Former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks and her husband stood side by side in court as they formally denied charges of conspiracy linked to the phone hacking scandal.
Mrs Brooks, 45, entered not guilty pleas to five counts linked to an alleged conspiracy to hack phones, conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
She arrived at Southwark Crown Court on Wednesday in a black BMW with husband and fellow defendant Charlie, 50, a racehorse trainer who was carrying a copy of the Racing Post.
Former Sun and News of the World editor Brooks entered pleas in front of a packed courtroom, alongside fellow former News International (NI) staff.
Brooks, of Churchill, Oxfordshire, clearly stated “not guilty” as she denied conspiracy to hack phones between October 3 2000 and August 9 2006.
Former News of the World news editor James Weatherup, 57, from Brentwood, Essex, and former managing editor Stuart Kuttner, 73, from Woodford Green, Essex, also denied the charge.
Brooks also denied two counts of conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office, one between January 1 2004 and January 31 2012, and a second between February 9 2006 and October 16 2008. She also pleaded not guilty to two counts of conspiracy to pervert the course of justice.
It is alleged that the former NI boss and her personal assistant Cheryl Carter, 49, who also denies the charge, tried to remove boxes of material from the NI archive between July 6 and 9 2011.
In a second count, Brooks, her husband Charlie, former NI head of security Mark Hanna, 50, from Buckingham, security staff Lee Sandell, from Caterham, Surrey, and David Johnson, 47, from Mitcham, Surrey, and driver Paul Edwards, 48, Queen’s Park, West London, are all accused of conspiring to pervert the course of justice between July 15 and 19 2011.
All six yesterday denied the charge.
All the defendants were released on bail and are due to face trial later in the year.