Mother Admits Beating Mikaeel Kular To Death

Mikaeel Kular's mother has pleaded guilty to killing her three-year-old son, who she subjected to repeated assaults.

Rosdeep Adekoya had been accused of murder but admitted a reduced charge of culpable homicide at the High Court in Edinburgh.

She confessed to wrapping Mikaeel's body in a duvet cover, putting it in a suitcase and driving to Dunvegan Avenue in Kirkcaldy, where she hid the case under a bush in woodland behind a house.

The death of three-year-old Mikaeel Kular touched the community

Mikaeel's disappearance from his Edinburgh home in January sparked a huge search involving police officers, firefighters, mountain rescue teams and the coastguard, as well as members of the public.

His body was eventually found 25 miles away in woodland in Kirkcaldy, Fife.

Adekoya's internet searches included "Get rid of bruises"

Adekoya had called 999 to report her son missing to police, telling officers he got out of bed and climbed on a stool to unlock the front door of his home.

But in court she admitted to beating her son to death, repeatedly punching him and causing his body to hit against a hard object or inflicting blunt injuries on his head and body between January 12 and 15.

She also pleaded guilty to attempting to defeat the ends of justice by pretending to police he had gone missing.

Advocate depute Alex Prentice told the court: "The basis for the plea tendered being accepted is that the Crown accepts that the accused had no intention to kill Mikaeel and that the assault perpetrated upon him, although severe, fell short of the wicked recklessness required for murder."

Explaining the charge of culpable homicide, Sky's James Matthews, at the High Court in Edinburgh, said: "Basically she beat up her son causing his death but she didn't mean to kill him, and that's been accepted by the prosecution authorities."

The toddler's body was found in woodland behind a property in Kirkcaldy

He said after killing Mikaeel, Adekoya had done the school-run taking her four other children to school before continuing on to dump his body behind a property where her sister was staying.

"Her concocted story unravelled under questioning by police, and it was when they spotted inconsistencies in her story that she broke down and told them where Mikaeel's body was," Matthews added.

The car used by Adekoya to dump Mikaeel's body after the school-run

Adekoya's internet history showed searches including "I find it hard to love my son", "I love all of my children except one", "Why am I so aggressive with my son" and "Get rid of bruises".

The court heard Mikaeel died on the night of Tuesday, January 14, from injuries inflicted the previous Sunday.

Hundreds of members of the public joined the search for the youngster

His mother "lost her temper" when he was repeatedly sick following a trip to a Nando's restaurant at the city's Fountain Park.

Mikaeel had more than 40 separate injuries to his body, including bruises to his back, chin and cheek, trauma to the brain, haemorrhage in the spinal cord and injuries to his arms.

Mr Prentice said: "If medical assistance had been called for, death might not have resulted."

Sentence was deferred until August 25 at the High Court in Edinburgh.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Govt 'Out Of Touch' On Term-Time Holiday Ban

By Afua Hirsch, Social Affairs and Education Editor

New rules banning holidays during school term time are penalising families who have no choice but to take their children out of school, some parents have told Sky News.

Maxine Ingrouille-Kidd, whose son Curtis is severely disabled, said she was threatened with a fine when she asked for permission to take her son on a cruise during term time because it was the only time accessible cabins were available.

"A cruise is a good sensory experience for Curtis ... and it is important for us to have family time together," she said.

"We did try to go at half term and they didn't have an accessible cabin.

"We're really limited by what Curtis needs.

"We didn't think (the school) would refuse us because he has a life-limiting condition and we thought they would appreciate that it was important for Curtis to be with us.

"Despite having up to 40 seizures a day, he's actually quite healthy and has had very few absences."

Curtis, who is quadriplegic, epileptic, blind and has cerebral palsy, was refused permission by his school in Somerset under new rules which came into force last September.

Under the rules, headteachers can only grant permission for term time leave in "exceptional circumstances" - a discretion some parents claim is not being used properly.

Stewart Sutherland, who says he has been unable to take a family holiday for five years because of his job, was prosecuted and fined £996 after he pleaded guilty to taking his three children to Greece on a holiday booked prior to the new rules being introduced.

"The Government is out of touch with society when it introduced these rules," said Mr Sutherland.

"The country does not come to a standstill when the kids are on holiday - there's always someone who is still working."

"Family time is sometimes just as important as schooling," he added.

The Government said the new rules are fair and have reduced the number of pupils regularly missing school by 130,000.

"We have been clear that all headteachers are free to grant pupils leave in exceptional circumstances," a spokesman for the Department for Education said.

"It is up to headteachers to decide whether to grant time off and how much time to grant.

"We are also giving schools the flexibility to set their own term times so they can change dates to ones that work for their pupils and families.

"Parents can urge schools to make use of this new freedom."

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UK Economic Depression To Be Declared 'Over'

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

The longest economic depression in British history will be declared over today, with the Office for National Statistics expected to confirm that the recovery is strengthening.

The ONS is expected to report that the economy grew by around 0.8% or 0.9% in the second quarter of the year.

George Osborne has been boosted by recent figures on growth

The increase in gross domestic product (GDP) will mean that the economy finally surpasses the size it was at the beginning of the recession in 2008.

The news will come as an added bonus for the Chancellor, who yesterday celebrated as the International Monetary Fund (IMF) upgraded Britain's growth forecast for this year and the next.

The IMF also said that UK growth this year will be stronger than in any other major economy.

However, this strong growth belies the fact that Britain's depression - the period for which GDP is below the pre-crisis peak - lasted longer than any other G7 economy.

But while there are concerns about the nature of recent economic growth in the UK and the possibility of a housing bubble in London, George Osborne is likely to emphasise the fact that all major sectors of the economy have been growing recently.

The Chancellor is currently on a tour of northern cities to underline the efforts the Government is taking to attempt to narrow Britain's regional economic divide.

Although overall GDP is back at pre-crisis levels, the natural increase in the population since 2008 means that GDP per capita remains around 6% lower than before the recession.

This, in turn, has contributed to lower wages and the squeeze on incomes felt in recent years.

Economists have also warned that while the services sector is bigger than before the crisis, the manufacturing and construction sectors are significantly smaller.

10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Mental-Health Services 'Face Funding Crisis'

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

Mental health is receiving just 10% of NHS spending across England, with some areas dedicating more like 6% of their budgets to it, Sky News can reveal.

Charities say the figures "paint a profoundly worrying picture" and fly in the face of a Coalition promise to give mental health "parity of esteem" with physical health.

They point to a London School of Economics (LSE) study that says the "burden of disease" of mental health is 23%.

Norman Lamb, the care minister, said it was "unacceptable" to see mental health being disadvantaged and promised to introduce waiting list targets to drive up standards.

Kerry Owen had to wait seven years to get the help she needed

Today's figures were obtained by Shadow Minister for Public Health Luciana Berger under the Freedom of Information Act, with two thirds of the 211 clinical commissioning groups responding.

Among those spending less than 7% were NHS groups in Surrey Heath, Solihull and Northern, Eastern and Western Devon.

Even in high-need areas like Merton, where 31% of the population has a mental health disorder, spending is below average at 9.7%.

Ms Berger said she had received a "barrage" of correspondence detailing cases in which patients had to travel hundreds of miles for help or wait years to access talking therapies.

Kerry Owen, 30, told Sky News she was refused such treatment after hearing voices and experiencing delusions when she was 19.

"It would have been about seven years before I really started getting the help that changed my life - with the early intervention team. Before that I just felt like I was pass the parcel."

After one psychotic episode doctors said she should be sectioned, but there were no beds across northwest England. Another time she was dragged away by police officers.

"You imagine what you'd say if someone with a heart attack was taken to a police cell instead of accident and emergency?"

Professor Sue Bailer, the former president of the Royal College of Psychiatrists, said today's figures went backwards and were shocking.

"When you look at other types of illness such as diabetes, the spend and the burden of the illness are about on a par," she said.

The "burden of disease" is a World Health Organisation measurement that looks at death rates and the disabilities caused by various illness. Researchers at the London School of Economics came up with the 23% figure for mental health in the UK.

One of them said that it wasn't directly related to cost but would be a good starting point when considering budgets.

Mark Winstanley, CEO of Rethink Mental Illness, said: "There is a huge gulf between the demand for services, and what support is actually available to people in need."

Sophie Corlett, Director of External Relations at Mind, added: "This new data is the latest in a long line of signs that paint a profoundly worrying picture of widespread under-investment in mental health services at a local level across England."

Mr Lamb added: "When the Labour Government introduced maximum waiting times for treatment, mental health was not included, creating an institutional bias.

"So we've committed to introducing access and waiting time standards for mental health from next April and we're making progress towards payment systems for services that reward great results for patients."

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Glasgow Celebrates The Commonwealth Games

The opening ceremony of the 20th Commonwealth Games has taken place in front of a crowd of 40,000 in Glasgow.

The Queen read aloud the message she placed inside the Queen's baton which has been carried across all the Commonwealth nations over the last 10 months.

The ceremony, at Celtic Park, marked the official start of the 11-day competition.

Scottish comedian Karen Dunbar began the ceremony alongside Glasgow-born actor John Barrowman.

The pair sang Welcome to Scotland and then took the audience on a trip around Scotland, featuring a mock Gretna Green, the Loch Ness monster, the Forth Rail Bridge and the home of golf St Andrews.

During a video message at the stadium, Unicef ambassador Ewan McGregor said: "I'm proud to say welcome to Scotland, welcome to Glasgow, welcome to the opening ceremony of the 2014 Commonwealth Games."

Members of the audience sang God Save The Queen, with the mountains and glens of Scotland projected as a backdrop on the giant screen in Celtic Park.

The ceremony also featured singer Amy Macdonald performing Rhythm Of My Heart with Rod Stewart while Susan Boyle sang Mull Of Kintyre.

The Prince of Wales formally opened the last Commonwealth Games in Delhi in 2010.

Queen Elizabeth and the Duke of Edinburgh will continue their visit with a trip to the athletes' village and swimming centre on Thursday.

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge and Prince Harry will also watch some of the games.

Team India, as the hosts of the 2010 games, were the first of the 71 competing Commonwealth members to enter the arena.

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Coastal Deaths At Highest Level In Four Years

By Siobhan Robbins, Sky News Correspondent

New safety warnings are being issued after figures revealed that the number of coastal deaths has risen.

The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) says 167 people in the UK died at the coast last year, the highest number in four years.

A further 368 people had to be rescued.

The charity will today launch a Respect the Water campaign with posters and advertisements highlighting the dangers of venturing into the water.

Ross Macleod, the RNLI's coastal safety manager, explained that people can go into shock within seconds and can drown in just a few minutes.

"There are some hidden dangers that people need to be aware of: things like rip currents, which are strong bodies of water which can take you from shallow water out to deep water quickly.

"The best thing to do to avoid that is to swim at a lifeguarded beach between the red and yellow flags.

"Other things surround drinking before you go in the water. Obviously, it can inhibit your ability and judgement in the water, so it's best to have a drink after you've been for a swim and not before."

Slips, trips and falls while walking or running accounted for 32% of last year's coastal deaths, while 17% involved alcohol.

Around 68% of fatalities were men, with experts warning they are more likely to underestimate the power of the sea.

Elizabeth Toogood's uncle drowned after being caught in currents at his regular swimming spot off Weston-super-Mare.

Speaking to Sky News, she warned that anybody can get into danger in the water: "He knew the area really well, he was young, he was fit, he was competent in the water and I think that's what made it even more shocking.

"Nobody really knows how strong the currents are."

The campaign is being held in Portsmouth, Brighton, Clacton, Kingston-on-Thames, Margate, Blackpool, Newquay, Cardiff Bay and Queensferry.

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Queen's Gold Cup-Winning Horse Fails Drug Test

A racehorse owned by the Queen has tested positive for the banned substance morphine, Buckingham Palace has revealed.

Five-year-old filly Estimate, which won the Gold Cup at Royal Ascot last year, is trained by Sir Michael Stoute.

The positive test is thought to have resulted as a result of consumption of a contaminated feed product, the palace said.

The Queen, who cheered the horse on to victory in 2013, has been informed of the result.

A statement by John Warren, the Queen's Bloodstock and Racing Advisor, said: "On Thursday July 17 the British Horseracing Authority (BHA) announced that a number of post-race samples, obtained from recent race meetings, had been found to indicate the presence of morphine, which is a prohibited substance on race days.

"Five horses, under the care of various trainers, were affected.

"I can confirm that one of those horses was Estimate, the five-year-old filly trained by Sir Michael Stoute and owned by The Queen.

"Initial indications are that the positive test resulted from the consumption of a contaminated feed product.

"Sir Michael is working closely with the feed company involved to discover how the product may have become contaminated prior to delivery to his stables."

Estimate's victory saw the Queen become the first reigning monarch to win the Gold Cup. The horse also finished second in the same race this year.

At the time, Sir Michael said: "It's a special thrill to win this race for the Queen and it will have given her enormous pleasure - she really loves this game and it's a great recreation for her.

"She told me it was a very big thrill and thanked everybody involved."

Morphine is not prohibited during training, but is banned on race days.

Queen Elizabeth won £155,960 in prize money as the owner of the horse in the race.

Horses owned by the monarch have won four out of the five flat racing classics - the 1,000 Guineas and 2,000 Guineas, the Oaks and the St Leger. She has missed out on only the Derby.

The Queen has also seen 22 winners at Royal Ascot.

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Child 'Sexters' Given Prosecution Warning

Schoolchildren who send so-called "sexts" to people over the internet have been warned by one police force that they could face prosecution.

In a letter to schools in Nottinghamshire, the county's sexual exploitation investigation unit said the force had been receiving reports on a daily basis of naked images being sent between teenagers using their phones.

A "sext" is a self-generated explicit image which is sent to other people over the internet.

In one recent case, a teenage girl who sent a topless picture of herself to her boyfriend was investigated after it was deemed she had distributed an indecent image of a child.

The girl's boyfriend, who forwarded the image to his friends after they broke up, is reported to have been given a caution.

In the letter, Detective Inspector Martin Hillier warns that court action for such offences may even mean a child is forced to register as a sex offender.

DI Hillier wrote: "I have grave concerns over the amount of referrals Nottinghamshire Police are receiving on a daily basis in relation to naked images being sent between teenagers via either social networking, texts or mobile phone apps.

"It is crucial that children (under 18 years) understand that every internet site and social networking site is monitored by an administrator.

"When photographs that fall within the category of an indecent image (even if taken with consent) are uploaded, reports are made by the administrators to the police.

"If a person is aged over 10yrs and distributes (shares - even to friends) an indecent image then they can be arrested, charged and dealt with for this offence.

"If they are found guilty they must then register as a sex offender."

The officer stressed that pictures are almost impossible to remove from the internet after they have been uploaded.

"An individual's on-line reputation needs protecting as it stays with them for the rest of their life," DI Hillier added.

"I would like to make every school in Nottinghamshire aware of these offences and the implications of pupils' involvement in such behaviour."

Earlier this year, Nottinghamshire County Council's anti-bullying co-ordinator Lorna Naylor warned young people that such pictures could leave them vulnerable to blackmail.

"They can be deleted on social media or may only last a few seconds on apps like Snapchat, but images can still be saved or copied by others," she said.

"These images may never be completely removed and could be found in the future, for example when applying for jobs or university.

"Young people may think 'sexting' is harmless but it can leave them vulnerable to blackmail where someone may threaten to share the pictures with family and friends unless they send money or more images."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

'Girl Summit' Aims To End Child Marriage

By Rhiannon Mills, Sky News Correspondent

The first ever "Girl Summit" is being held in the UK, aimed at increasing efforts to end female genital mutilation (FGM) and child, early and forced marriage (CEFM) within a generation.

Co-hosted by UNICEF and the UK Government the event is being held in London from today and will bring together government representatives, international organisations, the private sector and girls themselves to call for action.

Organisations involved say millions of girls and women are being prevented from achieving their potential, or live a life free from violence, because of harmful practices such as FGM and CEFM, which are illegal in the UK.

Sky News spoke to one Kurdish woman who at the age of 15 was forced to marry a man she didn't know, and was subsequently beaten and raped.

Speaking through a translator, she described how her own relatives attacked her when she tried to escape.

"Her own family tried to kill her for leaving her husband," the translator said.

"They stabbed her twice, once in the chest and another in the back, and this was done by her brothers.

"When she did escape she was also prevented from seeing her children for 15 years. This has had a tremendous psychological effect."

But Diane Nammi from the Iranian and Kurdish women's rights organisation says this isn't just a distant problem.

"It happens in London, in Newcastle, anywhere in the UK," she said.

"They are doing it mainly where there is sharia law and sharia courts, and so many young girls can be wife of a man as old as their father or grandfather, they can be the second wife of a man."

It's estimated that 14 million girls are married every year before they reach 18, with one in nine across the developing world married by 15.

Some 60% of child brides are also taken out of school so they have no formal education.

In most countries the legal minimum age for marriage is 18 - but loopholes often allow it to happen as part of local customs.

The group Girls Not Brides told Sky News that change is happening within communities and families in the UK, and across Africa, South Asia, the Middle East and Europe, with more and more saying no to this form of abuse.

But Heather Hamilton from the partnership said many still don't realise the harm child marriage causes.

She said: "It's an entire end to the girl's life as her own person.

"We take it for granted that we're going to be able to make choices and have opportunities.

"We're going to be able to choose whether we get married, go to school or university.

"It's almost inconceivable for women who have the privileges we have to understand what this means, but it has a devastating impact on the girls and their lives."

A social media campaign has been launched to boost support for the event, with the Government asking people to share the hashtag #GirlSummit.

10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Offenders 'Escape Justice' With Police Cautions

Offenders including thieves, arsonists and drug traffickers are "escaping the justice system" in London by being issued with cautions from the Metropolitan Police.

Figures released under the Freedom of Information Act show 29,560 police cautions were handed out to offenders by the Met over the past year.

They include 1,356 criminals who were cautioned for wounding or grievous bodily harm, and another 301 drug traffickers.

Criminals responsible for 286 sex offences - including two rapes - also avoided court by accepting the cautions.

Some 236 offenders have received the reprimands on more than five different occasions.

The use of criminal cautions has been condemned by critics, who argue that victims are being denied justice in an open court.

Tony Arbour, a Conservative London Assembly member who requested the figures, said: "The public can't have confidence in a system where so many offenders are dealt with outside of court, just so that cases can be disposed of quickly.

"In effect, these people are being let off - some characters on more than five occasions. Cautions and fines should only be used as a warning the first time a criminal is caught.

He added: "If you have been a victim of a serious assault or a burglary, with all the trauma that entails, and discover that the matter has simply been dealt with by a caution, you would be very angry.

"It may well be preventing people from coming forward and reporting crimes if they think it will just be disposed with by a caution.

"This should be a wake-up call to the police and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS)."

Mr Arbour argued that police are using the cautions as a cost-saving measure.

"If the police can say that they have caught the perpetrator and they have been punished, because a caution is a punishment, then that is helpful for their statistics.

"If the CPS think they are going to lose they may well feel that getting a satisfactory resolution and a cheap resolution is better than going to trial and losing."

But a spokesman for the Met said police follow official guidelines for issuing cautions, and use professional discretion when handing out the reprimands.

"A caution is a serious matter: they are not taken lightly and we are conscious of the consequences that this judicial disposal can have on a person's future," he said.

"It should also be recognised that they are used predominately to deal with first-time offenders and as an alternative to court appearance where guilt is admitted."

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Newcastle Fans Fund Gets Thousands From Rivals

Malaysia Airlines Defends War Zone Flight Path

Updated: 4:48pm UK, Saturday 19 July 2014

A Malaysia Airlines official has defended the company's decision to fly over eastern Ukraine after flight MH17 was brought down.

Hugh Dunleavy, commercial director for the airline, said there had been no incidents involving civilian aircraft using the flight path and Malaysia Airlines had been using it "for quite some time".

However, at least three Ukrainian military aircraft were hit by missiles fired by pro-Russian separatists operating in the region in the week before MH17 was shot out of the sky, killing 298 people. Of the victims, 189 are Dutch.

Mr Dunleavy told Sky News: "Now there's been an incident like this, everyone is looking back saying 'you should have done something different'.

"But at the time we were flying, along with many other airlines on that flight path, there had been no incidents involving civilian aircraft.

"These are routes that are traditionally accepted on a day-by-day basis by the air traffic control authorities so they also consider them safe to fly.

"This was something totally extraordinary, it could just as easily have been the aircraft ahead of Malaysia Airlines or the aircraft behind that was hit."

Mr Dunleavy added the airline would now be using an alternative flight path around Ukraine and they have stopped calling the route MH17 out of respect for the victims. It will now be called MH19.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation, a UN agency and other aviation authorities recently issued a "notice to airmen" (NOTAM) putting the eastern edge of Ukrainian airspace off limits up to 32,000 feet because of the conflict.

But MH17 was flying at 33,000 feet when it was hit by a missile fired from what experts believe was a Buk launcher.

Ukraine has now closed all airspace in the east. 

Ismail Nasaruddin, president of the Malaysian Flight Attendant Union, said some crew members were too distraught to work following the tragedy.

He said: "We have lost 21 crew members in a very short time period. This is not something we like to see.

"We are affected, the crew members are demoralised by the essence of this tragic incident.

"What we are looking at now is probably an event that Malaysia crew members have never experienced before."

Daniel Holland, a military aviation expert, told Sky News airspace above war zones should be sealed off to commercial aircraft.

He said: "When a war zone occurs, everything from ground level up until realistically the level of space needs to be sealed off to any and all commercial traffic just to avoid something like this happening where a plane accidentally wanders over a battle ground.

"You've got that probability that an accidental misfire could occur and strike a civilian target without any real rhyme or reason, other than it being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

On Tuesday, Polish blogger Michael Dembinski suggested flying over eastern Ukraine was "worrying".

He wrote: "Take a look at eastern Ukraine and you'll see a procession of civilian aircraft flying along an air corridor between Luhansk, Donetsk, Horlivka, Kramatorsk - places where battles are raging and people are being killed.

"Yet blithely oblivious to what's happening on the ground, some of the world's largest civilian airliners are criss-crossing the area at 38,000ft."

10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Police 'Closing In' On Landlady Murder Suspect

Police hunting a man suspected of murdering a guest house landlady in East Yorkshire have said they are closing in on him.

Bei Cater, 49, was found dead on Friday night at the Morayland Hotel in Bridlington.

Detectives said suspect John Heald may have returned to his native South Yorkshire and may be sleeping rough.

They have described the 53-year-old as "dangerous" and warned any friends he approaches looking for help not to assist him.

Bei Cater

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Baldwin, of Humberside Police, said: "John Heald has managed to evade the police so far but we are closing in on him and will not relent until we have found him.

"I believe he is a very dangerous individual and it is an absolute priority to track him down.

"I strongly suspect he has headed back to South Yorkshire where he originates from and he may have approached friends for help in providing him with shelter.

"My message to them is very clear; this is a dangerous man, the police need to find him as a matter of urgency and if he contacts you, ring the police immediately.

"Do not assist him in avoiding the police.

"It may also be that Mr Heald is sleeping rough and so once again I would ask for the public to remain vigilant and anyone who thinks they see him should not approach him but contact the police straight away."

:: Anyone with information is asked to contact the Major Incident Team at Humberside Police on 01377 208989 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Last British Victims Of Flight MH17 Named

The final two British victims of doomed flight MH17 have been named as a charity in Newcastle revealed a child in its care has been orphaned by the crash.

John Allen, who worked at international law firm NautaDutilh, has been described as a "much-loved colleague". He died on the flight alongside his Dutch wife, Sandra Martens, and their three sons - Christopher, Julian and Ian.

"He was a person with many talents, and in addition to his professional contribution to our firm he generously shared his musical and athletic abilities with us as well," the firm said.

John Allen was killed along with his wife Sandra Martens and three sons

"All of us who had the privilege of working with John during his 18 years at NautaDutilh came to know him as a kind, down-to-earth and humorous man and many of us have also lost a friend. He will be dearly missed."

His sister Wonder Allen Smith posted a picture of her brother on Facebook with the following statement: "I lost my whole family, my only brilliant brother and his beautiful wife and three magnificent children in the mh17 airplane crash".

The final British person onboard the flight has been named as Andrew Hoare.

Meanwhile, the Percy Hedley Foundation, which cares for disabled people, said it has been unable to contact the family of one of the children in its care. It said it was working with authorities to try and establish what has happened to them.

The foundation has not revealed the nationality of the child or the family.

Six of the British victims on flight MH17

Another British victim Robert Ayley has been confirmed as being on board the Malaysia Airlines flight. A friend of Mr Ayley has told how the father-of-two almost missed the flight.

Bill Patteson, who was travelling with the 27-year-old around Europe visiting Rottweiler breeders, has told Sky News his friend didn't make it onto the bus to take him from his hotel to Amsterdam's Schiphol airport.

But Mr Ayley, who was originally from Guildford but moved to New Zealand as a child, managed to get there in time to board the ill-fated Malaysia Airlines flight, which was shot down over Ukraine with almost 300 people on board.

An ex-journalist, helicopter pilot, students and Newcastle United fans are among the other British victims.

Mr Patteson, who flew back to New Zealand the day before, said: "There were so many things that came together to make Rob be on that flight.

"The stars really had to align for Robert to be on that flight, even right down to the last minute.

"Everyone was hoping he'd missed the flight, but Robert being the great organiser that he was managed to get on his flight."

Mr Patteson described his friend as a "really great, confident young man" who was proud of his British roots.

Mr Ayley's wife Sharlene wrote on Facebook: "Rob was our everything. We adored him and there was no one else like him. He touched so many hearts and lives.

Briton Stephen Anderson was on board MH17

"We are grateful to forever have him in our hearts."

Mr Ayley's family said he was passionate about life and his family, adding that when it came to Rob "there were no half measures".

"He found in his boys two little people he could love, understand and trust," they said.

"When they cried they were sad, when they laughed they were happy and when they hugged it was because they loved him."

The statement added: "Sharlene and Rob are soul mates. She is his 'Princess'. She changed his life and he changed hers.

"She held his heart and he held hers. Rob will live forever in his family."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

MH17: Money Pours Into Fund For Newcastle Fans

Malaysia Airlines Defends War Zone Flight Path

Updated: 4:48pm UK, Saturday 19 July 2014

A Malaysia Airlines official has defended the company's decision to fly over eastern Ukraine after flight MH17 was brought down.

Hugh Dunleavy, commercial director for the airline, said there had been no incidents involving civilian aircraft using the flight path and Malaysia Airlines had been using it "for quite some time".

However, at least three Ukrainian military aircraft were hit by missiles fired by pro-Russian separatists operating in the region in the week before MH17 was shot out of the sky, killing 298 people. Of the victims, 189 are Dutch.

Mr Dunleavy told Sky News: "Now there's been an incident like this, everyone is looking back saying 'you should have done something different'.

"But at the time we were flying, along with many other airlines on that flight path, there had been no incidents involving civilian aircraft.

"These are routes that are traditionally accepted on a day-by-day basis by the air traffic control authorities so they also consider them safe to fly.

"This was something totally extraordinary, it could just as easily have been the aircraft ahead of Malaysia Airlines or the aircraft behind that was hit."

Mr Dunleavy added the airline would now be using an alternative flight path around Ukraine and they have stopped calling the route MH17 out of respect for the victims. It will now be called MH19.

The International Civil Aviation Organisation, a UN agency and other aviation authorities recently issued a "notice to airmen" (NOTAM) putting the eastern edge of Ukrainian airspace off limits up to 32,000 feet because of the conflict.

But MH17 was flying at 33,000 feet when it was hit by a missile fired from what experts believe was a Buk launcher.

Ukraine has now closed all airspace in the east. 

Ismail Nasaruddin, president of the Malaysian Flight Attendant Union, said some crew members were too distraught to work following the tragedy.

He said: "We have lost 21 crew members in a very short time period. This is not something we like to see.

"We are affected, the crew members are demoralised by the essence of this tragic incident.

"What we are looking at now is probably an event that Malaysia crew members have never experienced before."

Daniel Holland, a military aviation expert, told Sky News airspace above war zones should be sealed off to commercial aircraft.

He said: "When a war zone occurs, everything from ground level up until realistically the level of space needs to be sealed off to any and all commercial traffic just to avoid something like this happening where a plane accidentally wanders over a battle ground.

"You've got that probability that an accidental misfire could occur and strike a civilian target without any real rhyme or reason, other than it being in the wrong place at the wrong time."

On Tuesday, Polish blogger Michael Dembinski suggested flying over eastern Ukraine was "worrying".

He wrote: "Take a look at eastern Ukraine and you'll see a procession of civilian aircraft flying along an air corridor between Luhansk, Donetsk, Horlivka, Kramatorsk - places where battles are raging and people are being killed.

"Yet blithely oblivious to what's happening on the ground, some of the world's largest civilian airliners are criss-crossing the area at 38,000ft."

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