Key figures in the phone-hacking trial

After seven months in one of the most high-profile criminal trials for decades, former News of the World editor and Downing Street communications chief Andy Coulson has been found guilty of conspiring to hack phones, and former News International chief executive Rebekah Brooks was cleared of all charges against her.

The phone hacking trial at the Old Bailey in London began last October, following the closure of the News of the World newspaper in 2011, the Leveson Inquiry into the media and a two-year police investigation.

The trial began in crucial week for the press as the wrangling over media regulation reached a key point. The Privy Council on October 30 rubber-stamped a cross-party royal charter setting down the principles of a system for press regulation. Media companies had resisted signing up to the revised charter, which came almost a year after Lord Justice Leveson presented his recommendations.

Here is the Financial Times guide to the defendants, senior News Corp figures and power brokers.

The Metropolitan Police has spent two years and £15m investigating hundreds of allegations of phone hacking, bribery and other criminal activity at UK newspapers. Through three operations – codenamed Weeting, Elveden and Tuleta – all of which are still ongoing, the police have arrested more than 100 people and charged at least 20 since investigations began in January 2011.

What is Operation Weeting?
Launched by the Metropolitan Police in January 2011, the investigation is into allegations of voicemail hacking by and for journalists.

What is Operation Elveden?
This police operation began in June 2011 and was to investigate alleged corrupt payments by journalists to public officials and police.

What is Operation Tuleta?
This is a police investigation which focuses on allegations of computer hacking.

What is the Leveson Inquiry?
In July 2011, the same day that David Cameron met the family of Milly Dowler, the murdered schoolgirl whose phone had been hacked, the prime minister formally announced the Leveson inquiry.

Lord Justice Leveson opened the hearings on 14 November 2011, saying the question “who guards the guardians?” lay at the heart of the inquiry.

After eight months of hearings and almost 500 witnesses, part one of the inquiry into press ethics recommended that the government should introduce an independent self-regulatory regime for the press with powers to impose fines of up to £1m for serious or systemic wrongdoing, as well as a low-cost arbitration scheme to resolve civil claims.

Part two of the inquiry, which will examine other aspects of the alleged media wrongdoing, can only commence once current criminal trials are completed. Lord Justice Leveson has expressed scepticism that part two of the inquiry will ever happen.