Man Charged With Murders Of Mother And Son

A man has been charged with the murders of a mother and son who were found with multiple stab wounds at their home in Bolton-le-Sands near Preston.

Paul Chadwick, 34, of Lowlands Road, Bolton-le-Sands, has been remanded to appear before Preston Magistrates on Saturday.

The Crown Prosecution Service had authorised Lancashire Constabulary to charge Chadwick with two counts of murder.

Police discovered the bodies of Lisa Clay, 40, and her six-year-old son Joseph Chadwick at their home address in Lowlands Road on Tuesday, April 9.

The house where Lisa Clay and her son Joseph Chadwick were found

A post mortem examination by a Home Office pathologist revealed that both died from multiple stab wounds.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of murder at the scene and airlifted to the Royal Preston Hospital with serious stab wounds.

Police were called to the pebble-dashed dormer bungalow in the village of Bolton-le-Sands by a concerned relative.

Anybody with information is urged to contact police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Prince Harry To Race To South Pole

Prince Harry has announced he will take part in a race to the South Pole with a team of wounded British servicemen and women.

The 28-year-old will take on teams from the United States and the Commonwealth in the 208-mile (335km) Walking With The Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge in November and December this year.

Speaking at a conference in London at which the teams were announced, Prince Harry said: "It just remains for me to say to Soldier On Canada, Soldiers To Summits from the US and Soldier On Australia - welcome to the party.

"As a member of the British team, I will have a brew ready for you when you join us at the Pole."

Harry, who took part in the charity's trek to the North Pole in 2011 and is the event's patron, confirmed he will be competing as part of Team Glenfiddich.

He missed out on a bid to conquer Mount Everest with the group last year because of his military commitments and he withdrew early from the successful North Pole expedition to attend his brother's wedding.

The prince had to drop out of a previous trek to the North Pole

He said of the South Pole race: "The format may be different. The scale is certainly different.

"But the aim remains the same - to enable our wounded to do what they and all other servicemen and women do better than anyone else I know - meet a challenge head-on and overcome it and inspire others to do the same.

"Ladies and gentlemen, these men and women have given their all in the cause of freedom, in our cause.

"That they should once again step into the breach - this time facing down the extreme physical and mental challenges of trekking to the South Pole - just underlines their remarkable qualities."

Harry, who is known as Captain Wales in the Army, will race in Team Glenfiddich with Sergeant Duncan Slater, 34, who lost both his legs in a blast in Afghanistan in 2009; Major Kate Philp, 34, who lost her left leg after a bomb blast in 2008; Captain Guy Disney, 31, who lost his right leg in a rocket attack in 2009; and Captain Ibrar Ali, who lost his right arm in a roadside bomb in 2007.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vinyl Releases Help Boost Record Store Day

By Becky Johnson, North of England Correspondent

Several big names in the music industry are releasing limited edition vinyls to mark national Record Store Day.

The annual event aims to deliver a much-needed boost to music shops, which are struggling to keep up with online sales and free downloads.

The sixth annual Record Store Day sees special vinyl and CD releases from artists including Aerosmith, Bob Dylan, Marc Bolan, David Bowie and Jimi Hendrix.

Hundreds of live performances will take place in stores across the UK as musicians and DJs show their support for traditional music sales.

The Marc Bolan Maxi Pack includes two 7" discs

Figures from the Entertainment Retailers Association (ERA) show 15% more digital music was sold in 2012 than in 2011.

According to the Official Charts Company the amount spent on CDs and vinyl fell by more than a third between 2008 and 2012.

Last year, sales of music in shops were worth £447m. Digital sales are catching up, with £383m spent on downloads in 2012.

The chairman of the ERA, Paul Quirk, told Sky News: "Digital will always be there now, and it will develop and it will get better, but it will never ever completely replace buying a CD or buying an album.

"I think what may happen is we may get to the stage where you've got an album and you've actually got the download code as well available, so you're getting two things together.

"So you can download one and it'll go straight into your cloud and you can listen to it immediately on your phone as you walk out the store and you've still got the physical copy when you get home."

Bat For Lashes is one of the more modern artists being released on vinyl

The recent woes of HMV were blamed in part on the growth in digital sales. The high street chain went into administration in January.

Earlier this month it was rescued by restructuring expert Hilco in a £50m deal which secured 2,500 jobs and will ensure 141 stores stay open.

Adam Helliwell, the owner of independent record store 3brecords in Liverpool, told Sky News that far from seeing HMV as a competitor, he is pleased there will still be a national music retailer on the high street.

He said: "In terms of the labels, they're more likely to press vinyl and CDs if there are people like HMV around to contribute to the amount of product they can sell.

"The less people in town the less people are likely to walk into our shop as well, so we need them as much as they need us."

Duran Duran's Is There Something I Should Know is another 7" single

Like many independent record store owners Mr Helliwell says 3brecords often struggles to break even.

He describes running the store as a "labour of love" and sells club tickets online to stay in business.

Customers at the store are divided on whether digital downloads are the future. DJ Michael Di Scala says 80% of the music he owns is digital.

He told Sky News: "I DJ with MP3s, but if I really want something on vinyl I will buy it."

Twenty-five-year-old customer Daniel Anderson-Heaps says he still prefers vinyl.

He explained: "It's just vintage really, it's like a throwback to the past. There's always that nice sentimental feeling about it.

"Just being really passionate about music, it just feels like there's something more when you've got it in your hand than wherever you got it off the internet."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Planning Reforms To Give Neighbours A Say

Plans to relax planning laws covering the building of extensions are to be changed to allow neighbours to have a say if they object.

The original proposals led to a rebellion by 16 Tory MPs and eight Liberal Democrats in the Commons on Tuesday following warnings that they would trigger disputes between neighbours.

Communities Secretary Eric Pickles has now written to MPs setting out a "light-touch neighbours' consultation scheme" for building work which will not require planning permission under the new rules.

Eric Pickles: Proposing a 'light-touch neighbours' consultation scheme'

Ministers announced last year that they intended a three-year relaxation of the depth of allowed single-storey extensions from 4m (13ft 1.5in) to 8m (26ft 3in) for detached houses and from 3m (9ft 10in) to 6m (19ft 8in) for all other houses.

In his letter to MPs, Mr Pickles said: "I believe colleagues' key concern has been about potential effect on neighbours' amenity, and the lack of any say for those neighbours.

"I propose we tackle this head on. We will seek to move ahead with these new permitted householder development rights, but introduce a new light-touch neighbours' consultation scheme."

Under the revised scheme homeowners wishing to build extensions under the new powers would notify their council with the details and the local authority would then inform the adjoining neighbours.

If the neighbours do not object the development can proceed, but if they do raise concerns the council will have to consider whether it had an "unacceptable impact on neighbours' amenity".

If councillors decided it was necessary the proposed extension could be considered by a planning committee.

Mr Pickles said the approach would build consensus, ensure uncontroversial projects were fast-tracked and save householders money.

In an attempt to win over rebels he said the scheme was similar to proposals set out in 2007 by Zac Goldsmith, a ringleader of the Commons revolt.

The Growth and Infrastructure Bill containing the measures is in its final stages in Parliament and the changes will be introduced in the Lords on Monday.

Mr Pickles told MPs: "I hope this shows that we have listened constructively and made a targeted and common sense improvement."

But Mike Jones, chairman of the Local Government Association's environment and housing board, said there were "serious questions" about the new system.

He said: "Councils have been calling for the right of neighbours to have a say to be protected, and we are pleased that Government is listening.

"However, there are serious questions to be answered as to how this new separate scheme will work in practice.

"Government needs to clarify how this new scheme, which will require planning departments to dedicate a significant amount of time and resources, will be paid for at a time when local authorities are already facing significant cuts to their budgets."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

London Marathon: More Cops After Boston Bombs

Hundreds of extra police officers will still be deployed for Sunday's London Marathon despite the hunt for the Boston bombers ending.

Security in the capital has been stepped up to reassure the 36,000 runners and tens of thousands of spectators in the wake of last Monday's explosions which killed three people and injured more than 180.

There will be a 40% increase in the number of officers on London's streets for the race compared with last year.

Westminster Council has also removed all litter bins from the route as a security measure.

Handlers work with sniffer dogs on The Mall ahead of the London Marathon

The Metropolitan Police is in close contact with the FBI and Boston officers but they say there is nothing to suggest any link with the bomb attacks and London.

A 30-second silence will be held as a mark of respect before the start of the men's elite race and mass start, and runners are being encouraged to wear black ribbons.

The race's chief executive insisted the bloody events in Massachusetts will not put off spectators or runners taking part in the 26.2-mile event.

Nick Bitel told Sky News: "There will be some more security measures around but it will still be the same carnival atmosphere that we have tried to engender.

"I think people will see that on the day and hopefully that will be reflected in the support they want to give runners.

"We've got to get the balance right and I'm sure that with our partners in the police we'll be able to do that."

Mo Farah's participation has been a boost for the marathon, say organisers

Double Olympic champion Mo Farah plans to run only half the race, which some people have criticised, accusing him of cashing in on his status.

But Bitel said: "Having him around has given everyone a boost... and that has been needed this week after the events in Boston".

The exact point on the course where Farah will come to a halt, shortly after Tower Bridge, remains a mystery, but he has promised there is no chance at all of him going all the way to The Mall.

Events in the US city reached a dramatic climax as Dzhokhar Tsarnaev was apprehended following an exchange of gunfire with police after being found hiding in a boat in a back yard in Watertown.

He was taken away on a stretcher and was admitted to hospital in a serious condition with unspecified injuries.

His brother and suspected co-bomber Tamerlan died after a shoot-out with officers earlier in the day.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rolf Harris Questioned By Savile Police

Police have questioned television star Rolf Harris on suspicion of committing sexual offences.

Police first raided his home in November 2012. He was interviewed under caution a few days later after agreeing to attend a South London police station by appointment. He was then arrested on March 28.

Harris was honoured for services to entertainment and the community in 2001

The arrest is not understood to be linked to the Jimmy Savile investigation. A statement issued by Scotland Yard said: "An 82-year-old man from Berkshire was arrested by officers on Operation Yewtree on suspicion of sexual offences.

"He has been bailed to a date in May pending further enquiries. The individual falls under the strand of the investigation we have termed 'others'. He has been bailed by Yewtree detectives until a date in May.

Harris was first named as a suspect on Twitter nearly five months ago by a former Surrey police detective. Since then, police have refused to confirm Harris was being investigated.

Reporters have been gathering outside the entertainer's home but the entertainer has yet to appear.

Harris is originally from Perth, Australia but has lived in the UK for fifty years. In 2001 he was awarded the Centenary Medal for service to entertainment, charity and the community.

In June 2012 Harris was one of the comperes at the Queen's Diamond Jubilee Concert outside Buckingham Palace and in October 2012 he began presenting a Channel 5 series based around Liverpool University's Veterinary School called Rolf's Animal Clinic.

Both Harris and his publicity agent have refused to comment on his arrest. He is one of 11 men arrested by Yewtree detectives investigating sexual abuse allegations in the wake of the Jimmy Savile probe.

Others questioned by police include Freddie Starr, Jim Davidson, Dave Lee Travis and Max Clifford.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

First Measles Death Suspected In South Wales

A 25-year-old man from Swansea has died from suspected measles, according to public health officials.

The body of the man, who has not been named, was discovered by a relative on Thursday morning at his home in the Port Tennant area of the city. A post-mortem is due to be carried out to confirm the cause of death.

Dr Marion Lyons, Director of Health Protection, said in a statement: "Public Health Wales is aware of a death being investigated by the Swansea Coroner.

"A diagnosis of measles has not yet been confirmed.  Testing the deceased for measles is forming part of the investigations being overseen by the Coroner.

Parents queue outside a vaccination clinic a few weeks ago

"My sympathies are with the family at such a tragic time.  Whatever the cause of death in this case, we should not be surprised if, as the outbreak grows, we start to see deaths in Wales.

"Measles is a potentially fatal disease and around one in every 1,000 people who contracts measles in developed countries will die.

"We continue to work to end the current outbreak of measles, which is centred on the Swansea area, and which has now passed 800 cases."

Mass vaccination has begun in schools in Swansea on a scale never seen before in South Wales.

Some 5,000 children have been identified as at risk in Swansea and Neath Port Talbot and five schools in the area are offering immunisations over the next three days to try to halve that figure.

Public Health Wales has recorded a 10% rise in cases of the virus since last week, bringing the total number affected since the start of the outbreak in November to 765.

Of those, 77 have had to receive some form of hospital treatment.

Last week Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt urged parents to come forward. Speaking in the Commons, he reassured parents about a global scare, which was sparked by the claims of a doctor 15 years ago.

"What Andrew Wakefield said had absolutely no scientific basis and has caused huge damage and huge worry to many thousands of parents," he said.

"It is very important to reiterate that the scientific way to prevent measles, which can be a horrible, even fatal disease, is to make sure that you have had two doses of MMR."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Inquest Opens Into Death Of Fiona Anderson

By Emma Birchley, Sky correspondent

A member of the public witnessed the moment a heavily pregnant Fiona Anderson jumped from a multi-storey car park in Lowestoft, a coroner has been told.

The 23-year-old was seen to fall from the top floor on Monday morning and was pronounced dead at 8.35am.

Her unborn daughter, due in June, was said to have died the moment Ms Anderson sustained her injuries.

During the opening of the inquest, it was also revealed that the bodies of her three children, Levina, Addy and Kyden McLelland, aged three, two and 11 months were later found by police in the main bedroom of their flat in the seaside town.

Their deaths were confirmed at 11.27am.

CCTV images show Fiona Anderson shortly before her death

Ms Anderson had posted desperate messages on Facebook late the night before she died, talking about a recent break-up with the children's father, Craig McLelland.

Police have released CCTV images showing Ms Anderson a few hours later walking around Lowestoft from 6.15am before heading to the car park.

She died of severe head injuries but further tests are needed to ascertain how the children were killed.

Adjourning the case in Ipswich, coroner Dr Peter Deane, said: "I wish to offer my thoughts and condolences to the family members and all those... who have been touched by these awful and tragic deaths."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

New Round Of Fuel Price Cuts For Motorists

Petrol: The Pump Price Conundrum

Updated: 10:35pm UK, Wednesday 30 January 2013

By Ursula Errington, Business Correspondent

So, the OFT says motorists aren't being ripped off, that the price of petrol on our forecourts is fair and isn't the result of collusion or price-fixing.

Outraged motoring groups still aren't convinced.

The reality is, I don't think anyone knows how to work out the relationship between crude oil and pump price.

From the moment crude oil is pumped out of the ground to when we hand over our money at the till to pay for a topped-up tank, the price of the commodity has been influenced by multiple markets all subject to their own supply and demand idiosyncrasies.

I last worked in oil trading about a decade ago and back then the relationship between the price of Brent crude oil and pump prices was deemed to be pretty sketchy.

Assiduous analysts, whose job it was to structure financial instruments to hedge the bank's customers with exposure to fluctuations in the oil market, pored over oil prices and pump price data looking for a concrete correlation on which to base a safe hedging instrument.

Judging by the collective sighing, teeth-gnashing and head-in-hand gestures, it proved both time consuming and difficult.

Broadly a six-week time lag was identified between a movement in the crude oil price to a correlating adjustment in the pump prices back then but it was considered too statistically patchy to appeal to clients.

So why is it so difficult to find a relationship between the price of oil and the pump price drivers pay?

Firstly, pricing crude oil itself is pretty complicated. Before the black stuff is even out of the ground its anticipated value has been traded on the futures market for weeks, months or years before.

On any one day the oil price is set by taking a combination of a weighted average and straight average up to two months in the future, of all the trades over 600,000 barrels executed on the electronic trading platform the Intercontinental Exchange (ICE).

So it is fair to say that part of the oil price is set by traders who are speculating, who have no intention of allowing their futures contracts to mature and "go physical" (i.e. become related to an actual cargo of oil) but who are buying and selling futures contracts depending on their day-to-day view of the multiplicity of variables effecting the market.

This need not be considered a bad thing. Speculative traders aren't just plucking figures out of the air, they are working on the basis of fine-tuned mathematical models used to assist them in weighting all the factors in play - an outlandish speculative trade based on few decent indicators wouldn't be in their interest at all.

Crucially, these traders add a huge volume of trades to the market, which actually means that big distortions in one trader's view are evened out across the average when the price is set. 

Then there is the shipping market to get the stuff to shore. Highly volatile and as prone to geo-political influences as the commodity itself, shipping deals are opaque because they are over-the-counter and are often based on long-term trading relationships.

The economics of refining are also unhelpfully complex, predominantly because optimising refinery operations is tricky.

Refinery margins (the difference in price between the wholesale value of the products coming out of the refinery and the crude oil from which they were derived) have been surging for many companies of late because of a relative drop in the cost of crude oil and solid demand for products but unscheduled refinery outages, workers on strike, storage costs, changes in the quality of the crude itself - all these things will impact the margin within hours.

And then there's the cost of haulage and the variables at petrol station level, such as a franchise owner's credit rating, local forecourt wars and location.

All of that and we still have some of the cheapest fuel in Europe, according to the OFT.

But it's not over yet - the taxman must also have his share. In the 10 years from 2003 to 2012, prices at the pump increased from 76p per litre (ppl) to 136ppl for petrol and from 78ppl to 142ppl for diesel. Nearly 24ppl of that increase was because of tax and duty.

Is it any wonder then that trying to compare the price of crude oil and the pump price proves a largely fruitless task?

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Prince Harry To Race To South Pole

Prince Harry will take part in a race to the South Pole with a team of wounded British servicemen and women, he has announced.

The 28-year-old will take on teams from the United States and the Commonwealth in the 208-mile (335km) Walking With The Wounded South Pole Allied Challenge in November and December this year.

Speaking at a conference in London at which the teams were announced, Prince Harry said: "It just remains for me to say to Soldier On Canada, Soldiers To Summits from the US and Soldier On Australia - welcome to the party.

"As a member of the British team, I will have a brew ready for you when you join us at the Pole."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Severe' Blaze Hits Birmingham Paper Mill

Around 100 firefighters are tackling a "severe" fire at a paper mill in Birmingham.

Thousands of tons of cardboard have been burning at the Smurfit Kappa plant in the Nechells area of the city.

No injuries have been reported.

People living near the plant were urged to stay indoors and keep their windows and doors shut because of the smoke and falling ash.

However, the material burning is not believed to be toxic.

Frank Turner, who lives nearby, told Sky News: "Last night you could feel the heat from the fire from some distance.

"It was raging. We could see the flames leaping into the air. There are fire crews all over the place."

The fire, which started just after 10pm on Wednesday night, is expected to take a couple of days to burn out, a fire service spokesman said.

He tweeted that the fire is "in a very large outdoor storage area. Approx 10,000 tons of recycled cardboard bales are ablaze.

"Fire is contained to storage area, high winds are hampering fire fighting, however crews and other agencies are working extremely hard to bring blaze under control."

A number of roads around the site in Mount Street have been closed off.

Smurfit Kappa is one of the leading producers of paper-based packaging in the world with more than 41,000 employees in 32 countries, the company's website says.

West Midlands Police said  a helicopter was being used to see if it had spread to other parts of the industrial estate where the paper mill is located.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Hillsborough Campaigner Anne Williams Dies

A leading campaigner in the fight for justice after the Hillsborough disaster has lost her battle with cancer.

Anne Williams, who has died aged 62, lost her 15-year-old son Kevin in the tragedy in 1989 in which 96 Liverpool supporters were killed.

Mrs Williams's battle to get her son's inquest verdict of accidental death overturned was credited with leading to fresh hearings for all the victims.

The campaigner was diagnosed with terminal bowel cancer last October but continued with her legal fight.

She defied doctors' expectations by making her last public appearance at the Hillsborough memorial service at Anfield on Monday.

Anne Williams (centre), pictured on Monday

Mrs Williams was chair of the Hillsborough Justice Campaign and later established Hope for Hillsborough as she fought tirelessly to secure a fresh inquest.

Three separate appeals were made to the attorney general but were rebuffed. The European Court of Human Rights also rejected the case in 2009.

But a breakthrough happened after the Hillsborough Independent Panel report last year and in December Attorney General Dominic Grieve gave the go-ahead.

Despite her illness, Mrs Williams was at the hearing at London's Royal Courts of Justice when the original inquest verdicts were quashed.

At the time, she said: "It's been worth it. I was never going to give up. I know what happened to Kevin and I want them to put the record straight, call new witnesses and tell the jury what happened to him."

She added: "We've made history, haven't we? We've got that verdict struck and everyone can know now that Hillsborough was not an accident."

She also said she wanted a corporate manslaughter verdict, declaring: "It's the least for what they have done."

Kevin Williams was 15-years-old when he died in the tragedy

Mrs Williams missed out on seeing the start of the new inquest process by a week because a pre-inquest hearing to decide logistics will be held in London next Thursday.

Campaigners and figures from Liverpool were quick to pay tribute following her death.

Bishop of Liverpool, the Rt Rev James Jones who chaired the Hillsborough Independent Panel, said: "Anne was a woman of remarkable courage and determination.

"She had a strength and an energy that flowed from her love for Kevin. She will go down in history as one of the key people who brought to light the truth of the Hillsborough tragedy."

Mayor of Liverpool Joe Anderson wrote on Twitter: "Terribly sad to hear about Anne Williams, an amazing and inspirational person. Her courage in the fight for justice is a lesson to us all."

Maria Eagle, MP for Liverpool Garston and Halewood, added: "So very sorry to hear about Anne Williams. She was an incredible inspirational woman. #RIP."

Liverpool FC posted a history of her campaign under the title "RIP Anne Williams - a true inspiration".

It said: "Anne may not have survived to see ultimate justice for her son but her actions have played a significant part in ensuring that 96 families have moved closer to Hillsborough closure."

The tribute added that going to the memorial service on Monday despite her illness "was an act so typical of a mum who simply refused to accept defeat".

Mrs Williams leaves behind two children, son Michael, 41, and daughter Sara ,33, and three grandchildren.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Bomb Plot: Four Jailed For Planning TA Attack

Four men have been sentenced for their part in a plot to detonate a bomb at a Territorial Army (TA) base.

Zahid Iqbal, 31, and Mohammed Sharfaraz Ahmed, 25, who wanted to guide a bomb mounted onto a remote-controlled toy car into the base, have been sentenced to life in prison. 

Security services heard the pair discussing the plot on the telephone between January, 2011 and April, 2012. 

Passing sentence, Mr Justice Wilkie QC said the pair posed "a significant risk of serious harm to the public".

He imposed a custodial sentence of least 11 years and three months, with a five-year extension period subject to licence.

Umar Arshad, 24, and Syed Farhan Hussain, 22, were jailed for six years and nine months and five years and three months respectively for their roles in preparing a terrorist attack.

Security services had heard the four men discussing methods, materials and targets for a terrorist attack, the court heard.

Iqbal and Ahmed talked about making an improvised explosive device (IED) based on instructions in online al Qaeda manual "How to make a bomb in the kitchen of your mom - by the al Qaeda chef", the court was told.

Covert recordings of the pair heard Iqbal suggesting attaching the bomb to a remote controlled toy car and sending it under the gap of an entrance gate at a TA centre in Luton.

Iqbal was recorded telling Ahmed: "I was looking and drove past like the TA centre, Marsh Road. At the bottom of their gate there's quite a big gap.

"If you had a little toy car, it drives underneath one of their vehicles or something."

The men were arrested following a series of raids at their homes in April last year after a joint operation by the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command and the British Security Service (BSS).

The court heard that Iqbal acted as a facilitator for people who wanted to travel for "extremist purposes" and had helped Ahmed travel to Pakistan in March, 2011 for military training.

Mr Wilkie said a further 13 counts relating to the possession of information contrary to the Terrorism Act 2000 should be left on the file.

Addressing Iqbal and Ahmed, Mr Wilkie said: "In each of their cases, their persistent commitment to terrorist activity, in a number of different ways, over a significant period of time and, in each case, their willingness to take practical steps to obtain terrorist training abroad, marks them as particularly dangerous."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Teenager Convicted Of Raping 11-Year-Old Girl

A teenager has been found guilty of raping an 11-year-old girl as she made her way home from school in a "vicious and horrific" attack.

Opemipo Jaji, 18, subjected his victim to a three-hour ordeal and threatened to stab her when she tried to escape.

He followed the youngster from a bus stop in November 2012 and first forced her into a housing estate before sexually assaulting her.

The court heard he stuffed a school tie and gloves into her mouth to stop her screaming.

The trainee chef later took the girl to Jubilee Park in Enfield, where he repeatedly raped her, at one point telling her he was close to killing her.

The girl was taken to Jubilee Park where she was repeatedly raped

During his trial at the Old Bailey, Jaji denied the offence, telling police he had seen the girl on the bus but nothing had happened.

He claimed he had visited the park later that evening on his own and sat on the grass, which was why he had her blood on his clothes.

"I am just not capable of doing something as despicable and heartless as this," he told the court.

The attack was described as "vicious and horrific" by the Crown Prosecution Service.

CCTV pictures showed Jaji boarding the bus before he raped his victim

Detective Chief Inspector Adam Lowe said: "Jaji posed a great danger to young girls and, despite the great weight of evidence against him, refused to accept his guilt and forced the victim to give evidence in court.

"This was a particularly brutal but unusual attack on an innocent 11-year-old schoolgirl who will, no doubt, continue to suffer the emotional scars of what happened to her for a very long time."

At the time of his arrest, Jaji had two previous convictions, one involving an attack on a 12-year-old and another for making an indecent picture of a child.

He will be sentenced in two weeks' time.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Fake Willy Wonka Chocolate Bar Warning For UK

Chocolate lovers around the country are being conned by fake Wonka chocolate bars containing useless golden tickets.

Trading standards officers say "massive profits" are being made from the bogus chocolate - which takes advantage of the famous promotion in Roald Dahl's book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

In the book and film adaptations starring Johnny Depp and Gene Wilder as Willy Wonka, children who found a rare golden ticket inside the wrapper won a trip to the eccentric chocolatier's factory.

Investigators believe the illegal batch of bars is being sold directly to shops and convenience stores by travelling salesmen.

Johnny Depp played Willy Wonka in the 2005 adaptation of Roald Dahl's book

They carry a message on the packaging that says "five lucky winners will find a golden ticket inside".

In fact every bar contains a "winning" ticket - but with no information about how to claim the prize.

The bars contravene labelling requirements and can not legally be described as milk chocolate. It is thought those behind the scam may be repackaging cheap chocolate and selling it on with a huge mark-up.

Nestle, which owns the copyright for Wonka chocolate, has confirmed it has no Wonka competitions operating in Britain and has not sold the product since 2010.

The fake bars have no branding or company address on them and do not carry the Nestle trademark.

Trading standards have had reports of the counterfeit chocolate in areas including Suffolk, Lanarkshire, South Wales, London and most recently North East Lincolnshire.

North East Lincolnshire Council said in a statement: "Following seizures elsewhere in the country, officers have found some of the fake goods at a local sweet shop.

"Officers are currently checking other retailers to seize any remaining bars still on sale. They will also be reminding food businesses of the importance of sourcing stock from reputable suppliers.

"There are currently no known health risks, but the origin of these bars is unknown."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Jobless Total Up As Income Squeeze Tightens

The unemployment total has risen for the second month in a row while average pay increases were found to be at their weakest on record.

The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said the number of people without work rose 70,000 in the three months to the end of February to reach 2.56 million - pushing the jobless rate up to 7.9%.

The number of people in work fell by 2,000 over the period to just under 30 million - the first time the figure has dipped since autumn 2011.

There were 900,000 out of work for more than a year, an 8,000 increase on the three months to November, while the number of unemployed 16 to 24-year-olds rose by 20,000 to 979,000.

However, those claiming unemployment benefit fell by 7,000 in March.

While the jobless figures suggested a reversal in the resilience of the UK labour market amid the UK's weak economic growth, it was the pay statistics that will most worry those who are seeking a pick-up in consumer spending to boost output.

Pay, excluding bonuses, rose by 1% between November and February compared to a year earlier which was the smallest on record, the ONS said.

With CPI inflation currently measured at an annual rate of 2.8%, the pay figure demonstrates that prices are continuing to rise at a faster pace than wage growth at a time when energy bills and many other costs have soared.

Employers have been limiting pay increases as a way of managing to keep hold of staff amid the flat-lining economy.

The move has been cited by some economists as a key reason why unemployment levels fell last year: companies wanting to be ready for when recovery came.

While the Government hailed falling jobseeker's allowance claims it admitted there was much still to do to help get people back to work.

GMB union general secretary Paul Kenny said: "The Chancellor should heed IMF advice to change course to grow the economy to end this needless waste of human talent."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Home Office To Appeal Over Qatada Ruling

The Home Office has asked the Court of Appeal for leave to appeal over a decision to allow Abu Qatada to stay in the UK.

The move to appeal to the Supreme Court comes after judges last month rejected the latest in a long line of attempts to deport the radical cleric to Jordan.

In March, Court of Appeal judges backed an earlier ruling that Qatada, also known as Omar Othman, could not be deported over fears that evidence obtained through torture would be used against him.

A Home Office spokesman said: "The Government remains committed to deporting this dangerous man and we continue to work with the Jordanians to address the outstanding legal issues preventing deportation."

The Government has now been trying to deport Qatada to Jordan, where he was convicted of terror charges in his absence in 1999, for nearly eight years.

The Home Secretary's lawyers challenged a ruling made last November by immigration judges on the grounds that Qatada was a "truly dangerous" individual who had escaped deportation through "errors of law".

Qatada on his release from prison last November

But three Court of Appeal judges said the Special Immigration Appeals Commission was entitled to conclude that disputed statements would be used against Qatada.

And, in reaching their conclusion, they added it was not "relevant" that terror suspect Qatada was regarded as "extremely dangerous".

Qatada, who featured in sermons found on videos in the flat of one of the 9/11 bombers, has ultimately thwarted every Government attempt to deport him.

A resident in the UK since September 1993, he was returned to jail last month after being arrested for alleged bail breaches.

A hearing over whether he should be granted bail again was due to be held last month but was delayed.

Police say he is being investigated over extremist material following a search of his London home.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lake District: Walker Dies In Ravine Plunge

A Swiss walker has died after plunging 100 metres (330ft) into a ravine in the Lake District.

Elisabeth Huber, 68, had been on holiday and was walking with a group of people when the accident happened on Tuesday afternoon.

She fell from a path in the Dungeon Ghyll area of the Great Langdale valley in Cumbria.

Rescue teams were called but Ms Huber, from Heimberg, Switzerland, was pronounced dead at at the scene.

A spokeswoman for Cumbria Constabulary said: "Police are not treating her death as suspicious at this stage and have passed the case on to the coroner.

"Police officers in Cumbria are working with Interpol to support Ms Huber's family in Switzerland."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mother's Toddler Murder Conviction Quashed

A woman has had her conviction for murdering her toddler son quashed by appeal judges.

No reason was given for the decision to overturn Kimberley Hainey's life sentence, which was issued in December, 2011, for the murder of her son Declan in their home in Paisley in Renfrewshire.

It is expected the court will hear the opinion of judges Lord Clarke, Lord Mackay of Drumadoon and Lord Drummond Young on Thursday.

Hainey, 38, was originally told she would serve a minimum of 15 years for the murder.

Declan's mummified body was was discovered in March 2010, when he would have been 23 months old.

He was last seen alive when he was 15 months old.

During the judge's sentencing, Lord Woolman told Hainey: "Declan's first birthday took place in April, 2009, he appeared to have all his life in front of him.

"He was surrounded by a loving family and people thought you were a loving mother. A few months later he was dead.

"You were Declan's carer. You did not allow others to get close to him. Instead you isolated him from your family, your neighbours, your friends and from the welfare services.

"None of them thought that Declan's life was at risk. You engineered that situation.

"You embarked on a systematic and elaborate course of conduct to prevent people knowing, or suspecting, that Declan was dead.

"It was a lengthy course of deceit that prevented proper inquiries being made."

The judge acknowledged that Hainey had struggled with drink and drugs and that her son's death was a "huge tragedy" for her, as she said she loved the boy "more than anything in the world".

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lowestoft: Death Fall Mum 'Cared Too Much'

A heavily pregnant woman who fell to her death before her three young children were found dead was "beautiful and intelligent", her family have said.

Fiona Anderson had suffered from mental illness

Fiona Anderson, 23, has now been formally identified after she suffered fatal head injuries at a multi-storey car park on Monday morning.

Officers investigating the incident later found the children - named by neighbours as Levina, three, Addy, two, and 11-month-old baby Kyden - at their home in Lowestoft, Suffolk.

In a statement issued by Suffolk police, Ms Anderson's mother Kerry, father Michael and sisters Claire and Laura said she "cared passionately", but had suffered with mental illness from a young age.

Levina

They said: "Fiona was a beautiful, intelligent girl and a loving and caring person, but she had suffered from mental illness since she was young and we believe she was driven to her actions yesterday.

"This was not our Fiona - she was not herself. She cared passionately about others but often brought stress on herself by caring too much.

"She was gentle but ended up under too much pressure.

Addy

"As a family we were close but she would often push us away, keen to do her own thing and not to listen when we offered support. Life was sometimes overwhelming for her.

"She was really popular but just didn't believe she was and had forgotten there were people there that could help her.

"We wish more had been done to recognise her mental health problems, which could be masked by her intelligence and creativity. She would often make costumes for the children, who she loved very much."

Kyden

The family added that Ms Anderson would be remembered as a "girlie girl" who was also a very private person.

Post-mortem examinations have failed to ascertain how the children died and further tests will be carried out, police said.

Neighbours said Ms Anderson was eight months pregnant with a baby girl she had planned on calling Evalie.

CCTV images show Fiona Anderson shortly before her death

She was seen entering the car park in Battery Green Road, Lowestoft, shortly before 8am on Monday.

CCTV footage showed Ms Anderson walking around Lowestoft holding a teddy bear shortly before she was found.

Detective Superintendent John Brocklebank said the force was "conducting a meticulous investigation" into the tragedy.

The IPCC said it was awaiting details of the case from Suffolk police.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

London Marathon Security Review After Boston

British police are reviewing security arrangements for the London Marathon this Sunday after the bombs in Boston.

Marathon organisers and officers are working together to find out whether there is an international threat and if they should change any arrangements.

The security operation for Baroness Thatcher's funeral on Wednesday is also being reviewed.

The London Marathon passes some of the capital's top tourist attractions

Chief Superintendent Julia Pendry, police commander for the London Marathon, said: "A security plan is in place. We will be reviewing our security arrangements in partnership with marathon organisers."

Nick Bitel, London Marathon Chief Executive, vowed to look at whether extra steps need to be taken to safeguard the race and runners.

"We are deeply saddened and shocked by the news from Boston," he said. "Our immediate thoughts are with the people there and their families.

"When an incident of this nature occurs you can't be complacent. You have to see if more needs to be done. That's what we'll be doing in the coming hours and days."

Nick Bitel: "It's a sad day for athletics"

The London Marathon is the world's largest but turnout for the event could now be affected because of the attacks in Boston.

Half a million spectators were expected to line the streets of the capital to watch more than 30,000 runners, but it is possible some will pull out.

The course, starting in Blackheath and finishing in front of Buckingham Palace, takes in some of the capital's top tourist attractions, including Tower Bridge, Canary Wharf, Big Ben and Parliament Square.

As well as the threat of disruption from Irish republican groups and left-wing protesters, police will now be preparing for the possibility of copycat attacks after the blasts in Massachusetts.

Richard Barrett, who analyses terror threats for the United Nations, said they would need to balance the needs of security with the need to allow public events to continue.

"They'll be concerned about copycat attacks and about other sporting events and public galleries," he said.

"The Boston Marathon was a very soft target with 26 miles of spectators and lots of cars and people moving around.

"Security services are used to dealing with these issues but they'll be looking at things again in the light of this attack."

Soldiers rehearsing on Monday for Baroness Thatcher's funeral

Meanwhile, Lord Reid has said experts will be keen to review security arrangements for Lady Thatcher's funeral, which is also due to pass major London landmarks.

He said: "Everyone will have been appalled at the terrible events in Boston. While the culprits and motivation behind the US terror attacks are still unclear, this will obviously entail a review of security arrangements for both Lady Thatcher's funeral and the London Marathon.

"They will require extra vigilance from everyone involved and it is also to be hoped that everyone recognises the added responsibility of co-operating with the police and the authorities at both events."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Boston Marathon Explosions: Britons On Attacks

No British nationals appear to have been injured in the deadly Boston terror attacks, but the Foreign Office says it is continuing to monitor the situation.

Some 347 of the 25,000 runners taking part in the race were British and several have spoken of the aftermath of the twin blasts, which killed three people.

The Foreign Office tweeted: "We're in close contact with local authorities in Boston. Not aware of any British nationals injured but will continue to monitor situation."

One marathon runner from Cardiff told how she heard explosions moments after crossing the finishing line.

Arriving back at Heathrow Airport still wearing her running gear, Sarah Morris, 46, told Sky's Rachel Younger: "People were running towards us. There was a lot of blood and screaming."

Shattered windows in buildings lining the route of the marathon

Mrs Morris had just met up with her husband, Brian, when the explosions happened. He said: "There was a lot of panic. A man said a little boy had his leg blown off."

Abi Griffiths, from London, crossed the finishing line around 10 minutes before the explosions.

The 34-year-old told Sky News she heard the blast while collecting her bag.

She said: "The ground shook and immediately people sort of looked around - it was just too loud to be something that wasn't serious.

"People kind of didn't know what to do. Then all of a sudden it went into a state of chaos. Police were everywhere, we were being evacuated out of the area and it was really eerie.

"It was very, very scary and what should be a major celebration of the achievement of running 26.2 miles suddenly became a frightening scene."

She said police had swung into action quickly.

An injured man with shredded clothes

"This is just such an awful scene to have happened," Ms Griffiths continued. "It felt like it may have come from the inside of a shop.

"Suddenly you looked around and there was this cloud of smoke and then people went into gear. There were police everywhere."

Jez Hughes, a firefighter from Morley, west Yorkshire, was walking to the subway with his wife when they heard two explosions.

He had been standing only 100 yards from the finish line with other competitors after completing his 10th marathon but walked around the corner to meet his wife.

He said: "While we were going to the subway we heard two explosions. I said straight away that sounds like a bomb and then we heard a second one.

"My wife is very shook up but we are out here until Thursday evening and no terrorists are going to spoil our day. Don't let them get the better of you."

Darren Foy, 40, from Southampton, his wife Sandra and their two children, missed the explosions by just half an hour after he finished the marathon in three and a half hours.

The chartered surveyor, who is chairman of the Lordshill Road Runners in Southampton and was competing in his fourth marathon, said: "There are reports here that the explosions came from a hotel at the finish line and I walked past there a few days ago to pick up my race number.

"It's such a soft target. There are hundreds of thousands spectators on the streets and 27,000 runners, so we got off lightly."

Mark Jenkin, a 34-year-old sports writer from Barnstaple in Devon, said the explosion had put the race into perspective.

After finishing 138th in a time of 2 hours 24 minutes, he told his paper, the North Devon Journal: "It's a beautiful spring afternoon in Boston.

"The people of the city put on a great race and it's such a tragedy this has happened.

"I was feeling tired and a bit disappointed with my time in the race but all that seems irrelevant now. I just feel grateful to be ok."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Lowestoft: Tributes Paid To Dead Mum And Kids

By Emma Birchley, East Of England Correspondent

The father of three children found dead in a Lowestoft flat wept in his mother's arms after returning to the scene.

Craig McLelland pored over the growing pile of cuddly toys and read the cards left in memory of Levina, aged three, Addy, two, and 11-month-old Kyden.

Levina

The police made the discovery on Monday morning, three hours after the children's heavily pregnant mother was found at the foot of a multi-storey car park in the town.

The air ambulance attended but the woman, named locally as Fiona Anderson, was pronounced dead at the scene.

Addy

Mr McLelland was too upset to comment. Earlier his mother Mandy spoke only to say that she had lost everything, her whole family.

Karleigh Burlingham had been good friends with Ms Anderson and she and the children used to stay overnight.

Kyden

She said: "I''m devastated. It still hasn't sunk in. She must have been the lowest of the low to do something like that because those children were her life.

"They were brilliant kids. They were so polite."

Just hours before her body was found, Ms Anderson had written desperate messages on Facebook.

Craig McLelland

"Levina, Addy, Kyden, Evalie. Mummy loves you so much and I'll always be there looking after you all."

It is believed she and Craig had recently split up. She wrote: "Craig was all we had. Now he's gone."

The final words she posted said simply: "I'll keep them safe."

Ms Anderson also added single pictures of each of her children as well as a scan of her unborn child. Ms Burlingham said she had not spotted the messages in time.

Flowers laid at the scene

She said: "I just wish I had seen them so that I could have gone round there and helped her and spoken to her."

Leon Cook, 18, said the pair had lived with his family after Levina was born.

He said: "I never thought she would do it. I wouldn't know what she we going through."

Messages of condolence have been left at the scene

He added that Mr McLelland had always been a good dad.

Post-mortem examinations are being carried out at James Paget Hospital in nearby Gorleston. Formal identification of the bodies will then follow.

Det Supt John Brocklebank, who is leading the investigation, said there is no definitive explanation of the circumstances surrounding the deaths.

Tributes paid to the children

He said: "We are developing a picture. There is the collection of witness statements, the collection of CCTV and house to house.

"We keep an open mind because we don't know exactly what has happened."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Sally Bercow 'Not Some Kitchen Table Blogger'

Speaker's wife Sally Bercow, who is being sued by Tory peer Lord McAlpine over an allegedly libellous tweet she posted, was not "some kitchen table blogger", the High Court has heard.

The former Conservative party treasurer is seeking damages over a posting on Twitter which he claims named him as a paedophile who was guilty of sexually abusing boys living in care.

Mrs Bercow, a former Celebrity Big Brother contestant, has always denied that her November 4 tweet, "Why is Lord McAlpine trending? *Innocent face*", was defamatory.

It followed a Newsnight report that wrongly implicated Lord McAlpine in child sex abuse allegations.

Lord McAlpine's QC, Sir Edward Garnier, told Mr Justice Tugendhat that Mrs Bercow had 60,000 followers on the social media site so her readership was bigger than some local newspapers.

"We are not talking about some kitchen table blogger addressing perhaps herself and one other person," he said. "We are talking about a pretty widespread readership."

Lord McAlpine was wrongly implicated in child sex abuse allegations

Representing Mrs Bercow, William McCormick QC, said she had promptly tweeted her apologies, provided letters apologising for the distress caused and made clear that the underlying allegations were untrue, as well as an offer to settle the case which had not been withdrawn.

The last thing the litigation needed was a preliminary issue which would cause delay, he said, adding that what was required was a swift timetable to a single final hearing at the end of July.

Sir Edward told the court that in the context of the Newsnight broadcast - and given the media storm and frenzy going on at that time - it was Lord McAlpine's case that the tweet identified him as the subject of the allegations.

One would have to have been "a moron in a hurry" or an "anchorite in a sealed cave" not to have known the circumstances surrounding the tweet, he said.

Neither Lord McAlpine nor Mrs Bercow were in court for the peer's contested application for the trial to be split in two - a hearing to decide the meaning of the tweet and, if that goes in his favour, a second hearing on the appropriate level of damages.

Granting the application, the judge directed that there should be a preliminary hearing on what was the actual meaning of the words complained of - both a natural and ordinary meaning, and an innuendo meaning.

He said he would give his reasons at a later date.

Lord McAlpine was mistakenly implicated by Newsnight's November 2 broadcast about a paedophile ring that targeted children at a care home in Wrexham.

His name was then widely mentioned on the internet, including social networking site Twitter, by users including Mrs Bercow, wife of John Bewcow.

In February, Lord McAlpine, who has already received six-figure payouts from the BBC and ITV, announced he was dropping defamation claims against Twitter users with fewer than 500 followers and instead asked for a charitable donation to BBC Children In Need.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Alps Coach Crash Kills One: Britons On Board

A coach carrying Britons has crashed in the Alps killing one person and seriously injuring three, according to police.

Local paper Le dauphine said the bus was transporting 50 passengers - including youngsters - from the Alpe d'Huez resort after a week's holiday.

Media reports said the bus appeared to have hit a cliff and burst into flames after the "brakes failed" on bend 21 at around 1.30pm.

Alpe d'Huez is a popular ski resort

People were believed to have been trapped inside the vehicle, including the dead passenger, who is thought to be bus driver.

Some managed to get out themselves while others were helped out by emergency crews. A helicopter evacuated the seriously injured while 17 with minor injuries were treated on the road.

The route, which has been used in the Tour de France race, is infamous for its treacherous hairpin bends.

In a statement the Foreign & Commonwealth Office said: "We are aware of a tragic incident involving British nationals in the Isere region of southern France.

"We are in touch with the local authorities and are providing consular assistance."

More follows...

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Stafford Hospital: Administrators Called In

The trust that runs scandal-hit Stafford Hospital is being put into administration, health regulator Monitor has announced.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust will be run by two specially appointed administrators after it was decided that the trust was "neither clinically nor financially sustainable in its current form".

Dr Hugo Mascie-Taylor and Alan Bloom of Ernst and Young will take over the running of the trust tomorrow.

The trust was at the centre of a public inquiry into the "disaster" at Stafford Hospital where hundreds of patients may have died needlessly after they were "routinely neglected".

It will become the first NHS foundation trust to face administration.

Monitor said the special administrators would be given 45 working days to design a way of providing services to patients in the area "that is sustainable in the long term".

Their plan will be subject to a public consultation and services at the hospitals in Stafford and Cannock will continue to run as normal until a final decision is reached.

Monitor's chief executive David Bennett, who announced the regulator's decision at a news conference at Stafford Hospital, said: "It is important that people in Mid Staffordshire know that they can still access services as usual at Stafford and Cannock hospitals while the trust special administration process is ongoing.

"We have taken this decision to make sure that patients in the Mid Staffordshire area have the services they need in the future.

"It is now the role of the trust special administrators to work with the local community to decide the best way of delivering these services."

The Francis Report highlighted the "appalling and unnecessary suffering of hundreds of people" between 2005 and 2009.

Three weeks after the public inquiry report was published, Monitor said it was consulting about the prospective appointment of trust special administrators.

An independent review into the trust, conducted on behalf of the regulator, concluded that the organisation was neither clinically nor financially sustainable in its current form.

Finances at the trust, which is deemed to be one of the smallest in the country, have a bleak outlook. Last year the Department of Health was forced to give the trust a £20m boost to maintain services for patients.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Measles: New Term Could See Increase In Cases

Doctors fear the start of a new school term in Swansea could lead to a sharp rise in new measles cases.

Around 700 people have so far contracted the disease since last November. And the return to school is likely to allow the highly infectious virus to spread rapidly between unvaccinated children.

Four comprehensives in the city and one in Neath Port Talbot will hold vaccination sessions for pupils, starting on Wednesday.

Parents of children who have not had the two doses of MMR vaccine have been sent letters asking for their consent for the jab.

At Bishop Gore Comprehensive School 488 children are thought to be at risk.

Headteacher Ryan Davies told Sky News: "There is a sense of urgency here. It is quite onerous for us, but at the end of the day we are only too willing to help.

"We need our pupils protected, especially at this time of year when a lot of them are preparing for their final examinations."

Swansea has had one of the lowest uptakes of MMR vaccine in the country, with parents shunning the jab in the wake of discredited research linking it to autism. Most of the unprotected children are now aged 10 to 14.

Fears are growing that the outbreak could spread.

Public Health Wales estimates that 40,000 children in the country have not had any doses of MMR. A further 30,000 have only had the first dose.

Parts of England also have large numbers of unvaccinated children and there are on-going measles outbreaks in Merseyside, Teesside and Gloucestershire.

Dr David Elliman of Great Ormond Street Hospital urged parents to have their children vaccinated - wherever they are, because of the risks of the disease.

He said: "England has lower levels of MMR uptake than Wales. And in London there are substantial pockets of low uptake. You have lots of people unimmunised in schools and nurseries, so it is a very real danger."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Teens Sentenced For Murdering Homeless Man

Three teenagers who beat a homeless man to death following a dare have been sentenced.

Connor Doran, 17, his brother Brandon Doran, 14, and their friend Simon Evans, also 14, attacked Kevin Bennett as he slept rough outside a supermarket in Liverpool.

Connor Doran was sentenced to a minimum 12 years, Evans was ordered to serve at least eight years and Brandon Doran received six years for acting as look-out during the attack.

Victim Kevin Bennett, here with his son, now in his 20s

The three boys, who all denied murder, were found guilty on February 26 following a four-week trial.

The two brothers showed no emotion as their sentences were being read out, while Evans fought back tears.

Passing sentence, Judge Clement Goldstone QC, the Recorder of Liverpool, said: "I think it is a desperately sad reflection on this society that each of you was party to serious violence purely for the sake of it."

He called the 17-year-old the "pack leader".

During the trial at Liverpool Crown Court, the jury was told that he had goaded Evans by saying: "I bet you haven't got it in you to do him in."

The court heard Evans later told his friend: "I started kicking him, I booted him and now he's dead."

Linda Doran provided false alibis for her sons

During the attack on August 17, Mr Bennett suffered a fractured eye socket, a collapsed lung and a broken ribcage which detached from his chest.

He died in hospital six days later.

A post-mortem examination found that the 53-year-old had died from blood poisoning after an infection set in, causing his organs to fail.

Prosecutor Alan Conrad QC said the three boys had been responsible for a "group attack".

"Mr Bennett had done nothing to deserve such violence," he said.

The Doran brothers' mother, 42-year-old Linda Doran, was sentenced to 30 months in jail after being convicted of perverting the course of justice by providing false alibis for her sons.

The judge called the woman, who is unemployed, a "pathetic and tragic character" who bears the responsibility for a "total lack of parental guidance".

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Newcastle 'Appalled' By Derby Day Violence

Newcastle United say they will impose "immediate lifetime bans" on anyone involved in the clashes after their defeat to Sunderland.

Some 29 supporters were arrested as violence erupted in the city centre following the Tyne-Wear derby.

Video footage showed crowds throwing glass bottles at police and a burning bin lying on its side in the road. Pictures also showed a man apparently trying to punch a police horse.

A spokesman for Newcastle United said: "We were embarrassed and appalled by the behaviour of a minority of so-called fans who were involved in disturbances and disorder in Newcastle city centre after the match.

Fans clash with police after Newcastle's 3-0 defeat to Sunderland

"We have been working with Northumbria Police, and will continue to do so, in order to identify all of the individuals concerned.

"The club will take the strongest possible action against those involved in the disturbances and will impose immediate lifetime bans on all those found guilty.

"These deplorable individuals have no place at Newcastle United and bring shame on the club and the vast majority of its proper, law-abiding, fans."

Chief Superintendent Steve Neill, of Northumbria Police, asked fans who filmed fighting on their mobile phones to hand over any footage to the police or Crimestoppers.

The horse, called Bud, was not injured. Pic: WYPHorses/Twitter

"Disruptive behaviour of any kind is not tolerated," he said.

Meanwhile, West Yorkshire Police tweeted a picture of the horse caught up in the violence, saying he is "resting and relaxed" in his stables and was not injured.

His suspected attacker, who was wrestled to the ground by officers, has been bailed pending further inquiries.

The disorder in Newcastle came a day after clashes during an FA Cup semi-final match between Millwall and Wigan at Wembley Stadium.

Police arrested 14 people over the violence, which left younger fans in tears and was seen by millions of people watching on television.

The violence at Wembley Stadium marred Wigan's FA Cup win

The FA's general secretary Alex Horne said of the Wembley disorder on Saturday: "We will look to ensure those involved are identified and we would call for criminal charges and a football banning order to be brought against them.

"The FA deplore the scenes which have taken place, which are unacceptable. Everything will be done to take action against those involved."

In a separate development, police investigating clashes between Shrewsbury Town and Walsall fans have charged 28 people with offences including violent disorder and assault.

The charges relate to a fight in Shrewsbury in October last year, during which a police officer suffered a broken leg.

A spokesman for West Mercia Police said those charged would appear in court over several days, starting on April 29.

"We always seek to prevent football violence occurring and any serious disorder will be met with strong measures," Superintendent James Tozer said.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Beached Whale: Rescuers In Race Against Time

Volunteers are working with coastguards and a marine vet to save what is understood to be a pilot whale which has become stranded on Castle Beach, Falmouth.

They have formed a human chain and are transferring buckets of water from the sea to keep it wet until it can be refloated during the next high tide, which is due just after 9pm.

A picture taken by marine photographer Clare Greenwood shows the whale draped in wet sheets approximately 20m (66ft) from the shore and surrounded by volunteers.

The whale was discovered on Castle Beach this morning (Falmouth Packet)

Cornwall Wildlife Trust has tweeted: "Sad to hear a Pilot Whale has beached in Falmouth, Matt Slater, Marine Office, has just headed down to offer a hand of help."

Ms Greenwood, who has been helping with the rescue effort, said: "It's not looking good.

"It was discovered at 11am this morning and High tide won't be until this evening so we're expecting someone to arrive to put it down."

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Thatcher Funeral 'Not Over The Top' Says Maude

The Government has defended the lavish plans for Baroness Thatcher's funeral after a poll showed major opposition to using taxpayers' money to pay for it.

A ComRes survey found that only 25% of people think the event should be funded form the public purse and that 60% are against the idea.

But Tory Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, who is one of the organisers of Wednesday's ceremonial service, insisted it had to be a "fitting event for a very great lady".

He told Sky News that the ceremony would be a "fitting send-off" and argued that the involvement of the armed forces was "not over the top in any way".

Speaking on the Murnaghan show, he said: "Of course, with any funeral of any former prime minister the state inevitably plays a big role.

Lady Thatcher at a Royal Hospital Chelsea event in 2008

"Normally there would be a funeral followed by a memorial service. She was very adamant that she didn't want that, she wanted a single service. So this needs to be a fitting event for a very great lady."

Amid fears protests could mar the funeral next week, Mr Maude also urged critics of Lady Thatcher to be respectful.

"It is a free country. People must be free to express their views," he said, but added: "I would simply ask that they respect the wishes of the mourners for this event to take place in a dignified way."

Lady Thatcher said she did not want a state funeral, but she has been given the next highest honour: a ceremonial funeral with full military honours tailored to her.

With all the the pageantry of a state funeral, it is set to be the largest in Britain since the Queen Mother's, bringing to the fore the issue of who will pay.

The former prime minister's estate will contribute with the taxpayer picking up the rest of the tab.

Downing Street has refused to give details about the cost until after the ceremony but it is expected to run into several million.

Labour's former deputy prime minister John Prescott angrily denounced the cost in his column for the Sunday Mirror.

David Cameron will do a Bible reading at the funeral

"Thatcher split this country, North and South, the haves and have nots, 'one of us' or 'the enemy within'. This country paid enough thanks to that woman. So why the hell should we continue to pay now she's dead?," he wrote.

"Privatise her funeral. It would be a fitting tribute," he added.

David Cameron and William Hague both already defended using taxpayers' money last week, insisting it would be wrong not to mark Lady Thatcher's huge contribution to the nation.

The Foreign Secretary said: "The rebate she negotiated for this country from the EU has brought us so far £75 billion - which is twice the size of our annual defence budget.

"I think that puts money in perspective ... so I think we can afford to contribute to a funeral."

The poll for the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror came as the Government released the Order of Service for the funeral at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday.

Lady Thatcher's coffin will be carried through the streets of London on a gun carriage, allowing the public to pay their respects as the funeral cortege passes by. 

It is the same honour bestowed on Diana, Princess of Wales, the Queen Mother and Winston Churchill.

Then there will be a single bell will toll as the funeral cortege draws up to St Paul's, and 14 Chelsea pensioners will line the steps as the coffin is taken into the cathedral.

The presence of the pensioners - the oldest aged 90 - is aimed at reflecting the strong connection Lady Thatcher built up with the Royal Hospital Chelsea over the last 10 years.

In front of the coffin, Michael and Amanda Thatcher, grandchildren of the former prime minister, will carry cushions bearing the insignia of the Order of the Garter and the Order of Merit and lay them on the Dome Altar.

The service, attended by the Queen, will be "framed" by British music, with traditional pieces by great British composers played at the beginning and at the end.

Lady Thatcher's love of poetry will be reflected in her choice of TS Eliot's Little Gidding, which will be printed on the opening page of the Order of Service and William Wordsworth's Ode: Intimations of Immortality on the final page.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Amanda Thatcher will deliver the readings from the King James Bible - of which she was particularly fond.

It was confirmed that the hymns will be He Who Would Valiant Be, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Psalm 84 set to the music of Johannes Brahms, and the patriotic verse I Vow To Thee My Country.

The funeral address will be delivered by the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres.

The military procession leading to the service will feature more than 700 serving Armed Forces personnel from units particularly associated with the Falklands War, including some from the Welsh Guards, the regiment that suffered some of the heaviest losses.

Plans are also developing for Lady Thatcher's legacy to be enshrined in the creation of a major new institution to promote her political philosophy and shape future Tory politics.

Supporters of the former leader are working on a Margaret Thatcher library for London as a lasting memorial.

Backers also aim to raise £15m in private funds to establish the combined library, museum and training centre.

It is planned that visitors will be able to view key artefacts from her time in office, such as her trademark blue Aquascutum suits and handbags.

:: ComRes interviewed 2,012 Great Britain adults online on April 10 and 11.

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Man Dies After Being Shot In Head At Party

A man has died after being shot in the head at a party in Camberwell, south-east London.

Police were called just before 5am on Sunday to reports of a man with gunshot wounds at a flat in Camberwell's Southwell Road.

The 23-year-old man was taken to hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the head but he died later.

Officers believe they know the identity of the deceased but are awaiting formal identification.

A spokesperson for the Metropolitan Police Service said another man presented himself at hospital suffering from a gunshot wound to the ankle.

Officers believe he was shot in the street near to the flat where the party was taking place.

His injuries are not believed to be serious.

Detectives from the Homicide and Serious Crime Command are investigating.

The spokesperson said: "There was a party at the first floor flat in Southwell Road at the time of the shooting, and officers need to speak with anyone who was at that party or who has information about the shootings.

"Anyone with information should call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

00.35 | 0 komentar | Read More

Newcastle - Sunderland Derby Violence Arrests

A total of 27 football fans have been arrested and three police officers hurt after violence following a derby game in Newcastle.

Missiles were thrown at police as a group of Newcastle fans tried to confront Sunderland supporters in Central Station after the home side's 0-3 defeat at St James' Park.

One officer was taken to hospital for treatment, police said.

The violence erupted after crowd trouble marred Saturday's FA Cup semi-final at Wembley.

A total of 14 men were arrested after Millwall fans began fighting with each other during the second half of their 2-0 defeat by Wigan, in disturbing scenes which left youngsters in tears and were witnessed by millions on television.

Scotland Yard said 12 of those held were Millwall supporters and two Wigan fans.

Northumbria Police said they were pelted with missiles during the trouble in Newcastle.

A force spokeswoman said: "The most serious incident involved a group of Newcastle fans in Central Station attempting to confront Sunderland supporters, but they were intercepted by officers from British Transport Police.

"During this incident missiles were thrown at the officers, which resulted in three injuries to officers - one of them requiring assessment at hospital."

Officers said they received reports of minor incidents, including the release of smoke canisters, before and during the match.

It is believed that Newcastle fans were also involved in a series of sporadic incidents of disorder in the city centre following the match, a force spokeswoman said.

Chief Superintendent Steve Neill, of Northumbria Police, said: "The vast majority of fans were well behaved today and enjoyed the Tyne-Wear derby for the great occasion that it is.

"Disappointingly, there was some disorder involving what appear to be Newcastle United supporters following the match in the city centre, including an incident at Central Station.

"Disruptive behaviour of any kind is not tolerated. Inquiries will take place into these incidents and action will be taken against all those involved."

More follows...

00.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Zoo Fire: Meerkats and Otter Among Victims

At least two meerkats and an otter are among the animals that were killed when fire ripped through an enclosure at a zoo in near Edinburgh.

Nine meerkats are missing, feared dead, after the blaze spread through the reptile house of the Five Sisters Zoo in Polbeath, West Lothian in the early hours.

The male otter was in a neighbouring enclosure and was overcome by the effects of the fire nearby. Fire fighters managed to save a female otter in the same enclosure.

The two meerkats had to be put down because of their injuries.

Fire crews also managed to rescue two dwarf west African crocodiles. No people were injured.

The owners, staff and volunteers at the zoo were said to be distraught.

The olive green steel-clad building was scorched and buckled by the heat

Lesley Coupar, of marketing and visitor services at the zoo, said: "We are devastated. It's the worst nightmare.

"We're in the business of rescuing animals, giving a safe haven to animals.

"Although the animals are wild, we know them intimately and it's just such a tragedy. The owners are distraught, as are the staff and volunteers."

Described as "fierce", the blaze took 11 fire engines and around 50 firefighters several hours to bring it under control.

The alarm was raised at just before 4am by which time the tropical house was described as "well alight".

The blaze appeared to destroy sections 3, 4 and 6 at the zoo

Crews were hampered by high winds and had to use lines of hose to stop the fire spreading to neighbouring buildings.

On Saturday, Ms Coupar had posted a message on the zoo's website saying: "Hey! If you are not busy today, why not come and 'hang' out at the zoo, suns out and so are the animals:)"

The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service said it had been able to rescue some animals during the blaze.

"Firefighters were able to help them rescue two dwarf crocodiles and an otter but sadly some animals have perished in the fierce fire," it said.

"Full details of the animals affected will not be available for some time until it is safe for zoo staff to access affected areas."

Officers described it as a "fierce fire" and a large metal-clad building appeared to have been gutted by the intense heat.

Police said road closures were in place in the immediate vicinity.

The privately-owned zoo was established in 2005 and is some 30 minutes' drive from Edinburgh.

According to the zoo's website, it is "probably one of the few places in the world where you can see at close hand a West African dwarf crocodile".

The non-profit zoo is home to some 130 species of animals, including meerkats, monkeys and assorted reptiles.

The fire service added: "An investigation into the cause of the blaze will now take place."

The attraction is around 30 minutes' drive from Edinburgh

00.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

Brighton Marathon Runner Dies After Collapse

A 23-year-old man has died after becoming ill and collapsing while taking part in the Brighton marathon.

Emergency services were called to Grand Avenue in Hove at around 11.45am after it is believed the London man suffered a cardiac arrest.

Sussex police say he was treated at the scene by medical staff including doctors, paramedics and an off-duty police officer, before being taken by ambulance to hospital.

He underwent surgery but could not be saved and died a short time later

A spokesman for the Royal Sussex County Hospital in Brighton confirmed its staff had treated the man.

The hospital said he died at around 2.30pm.

One runner, who asked not to be named, is reported to have said medical staff were attempting to resuscitate the runner at the side of the course.

She told the Brighton Argus newspaper it was "extremely upsetting".

A spokesman for organisers of the marathon said: "It is with regret that we can confirm that a competitor collapsed and later died competing in the Brighton Marathon this morning.

"Our emergency plans were put in place and he was treated at the scene by senior doctors, nurses and paramedics before being taken by ambulance to hospital.

"Despite receiving immediate attention, the runner was later declared dead at the Royal Sussex County Hospital."

"We at Grounded Events, the organisers of the Brighton Marathon, would like to express our sincere condolences to family and friends of the deceased."

The runner is yet to be named but the deceased's next of kin have been informed.

00.34 | 0 komentar | Read More

LSE: BBC N Korea Report Put Students At Risk

Visiting Secretive North Korea

Updated: 2:46pm UK, Friday 12 April 2013

Despite the current tensions on the Korean Peninsula, tourists have been able to travel to North Korea.

A Sky News employee has just returned from a four-day trip. Journalists are strictly banned from the county without visas, which are rarely issued, so we are not revealing her name, but here is her story:

I flew from Beijing to Pyongyang. On the flight with me were lots of North Koreans with plenty of excess baggage: TVs, vegetables and meat.

Nothing felt abnormal. There was no feeling of tension.

Only when I arrived at the Demilitarised Zone were we prevented access to some of the buildings because of the current situation.

Throughout the four-day trip, which was organised by a Chinese travel company, we were assigned two North Korean minders.

One of them was more senior than the other. She watched us and watched her colleague too.

They did not want the war but were also determined to fight if the country decided to start a war. They emphasised to us that they believed in the country from their hearts.

We were not allowed to move freely. We could only do tourist things according to the guidance of the tour "guards".

We were not allowed to take photographs in the car or anywhere without the minder's permission. We were told not to photograph anything that looked bad or makes North Korea look bad.

"Don't bring bad impressions out of Pyongyang," they said.

People were very friendly. There was little traffic, so people would stare at our bus wherever we drove.

People there are very aware of the potential war.

Every time we arrived at the places of interest, the tour guides would always ask us in Korean (the minders would translate into Chinese) about the latest situation and our opinions about the situation, particularly our opinions about the US, as they all believe the tensions are the fault of America.

When we asked the minders what would happen if the war breaks out tomorrow, they said: "If the war breaks tomorrow, until midnight tonight, we are still building the socialist constructions."

We also asked them whether they know where Kim Jong-Un lives and works, as we explained to them that in Beijing, all the top leaders work and live in a place called Zhongnanhai. They all said they had no idea.

The two minders liked to sing. One of the songs they sang was apparently written by a South Korean musician to express his admiration toward Kim Jong-Il.

On one of the days we went to Myohyang San, a North Korean mountain. The six of us on the tour were locked in the restaurant because the North Koreans were so afraid that we would wander around.

There is a museum near the mountain, where gifts from foreign countries are displayed. A lot of them came from Japan.

We asked them how could they receive so many gifts from Japan given that North Korea considers the Japanese as enemies. They told us that the Japanese really admire the leaders, so they gave us many gifts.

We stayed in the Yanggakdo International Hotel, where we could watch international TV channels including the BBC, NHK, (Japanese TV), Phoenix (Hong Kong TV) and CCTV (Chinese TV).

The minders live on a specific floor where they only have three North Korean channels to watch. They never ate with us and when we asked what they had eaten, they always refused to tell us.

We were not allowed to use the local currency, and they never showed us their money. We could use Chinese RMB, US dollars or euros.

There were not many opportunities to see any ordinary North Korean people apart from the shopkeepers, tour guides or waitresses in the hotel.

There is a casino on the underground floor of the Yanggakdo International Hotel, where most of the staff members come from Liaoning Province over the northern border in China, and North Koreans are not allowed to enter.

The casino is managed by people from Macau. The staff there told us it was empty because the tensions mean far fewer people are travelling to North Korea.

Staff at the casino are all Chinese. When we asked to go to the casino, one of the minders said to us: "You must be non-communists, because communist members don't go to casinos."

Wherever we go to visit, they always asked us if we think their places or things are pretty. They only wanted to show us the good side of the country.

As soon as we travelled outside the capital city, it felt very like the real North Korea: rural, no tall buildings, only farmland.

We never felt the tension of war on our trip. On the streets, on our tour, in the hotel and even at a school we visited, the students were studying as normal.

The people we spoke to asked us if it was true that living in Beijing is hard. They think living in North Korea is the happiest thing in the world.

It feels as though those North Koreans who have travelled outside the country have never mentioned what the outside world really looks like.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More

Thatcher Funeral 'Not Over The Top' Says Maude

The Government has defended the lavish plans for Baroness Thatcher's funeral after a poll showed major opposition to using taxpayers' money to pay for it.

A ComRes survey found that only 25% of people think the event should be funded form the public purse and that 60% are against the idea.

But Tory Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, who is one of the organisers of Wednesday's ceremonial service, insisted it had to be a "fitting event for a very great lady".

He told Sky News that the ceremony would be a "fitting send-off" and argued that the involvement of the armed forces was "not over the top in any way".

Speaking on the Murnaghan show, he said: "Of course, with any funeral of any former prime minister the state inevitably plays a big role.

Lady Thatcher at a Royal Hospital Chelsea event in 2008

"Normally there would be a funeral followed by a memorial service. She was very adamant that she didn't want that, she wanted a single service. So this needs to be a fitting event for a very great lady."

Amid fears protests could mar the funeral next week, Mr Maude also urged critics of Lady Thatcher to be respectful.

"It is a free country. People must be free to express their views," he said, but added: "I would simply ask that they respect the wishes of the mourners for this event to take place in a dignified way."

Lady Thatcher said she did not want a state funeral, but she has been given the next highest honour: a ceremonial funeral with full military honours tailored to her.

With all the the pageantry of a state funeral, it is set to be the largest in Britain since the Queen Mother's, bringing to the fore the issue of who will pay.

The former prime minister's estate will contribute with the taxpayer picking up the rest of the tab.

Downing Street has refused to give details about the cost until after the ceremony but it is expected to run into several million.

Labour's former deputy prime minister John Prescott angrily denounced the cost in his column for the Sunday Mirror.

David Cameron will do a Bible reading at the funeral

"Thatcher split this country, North and South, the haves and have nots, 'one of us' or 'the enemy within'. This country paid enough thanks to that woman. So why the hell should we continue to pay now she's dead?," he wrote.

"Privatise her funeral. It would be a fitting tribute," he added.

David Cameron and William Hague both already defended using taxpayers' money last week, insisting it would be wrong not to mark Lady Thatcher's huge contribution to the nation.

The Foreign Secretary said: "The rebate she negotiated for this country from the EU has brought us so far £75 billion - which is twice the size of our annual defence budget.

"I think that puts money in perspective ... so I think we can afford to contribute to a funeral."

The poll for the Independent on Sunday and Sunday Mirror came as the Government released the Order of Service for the funeral at St Paul's Cathedral on Wednesday.

Lady Thatcher's coffin will be carried through the streets of London on a gun carriage, allowing the public to pay their respects as the funeral cortege passes by. 

It is the same honour bestowed on Diana, Princess of Wales, the Queen Mother and Winston Churchill.

Then there will be a single bell will toll as the funeral cortege draws up to St Paul's, and 14 Chelsea pensioners will line the steps as the coffin is taken into the cathedral.

The presence of the pensioners - the oldest aged 90 - is aimed at reflecting the strong connection Lady Thatcher built up with the Royal Hospital Chelsea over the last 10 years.

In front of the coffin, Michael and Amanda Thatcher, grandchildren of the former prime minister, will carry cushions bearing the insignia of the Order of the Garter and the Order of Merit and lay them on the Dome Altar.

The service, attended by the Queen, will be "framed" by British music, with traditional pieces by great British composers played at the beginning and at the end.

Lady Thatcher's love of poetry will be reflected in her choice of TS Eliot's Little Gidding, which will be printed on the opening page of the Order of Service and William Wordsworth's Ode: Intimations of Immortality on the final page.

Prime Minister David Cameron and Amanda Thatcher will deliver the readings from the King James Bible - of which she was particularly fond.

It was confirmed that the hymns will be He Who Would Valiant Be, Love Divine, All Loves Excelling, Psalm 84 set to the music of Johannes Brahms, and the patriotic verse I Vow To Thee My Country.

The funeral address will be delivered by the Bishop of London, the Rt Rev Richard Chartres.

The military procession leading to the service will feature more than 700 serving Armed Forces personnel from units particularly associated with the Falklands War, including some from the Welsh Guards, the regiment that suffered some of the heaviest losses.

Plans are also developing for Lady Thatcher's legacy to be enshrined in the creation of a major new institution to promote her political philosophy and shape future Tory politics.

Supporters of the former leader are working on a Margaret Thatcher library for London as a lasting memorial.

Backers also aim to raise £15m in private funds to establish the combined library, museum and training centre.

It is planned that visitors will be able to view key artefacts from her time in office, such as her trademark blue Aquascutum suits and handbags.

:: ComRes interviewed 2,012 Great Britain adults online on April 10 and 11.

22.11 | 0 komentar | Read More