Murdoch Hits Back At Hacking Email Claims

MPs will test James Murdoch's assertion he knew nothing about a crucial email in the phone-hacking scandal when they quiz former News Of The World executives today.

The News International chairman has reportedly cancelled a trip to Asia to monitor first-hand what is said at the select committee hearing because he knows his credibility as a witness and a business leader is on the line.

When James Murdoch appeared with his father Rupert before the Culture, Media and Sport committee in July, he was asked if he knew about a document known as the "for Neville" email which is seen as critical to the hacking inquiry.

The email indicates that the practice of hacking was more widespread than News International (NI) originally admitted.

James Murdoch said he was unaware of the document at the time he sanctioned a payout totalling hundreds of thousands of pounds to the Professional Footballers' Association chief Gordon Taylor, whose phone was hacked by the News of The World (NOTW).

His denial of knowledge of the email was subsequently contradicted by Colin Myler, the NOTW's last editor, and the paper's former lawyer Tom Crone, both of whom will give their side of the story to the committee.

Daniel Cloke, ex-HR director at NI, and Jon Chapman, NI's former head of corporate and legal affairs, are also due to appear.

Conservative committee member Louise Mensch MP said: "The accusations that are on-record and have been published are fairly incendiary, but those accusations are as yet unproven."

Mrs Mensch wants to hear from Mr Crone and Mr Myler what evidence they have that James Murdoch did know about the "for Neville" email when he told the select committee in July he did not.

Mark Lewis, who represented Mr Taylor when he won his payout from the NOTW, says today's evidence to the select committee will be fascinating.

He said: "It's not just a smoking gun, but a gun being fired. It's all about the email and whether Tom Crone showed it to James Murdoch.

"If James Murdoch knew about that, then what he gave in evidence last time was either very forgetful or he lied to parliament.

"Either way it would be the end of James Murdoch, one would have thought."

Source: http://uk.news.yahoo.com/hacking-mps-examine-murdoch-email-claim-020742327.html

Paris Hilton Brad Pitt Angelina Jolie Courteney Cox