Phone hacking evidence could be televised at judicial inquiry

Evidence from celebrities, politicians and relatives of crime victims could be televised as part of the judicial inquiry into media phone-hacking.

Discreet fixed television cameras will be installed in the courtroom to record evidence from witnesses who could include Sienna Miller, J K Rowling, Madeleine McCann's parents Kate and Gerry, and the family of Milly Dowler, who are all key participants in the tribunal led by Lord Justice Leveson. Broadcast footage would show witnesses being examined.

At a preliminary hearing for the Leveson Inquiry today the counsel for the inquiry told the High Court that "the provisional view of the chairman is that oral evidence sessions should be televised".

Last month Lord Justice Leveson granted "core participant" status to 46 applicants which gives them the right to a hearing and a lawyer to represent them during part one of the inquiry.

Other alleged phone-hacking victims to win core participant status include former Labour ministers John Prescott, Tessa Jowell and Chris Bryant; former Scotland Yard chief Brian Paddick; and actor Hugh Grant.

News International lawyers today told the High Court how "stressful" and "daunting" the business of testifying in court will be for its executives.

Roger Davies QC told Lord Justice Leveson: "This could be a quite daunting experience." He said that "documents flashing up on screens without prior notice" would add to the "stressful" element.