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.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Measles Epidemic: Man Dies In Swansea

Health officials have confirmed a 25-year-old man from Swansea had measles when he died and warned the public to expect more deaths as the epidemic worsens.

The body of Gareth Williams, 25, was discovered by a relative on Thursday morning at his home in the Port Tennant area of the city.

Dr Marion Lyons, Director of Health Protection, said in a statement: "Tests have today confirmed a diagnosis of measles in a 25-year-old male from Swansea who died on Thursday, 18 April.

"The tests confirm only that the deceased had measles at the time of his death.  Further investigations are being undertaken by the Swansea Coroner to establish the cause of death... we should not be surprised if, as the outbreak grows, we start to see deaths in Wales.

Parents queue outside a vaccination clinic a few weeks ago

"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. 

"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."

Dr Lyons asked people to remain vigilant for measles symptoms.

She said: "Symptoms of measles include fever, cold-like symptoms, fatigue, conjunctivitis and a distinctive red-brown rash that appears a few days into the illness. 

"Anyone who thinks they or their child may have measles should speak to their GP immediately."

20.14 | 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.

20.14 | 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."

20.14 | 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."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Newcastle-Sunderland Derby Violence Pic Appeal

Police have released CCTV images of 20 men they want to speak to after violence broke out following the Tyne-Wear derby.

The images were taken in Newcastle's Westgate Road

Three officers were hurt and 29 people were arrested during disturbances on Sunday, which saw missiles hurled and rubbish bins set alight.

It came after Newcastle had lost 0-3 to rivals Sunderland in their Premier League game at St James' Park.

A total of 29 arrests were made on the day

A man was also seen punching a horse before he was hauled to the ground by officers.

Newcastle Area Commander Chief Superintendent Gary Calvert said: "Firstly I'd like to thank the public for their help in providing information to us about those involved in the disturbances on Sunday.

The investigation was described as "fast-moving"

"The vast majority of law abiding residents are clearly as disgusted as we are by some of the scenes which took place.

"This is a fast-moving inquiry and we're doing everything we possibly can to trace those suspected of being involved in any disorder after the derby, and this includes seeking the public's help to identify people from the CCTV footage.

"I'd urge people to take a good look at the images and if they recognise anyone contact us at the earliest opportunity.

Northumbria Police said the behaviour witnessed was "disgraceful"

"There's no place for disorder of any kind and this sort of disgraceful behaviour will not be tolerated."

Northumbria Police added that those involved were damaging the reputation of true football fans and the people of Newcastle.

Since the game, T-shirts have gone on sale in Sunderland saying "you'll never see a mackem (person from Sunderland) punch a horse".

Anyone who recognises the people in the images is asked to contact Northumbria Police, anonymously if necessary, on 101 ext 69191.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Rolf Harris Questioned By Savile Police

Police have confirmed television star Rolf Harris was arrested in March 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 28 March.

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.

20.14 | 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."

20.14 | 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."

20.14 | 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?

20.14 | 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.

20.14 | 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.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Elveden: Ex-Sun Editor To Be Charged

Sun executive editor Fergus Shanahan is to be charged with authorising payments to a public official, prosecutors have said.

The Crown Prosecution Service announced that Mr Shanahan is accused of conspiring with a public official and another journalist to commit misconduct in a public office between August  2006 and August 2007.

Alison Levitt, QC, Principal Legal Advisor to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), said in a statement: "Following a careful review of the evidence, we have concluded that Fergus Shanahan, who served as an Editor at the Sun newspaper, should be charged with an offence of conspiring to commit misconduct in public office.

"It is alleged that in August 2006 and August 2007 Mr Shanahan, in his role as an editor, authorised one of his journalists to make two payments totalling £7,000 to a public official for the disclosure of information."

He faces the charges under the Operation Elveden, the Metropolitan Police Service's probe into payments to officials.

More follows...

20.14 | 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."

20.14 | 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.

20.14 | 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".

Fiona Anderson had suffered from mental illness

Fiona Anderson, 23, has 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, Suffolk police said.

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.

20.14 | 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."

20.14 | 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.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Npower: Energy Firm Denies Tax Avoidance

Npower has admitted it has not paid corporation tax in the UK for three years - just months after increasing prices by around 9%.

The company made the admission to the Energy and Climate Change select committee - but its boss said they had invested billions in new power stations and wind technology.

Chief Executive Paul Massara said: "Effectively we have invested £5bn in the last five years building power plants, creating jobs, creating employment and helping to keep the lights on.

"If we had not made that investment we would not have the deductibility that we would be allowed. That is a simple accounting UK rule."

Npower reported a 34% rise in profits to £413m last year.

The admission came as the "big six" energy companies were questioned by MPs over issues including profits and how they treat their customers.

A company statement added: "Looking at RWE npower specifically, our investment programme since 2008 has amounted to almost £3bn, which means we have seen a large increase in tax relief.

"This is in no way tax avoidance, and all of our business is taxable in the UK. We've not paid corporation tax because we've been investing hundreds of millions to keep the UK's lights on."

Prime Minister David Cameron's official spokesman said: "I wouldn't comment on an individual taxpayer.

"More broadly, the Prime Minister's view is that it is important that companies pay the tax that is due."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Thatcher Funeral: Pockets Of Protests

There have been some protests - though smaller than expected - at the funeral of Baroness Thatcher.

Rows broke out between supporters of Lady Thatcher and demonstrators outside the Royal Courts of Justice in the Strand.

A pensioner, dressed in a suit and black tie, called Phil Williams, was holding a banner saying "Rest in Shame", a "piece of s***", to loud cheers.

"Sorry, but it needs saying, they're burying an old woman," he said.

Protester Charmain Kenner, 58, had her back turned as Lady Thatcher's coffin went past Trafalgar Square in the hearse.

She said: "Thatcher's policies were all about individualistic materialism. She created a much greater divide between rich and poor, she ruined manycommunities and many industries.

A protest outside the Royal Courts of Justice

"Basically, she ruined this country and, to add insult to injury, we're expected to pay for her funeral."

A former power station worker staged a "one-man protest" outside the Royal Courts of Justice in The Strand.

Phil Williams, 58, of Shotton, Flintshire, held a banner saying "Rest in Shame".

Some demonstrators wore Lady Thatcher masks

"No one's ever heard of Shotton apart from the fact that they lost 8,000 jobs when the steelworks closed in the early Eighties," he said.

"Look at what she did to the North, steel works, mining, the poll tax. She trialled all these things in the North and made criminals out of a million people. I have no regard for the woman."

A protester who gave her name only as Helen stood outside St Paul's during the funeral service, wearing a mask of Lady Thatcher's face.

"It would be lovely if other pensioners could spend their last days in luxury at the Ritz," she said.

A protest referring to Lady Thatcher's famous phrase

"I don't really care about Thatcher's death. She obviously didn't really care about the poor or elderly, or those with dementia when she was prime minister.

"I think it's really scandalous that we've spent all this money and time on her funeral. It just adds insult to injury."

In Durham, dozens of ex-miners arrived at a club in Easington Colliery, with many of them saying they were there to celebrate Baroness Thatcher's death.

Hundreds are expected to attend the event, which will also commemorate the end of mining in the town.

Dave Douglass, who worked at Doncaster coalfield for 35 years, said he was there to mourn her birth.

A quiet but clearly thought out statement of protest

"She wanted to smash the union and sell off whatever was profitable," he said.

"I'm here to mourn her birth as she represents the system that we are all still suffering under.

"I'm also here to commemorate the loss of this pit and every pit in Great Britain.

"If people say it's in bad taste to do this, I would say it was in bad taste when miners were killed on the picket lines.

Protesters in London during the funeral

"I have been watching so much psychotic drivel on the news this morning talking about the names of each horse in the funeral. It's the kind of stage-managed stuff we see in North Korea."

In Liverpool, the city council made the decision not to show the funeral on the big screen in the town centre in Clayton Square.

A spokesman for Liverpool City Council said: "We considered the potential issues and the decision was made not to screen the funeral."

Grimethorpe Colliery has not forgotten its anger

Lady Thatcher was seen as a particularly divisive politician by many in Merseyside due to her attack on the unions which affected thousands of dockers and her perceived lack of interest in the city's problems in the wake of the 1981 Toxteth riots.

At Cumnock in East Ayrshire, the Glenmuir Arms hosted a "funeral party".

Landlord Jim McMahon, a former miner,  decked out his pub in Union Flag bunting for a celebration of Lady Thatcher's death in an area where the mining industry was decimated during the years of her reign.

Pub televisions were switched off as a protest against the money spent on the funeral. Speakers, including former MSP Tommy Sheridan, gave speeches from a stage above a pair of papier-mâché legs protruding from a sealed box, alongside a witch's broom.

20.14 | 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."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Terror Suspect Haroon Aswat - No Extradition

European judges have blocked the extradition of terror suspect Haroon Aswat, ruling that sending him to the US would breach his human rights.

The European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) decided that Broadmoor patient Aswat's probable incarceration in a high security prison could "exacerbate his condition of paranoid schizophrenia".

The terror suspect and suspected ally of Abu Hamza is wanted by US prosecutors for allegedly plotting with Hamza to set up a terror training camp in Bly, Oregon.

Aswat is a suspected ally of Abu Hamza

Hamza and four other terror suspects were extradited last year after the court rejected their appeal against the move - but Aswat's case was adjourned to allow judges more time to consider his mental health.

Aswat, who was born in 1974 and is being treated for schizophrenia, claimed that he would be at risk of ill-treatment inside the so-called supermax prison ADX Florence, in Colorado, if he was sent to America.

The Strasbourg court's decision came after it adjourned the case last April to obtain further submissions on the relevance of Aswat's schizophrenia to his claim.

Last year, the court ruled that five men, including Hamza, would not face ill-treatment if they were extradited to the US.

Hamza, Babar Ahmad, Seyla Talha Ahsan, Adel Abdul Bary and Khaled Al-Fawwaz were all removed from the country.

Hamza, who was serving a seven-year sentence in Britain for soliciting to murder and inciting racial hatred when he was extradited, has denied 11 counts of criminal conduct related to the taking of 16 hostages in Yemen in 1998 and advocating violent jihad in Afghanistan in 2001.

He is also accused of conspiring to establish the Oregon-based jihad training camp between June 2000 and December 2001. Aswat was charged with being Hamza's "co-conspirator".

:: Meanwhile, three members of an al Qaeda-inspired group that plotted to bomb the London Stock Exchange and build a terrorist training camp have had their  indeterminate sentences quashed at the Court of Appeal.

Instead, the three judges imposed "determinate" custodial sentences of 17 years and eight months in the case of one of the men and 16 years in relation to the two others.

The Islamist extremists originally received the indeterminate sentences for public protection at London's Woolwich Crown Court in February last year.

Mohammed Shahjahan, now 29, was then ordered to serve a minimum term of eight years and 10 months, while fellow Stoke-on-Trent-based radicals Usman Khan, 22, and Nazam Hussain, 27, were ordered to serve at least eight years behind bars.

20.14 | 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."

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cable Climbdown After One Direction Blast

Business Secretary Vince Cable has been forced to backtrack after suggesting that the high pay of pop bands like One Direction is "downright insensitive and grossly immoral".

At an Institute of Directors event in central London, the Cabinet minister was questioned about the earnings of the boy band.

One Direction - made up of singers Zayn Malik, Niall Horan, Harry Styles, Louis Tomlinson and Liam Payne - made a total of £25m last year, according to the Sunday Times Rich List.

Mr Cable was asked if he agreed it was "mad" that the band had made £5m each over the past year.

He replied: "I agree ... about the extremities of pay and the fact much of it is downright insensitive and in some cases grossly immoral."

Vince Cable suggested the singers' earnings were "mad"

However, aides stressed that the Liberal Democrat had misheard the question and was referring to the pay of chief executives, rather than the teen pop group.

He told Sky News: "I don't want to attack One Direction; this is one particular group who are apparently very popular and very successful so I have nothing against them.

"But there is a general issue of chief execs in particular who are paid well beyond what can be justified in terms of the performance of their companies and that's something the Government is now trying to address."

Fans of the group immediately took to Twitter to criticise the politician.

One said: "I like Vince Cable a lot less after turning on One Direction." Another said: "And to THINK I voted for him."

Mr Cable was unveiling a 12p rise in the minimum wage when he made the remarks.

The rate for 18 to 20-year-olds will rise by 5p to £5.03, and by 4p to £3.72 for 16 and 17-year-olds, from October.

Ministers rejected a recommendation from the Low Pay Commission that the rate for apprentices should be frozen, and announced a 3p an hour increase to £2.68 an hour.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Catherine Wells-Burr: Police Trio On Trial

A cheating Polish factory worker hatched a plot to kill his British girlfriend with his jealous secret lover and her uncle, a court has heard.

Rafal Nowak is accused of killing Catherine Wells-Burr, 23, as she slept at the couple's new home in Chard, Somerset, last September.

His former partner Anna Lagwinowicz and her uncle Tadevsz Dmytryszyn allegedly dumped the business analyst's body at a roadside and set fire to it.

Bristol Crown Court was told that the trio created a fake trail of text messages with a "mystery man" to imply that Miss Wells-Burr was having an affair with an unidentified man who had killed her.

But the trial was told police quickly identified clues pointing to Nowak, the "bitter" and "jealous" Lagwinowicz and her doting uncle.

Catherine Wells-Burr met her boyfriend at work

Opening the trial, prosecutor Richard Smith QC said Miss Wells-Burr had met Nowak at Numatic International, the company known for Henry vacuum cleaners which is based in Chard.

The court was told that Nowak - who had already left a wife and child in Poland after moving to the UK in 2008 - broke off his relationship with Lagwinowicz and got together with the recent graduate.

"Catherine Wells-Burr had a caring and close family, who loved and supported her. She thought that, in the defendant Nowak, she had a caring partner to share the new house with, to share potentially that bright future with. How very sadly wrong she was," Mr Smith said.

He told the jury that the trio had embarked on a course of "heartless, careful planning", before killing Miss Wells-Burr in the early hours of September 12.

By this time, Nowak had rekindled his relationship with Lagwinowicz and was seeing her "behind Catherine's back", the court heard.

"They planned the murder together with the input and help of Lagwinowicz's uncle. By killing Catherine in those early hours, they knew they would secure a life insurance policy as a result, the home for Nowak - Catherine would be removed from their lives," Mr Smith said.

He described how Lagwinowicz was "bitterly spiteful" when she and Nowak split up. "She never got over it," he said. "She never got over the loss of her Polish boyfriend to his English girlfriend. She wanted him back.

"It seems she embarked on a path of jealousy, vindictiveness. She tried to unsettle the relationship with the new English girlfriend. Texts were sent, things were said - all designed, it seemed, to drive a wedge between Nowak and Catherine.

"It is that simmering discontent, a fatal attraction, that never disappeared. It is a theme of this case."

The QC said Miss Wells-Burr was killed by Nowak in her bed, possibly by suffocation, so as to leave no trace.

"Catherine's body was then taken to a roadside location in Chard by Lagwinowicz and Dmytryszyn," he said. "There, at the roadside, Catherine's body was burned in her own car using petrol to ignite the flames.

"The car was deemed to be set alight at 6am on that Wednesday, by which time those three knew that Nowak would have time to leave the house, clock in at the local factory where he worked, and as the flames engulfed the car, he would be able to say 'Not me, I'm here at work'."

Polish nationals Nowak, from Chard, Lagwinowicz, from Taunton, and Dmytryszyn, also from Taunton, all deny murder.

The trial continues ...
 

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Ex-Corrie Actor Denies Child Sex Offences

Former Coronation Street actor Andrew Lancel has denied sexually assaulting a teenage boy.

The 42-year-old, who played Frank Foster in the ITV soap, was charged last November under his real name, Andrew Watkinson.

He appeared at Liverpool Crown Court where he pleaded not guilty to six counts of indecent assault of a child under the age of 15.

The charges relate to one alleged victim and the offending is said to have taken place between 1993 and 1994, the court heard.

Lancel's Coronation Street career began in November 2010 when he was cast as Foster, a business associate of Carla Connor.

His role ended in March 2012 when his character was found murdered.

Lancel, from Gateacre in Liverpool, also played DI Neil Manson in The Bill and starred alongside Helen Baxendale in Cardiac Arrest.

He was granted bail until the start of his five-day trial on June 3.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Gunmen Rob Britons On Caribbean Cruise

Some 55 passengers - including ten Britons - from a cruise ship have been robbed by "three" masked gunmen on a tour bus on the Caribbean island of St Lucia.

The gunmen held up the bus at the Botanical Gardens in Soufriere during a tour excursion on Friday, but no one was hurt.

Jewellery and money was believed to have been stolen.

Two crew members from Celebrity Cruises' Eclipse vessel were also on the bus along with guests.

One passenger broke down in tears after the ordeal while others were "shaken", according to local broadcaster DBS TV.

One Eclipse passenger, Arizona Cruz Chic, posted on internet forum Cruise Critic: "One of the ships tour was robbed at gunpoint by three masked gunmen.

"We're not on the tour but friends were.. They said one woman fell and broke her leg, no one else was injured, all their money and jewellery were taken."

Tourism Minister Lorne Theophilus said it was "unfortunate and a horrible scenario".

Matthew Beaubrun, Chairman of the St Lucia Tourist Board told DBS: "This is a rare incident …This is such an important industry for us that we need to respond.

"We have taken it very seriously at the highest level and I know the minister's been in touch with the prime minister, so we are not taking this thing lightly."

A statement from Celebrity Cruises said: "No one was injured in the robbery and the guests returned to the ship unharmed.

"We are thankful that none of our guests were injured in this unfortunate event, and will continue to provide them any support they may need.

"A vacation is supposed to be filled with fun, rejuvenation and relaxation. An act of crime should not be part of any vacation, and we regret our guests had to experience those events."

The Eclipse is currently on a 14-night Caribbean cruise that departed Fort Lauderdale in Florida on April 6 and ends there on April 20.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Thatcher Funeral: Practice Run Of Procession

A full military rehearsal for Baroness Thatcher's funeral procession has taken place in the early hours of this morning.

Timed to last 19 minutes, Wednesday's ceremonial service will involve more than 700 serving Armed Forces personnel and see Lady Thatcher's coffin carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage from St Clement Danes, the church of the Royal Air Force, down the Strand.

Led by the Band of the Royal Marines, the solemn procession will then slowly travel along Fleet Street towards St Paul's where around 2,000 mourners are expected to attend the service.

Major Andrew Chatburn, the man in charge of choreographing the parade, said the rehearsal "went very well" and claimed it was "vitally important" to stage a trial.

He said the atmosphere of the thousands of people expected to line the streets could obviously not be replicated, but added those involved, including the horses, were used to big occasions with large crowds.

"We'll have a debriefing and we'll take the points from that. We'll address whatever we have to address. If it's additional rehearsals in barracks we'll conduct those rehearsals and we'll get it right on the day," he added.

The band played the funeral marches of Chopin, Beethoven and Mendelssohn as it made its way along the deserted streets.

The military and police wore their working dress and high visibility clothes respectively, but will be in ceremonial uniform on the day.

The pensioners from Royal Hospital Chelsea did not take part in the trial due to the early start, but they will line the west steps of St Paul's for the real event.

The coffin carried on a horse-drawn gun carriage

Amid fears protests could mar the funeral, there was also a large police presence on the streets during the practice run.

The Met has urged groups to let them know what they are planning, and in some cases they have reportedly come to an agreement to allow protesters to turn their backs on the coffin.

Sky's events commentator Alastair Bruce, who watched the rehearsal, said Lady Thatcher "would have wanted to see democracy in action" and that organisers were hoping the protests would not offend mourners or affect the procession.

"The ceremonial has been worked on very hard by the armed forces, and they are doing their very best to represent the United Kingdom. They will want to deliver that duty without interruption," he said.

Some 700 serving members of the Armed Forces took part in the trial run

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.

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

The rehearsal came after a poll by ComRes found that only 25% of people think the event should be funded form the public purse and that 60% are against the idea.

But the Government has defended the plans for a lavish ceremonial service.

Tory Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude, one of the organisers, told Sky News the ceremony had to be a "fitting event for a very great lady" and argued that the involvement of the armed forces was "not over the top in any way".

George Galloway will attempt to block PMQs delay so MPs can attend funeral

Meanwhile, Respect MP George Galloway will later attempt to scupper plans to cancel Wednesday's Prime Minister's Questions so that MPs can attend the funeral.

He has said he will try to block a Government motion dropping Commons questions and delaying the start of business to 2.30pm, after the funeral has taken place.

Ministers had hoped the motion, tabled by the Leader of the House Andrew Lansley, would go through "on the nod" at the end of Commons business.

On Sunday night police charged a series of demonstrators at London's Trafalgar Square who were protesting against Baroness Thatcher's legacy and who marked her death with a party.

Scotland Yard said nine suspects had been charged with various offences including assaulting police, affray and drunk and disorderly, and would appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on various dates in the next few weeks.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Newcastle FC 'Appalled' By Derby Day Violence

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

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

Video footage showed crowds throwing glass bottles at police and a burning bin lying on its side in the road, while pictures 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.

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

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

"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 any footage over to the police or Crimestoppers.

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

Meanwhile, a spokesman for West Yorkshire Police said the horse caught up in the violence is "resting and relaxed" in his stables and was not injured.

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

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

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

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

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.

More follows...

20.14 | 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 in Liverpool.

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.

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

Passing sentence today, 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."

The 17-year-old was labelled "leader of the pack".

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."

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

More follows...

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

TV's Andrew Marr: 'I'm Lucky To Be Alive'

BBC presenter Andrew Marr has told how he feels "lucky to be alive" three months after suffering a stroke.

Marr, 53, made his first television appearance on his own show on Sunday morning and spoke of his battle to regain his health.

Despite still struggling to walk properly, he insists he will return to his previous job as one of the BBC's top presenters and interviewers.

He said: "I had a major stroke, I'm frankly lucky to be alive. I had been heavily overworking - mostly my own fault - in the year before that.

"I'd torn the carotid artery, which takes blood into the brain, and had a stroke overnight - which basically wipes out a bit of your brain.

"In my case, luckily not my voice or memory or anything like that, but the whole left hand side of my body, which is why I'm still not able to walk fluently - I do a kind of elegant hobble is the best I can manage.

"My left arm isn't much good yet. I've got a lot of physio still to do."

Andrew Marr in December 2012 weeks before his stroke

The presenter explained that the stroke in January came after he had been working very hard and also exercising intensively.

He said: "I'd had two minor strokes, it turned out, in that year - which I hadn't noticed - and then I did the terrible thing of believing what I read in the newspapers.

"The newspapers were saying what we must all do is take very intensive exercise, in short bursts, and that's the way to health.

"Well I went on to a rowing machine and gave it everything I had, and had a strange feeling afterwards - a blinding headache, and flashes of light - served out the family meal, went to bed, woke up the next morning lying on the floor unable to move."

Mr Marr pre-recorded interviews with the Conservative former Cabinet minister Lord Parkinson and the Labour peer Baroness Kennedy on Saturday at Broadcasting House.

The live section of his programme is still being hosted by guest presenters, with newsreader Sophie Raworth standing in on Sunday.

Mr Marr assured her that he remained determined to return to full-time duties in time.

"The only way through is intensive physio and doing a lot of it. And I'm now in the period where if I really concentrate on the physio, I will get better, and if I don't, I won't. Which is why I'm not back trying to do the job full-time, I have to say," he said.

"I'm going to be taking your chair I'm absolutely sure, when I'm ready. I'm certainly coming back. I've got a lot more to say about it all, but I'm going to wait until I've gone through the physio to do so."

20.14 | 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.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More

Laceby Car Crash Family Are Pictured

Tributes have been paid to five members of a family who were killed after their car hit a lorry.

David Cockburn, 48, his daughters Carley Ann, 21, and Bethany, 18, and Bethany's 23-month-old daughter Lacie Jade Stephenson died in the smash.

The fifth family member is yet to be formerly identified, Humberside Police said.

They lost their lives after their Nissan Primera was involved in the head-on crash on the A18 near Grimsby on Friday afternoon.

Three of the victims died at the scene, while two were taken to the nearby Diana Princess of Wales Hospital but died later.

Three ambulances and an air ambulance had rushed to the spot in Laceby, which was then closed until late on Friday.

The family, from the Chester-Le-Street area of Durham, had been on their way to Butlins in Skegness with friends to take part in a dance competition.

The driver of the lorry - a light goods vehicle owned by a firm of bacon curers - is thought to have sustained minor injuries.

The Grimsby stretch of the A18 featured in a BBC television programme, Britain's Most Dangerous Roads, in 2011.

The programme claimed that the stretch of road was 25 times more dangerous than the average British motorway, with 20 crashes in the previous three years.

The fatal crash happened in Laceby

It was also found to be the UK's highest-risk stretch of road for car drivers in a nationwide survey conducted by the Road Safety Foundation in 2010.

Operations Superintendent Tracy Bradley, of Humberside Police, said: "Our deepest thoughts go out to the family and friends of those who were tragically killed in this collision which happened on the A18.

"We are working closely with relatives of those who lost their lives and are supporting them through what will be a very difficult time.

"Roads policing officers are working closely with our collision investigation team to piece together the evidence we have gathered in order to try and determine what led to this tragic incident taking place and took the lives of those travelling in the Nissan at the time.

"We have spoken to a number of key witnesses already, however, if anyone saw the incident but has not come forward I would ask them to do so."

Anyone with information should call Humberside Police on 101.

Relatives of the victims are being supported by family liaison officers and have asked to be left alone to come to terms with their loss.

Chris Baron, resort director at Butlin's Skegness, said: "We are all shocked and stunned by this tragedy and our thoughts go out to the extended families of the victims.

"Our team at Skegness is offering support and assistance to the other competitors and their families. We are working closely with the dance competition organisers."

20.14 | 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.

20.14 | 0 komentar | Read More