Rupert Murdoch’s News International has reportedly offered upwards of 2 million pounds (over $3 million) as a settlement to the family of Milly Dowler, a 13-year old murder victim whose voice messages were hacked by journalists working for News Of The World.
The Guardian reports that News Corp lawyers are in negotiations with the Dowler family, and though the exact settlement amount is unclear, News International is reportedly offering upwards of 2 million pounds, plus 1 million pounds for charity and to cover part of the family’s legal costs. The Dowler family is reportedly aiming for around 3.5 million pounds.
In July, the family of Milly Dowler alleged that reporters for the News Of The World tabloid hacked into 13-year old Milly Dowler’s voice messages after she went missing in March 2002, and even deleted some of the messages from her family members once the inbox was full. At the time, this gave her family members false hope that she was still alive.
In the firestorm over Dowler, James Murdoch announced on July 7 that NOTW would close, publishing its last edition on Sunday the 10th. Rebekah Brooks, who was editor of NOTW during the time the Dowler hackings took place, resigned from her post as chief of News International in the wake of the revelations.
News International said Monday that it is “in advanced negotiations with the Dowler family regarding their compensation settlement. No final agreement has yet been reached, but we hope to conclude the discussions as quickly as possible.”
