Essex Child Shooting: Eight-Year-Old Fired Gun

An eight-year-old boy fired a gunshot that left a five-year-old with serious injuries, police have revealed.

Officers were called to a house in Essex after reports that a gun had been fired. They believe the shooting was an accident.

A spokeswoman said: "It is thought to have been fired by an eight-year-old boy."

The force has refused to comment on the type of weapon used in the incident on Sunday or the relationship between the two children.

The injured child was taken to the Royal London Hospital with a serious but not life-threatening injury.

It is understood the owners of the property in in Upper Park Road, Wickford, were not at home at the time but were nearby.

An 18-year-old man was arrested for possession of a firearm and unrelated drug offences.

The weapon and other legally-held firearms at the property were handed over to police officers.

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Care Workers 'Abused Dementia Patients'

By Becky Johnson, Preston Crown Court

Three women have gone on trial charged with the abuse of vulnerable adults at a care home in Lancashire.

The trio, all care workers, are accused of mistreatment and abuse of people in their care at the Hillcroft Care Home, in Slyne-with-Hest, Lancaster, between May 2010 and February 2012.

Katie Cairns, 27, from Morecambe, Carol Moore, 54, from Lancaster and Gemma Pearson, 28, from Carnforth, all deny the charges against them.

A fourth care worker, Darren Smith, 35, has pleaded guilty to ill-treating eight of the residents who were in his care.

Opening the case against the three defendants, prosecuting barrister Kathryn Johnson told the court that the three women and Smith mocked and bullied their victims, who all suffered from dementia.

The jury at a Preston Crown Court was told that on occasions the four care workers deliberately assaulted the vulnerable adults in their care.

Other staff who witnessed their behaviour towards the residents described it as "cruel".

A cleaner, one of the staff members who reported the alleged offences, said Pearson tipped an elderly man out of his chair when he failed to stand up.

The same employee said Moore slapped the elderly man across his face after his wife complained about the lack of activities for residents.

Cairns was seen deliberately stamping on the foot of a resident, the court heard.

The jury was told that another staff member witnessed Smith in bed with an elderly male resident, who was said to be shouting and distressed. The witness reported the incident but was allegedly later called a "grass" by Smith.

The court was told many other staff in the home saw the defendants deliberately throwing bean bags and balls at residents "for entertainment as they were bored".

Ms Johnson told jurors: "These items should have been used as part of recreational therapy, however they were thrown hard and fast at residents so they were unable to catch them.

"This caused frustration and anger in the residents, whereas the defendants would laugh".

Concerns were first raised by other staff in 2011. Subsequently, anonymous emails were received by the Care Quality Commission alleging patients at the home were being mistreated. The matter was ultimately referred to the police in May 2012.

The trial, which is expected to last four weeks, continues.

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Terror Suspect's Height 'Made Disguise Easier'

By Tom Parmenter, Sky News Correspondent

A friend of terror suspect Mohammed Ahmed Mohamed has told Sky News his small stature may have helped him disguise himself as a woman.

The 27-year-old, who is understood to have connections with the al Shabaab terror group, escaped police surveillance on Friday by changing into a burka at a mosque in west London.

He was being watched under a Terrorism Prevention and Investigation Measure to "prevent his travel to support terrorism overseas", the Home Secretary said.

Mohamed's friend, a 26-year-old Somali shopkeeper in Acton, revealed the man being hunted by police is known as "Little Mo".

The suspect changed from fun loving to quiet after a trip to Somalia

He did not want to be identified, but said: "He's only around 5ft 7in or 5ft 8in so perhaps that was why he got past the cops dressed as he was - he probably wouldn't stand out as a man in hiding.

"I saw him last on Wednesday before he disappeared on the Friday - he seemed fine.

"I never suspected anything like this that the police were watching him.

"It is unbelievable to think it is him."

The friend said they used to play football together in Acton Park and used to enjoy nights out going clubbing in central London.

He added: "He didn't smoke, didn't drink and was quiet but could also be very funny - he liked a joke and could be a comedian."

But after returning to west London from Somalia, Mohammed became much quieter and withdrawn.

He said: "When he came back it is like a person you didn't know, he was not talking to people he used to know before."

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David Beckham Helps Launch Sky Academy

David Beckham has helped unveil the Sky Academy, which aims to create opportunities for one million young people by 2020.

The academy will work to support up-and-coming talent and inspire under-25s across Britain and Ireland through a range of initiatives, such as providing role models from television, sport and the arts.

Beckham, as Sky Academy ambassador, is heading up a team of top athletes, including Jessica Ennis-Hill, Darren Campbell and dancer Ashley Banjo, for the project.

"Mentors and role models have always been important to me," said Beckham.

Ennis-Hill is a Sky Sports Living For Sport ambassador

"When I was young, they helped me to believe in myself and gave me the confidence to follow my dreams. That's what Sky Academy will do and I'm excited to be a part of it."

The football star joined chief executive Jeremy Darroch for the unveiling at the Sky Studios in West London, where the academy will be based.

Mr Darroch said: "Building skills and nurturing talent are vital not just for business success, but for society as a whole.

"A generation has been born since Sky's launch and, as we look ahead to our 25th anniversary next year, we want to use our position as a successful company to support young people across Britain and Ireland.

"Sky Academy will create exciting opportunities to inspire young people and help them build skills and experience.

"We'll use our strengths as a leading media and technology company and work with inspirational role models to get people involved and make a lasting impact."

The academy includes a skills studio, where young people will learn to use state-of-the-art technology by going behind the scenes at Sky.

It will also incorporate Sky Sports Living for Sport, a schools-based initiative that for 10 years has been using sports stars and skills teaching to help motivate young people and increase their confidence.

The academy will also offer a range of scholarships for emerging talents in the sporting and creative fields.

:: For more information, go to www.sky.com/academy

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Hacking Trial: 'Pals Gave NOTW Milly's Number'

A News Of The World executive told police the tabloid got Milly Dowler's phone number from her friends and then listened to her voicemail, a jury has heard.

Prosecutors said a story in the paper on April 14, 2002, about the missing 13-year-old, who was later found murdered, was changed between the first and second editions to remove references to a message on her voicemail.

Then-editor Rebekah Brooks was on holiday in Dubai, but was in contact with her deputy Andy Coulson between the editions, the Old Bailey was told.

The jury heard that Brooks called the paper no more than she usually would when she was away.

Former NOTW managing editor Stuart Kuttner called Surrey Police on the afternoon of April 13, 2002, to inform them of a message left by a recruitment agency on the schoolgirl's phone, the court heard.

Kuttner, who was not in court due to ill health, told officers the newspaper gained access Milly's mobile phone number and pin, and urged them to check the lead, the court heard.

Brooks arrives at the Old Bailey

Police told Kuttner the message was thought to have been left by a "professional hoaxer", a claim which was repeated on page nine of the newspaper the following day, the jury heard.

Later that Saturday, chief reporter Neville Thurlbeck also called police and confirmed that the newspaper "had access" to Milly's voicemail, had obtained the number from "sources" and that it intended to run the story the following day, the court was told.

In the newspaper's first edition, the story quoted the voicemail message left by Mondays recruitment service, which said: "We're ringing because we've got some interviews starting, can you call me back? Thank you, bye bye."

By the second edition the text of the message had been edited out, while the third edition focused on "outrage" at the possibility that it had been a hoax, the court heard.

Surrey Police had earlier obtained an order which allowed them to access a voicemail message left on Milly's phone on April 13.

Prosecutor Mark Bryant Heron told the jury that someone could be heard saying: "Hello Milly, it's just we want you home soon, bye," followed by noise in the background.

Brooks, Coulson and Kuttner all deny conspiring with others to hack phones between October 3, 2000, and August 9, 2006.

Thurlbeck has already admitted phone hacking.

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G4S Investigated Over Tagging Scandal By SFO

A criminal investigation has been launched into a contract between security firm G4S and the Government for tagging criminals.

The Serious Fraud Office (SFO) opened an inquiry after it emerged G4S - along with rival Serco - had charged the Ministry of Justice for monitoring offenders who were either dead, back in prison, had their tags removed, had never been tagged or had left the country.

In July, the Government reported G4S - infamous for the botched handling of its Olympics security contract - when the FTSE 100 company refused to take part in an additional audit to rule out any dishonesty.

A spokesman for the company said: "G4S confirms it has today received notice that the director of the Serious Fraud Office has opened an investigation into the 'contract for the provision of electronic monitoring services which commenced in April 2005 as amended and extended until the present day.'

"G4S has confirmed to the SFO that it will co-operate fully with the investigation."

In August G4S withdrew from the bidding process for new contracts for tagging criminals after the overcharging scandal erupted. It had initially refused to do so.

The company's chief executive Nick Buckles resigned in June over a series of earlier controversies, including the failure to fulfil its contractual obligations to provide security staff for the 2012 Games.

Military personnel were drafted in to make up the numbers at the Olympic sites.

Under Mr Buckles' leadership G4S's share price had soared as the firm - the biggest of its kind in the world - expanded into some 125 countries.

After news emerged of the SFO tagging investigation shares in G4S dropped 1.75% to 250p, before easing in afternoon trading to 0.65% down.

Serco chief executive Chris Hyman resigned late last month in a last-ditch bid to restore its reputation amid a wider restructuring - splitting the British central Government work into a separate unit - to help improve transparency.

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Ding Murders: Anxiang Du Pleads Not Guilty

A Chinese businessman has pleaded not guilty to killing a family of four.

Anxiang Du denied four murder charges over the deaths of university lecturer Jifeng "Jeff" Ding, his wife, Ge "Helen" Chui, and their two daughters, Alice, 12, and Xing, 18, on April 29, 2011.

Du, 55, of Coventry, was formally arrested in February after being extradited from Morocco.

He appeared in Northampton Crown Court dressed in a black suit and light coloured shirt and spoke through a translator.

Jifeng Ding with his wife Helen and daughters Xing and Alice

Du's extradition was approved by the Home Office and the Moroccan Ministry of Justice.

He was arrested upon arrival at Heathrow Airport.

A plea hearing scheduled for May was postponed when Du's interpreter failed to turn up.

Mr Justice Julian Flaux called the no-show a "complete disgrace" at the time.

Du was remanded in custody ahead of his trial, which is to start on November 12.

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Gosport Car Victim's Mother 'Kissed Her Goodbye'

The mother of one of two girls killed when she was struck by a car outside her home in Gosport kissed her daughter goodbye as she lay in the road.

Jasmine Allsop, 14, and Olivia Lewry, 16, were killed early on Sunday morning after being run down by a green Honda Civic on Ann's Hill Road. 

Jasmine died at the scene, while Olivia passed away in hospital, Hampshire Police said.

"It was just all a blur," Rosemary Allsop said at her home from where the collision, which is being investigated as a murder, happened.

She says Olivia was round at the house for a "girls' night in". Ms Allsop says she went to bed and assumed Jasmine and Olivia were listening to music and talking about boys. 

"I went out and then a neighbour covered me in a blanket. I kissed her - it was four hours before they took her body away because I did not want to let her go.

"I told her she was my angel and I'd loved her since the day she was born. I can remember her big blue eyes staring."

Police at the scene of the car collision

Jasmine's father Kevin MacLaughlan, 58, a road worker from Thorne in South Yorkshire, remembers her as "the most beautiful, bubbly natured girl". 

He had not seen Jasmine for two and a half months but says he drove straight down to Yorkshire upon hearing the news.

Mr MacLaughlan says his thoughts are with Olivia's family as well.

"We are sharing the same feelings and we'd like to meet up with them," he says. 

A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder.

Brune Park Community School, which Olivia recently left to attend St Vincent College and where Jasmine was still a pupil, said the best friends "lived life to the full".

"Our thoughts and prayers are with their families at this dreadful time," it said in a statement.

Mourners at the scene of the collision

"They were both independent, strong-minded individuals who lived their lives to the full with confidence and a sense of humour and a sense of fun.

"We will miss them both immensely and their unique talents which they displayed."

Senior investigating officer Detective Superintendent Dick Pearson of the Hampshire Major Investigation Team renewed his appeal for witnesses to come forward.

"A dedicated team of officers and staff from a range of departments are working closely together to analyse leads from witnesses and forensics," he said.

"The green Honda Civic is the subject of further examinations to ensure all potential evidence has been gathered and preserved.

"A key line of enquiry is identifying as many witnesses as possible with information about the behaviour of the driver in the green Honda Civic around the Gosport area during the early hours of Sunday morning."

The suspect was originally taken into custody on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving but the offence was later changed to suspected murder, police said.

D/Supt Pearson also urged people to avoid posting rumours or details about the case online.

"This plea particularly applies to names and possible motives of people perceived to be involved in the circumstances surrounding this case," he said.

"Such speculation is upsetting and disrespectful to the victims' families, and can also have unintended effects on important lines of enquiry and evidence ahead of any future court case."

Anyone with any information is asked to contact the Major Investigation Team at Fratton Police Station on 101, quoting Operation Barb.

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Essex Shooting: Boy, 5, Seriously Injured

A five-year-old boy has been seriously injured after a gun was apparently fired by mistake at his home in Essex.

Police were called to the property in Upper Park Road, Wickford, following reports of an incident at 1.20pm on Sunday.

The child was taken to the Royal London Hospital with a serious but not life-threatening injury.

An Essex Police spokeswoman said: "Police are speaking to members of the family to determine the exact circumstances leading up to the incident .

"But (we) believe that this was an accidental discharge of the weapon and inquiries are ongoing."

An 18-year-old man was arrested for possession of a firearm and drug offences and has been released on bail.

The weapon and other legally held firearms were handed over to officers.

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Meredith Kercher Murder Accused Visits Grave

By Nick Pisa, Sky News Reporter

Raffaele Sollecito has paid a secret visit to the grave of murdered student Meredith Kercher, it has emerged.

The 29-year-old computer studies graduate is currently back on trial accused of the brutal knife killing along with his former girlfriend Amanda Knox, 26.

The news that he went to Miss Kercher's grave will come as a shock to her family, who have asked several times that Knox stay away from the final resting place - despite her making several pleas to visit.

Details of Sollecito's secret trip to the grave emerged during an Italian TV programme to mark six years since the murder in Perugia and came just days before he is due to attend the retrial ordered by Italy's Supreme Court.

According to the programme, Sollecito was taken to the cemetery at Coulsdon, Surrey, by an English friend of his while visiting London in March - at the same time as the retrial was announced.

Raffaele Sollecito is now living in the Caribbean

He did not ask for permission from Miss Kercher's relatives and, according to the Quarto Grado show, he is said to have ''said a silent prayer'' for the British student but he did not leave any flowers.

The Kercher family have never accepted Sollecito and Knox's insistence they had nothing to do with the murder.

Miss Kercher, 20 was found semi-naked with her throat cut in her bedroom in the house she shared with Knox and two Italian women.

In September, Knox stunned the Kercher family with a bizarre request, saying she hoped one day she could visit the final resting place of her friend.

However, in a statement Miss Kercher's sister Stephanie made it clear the family will not concede to her wish.

Amanda Knox is now back in America

Knox and her then-boyfriend Sollecito were arrested and charged five days after the murder and at their initial trial in 2009 were convicted and sentenced to 26 and 25 years respectively.

But two years later an appeal court overturned the original verdict and they were immediately freed with Knox flying back to her home in Seattle where she was given a rapturous welcome.

Sollecito returned to his home in Bisceglie near Bari.

However, it has since emerged that he has moved to the Dominican Republic in the Caribbean.

But his father has insisted he will return later this week to appear at the trial in Florence where he is expected to make a formal statement to the court.

Rudy Guede is serving 18 years for Miss Kercher's murder

Last week a fresh forensic report ordered by the court was leaked and it revealed that although Knox's DNA was on a knife believed to be the murder weapon crucially there was no trace of Miss Kercher or Sollecito on it.

Sollecito's father added he had ''no details'' of his son's visit to the grave but said his son has always felt huge sympathy for the Kercher family for their loss.

Drifter Rudy Guede, 26, was convicted of murdering and sexually assaulting Miss Kercher in 2008 and sentenced to 30 years, but this was later reduced to 16 years and he could be released on parole by 2018.

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