'I am innocent': Rebekah Brooks, pictured with husband Charlie, has spoken for the first time after she was cleared of hacking charges at the Old Bailey ''
Rebekah Brooks fought back tears today as she said she was 'vindicated' after being unanimously cleared of leading a conspiracy to hack phones at the News of the World.
Speaking for the first time since the end of her trial, the former News International chief executive stood with her husband Charlie, who said his wife was the victim of a 'witch-hunt'.
'I am innocent of the crimes that I was charged with and I feel vindicated by the unanimous verdicts', she said.
Speaking out: The former News International chief executive addressed reporters outside her London home'' MWAONA HIZI NYWELE ZANGU'' NDIZO ZILIZONIPA BAHATI SIJAPEWA KIFUNGO '' MBUTA NANGA'' KWELI UMEPONEA CHUPU CHUPU''
Ordeal: Surrounded by a media scrum outside the house, Mrs Brooks said the last three years had been 'tough' for her, her husband and those close to them''
Unity: The couple both spoke for the first time since the end of the hacking trial, which saw them and three others unanimously cleared of hacking charges. Andy Coulson was found guilty. Mrs Brooks was wearing a £180 'Edie' dress from Boutique by Jaeger, and carrying a £475 'Robinson' by Tory Burch tote-style bag. AND ALSO YOU CAN GET HER LOOK LIKE BAG AT FLORA LYIMO DESIGNS&TRADES WHATSAPP +44 7787471024 PIA UNAWEZA KUJIUNGA NA TEAM MAENDELEA KWA JUST TZSH.LAKI MOJA TU''
Tough: Mrs Brooks' voice broke and she appeared to be close to tears as she gave the statement. She would not be drawn on Mr Coulson's fate or whether she should have done more to deal with criminality at the News of the World''
She went on: 'I would like to say it has been a time of reflection for me. I have learned some valuable lessons and hopefully I am the wiser for it.
'I am innocent of the crimes that I was charged with and I feel vindicated by the unanimous verdicts. When I was arrested, it was in the middle of a maelstrom of controversy, of politics and of comment. Some of that was fair but much of it was not so I am very grateful to the jury for coming to their decision'
- Rebekah Brooks
'I am incredibly proud of the many journalists I have worked with throughout my career and the great campaigns that we have fought and won.
'All I can say to you all is that today my thoughts are with my former colleagues and their families who face future trials. I am going to do everything I can to support them as I know how anxious the times ahead are.
'What I am going to do now and I hope you don't mind...I can't say too much today. I have to be careful for my former colleagues' sake what I say. My thoughts are with them like I said and their families. Now we are going home to spend some much needed time with Scarlett.'
Mrs Brooks, 46, made no direct reference to Coulson as she faced a barrage of questions from reporters.
But racehorse trainer Mr Brooks, 51, said: 'Obviously I am really concerned for Andy and (his wife) Eloise and their family. I would like to say I am really sad.'
Asked if he thought Coulson was guilty, he would only say that was 'sad'.
Speaking before Mrs Brooks he said: 'In the last 48 hours I have had to focus onsaid 'In the last 48 hours I have had to focus on being a racehorse trainer but actually I have very little to add to what we have both said two years ago when we were charged.
Mixed emotions: At times Mrs Brooks smiled and at others she was close to tears, and said she would spend her time supporting her colleagues still on trial but would not be drawn on her own career going forward''
Tribute: Mr Brooks, said he was already back working full time as a horse trainer, said his wife went 'through an unprecedented investigation of an incredibly forensic and personal nature, the likes of which we have probably never seen'
Back home: The couple said they were heading back to Oxfordshire to spend more time with their daughter'
Everything, absolutely everything we said two years ago has proved to be true. Rebekah has been through an unprecedented investigation of an incredibly forensic and personal nature, the likes of which we have probably never seen.
'And I would just like to say how proud I am of Rebekah and the dignity she has shown'.
Several bodyguards then tried to push through the crowd to reach a black Range Rover which was to drive them back to their home in Oxfordshire.
Mrs Brooks bowed her head while her husband tried to protect her.
As he left Mr Brooks added: 'I still think it was a witchhunt'.
After eight days of deliberation the jury cleared Mrs Brooks of hacking, plotting to commit misconduct in a public office by agreeing to pay a Sun journalist's 'number one military contact' and perverting the course of justice.
Her former PA Cheryl Carter, Mr Brooks and News International head of security Mark Hanna were also found not guilty of charges of perverting the course of justice over allegations of destroying or hiding potential evidence from police. Former News International managing editor Stuart Kuttner was also cleared.
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