Q. Robert Jay, QC: Look at the email on page 54, 01695, in the middle of the page, January, Mr Michel to you: (below)
Leveson Inquiry, Evidence, Rupert Murdoch, Exhibit-KRM-18.pdf
Video: James Murdoch, Part 3, 54:00 Transcripts: Page 39-40; pdf page 10
A. James Murdoch: I thought it was a joke. I think the little -- the "greater than" and the exclamation point there, or wink -- it's a joke.
Q. Robert Jay, QC: Is it? It was absolutely illegal in one sense. It's completely unethical, wasn't it?
What emoticon is Murdoch talking about? The email above is a copy of an email sent from Michel to James Murdoch. James Murdoch says that the symbol >! is a "joke" or indicates a "wink." The following combinations of the supposed emoticon written by the Murdoch lobbyist don't seem to exist: >! - >!] - ..>!]
The alternative explanation is more consistent with the behavior brought out by the Leveson Inquiry. QC Jay is correct. The text and symbols refer to "absolutely illegal" behavior. In light of that, Frederic Michel's symbol ..>!] may be a means of exclaiming the highly illegal method of acquiring the information from the government source.
Was absolutely illegal phone hacking employed to obtain information from the offices of Jeremy Hunt or other Cameron ministers?
###
(Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher).
4
4
4
