The case against Andy Coulson has been "broad brush" and "cavalier", the hacking trial has heard.
There are a number of "gaps in the evidence" against the former News of the World editor, Mr Coulson's defence said on Wednesday.
Timothy Langdale QC also criticised the police investigation saying it had not been "rigorous, open-minded or fair."
Mr Coulson is one of seven defendants on trial at the Old Bailey. They all deny the charges against them.
End Quote Timothy Langdale QC Andy Coulson defence barristerWhy are there no emails requesting hacking, or sanctioning hacking or anything of the kind?"
Mr Langdale said that during the trial, prosecution theories had been proved to be impossible and criticisms of the police had been "cast aside".
He said it was "almost as if the juggernaut… of the police investigation and prosecution must keep moving, whatever legitimate obstacles are thrown in it's path."
Examples of prosecution failings were cited by Mr Langdale.
He called into question the evidence of Dan Evans, who has pleaded guilty to phone hacking, and Clive Goodman, who was was jailed in 2007 for the same offence.
Both men "had an agenda" Mr Langdale said, and were "thoroughly unreliable".
The jury was told the prosecution case was that phone hacking was an "open secret" at the News of the World.
If that was the case, suggested Mr Langdale: "Why are there no emails requesting hacking, or sanctioning hacking or anything of the kind?"
Sienna Miller voicemailRecounting evidence given by Mr Evans, the barrister said the former News of the World reporter's confusion surrounding dates of alleged events "will just not do".
Mr Evans had told the trial he played a voicemail left by the actress Sienna Miller on Bond star Daniel Craig's phone to a number of senior executives - including Mr Coulson - at the News of the World office in Wapping.
The former journalist had said he played the tape around "dusk" on 27 September 2005.
Mr Langdale reminded the jury that evidence suggested Mr Coulson was not in London that day, but rather at the Labour Party conference in Brighton.
Recalling Mr Evans' evidence, Mr Langdale said his response at the time to Mr Coulson's whereabouts was: "Maybe it was another day, or the next day".
"That, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, will just not do," Mr Langdale said.
The barrister also said the prosecution, in its closing speech, realised "that their ship had been holed" and tried to "salvage something from the wreckage" by quoting Mr Evans' earlier police statements.
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