MOSCOW, October 28 (RAPSI) - The eagerly anticipated hacking trial against two of Rupert Murdoch’s former editors is set to begin Monday, Reuters reported.

Former editors Rebekah Brooks and Andy Coulson will stand trial over allegations of having conspired to gain illegal access to voice messages on the cell phones of politicians, celebrities, crime victims, and others, in order to gain a competitive edge in the news industry, according to the report.

Reuters reported that the jury is expected to be chosen Monday, and that prosecutors are expected to outline their case against the defendants Tuesday. Brooks and Coulson are facing trial alongside several co-defendants, including journalists and Brooks’ personal assistant, as well as her husband, according to Reuters.

In July 2012, the UK Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) announced that Brooks and Coulson would both be charged alongside several co-accused with conspiracy to intercept communications without lawful authority during a period ranging from between October 2000 and August 2006.

The CPS statement added, “The communications in question are the voicemail messages of well-known people and/or those associated with them. There is a schedule containing the names of over 600 people whom the prosecution will say are the victims of this offence.”

The announcement stated that Brooks and Coulson would each face additional charges connected with specific victims.

In May 2012, Brooks was likewise charged alongside several co-accused with offenses relating to the obstruction of justice, including conspiracy to remove seven boxes of material from the News International archive, and attempts to hide documents, computers, and other electronic equipment from the London Metropolitan Police Service, according to a CPS statement released at the time.

In November 2012, the CPS announced that Coulson and Brooks, among others, had been charged with violations relating to conspiracy to commit misconduct in public office.