aren’t so nice natured,that hold power and money and fear being like you,it makes them shake, they are rabid dog eat dog,they know death waits there,they think everyone thinks like they do so they beat everyone to “it”, get in first. They want more power ,control and money,desperately. You are prey.They figure you out and the delight makes them grimace. There is some in Government.
There are forces out there now,doing what I wrote,arranging, heading for, fighting for, manipulating for and the seeds and long term movements are in momentum.The seeds planted in and around the populace, laughing over decades.
Where is the point of no return? When is this confronted? By whom and how? Through government? They own it and never more so.
I wonder what personality will be able to comfort the populace,false sense of security,put on a floor show, take the money and protection and pension at the next election while movements head the way they do and are? Glazed eyed idiot or smart or self stuffing. It’ll be one of them.
Someone’s got to call it out.
What you must turn from,run,this monster that isn’t supposed to exist,I know it does and I’m hunting it and I have no mercy. If you ever see it, point it to me please. I will find it.
Oscar Jones asked: “If News is successful in electing Abbott what will be their reward ?” … why the NBN, of course.