Former Murdoch aide Rebekah Brooks gets bail

Brooks, 44, and husband Charlie, 49, who appeared at Southwark Crown Court, were bailed until September 26.

She faces three charges of conspiring to pervert the course of justice,which carries a maximum sentence of life in prison. While her husband is charged with one count of the same offence.

Four others also appeared at the court on the same charge, the BBC reported.

A former editor of the now-defunct tabloid News of the World, Brooks is top most former Murdoch aide to face charges in the phone hacking scandal.

Brooks, of Churchill, Oxfordshire, was charged last month by detectives from Operation Weeting, Scotland Yard's phone-hacking inquiry.

She is accused of conspiring to conceal documents, computers and electronic equipment from police and conspiring to remove seven boxes of material from the archive of News International.

Four others who appeared in court today including Brooks's former personal assistant Cheryl Carter, 48; head of security at News International Mark Hanna, 49; Brooks's chauffeur Paul Edwards, 47; and security consultant Daryl Jorsling, 39; all face a single charge of conspiring to pervert the course of justice.

The defendants will be asked what they will plead during a hearing at the same court on September 26.

All six were bailed today.