LONDON – The former deputy editor of the News of the World Neil Wallis has been acquitted of conspiring to hack phones when he worked at the Rupert Murdoch-owned tabloid.
READ MORE: Former News of the World editor Ian Edmondson jailed for phone hacking
Wallis broke down in tears as a London jury announced the verdict Wednesday.
His former editor, Andy Coulson, was sentenced to 18 months in prison last year for conspiring to hack phones. Prosecutors argued it was inconceivable Wallis did not know about the practice. Wallis denied involvement.
READ MORE: Ex-UK tabloid editor Andy Coulson sentenced to 18 months for phone hacking
Wallis is the last employee of the tabloid to face trial over illegal eavesdropping on the phones of celebrities and people in the public eye. Eight have been convicted.
Murdoch shut down the News of the World in 2011 after the revelation that it had hacked the phone of a 13-year-old murder victim.
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