UK jury dismissed in hacking trial

Jurors in Britain considering extra charges against Andy Coulson, the tabloid editor turned senior aide to Prime Minister David Cameron, have been dismissed after failing to reach a verdict.

Coulson was found guilty of phone-hacking on Tuesday but also faced charges of conspiring to commit misconduct in a public office by paying police officers for two directories containing phone numbers of members of the royal family.

Prosecutors are expected to announce on Monday whether he will face a retrial.

He could face up to two years in prison when he is sentenced next week over the phone-hacking conviction.

Cameron again apologised for hiring Coulson in the House of Commons on Wednesday, saying he made the "wrong decision".

Jurors at London's Old Bailey were sent home after an eight-month trial in which the jury dramatically cleared his co-defendant, former colleague and one-time lover Rebekah Brooks of any wrongdoing on Tuesday.