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Wednesday, 6 July 2016

The athlete could be released on parole in three years, but there could be an appeal against the sentence for being too lenient.

14:26, UK,Wednesday 06 July 2016

Oscar Pistorius has been sentenced to six years in prison for killing his girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp at their home in 2013.

The disgraced Paralympian could have faced a life sentence after the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned his manslaughter conviction and found him guilty of murder.

However, his sentence is considerably less than the minimum jail term of 15 years for murder under South African law.

The 29-year-old's lawyer, Barry Roux, was seen punching the air as the announcement was made - and the defence has confirmed they will not be appealing the sentence.

Pistorius could be eligible for parole in three years, and he is expected to return to prison immediately.

He seemed emotionless throughout the lengthy sentencing, and at one point appeared to close his eyes as he listened to the verdict.

:: Analysis - Oscar Pistorius Case Could See One More Twist

Before the hearing began, Pistorius was seen hugging his legal team and appeared calm as he sat in the dock and checked his mobile phone.

The last person he embraced before being taken down to the cells was his sister Aimee, who was in tears.

Judge Thozokile Masipa told the packed courtroom in Pretoria that she felt the mitigating circumstances in the case outweighed the aggravating factors - and described Pistorius as a "fallen hero".

She said the fact that the double amputee had tried to save Ms Steenkamp's life following the shooting played a factor in her sentencing, as did his repeated and unsuccessful attempts to apologise to her family.

However, the judge said she gave "very little weight" to the testimony given by Dr Jonathan Scholtz, a psychiatrist who testified for the defence on Pistorius's state of mind, as much of his evidence was "unsupported by anything concrete".

It is possible that the prosecution will appeal on the grounds that the sentence is too lenient.

Sky's Special Correspondent, Alex Crawford, said the initial reaction of Reeva Steenkamp's family was that Judge Masipa's sentence was "fair".

However she adds that legal experts say it is possible Pistorius could be released after just one year and move to house arrest.

Sarah Williams is accused of killing mother-of-two Sadie Hartley in an "appalling" stabbing attack.

15:15, UK,Tuesday 05 July 2016

Sadie Hartley was found dead in her Lancashire home on Friday

A woman is on trial for murder after allegedly incapacitating a businesswoman with a stun gun before she was stabbed to death.

Sarah Williams, 35, was described in Preston Crown Court as a jealous and obsessive woman who planned and carried out the killing of someone she regarded as a love rival.

Ian Johnston and Sadie Hartley in Ecuador in 2013.

Williams is accused of killing "decent, hard-working" Sadie Hartley, 60, by stabbing and slashing the mother of two 40 times in an "orgy of violence" on the doorstep of her home in the village of Helmshore, Lancashire.

The defendant had previously been in a relationship with Ian Johnston, 57, Ms Hartley's partner, but he ended the romance because he felt Williams was too "possessive and difficult".

Prosecutor John McDermott told the court how "obsessed" Williams "set her mind" to getting her past love back but saw Ms Hartley as the "obstacle" to her desire.

The court heard the killing took place in the evening of 14 January when there was a knock on the victim's door.

Sadie Hartley was found dead at her home in Helmshore, Lancashire

Mr McDermott said: "What happened next is truly shocking.

"Sarah Williams stood on the doorstep. As soon as the door was opened we suggest he lunged at Sadie Hartley with of all things a stun gun - the sort of thing you might use legitimately to prod cattle.

"She pressed it against her - Sadie Hartley's head - and incapacitated her.

"Then with what can only be described as almost demonic savagery, she attacked her with a knife.

"She stabbed and slashed at this unfortunate woman; blow after blow, causing appalling and fatal injuries.

"She left her victim in a pool of blood in the hallway; closed the door; walked back to the car she had used on her murderous mission and set off back to her home in Cheshire."

Williams, who denies the charge, is accused of recruiting a second defendant, Katrina Walsh, 56, also from Chester, to help her with the "murderous mission".

The court was told how Walsh, who denies murder, kept a "revealing" diary detailing the plot in which she said she was "unexpectedly excited" by the plan and wrote about the victim as a "totally evil" woman.

The trial continues.

The case of "unyielding, heartless cruelty" against 2-year-old Liam Fee left some jurors in tears as they listened to evidence.

12:48, UK,Wednesday 06 July 2016

The mother of toddler Liam Fee has been jailed for his murder along with her partner.

Trelfa, 31, who is also known as Fee, was jailed for life in Edinburgh and ordered to spend a minimum of 24 years in jail while her civil partner, Nyomi, aged 29, was sentenced to 23-and-a-half years.

A court heard how the couple abused and neglected Liam for most of the two-year-old's life.

He died from a blow to his abdomen at his home near Glenrothes, Fife, on 22 March 2014 resulting in heart injuries described as similar to those found on road crash victims.

The pair, originally from Ryton, Tyne and Wear, were convicted of Liam's death following a seven-week trial at the high court in Livingston.

They were also found guilty of horrific cruelty against two boys in their care, one of whom they tried to blame for Liam's death.

Judge Lord Burns told the couple they had subjected the children to "a cruel and pitiless regime of ill treatment and neglect".

"In the case of Liam, that treatment included the assault which caused his death."

The post-mortem examination, he added, showed Liam had been "subjected to a prolonged course of violent behaviour".

The case, described as one of "unyielding, heartless cruelty" was one of the worst ever heard in a Scottish court - some jurors were in tears as they heard evidence.

Jurors heard that there had been an increase in violence towards the blond-haired, blue-eyed boy leading up to his death, including the pair not getting help for Liam when they knew he had a broken leg and fractured arm.

Their "callous indifference" to his injuries would have left the child in agony, but the killers did not seek medical aid, looking online instead to see "how do you die of a broken hip" and "how long can you live with a broken bone?".

The couple showed little emotion as they were told how long they would spend in prison.

Liam's father, Joseph Johnson, who was in court, looked straight ahead as the sentences were handed down.

The baby boy had to be resuscitated after being discovered by security staff just after midnight in an A&E department.

14:51, UK,Wednesday 06 July 2016

060716 UK Ambulance outside the Royal Albert Edward Infirmary in Wigan

A 31-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a newborn baby was found in hospital toilets.

The abandoned infant had to be resuscitated after being discovered by security staff just after midnight at Wigan's Royal Albert Edward Infirmary.

The A&E department, where the discovery was made just after midnight, was closed for a time but has now reopened.

"This is an awful situation, I am just so happy I am able to say that the baby boy is doing well," said Detective Inspector Martin Reddington.

"We are appealing for anyone who may have been in the A&E department between 7pm and midnight and perhaps saw a man and a woman in and around the toilets or saw anything unusual to get in touch with police as soon as possible.

"I would like to take this opportunity to praise the staff at the Royal Albert Infirmary.

"Without doubt their heroic actions saved the life of this newborn baby."

The chief executive of Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust, Andrew Foster said: "I would like to thank all staff who were involved for their professionalism and calmness during the incident, particularly the diligent member of staff who discovered the baby and raised the alarm.

"I'm very proud of the way our staff worked.

"Their quick response without doubt saved the baby's life."

Anyone with information is asked to call police on 0161 856 7124, or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.

Friday, 1 July 2016

Ian Watkins was arrested in 2012 and jailed a year later but the IPCC says police received information about him in 2008.

12:08, UK,Friday 01 July 2016

Three police officers face misconduct hearings over the handling of abuse allegations against Lostprophets' singer Ian Watkins.

The hearings come after Watkins was jailed for 35 years in 2013 for serious child sexual offences.

Watkins, 36, was arrested in 2012 and accused of attempting to rape an 11-month old child and encouraging a fan to abuse her own child.

However, the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said South Wales Police was given information about Watkins back in 2008.

An IPCC investigator has recommended that a detective sergeant has a case to answer for gross misconduct.

It is alleged the officer did not take sufficient action to progress enquiries, and contributed to allegations from a main witness being treated as unfounded.

The IPCC investigator also found that two detective constables have a case to answer for misconduct.

It is alleged they did not undertake all reasonable and practicable lines of enquiry.

Watchdog officials added that they have also recommended a further case to answer for gross misconduct against the detective sergeant's "lack of action" about reports that a 15-year-old girl was raped.

The allegations concerning Watkins and the teenager did not feature in his prosecution.

However, a court was told about Watkins's fantasies with underage girls as well as a disturbing encounter with a teenage fan.

Watkins had originally denied any wrongdoing - claiming he had been "framed" by jealous groupies.

However, he changed his plea just moments before his trial was due to start and admitted 13 child sex offences.

Cardiff Crown Court judge Mr Justice Royce handed the shamed rocker a 29-year prison term - with a further six years on licence.

Watkins later launched an appeal against the length of his sentence, but it was dismissed by a panel of judges.

The two suspects are currently serving whole life sentences for the murder of an entire family whose bodies were dumped at sea.

11:30, UK,Thursday 30 June 2016

Convicted killers Kenneth Regan and William Horncy

Two convicted killers have been named by police as prime suspects in an unsolved murder case dating back more than 20 years.

Kenneth Regan and William Horncy are believed to be responsible for the death of 53-year-old Michael Schallamach, from Southampton, who disappeared in April 1992.

They are currently serving whole life sentences for the murder of the Chohan family in 2003.

A Hampshire Police spokesman said: "Armajit Chohan was murdered by Regan and Horncy to steal his freight business so they could use it as a front for drug running.

"They also murdered Armarjit's 25-year-old wife Nancy and their two young sons, 18-month-old Devinder and two-month-old Ravinder along with Nancy's 51-year-old mother Charanjit Kaur.

"Hampshire Constabulary's Major Investigation Team now believe that Regan and Horncy murdered Michael Schallamach 10 years before."

The spokesman went on: "At the time of Mr Schallamach's disappearance the police and his family were told by his associates that he had run away with another woman to live in Europe or Nigeria.

"His wife Yvonne even received a handwritten letter sent from France from a person, allegedly called Helen, stating they had run off together."

Officers will be appearing on the BBC's Crimewatch Roadshow on Thursday in a bid to identify the letter writer and appeal for information about Mr Schallamach's disappearance.

Detective Chief Superintendent Ben Snuggs said: "Mr Schallamach's family have spent almost a quarter of a century not knowing what happened to him and I'm appealing for the public to help us finally solve this long-running murder inquiry."

The Old Bailey trial heard that the Chohan family disappeared from their Hounslow home in February 2003.

Regan, a convicted drug dealer who was a police informant, planned to take over Mr Chohan's successful CIBA freight company to use it for importing drugs.

He lured him to Stonehenge, Wiltshire, and forced him to sign over his company before murdering him.

The rest of the family had been killed and buried at a farm in Tiverton, Devon and the bodies later taken out to sea and dumped.

The bodies of Mr Chohan and his wife were found in the water off Bournemouth, while Mrs Kaur was found off the Isle of Wight.

The victim, a 36-year-old woman, was attacked by a man near a pub in Leeds city centre in the early morning.

07:35, UK,Friday 01 July 2016

CCTV Appeal After Serious Sexual Assault

Police have released a CCTV image of a man they want to identify in connection with a serious sexual assault on a woman in Leeds.

Shortly before 6am on Thursday, police received a report of a woman being attacked by a man near to The Palace pub, in the Kirkgate area of the city.

Officers found the 36-year-old victim and she is now being looked after by specialist officers.

The incident is being investigated as a serious sexual assault and inquiries are ongoing.

The suspect is described as a black male, late 40s, short hair, wearing a blue shirt and black trousers and carrying two bags.

Detective Inspector Charlotte Hails, of Leeds CID, said: "The CCTV image is quite recognisable and we would like to hear from anyone who thinks they know who this man is to assist us with our enquiries.

"Anyone who witnessed the incident or who has any information that could assist the investigation is asked to contact Leeds District CID via 101 quoting log number 204 of June 30 or call the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111."

The judge told Stephen Beadman that the pain he had caused the 15-year-old "is truly horrifying to contemplate".

17:09, UK,Friday 01 July 2016

A former landscape gardener who raped and murdered 15-year-old Kayleigh Haywood after holding her prisoner has been jailed for life.

Stephen Beadman killed Kayleigh after she was groomed online and lured to the home of his neighbour Luke Harlow.

Beadman will serve a minimum of 35 years for rape, false imprisonment and murder.

Mrs Justice Cox, sentencing at Nottingham Crown Court, told Beadman: "The pain, terror and anguish that would have been suffered by this young girl is truly horrifying to contemplate."

Harlow, 28, was sentenced to 12 years for falsely imprisoning and grooming Kayleigh.

Stephen Beadman, murdered Kayleigh Haywood

He sexually abused Kayleigh after tricking her into going to his house without her parents' knowledge.

He then invited in Beadman, the judge said, and they kept her captive for over five hours.

They were both found guilty earlier this week of falsely imprisoning the 15-year-old in the hours before she was killed on 15 November.

Mrs Justice Cox told the pair: "The case has shown once again the dangers to which young users of social media are exposed, to the grief and bewilderment of unsuspecting parents."

Harlow, who labelled himself a "professional serial killer" on Twitter, pleaded guilty to grooming and engaging in sexual activity with Kayleigh.

He also admitted attempting to meet two other teenagers after grooming them online, sending messages the judge described as "chilling".

Beadman, 29, admitted murder and rape but denied holding the schoolgirl prisoner before attacking her after she fled Harlow's house.

Kayleigh was seen pinned to the ground by Beadman in the early hours of 15 November outside Harlow's house in Ibstock, Leicestershire.

KAYLEIGH HAYWOOD murder. Defendant Luke Harlow

She was then marched barefoot to a forest park.

Beadman told police he had used a brick as a weapon, and searched online for "lime pit" after killing Kayleigh, from Measham.

Her body was found three days later, hidden in a hedge near a stream, after an extensive police search.

There were so many serious injuries to Kayleigh's face that she had to be identified through dental records, the judge told the court.

Kayleigh's parents said: "We cannot begin to find the words to describe how we feel or how we continue to get through each minute of every day."

In a statement released after Beadman and Harlow were found guilty of false imprisonment, Kayleigh's mother said: "We are all heartbroken and devastated, our hearts have been torn apart.

"We ask ourselves every day, why? Why Kayleigh? Why did this happen to our beautiful daughter?"