Kept in dark about phone hacking in News of the World: James Murdoch

As the embattled 38-year-old media baron stuck to his guns by accusing his former subordinates of keeping him in the dark and misleading parliament over the extent of phone-hacking,his testimony prompted offensive comments from the lawmakers investigating the scandal.

Watson,who has been in the forefront of highlighting phone-hacking at titles owned by News International,called him a “mafia boss,” who was unaware of alleged “criminal” activities in his midst.

“You must be the first mafia boss in history who didn’t think he was running a criminal enterprise,” Watson said.

Unlike his first appearance on July 19,Murdoch Jr faced sceptical and often hostile lawmakers.

“Any suspicion of widespread wrong doing,none of that was mentioned to me,” Murdoch said in his deposition,taking almost the same stance that he did before in parliament in July,despite increasing evidence linking him to the raging controversy.

A stony-faced Murdoch called the comments inappropriate as he laid the blames squarely on the News of the World former editor Colin Myler and the News International former legal adviser Tom Crone.

Watson went into great detail about when Murdoch was made aware of phone-hacking and other illegal activities at the News of the World.

Murdoch apologised to Watson in the wake of latest revelations that he was one among many individuals who had been subjected to covert surveillance by a private investigator at the behest of the News of the World.

As MPs questioned his judgement on various issues,he maintained his earlier line that phone-hacking was a matter of regret and that if he knew then what he knows now,remedial action would have been taken.

The line of defence,however,found few takers in the committee,with Watson leading the way to probe him further on the minute of the meetings in which he,according to two senior former ex-employees (Colin Myler and Tom Crone),he was made aware of widespread illegal activities at the News of the World.

Murdoch was stunned when Watson asked him if he was aware of the word “mafia”.

Watson: Would you agree with me that it’s an accurate description of News International in the UK?

Murdoch: Absolutely not,I think that’s offensive.

Watson: You must be the first mafia boss in history who didn’t know he was running a criminal enterprise.

Murdoch: Mr Watson,that’s inappropriate.

Murdoch told the committee that he was not made aware that phone-hacking went beyond one rogue reporter as far back as 2008.

He had previously told MPs that he was not aware of the “for Neville” email when he signed off an out of court settlement for footballers union leader Gordon Taylor.