(Image Source: Surrey Police Department)

BY STEVEN HSIEH

ANCHOR JIM FLINK

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British tabloid News of the World is under fire for allegedly hacking the voicemail of a missing girl – later discovered murdered – while police were still searching for her.  According to The Guardian, the tabloid’s hired private investigator intercepted, and even deleted, some of 13-year-old Milly Dowler’s voice messages.  The BBC explains…

“The Guardian newspaper says Glenn Mulcaire hacked into Milly’s messages and deleted some of them to create some space, so he could then hack any new messages.  For the Dowler family, who only recently saw Milly’s killer convicted, there was false hope that Milly herself was deleting the messages, and so was still alive.”

The revelation comes amid an ongoing police investigation into alleged phone hacking at News of the World. The News Corps-owned paper is being sued by targeted politicians and celebrities, but Dowler family lawyer Mark Lewis says -- this new allegation is the worst.

“This is not just hacking into the phones of celebrities, and although that’s not right, one can understand why people would say, ‘well, its only celebrities.’  But nothing stopped them, no sense of morality, no sense of doing the right thing, just ‘get the story, no matter who you hurt, or what was involved, or the false hopes you might give to people.’” (The Guardian)

Then editor of News of the World Rebekah Brooks, now Rupert Murdoch’s U.K. chief executive, denies any involvement and has refused to resign.  She writes in a statement…

“If the allegations are proved to be true then I can promise the strongest possible action will be taken as this company will not tolerate such disgraceful behaviour… I hope that you all realise it is inconceivable that I knew or worse, sanctioned these appalling allegations.” (BBC)

The News of the World received universal condemnation from the public, the media and politicians.  Here’s Labour Party leader Ed Miliband…

“I’m appalled by what has happened…And I think members of the public, right up and down this country, will be appalled by what happened, and will say, ‘British journalism, known for its higher standards, known for its history, has one of its lowest days.’” (The Telegraph)

A blogger for The Telegraph agrees -- and has some strong imagery to convey his feelings.

“I’d like to point out that even the most cynical tabloid hack I know – and I know quite a few – wouldn’t stoop to this . . . If this is true, someone should be shot at dawn.”

And a writer for the Independent says this could be the final straw for tabloid consumers…

“The News of the World's readers, who until now have remained largely loyal despite the damning of the newspaper in certain other sections of the media, may no longer be so sympathetic to its peccadilloes…[Mrs. Brooks] has some explaining to do now.”
 

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