Ex-Murdoch British editor admits phone-hacking

A former newspaper editor, whose emails led to the exposure of widespread phone-hacking at Rupert Murdoch's now defunct British tabloid, the News of the World, pleaded guilty on Friday to illegally listening to people's voicemails.

Ian Edmondson is the eighth person from what was once Britain's biggest-selling paper to have been convicted of being involved in hacking celebrities' phones to find exclusive stories.

Edmondson, who had previously denied any wrongdoing, admitted conspiring with colleagues to illegally access voicemails. Victims he was linked to included actors Jude Law and Sienna Miller and ex-Beatle Paul McCartney.

Phone-hacking was first uncovered at the paper in 2006, but News International said the practice was limited to its ex-royal editor Clive Goodman and private detective Glenn Mulcaire, who were both later jailed after admitting offences.