Body language: Coaching can’t disguise pressure on Brooks

REBEKAH Brooks showed two clear responses to questions: when she felt more confident and on stronger ground, and when she was being challenged, writes body-language expert Susan Heaton Wright.

There were times when her posture was closed: her arms were crossed over her body; her jaw was very tight with tension; her chin was down; she either looked down or from side to side appearing “shifty” or wanting to “close” her face from the questions. Her breathing was very shallow and due to the tension in her jaw the flow of her breath and voice was intermittent. She spoke with a choppy voice with a tense tone.

When she was on more comfortable subjects, such as defending her personal and professional image, her arms were unfolded; she showed the palms of her hands; her chin was raised and she had good eye contact with the lawyers.

I have no doubt she received coaching. It is clear that some questions were anticipated, so she responded in a way as though it had been rehearsed. She tried to maintain a low pitched voice, to avoid giving the impression she was stressed. However, her body language and tone of her voice revealed the pressure she felt while giving evidence.