Cops Charged Over 'Paedophile' Mix-Up Killing

Three police officers have been charged in connection with the death of a man whose vigilante killer wrongly believed he was a paedophile.

Bijan Ebrahimi, 44, was beaten to death and his body set on fire by neighbour Lee James in Bristol on 14 July, 2013, amid false speculation he was a paedophile.

James, of Brislington, was later jailed for life for murder, while Stephen Norley, who lived next door, was jailed for four years for assisting an offender.

Bijan Ebrahimi was mistaken for a paedophile

The Independent Police Complaints Commission submitted a file of evidence to the Crown Prosecution Service in October 2014.

The file considered how officers responded to events and contact from Mr Ebrahimi.

Now, the Crown Prosecution Service has announced three police constables and a police community support officer will be charged with misconduct in a public office.

PCs Kevin Duffy, Helen Harris and Leanne Winter, all of Avon and Somerset Constabulary, are to be charged with misconduct in public office.

Lee James, left, and Steven Norley

It is alleged they failed to respond to allegations and calls for help from Mr Ebrahimi.

PCSO Andrew Passmore is also to be charged with misconduct in public office.

It is alleged he gave false information to the 999 operator that he was outside Mr Ebrahimi's home at an important time.

He will also be charged with perverting the course of justice for allegedly giving different accounts to the police murder investigation and the IPCC investigation.

The CPS said there was insufficient evidence to bring charges against a police emergency call taker and an emergency call supervisor.

Malcolm McHaffie, deputy head of special crime at the CPS, said: "The decision to prosecute was reached after careful consideration of the evidence and was taken in accordance with the Code for Crown Prosecutors."

All four individuals will appear at Bristol Magistrates' Court for a preliminary hearing on 14 January 2015.

A post-mortem examination found Mr Ebrahimi, an Iranian national, suffered "multiple heavy blows to the face and head" and died before he was set alight.

James and Norley were jailed at Bristol Crown Court in November last year after entering guilty pleas to murder and assisting an offender respectively.

The court heard Mr Ebrahimi was murdered three days after he had been arrested by police.

The arrest was made following complaints that he had been taking pictures of children outside his home.

During the fatal attack, father-of-four James, who believed his victim had been filming his children, repeatedly stamped on Mr Ebrahimi's head.

He told him "have some of that".

Father-of-two Norley, who worked for a fruit and vegetable wholesaler, helped James drag Mr Ebrahimi's body from the scene of the attack.

He then obtained white spirit to burn it, a court heard.

Speaking after the case, Mr Ebrahimi's sister Manizhah Moores said her brother suffered racial abuse while living in Bristol.

"We hope that nobody else ever has to witness an innocent disabled man being abused, taunted and tortured in the way that Bijan suffered," Mrs Moores said.

10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Familes 'Confident' In Thai Murder Inquiry

The families of two young Britons murdered in Thailand say they are "confident" in the work being carried out to solve the "atrocious crimes".

Students David Miller, 24, from Jersey, and 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, were found dead on a beach on the holiday island of Ko Tao in September.

Two Burmese bar workers are accused of the murders, but claim they were tortured by the Thai police to secure a confession.

The two Burmese suspects claim their confessions were made under torture

Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the allegations.

The families of Mr Miller and Ms Witheridge have issued statements thanking Metropolitan Police detectives for reviewing the case, and calling for the investigation to be allowed to take its course.

Video: Charges Over Thailand Beach Murders

Ms Witheridge's family said: "We would like to thank the officers who travelled to Thailand to review the case and the Royal Thai Police for facilitating their visit."

They added: "We would like to stress that as a family we are confident in the work that has been carried out into these atrocious crimes and want to remind both press and public that they do not have the full facts to report and make comment on at this stage.

"Our thoughts, as always, are with the Miller family. Together we stand united and focused on seeing a fair and transparent trial process to bring about justice for our beautiful children."

Video: Parents Visit Thai Murder Suspects

Mr Miller's family said: "We would like to express our relief that progress is being made in Thailand and this case is finally coming to court.

"We would like to reiterate our gratitude to the UK Metropolitan Police, who received the co-operation of the Royal Thai Police in undertaking an independent review into the investigation."

And while "support for the Myanmar suspects has been strong and vocal" they urged the public not to "jump to conclusions" and said the "suspects have a difficult case to answer".

Video: Oct 3: Thai Murder Suspects Paraded

They added: "The evidence against them appears to be powerful and convincing. They must respond to these charges, and their arguments must be considered with the same scrutiny as those of the prosecution.

"Please remember that this is above all a story of two wonderful young people, David and Hannah, killed in the prime of their lives in a senseless and brutal way."

10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Cruel Teaching Assistant Bullied Girl, 7

A classroom assistant who bullied a seven-year-old girl for five months has been found guilty of child cruelty.

Rachael Regan, 43, taped the pupil to her chair, shut her in a storeroom and tied her shoes on with string.

Bradford Crown Court heard that Regan "singled out" the girl at the school in Calderdale, West Yorkshire.

Her bullying campaign also included sticking Post-it notes to her thumbs to stop her sucking them, kicking her chair, calling her a nickname, hiding her doll and tearing up a photograph of her.

Regan spent more than a year on bail before being charged and her victim is now nine. Judge Neil Davey QC said the girl had waited "a quarter of her lifetime" to give evidence.

An investigation was launched by the school and the police after the girl told her mother a teacher had tied her to a chair with sticky tape in front of other pupils.

The woman, who cannot be named, said her daughter "clung" to her "for dear life" and was in tears after it happened.

"(My daughter) just came rushing out and hugged me and tears were just rolling down her face," the woman said.

"It was just so heartbreaking to see her like that because (she) is so bubbly and outgoing and I have never seen my daughter so upset."

Other staff members said they had seen some of the incidents. One support assistant said that after the girl was taped to the chair, Regan went to another classroom to show another teaching assistant what she had done.

She then told her colleague: "She'll not get up and wander around the classroom now."

A teacher, Deborah McDonald, 41, was found not guilty of the same offence. The two women hugged after she was cleared.

Regan will be sentenced in January but she will not go to prison because of delays between the incidents and the trial.

DCI Darren Minton, of Calderdale Police, said: "This person was employed in a position of trust and she broke that trust with her actions."

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Police Identify Mum Of Baby Found In Bin

Police believe they have identified the mother of a newborn baby found dead in a wheelie bin.

A member of the public found the infant's body on Monday in a communal waste area of a small housing estate on the outskirts of Richmond, North Yorkshire.

And North Yorkshire Police said in a new statement: "Officers believe they have now identified the mother, who is receiving medical treatment and care."

They said a post-mortem examination on the baby suggested the infant was stillborn.

Inspector Mark Gee said: "We thank the local community and the media for their continued support and sensitivity regarding this tragic case.

"We ask residents to remain patient and calm while the police enquires continue. In particular, please avoid any unhelpful or harmful speculation on social networking sites.

"To provide further reassurance for residents, extra police patrols are being carried out in the local area."

Police previously conducted a fingertip search through rubbish at Whitcliffe Grange, a cul-de-sac off the main road west out of Richmond.

Paramedics had been called to the scene of the discovery but were unable to revive the girl, who was pronounced dead at the scene.

The head of midwifery at Darlington Memorial Hospital has appealed for the mother to come forward for a medical examination.

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UK And World Set For Hottest Year On Record

By Isobel Lang, Sky News Weather Presenter

This year is on course to be the hottest on record both for the UK and globally, with human impact the likely cause, say experts.

The UK's mean temperature from the beginning of January to late November is 1.6C above the long-term average, making it the warmest in records dating back to 1910, according to the Met Office, although a cold December could change this.

This year is also set to be one of the warmest on record in the Central England Temperature series, which stretches back to 1659 and is the longest instrumental temperature series in the world.

Table showing years ranked in order of global average temperature

Around the world, the year is set to be one of the hottest, with global temperatures around 0.57C above the long-term average of 14C from January to October, just ahead of the previous record set in 2010 of 0.56C.

If November and December follow suit, 2014 is likely to be the hottest year on record, ahead of 2010, 2005 and 1998, the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) has said.

The Met Office has cautioned against placing too much emphasis on a single record temperature and long-term climate change.

But a new research technique indicated breaking the record is much more likely to occur as a result of human greenhouse gas emissions.

Peter Stott, head of climate attribution at the Met Office, said: "Our research shows current global average temperatures are highly unlikely in a world without human influence on the climate.

"Human influence has also made breaking the UK temperature record about 10 times more likely."

Energy and Climate Change Secretary Ed Davey said: "More record warm temperatures in the UK and across the world are yet more evidence that we need to act urgently to prevent dangerous climate change.

"UK actions such as our doubling of renewable electricity and our stretching targets for cutting carbon are a good start but we must be frank and acknowledge there is more to do."

It has also been one of the wettest year's for the UK on record, with 1162 mm of rain between 1 January and 25 November.

Average rainfall in December would make 2014 the fourth wettest year in records dating back to 1910.

But a very wet month could still break the UK record set in 2000 of 1337 mm.

Experts say world temperatures show there is "no standstill in global warming".

WMO secretary-general Michel Jarraud said: "What we saw in 2014 is consistent with what we expect from a changing climate - record-breaking heat combined with torrential rainfall and floods destroyed livelihoods and ruined lives."

10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Vicar And Daughter Held In Baby Murder Probe

A vicar, along with his wife and daughter, are being questioned by police over the suspicious death of a baby boy.

Rev Jim Percival was arrested, together with his 28-year-old daughter, Ruth, on suspicion of murder, conspiracy to conceal the birth of a child and sexual offences.

Susan, his wife, only faces questions about the alleged concealment.

Officers have been granted an additional 30 hours to talk to them after they were held on Tuesday in Freckleton, Lancashire, where Rev Percival is the vicar of Holy Trinity CE Church.

Holy Trinity CE Church In Freckleton

Officers had been called to a property - thought to be the vicarage - on 25 November, in response to reports that a woman had suffered a stillbirth.

In a statement, Lancashire Constabulary said: "When police attended, the body of a newly born baby boy was discovered at the address and an investigation was launched.

"The baby's mother, a 28-year-old woman, was taken by ambulance to Blackpool Victoria Hospital where she was treated and later released.

"Following numerous inquiries, the death of the baby boy is now being treated as suspicious. A post-mortem examination has been carried out and the cause of death is currently inconclusive."

One of their neighbours said: "They are a quiet family. I didn't even know the daughter was pregnant."

The Diocese of Blackburn has confirmed it "is aware of the situation regarding Rev Jim Percival and his family" and is working "closely" with police.

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Giving Birth At Home 'Safer' For Many Mums

By Rachel Younger, Sky News Correspondent

Giving birth in England and Wales is safer at a midwife-led centre than in hospital - even for first-time mothers - according to new advice.

Health advisory body the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said the latest evidence shows women with a low risk of complications are better off staying out of the labour ward.

Professor Mark Baker, clinical practice director at NICE, said: "Most women are healthy and have straightforward pregnancies and births.

"Over the years evidence has emerged which shows that, for this group of women, giving birth in a midwife-led unit instead of a traditional labour ward is a safe option.

"Research also shows that a home birth is generally safer than hospital for pregnant women at low rid of complications who have given birth before."

The advice means that 315,000 women a year - almost half of those giving birth - would be judged safe to give birth at a midwife-led unit or, with a midwife's help, at home.

Currently, nine out of 10 babies are delivered in hospital, ultimately under the care of an obstetrician.

The new evidence found that outcomes for all babies were the same across all settings, except for those being born at home to first-time mothers, where the risk of a serious medical problem is higher.

But Rhiannon Davies - whose baby girl Kate died six hours after being born at a Shropshire midwifery unit miles away from the nearest operating theatre - believes the advice is flawed.

An inquest into her daughter's death ruled she could have survived had she had been born in hospital.

Ms Davies told Sky News: "It's a value-for-money policy, it's a dangerous policy and it will put women's lives at risk.

"There's really no such thing as a straightforward pregnancy.

"Even as a second or third-time mother, you have no way of knowing if your baby might be born with a cord around its neck or whether you placenta will break down as you're delivering."

The new advice should save the NHS money as it is more expensive to give birth in hospital than in a specialist birth unit or at home. 

Critics say that could force women into giving birth without doctors, against their wishes.

Midwives say its vital women are given the choice of where to deliver so they can make their own informed decisions.

Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "I think women are reluctant to give birth out of hospital because they believe hospitals are safest.

"In fact for those who don't have problems during pregnancy - we now know, this isn't true.

"It's very safe in midwifery left units or at home. In fact the outcomes for women are better and outcomes for babies just as good."

10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

Big Tobacco Firms Offer 'Misleading Evidence'

Most studies that show the negative impact plain cigarette packets would have on the economy are funded by "big tobacco" firms, according to a damning report.

Such companies have warned standardised packaging would fuel a black market in cigarettes – citing research that echoes their concerns.

But the University of Bath claims more than 50% of big tobacco's evidence comes from reports commissioned by the industry itself – or from third parties with financial connections to it.

The Tobacco Control Research Group, funded by Cancer Research UK, also found 66% of the industry's claims were just opinions – and that of the 51 MPs opposed to plain packaging, seven of them had accepted hospitality from the sector.

George Butterworth, from Cancer Research UK, said: "By failing to disclose financial links to misleading evidence, this is lobbying at its worst.

"For years, misinformation has been their currency, but as the success of plain, standardised packaging in Australia becomes clear – now with record low smoking rates – 'big tobacco' is looking spent.

"Independent evidence consistently demonstrates the role that standardised packaging can play in protecting children from a deadly addiction.

"Now, the UK Government must treat the tobacco industry's spin with the contempt it deserves – and introduce regulations without delay."

10.19 | 0 komentar | Read More

New Garden City To Be Built In Bicester

A new garden city will be built in Oxfordshire under Coalition plans to deal with a housing shortage.

The new town, which would have up to 13,000 homes, would be built near Bicester and would include a £44m capital investment from the Government for roads including a new junction on the M40.

The plans will be outlined in the National Infrastructure Plan set to be published on Wednesday ahead of the Autumn Statement, alongside a range of other housing measures.

A government loan would be provided for the development of amenities including green transport.

A modern garden city could also be built at Ebbsfleet in Kent

Ebbsfleet in Kent was announced earlier this year as the location for the first modern garden city.

Bicester has also expressed an interest and could receive a new railway station as part of the proposals announced by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Mr Clegg told the Daily Telegraph: "The Liberal Democrats have long argued that garden cities are an idea whose time has come again.

"I am delighted that Bicester can now be confirmed as a pioneer in what I hope will be another wave of garden cities in this country.

"Bicester will get help from the Government with both significant capital investment and in helping developers build the amenities that are required to be a true garden town."

Under the proposals, a series of new communities with in built green spaces, sustainable transport and spacious housing will be built.

Mr Clegg has previously promised at least ten would be created if the Liberal Democrats are part of the next government.

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

Drug Addiction Treatment Doubles In 10 Years

By Nick Martin, Sky News Correspondent

The number of adults seeking treatment for heroin and crack cocaine addiction in England has more than doubled in 10 years, new figures have revealed.

While the total number of heroin and crack cocaine addicts has fallen below 300,000 for the first time since estimates began, there is a generation still hooked - the so-called Trainspotting Generation.

The disaffected, heroin-addicted young people immortalised in Irvine Welsh's bestselling novel are getting older.

More than a third of the total population of adults in treatment centres are aged 40 or over, according to Public Health England.

Many started using heroin in the epidemics of the 1980s and 1990s when good-quality, cheap opiate flooded the inner cities.

Video: Sky's Nick Martin: Behind The Story

But as they enter old age there are warnings that dwindling health and dependence on heroin could place an increased burden on the National Health Service.

Louise Ford, deputy manager at the Smithfield Detox Centre in Manchester, told Sky News: "For many people of this age group there is a sense of 'now or never' in finally getting the treatment they need.

"For the over-40s is could be redundancy, bereavement or failing health that finally prompts them to come in for help. The treatment is not easy and many relapse."

For those who have not sought treatment, life is a cycle of "scoring" heroin and finding the money to pay for it.

Homeless Paul, 42, has been taking heroin since he was 17 years old.

His partner Jill, 39, was introduced to the drug at the age of 13. They take heroin in the back streets of Manchester's city centre.

Video: Heroin Addict Paul Tells His Story

He said: "I had a good life, what you'd call an average life, a car, a flat. I got laid off last year. I had never been out of work before.

"Now I wake up, go and score, go and take it, go and find a pitch and start raising money again to score again and that goes on and on.

"If I don't get help now I'll still be doing this into my 50s and 60s and I don't want that. Heroin just makes you feel bad when you don't have it. It doesn't make you feel good anymore."

But there is hope in the form of recovered addicts like Steve Cundell, who first dabbled in heroin so that he could come down from ecstasy fuelled raves in the 1980s.

He went from experimenting to dealing in a matter of weeks.

He said: "I thought it wouldn't grip me but it did and very, very fast.

Video: Heroin Addict Jill Tells Her Story

"I decided the best way to get my supply was to start dealing in it. My every waking hour was consumed by heroin.

"It used to play on my mind so much that I was getting older and older and I had not achieved anything - that I was going to wake up one day 65 or 70 years old still on heroin."

Mr Cundell is now a peer mentor on a rehabilitation course run by Turning Point and tries to help others.

He added: "I like to think I have something to give back and it helps my recovery - because I'm not out of the woods yet."

10.18 | 0 komentar | Read More

World Cup Bidding Process 'Completely Corrupt'

The World Cup bidding process is "completely corrupt", a top MP has told Sky News, after more allegations around the 2018 and 2022 tournaments emerged.

England's 2018 World Cup bidding team is facing questions over a secret dossier which contains claims of corruption by Qatar and Russia during the bidding process.

The Sunday Times reports that a former MI6 operative and a team of investigators produced a dossier alleging that Russia and Qatar - the successful bidders for the 2018 and 2022 World Cups respectively - colluded to swap votes ahead of the secret ballot.

It also claims England and South Korea agreed to swap votes on the eve of the ballot.

The allegations are contained in files handed to the Commons Culture, Media and Sport Select committee by The Sunday Times. The paper says MPs were unaware of the dossier.

Video: Top MP Slams World Cup Bid Process

John Whittingdale, chair of the committee, told Sky News that "questions need to be answered" and added: "A lot of it is reports and hearsay, it isn't necessarily hard evidence, it isn't proven.

"But nevertheless, when it's taken together with all the other evidence that has already been accumulated, it does paint a picture of a deeply corrupt organisation and that the whole of the bidding process was completely flawed."

On the allegation of a deal between England and South Korea, Mr Whittingdale said: "I think what is alleged England to have been doing is mild compared to the allegations made against other nations.

"But nevertheless it's obviously serious and it is a breach of the rules and therefore we will want to know whether it's true and how the FA justify it."

The dossier contains a raft of unproven allegations that a number of voting officials received financial or material incentives through the back door in exchange for votes.

The revelation comes in the wake of a report by US lawyer Michael Garcia, a summary of which cleared Qatar and Russia of any wrongdoing.

Video: Qatar Whistleblower: Interview

However, Mr Garcia has said the summary, which was written by a senior official on FIFA's ethics committee, is factually wrong and misrepresented his conclusions.

Senior sources from England's bid team told the paper they did not reveal the existence of the database because it contained unproven claims and they were worried about potential legal action from the individuals named in it.

The Football Association said in a statement: "These were media and corporate affairs consultants engaged on a confidential basis to gather intelligence.

"The fact the bid team had taken advice on intelligence-gathering was referenced to Mr Garcia as part of the investigative process."

Russia's 2018 bid team said in a statement it "categorically rejects" all of the claims in The Sunday Times article as "entirely unfounded speculation".

"These allegations are not new, but the evidence has only ever indicated that Russia 2018 behaved professionally and fairly throughout the bidding process," it said.

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Pair Charged Over Primary School Knife Attack

Two people have been charged with assault after a father-of-six was stabbed outside a busy primary school.

Barry Parkes and Natalie Lawton will appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court today over their alleged attack, which took place as parents waited to pick up their children on Friday afternoon.

Steven Higginson, 33, was knifed in the chest and side. Bloodied, he staggered into North Walkden Primary School in Greater Manchester to seek help.

The victim has since been discharged from hospital. 

Mr Parkes, a 42-year-old from Salford, has been charged with wounding with intent. Ms Lawton, 30, faces a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

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