Rebekah Brooks and four others were cleared in a phone-hacking scandal, but Andy Coulson was found guilty of conspiracy to hack phones while he was a newspaper editor.
CNN reported that Rupert Murdoch's former newspaper editor, Brooks, was emotional after being unanimously cleared of all charges. Ex-editor and communications chief, Coulson will, however, face jail time after being found guilty in the phone-hacking trial.
The Telegraph noted that Brooks was The Sun and News of the World editor before being promoted to News International chief executive. She was cleared of conspiracy to hack phones, attempting to pervert the course of justice and paying an official for a picture of Prince William in a bathing suit.
Coulson was also an editor at the News of the World before becoming Prime Minister David Cameron’s official spokesperson. He was forced to resign over the scandal and Cameron has offered an apology for employing him.
Brooks and her husband did not speak to reporters as they left the Old Bailey courtroom in London.
The jury, which was out for seven days, has not reached verdicts on two other charges linked to the alleged purchase of phone books from the royal family’s household.