|
UK > History > 2010 > Violence (II)
London fears
new wave of gang deaths
Boy's death pushes year's teenage murder toll to 19
David Cameron warned cuts will unleash 'era of terror'
Thursday 30 December 2010
21.57 GMT
Guardian.co.uk
Sam Jones
This article was published on guardian.co.uk
at 21.57 GMT
on Thursday 30
December 2010.
A version appeared on p8
of the Main section section of the Guardian
on Friday
31 December 2010.
It was last modified at 00.02 GMT
on Friday 31 December 2010.
Fears are growing that the number of teenage killings in London is back on
the rise after the fatal shooting and stabbing of a 17-year-old boy yesterday
took the toll for this year to 19.
Scotland Yard figures show that although teenage murders are well down from a
high of 29 in 2008, they are significantly up on last year, when 15 teenagers
died violent deaths.
Of the 19 adolescents who have been murdered this year, all but two were stabbed
or shot.
Lucy Cope, the founder of the campaign group Mothers Against Guns, said she was
not at all surprised that the number of teenage murders was rising. "It's the
young gang members," she said. "They're reckless, they're fearless and they
scare the older members."
Cope accused the prime minister, David Cameron, of failing to deliver on his
promises to tackle the problem and warned that the coalition's public spending
cuts would unleash "an era of terror".
She said: "What do they think is going to happen? This is just the tip of the
iceberg. Once the cuts come in, crime is going to soar and there will be no
resources to deal with it."
Detectives investigating the murder of the latest victim said he was found on
the fourth floor stairwell of Gannet House on the Pelican estate in Peckham,
south-east London, a little after 4.30pm yesterday .
An ambulance crew pronounced him dead at the scene 45 minutes later. Two other
male teenagers, aged 17 and 18, were treated for stab wounds, and police believe
the three attacks are linked.
Three males two 17-year-olds and an 18-year-old have been arrested as part
of the case, which is being investigated by officers from Operation Trident, the
Metropolitan police unit that tackles violent crime in London's black community.
A woman who lives on the estate told reporters the area was dangerous and urged
police to increase routine patrols. The mother of two, who did not want to be
named, said problems with gangs had returned after seemingly ending a few years
ago.
Jenny Jones, a member of the London assembly and the Metropolitan police
authority, said she feared cuts might further damage deprived areas where gang
violence was already problem.
"Everything that the government is doing is just making things worse for the
kids on these estates," she said. "What they need is education and entertainment
to distract them from getting into these violent groups. It's not a police
problem; it's a social problem."
The mayor of London, Boris Johnson, promised to crack down on soaring teenage
crime when he was elected in 2008.
Kit Malthouse, the deputy mayor of policing, said today that although progress
had been made, far more still needed to be done.
"While the numbers of teenagers dying on our streets is well down from two years
ago, it does not lessen the shock of this horrible incident," he said.
"We have not had a teenage murder in the city for a couple of months, but this
tragedy reminds us that we still have a problem with the minority of teenagers
embroiled in gang culture and serious crime, who have no respect for life or
indeed themselves.
"The mayor and I remain committed to doing everything in our power to tackle
youth violence and bring long-term change.
"While we are having some success, I am under no illusion that this is a mission
that will take some time to complete."
The Met also acknowledged there were no easy answers to the problems of youth
violence. "We have always said we are in this for the long haul and can only
tackle these issues working alongside all the communities in London," said
Commander Simon Pountain.
"The message to people who commit violence is clear we will come after you and
you will be arrested."
In May 2008, the mayor and the Metropolitan police launched Operation Blunt 2,
an initiative designed to tackle serious youth violence by taking thousands of
weapons off the streets, arresting offenders and working with different
communities to dissuade young people from carrying guns and knives.
The figures are likely to re-open the debate on knife crime. Earlier this month,
it emerged that the Conservatives had decided to drop a manifesto pledge to
introduce mandatory prison sentences for those caught carrying knives.
In June, the prime minister appointed the former EastEnders actor Brooke
Kinsella whose brother, Ben, was stabbed to death in 2008 to examine schemes
designed to stop young people carrying and using knives.
London fears new wave of
gang deaths, G, 30.12.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/30/london-gang-deaths-david-cameron
Police question Joanna Yeates landlord
Chris Jefferies, 65, arrested on suspicion of murder
Two cars removed from building where both lived
Detectives continue to appeal for information
Thursday 30 December 2010
13.20 GMT
Guardian.co.uk
Steven Morris and Caroline Davies
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 13.20 GMT
on Thursday 30
December 2010.
It was last modified at 13.21 GMT
on Thursday 30 December 2010.
It was first published at 13.05 GMT
on Thursday 30 December 2010.
Detectives are questioning the landlord of the landscape architect Joanna
Yeates after arresting him on suspicion of her murder.
Police arrested Chris Jefferies, 65, just after 7am at his flat, which is above
Yeates's ground-floor home in Clifton, Bristol.
Two cars were later removed from outside the building. One is believed to have
belonged to Jefferies, a former English teacher at nearby Clifton College.
Forensic examination of the building where they both lived was stepped up.
A spokesman for Avon and Somerset police said: "Just after 7am this morning,
police attended an address in Canynge Road and arrested a 65-year-old man on
suspicion of murder.
"He has been taken into custody at a police station within the Avon and Somerset
force area and detained for questioning.
"Detectives investigating Joanna's murder are continuing to carry out forensic
examinations, and are also continuing to appeal for anyone with any information
that can help the inquiry to call the Operation Braid incident room."
Yeates's family said they were pleased progress appeared to have been made in
the case. Her father, David, an IT worker from Ampfield in Hampshire, said: "At
this time our focus is still with Jo. At the end of the day, obviously I'm not
happy because my daughter is still dead. But we are pleased the police have made
an arrest as they have been working very hard to make progress in this case.
"During the investigation police have not told us everything they have
discovered but we understand there are certain things they cannot reveal."
Yeates's mother, Theresa, added: "We are very pleased there has been an arrest."
It emerged yesterday that Jefferies had claimed to have seen three people, one
of whom he believed was Yeates, leaving her flat on the night she disappeared.
Neighbours revealed Jefferies had said he saw the three figures as he pulled up
outside her flat at around 9pm on Friday 17 December, about 15 minutes after
police believe she arrived home.
Police immediately confirmed they were treating what Jefferies had told them as
a line of inquiry.
But when interviewed by reporters on his doorstep, Jefferies claimed that what
he had said to police was vaguer than had been reported.
"I definitely cannot say that I saw Joanna Yeates that evening. No," he said.
He added: "Everything I am aware of I have told the police and I don't really
want to talk about it."
Jefferies' claim that he had seen three figures leaving Yeates's flat appeared
to be crucial as it would have been the last sighting of her.
CCTV footage shows her buying a pizza from a Tesco shop five minutes walk from
her home at 8.40pm. Neither the pizza nor its packaging has been found, though
the receipt for it was in her flat.
Other puzzles include why Yeates apparently left her coat, keys, purse and
bankcards in her flat.
Yeates was reported missing on Sunday 19 December when her boyfriend, Greg
Reardon, returned to the flat they shared. Her body was found on a roadside
verge three miles away on Christmas morning and a postmortem revealed she had
been strangled.
Police appear to have intensified forensic examination of the building where
both Yeates and Jefferies lived. Yesterday they took away the blue front door
from her flat for analysis.
A resident, Tony Buss, 51, said that one of the cars towed away by police
belonged to Jefferies. "Today's news is a shock and surprise," he said.
Another neighbour, a 26-year-old man who did not want to be named, said: "It's
all been pretty scary, especially for my girlfriend as I'm away most of the
week. We chose the area of Clifton to live in because we thought it was safe."
Referring to Jefferies, he said: "We see him all the time on the road."
Police question Joanna
Yeates landlord, G, 30.12.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/30/police-question-joanna-yeates-landlord
Two held over 15-year-old boy's death in east London
Police awaiting outcome of postmortem examination of youth who was found dead in
bath on Christmas Day
Sunday 26 December 2010
21.27 GMT
Guardian.co.uk
Staff reporter
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 21.27 GMT on Sunday 26 December
2010.
A version appeared on p15 of the Main section section of the Guardian on Monday
27 December 2010.
It was last modified at 00.02 GMT on Monday 27 December 2010.
Detectives areawaiting the outcome of a postmortem examination of a
15-year-old boy who was found dead in a bath on Christmas Day.
He was discovered apparently drowned and with a number of other injuries at a
block of flats in Newham, east London.
A 27-year-old man and a 27-year-old woman were arrested.
police said that they remained in custody in two separate police stations in
east London.
The Metropolitan police said that its officers were called by the London
Ambulance Service to the property following reports of a drowning just after
midday on Saturday.
The road contains a number of tall blocks of flats with secure door entry
systems beside a park.
Officers found tThe boy was pronounced dead at the scene.
Detectives from the Met's homicide and serious crime command are investigating
and treating the death as suspicious.
Reports said that at least one of those arrested is related to the teenager, and
the death was described as a "domestic incident".
The Newham Recorder reported that people in the area were "stunned" by news of
the death.
Two held over
15-year-old boy's death in east London, G, 26.12.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/26/two-held-boy-death-london
Joanna Yeates's body found, police confirm
Death of Bristol architect treated as suspicious after her body was found
Christmas morning three miles from her home
Sunday 26 December 2010
12.01 GMT
Guardian.co.uk
Steven Morris
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 12.01 GMT on Sunday 26 December
2010.
A version appeared in the Guardian on Monday 27 December 2010.
It was last modified at 15.01 GMT on Sunday 26 December 2010.
Police have confirmed that a woman's body found at a roadside
verge near Bristol yesterday was that of the missing landscape architect Joanna
Yeates. Officers said they were treating the death as "suspicious" and continued
to search the area where the body was found, three miles from Yeates's flat in
Clifton. A postmortem is taking place today but the results are not expected to
be known until tomorrow because of the freezing conditions in which the body was
found.
An Avon and Somerset police spokesman said: "While a formal identification
procedure is yet to be completed, police are satisfied that the body is that of
25-year-old landscape architect Joanna Yeates, who went missing during the
weekend before Christmas."
Yeates had not been seen or heard from following an evening out with colleagues
in Bristol. Her boyfriend Greg Reardon, 27, reported her missing two days later
after returning home to their flat from a weekend visiting his family in
Sheffield, to find her keys, telephone, handbag and coat but no sign of Yeates.
The police spokesman said: "A postmortem examination has been taking place in
Bristol today. However, because of the extreme freezing conditions in which
Joanna's body was found, it is unlikely that any findings from this will be
known until tomorrow (Monday) at the earliest."
"Officers are, however, treating Joanna's death as suspicious at this stage but
will not be able to discuss this further until the results of the postmortem are
known. The police are once again appealing for information, in particular to
help fill in the gap between Joanna's disappearance and the discovery of her
body."
A couple walking their dogs found the body on Longwood Lane in Failand, three
miles west of Yeates's flat. The spokesman added: "Officers are keen to hear
from people who may have seen anything or anyone acting suspiciously over the
past week in the Longwood Lane area.
"Police are expected to be continuing their fingertip search in the Longwood
Lane area throughout today and possibly longer." Chief Superintendent Jon
Stratford said: "Our heartfelt condolences go out to Joanna's family for their
loss. We have not stopped working hard throughout the Christmas period to find
their daughter after she was reported missing."
"Now we will work just as hard to discover exactly what happened to her and how
she came to be in Longwood Lane on Christmas morning.
"Until the postmortem examination is able to firmly establish how Joanna died,
we are keeping an open mind about the cause of her death. However, I would
appeal to anyone with any information whatsoever that can help this
investigation to please come forward and help us provide Joanna's parents with
the answers they so desperately want and need."
Her family and Reardon made emotional appeals for information about her, but
came to believe she had been abducted.
Yeates was last seen leaving the Ram pub in Park Street, near Bristol city
centre, at about 8pm on 17 December. She shopped in Waitrose on the way where
she was caught on CCTV and then rang her best friend to arrange to meet on
Christmas Eve.
She then went on to the Tesco Express on Regent Street, a quarter of a mile from
her flat on Canynge Road, Clifton. Officers released footage of her buying a
pizza in the supermarket.
There was no trace of the pizza, the wrapping or the box in the flat even
though other personal items, including her mobile phone, were inside.
When her body was found it was clothed and covered in snow. A white tent was set
up on the spot close to the Bristol City FC training ground. A pathologist
attended to examine the body before it was moved as darkness fell.
Police immediately informed Yeates's family that a body had been found. Her
father David, 63, said yesterday he and his family were "just waiting now for
the police to tell us what we suspect".
"Of course, we don't know for sure that it's her, but we assume that it is," Mr
Yeates said. "Nobody else has been reported missing and it's the body of a young
girl close to where Jo disappeared.
"It hasn't been a Christmas for us. I don't know what it's been. It's been
surreal, totally unreal."
Yeates said that if the body found was his daughter's, he "would be relieved" as
her family assumed that she was dead. "We don't want to go to our graves
wondering where she is and not being given the chance to say goodbye to her," he
said. "We assume that she's dead so we'd like to say goodbye
our lives have
gone."
Mr Yeates also said he had assumed that she had been abducted because of the
state the flat was found in. Thirty detectives have been working on the
investigation and are being assisted by another 40 staff, including uniformed
officers, forensic experts and search teams.
The search also triggered an unprecedented campaign using social networks.
Colleagues and friends set up a website dedicated to looking for her and invited
people to download posters to print and put on display.
Anyone who can help the investigation can call the Operation Braid incident
room on 0845 456 7000 or the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
Joanna Yeates's body
found, police confirm, G, 26.12.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/26/joanna-yeates-body-found
Joanna Yeates disappearance generates massive hunt on
Facebook
Networking sites used to spread pictures and appeals in bid to find answers to
missing architect's whereabouts
Robin McKie
Guardian.co.uk
Saturday 25 December 2010
20.59 GMT
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 20.59 GMT on Saturday 25
December 2010.
The search for Joanna Yeates triggered an unprecedented
campaign using social networks. Colleagues and friends of the 25-year-old set up
a website dedicated to looking for her.
Users could download posters of the landscape architect to print and put up in
windows, watch CCTV footage of Ms Yeates as she left Tesco Express after buying
a pizza on the night of her disappearance, and sign up to a Twitter campaign.
Users of Facebook were also asked to replace their own profile picture with one
of Ms Yeates. In the picture she is seen holding the black-and-white cat Bernard
that she and her boyfriend Greg Reardon bought last year.
Her best friend, Rebecca Scott, spoke to her as she made her way home from a
Bristol pub on Friday, 17 December she was the last known person to talk to
her. "We are desperate to find her," Ms Scott told reporters. "This is totally
out of character for Jo."
Ms Yeates studied landscape design and horticulture at Writtle Agricultural
College, Essex, before taking a master's degree at Winchester University.
Earlier this month she celebrated the second anniversary of her relationship
with Mr Reardon, who is 27 and a fellow landscape architect.
The couple recently moved in together and shared a one-bedroom rented Clifton
flat where last Sunday Mr Reardon discovered her handbag, keys, mobile phone
and coat but no sign of his girlfriend. He had spent the weekend with his family
in Sheffield and was expecting to find her at their flat. Police were alerted
48 hours after she had last been seen by friends.
On the Friday in question, Ms Yeates had spent the early evening with colleagues
from the Building Design Partnership, for which she worked, at the Ram pub in
Park Street, near the city centre. She left at 8pm and shortly afterwards phoned
Ms Scott. The pair arranged to meet for Christmas Eve drinks. Then Ms Yeates
stopped at Tesco Express in Clifton village where she bought a pizza. The
receipt was found in the flat, but there was no sign of the pizza or its
packaging. Later Chief Inspector Gareth Bevan, of Avon and Somerset police, was
photographed holding a Tesco Finest tomato, mozzarella and basil pesto pizza,
like the one bought by Ms Yeates. "Does anyone know where this is?" he asked the
public.
Last Thursday, Ms Yeates's parents issued a harrowing appeal for information
about their daughter. "I have got to believe that she's alive. If the
inevitable
if it turns out she isn't, I still want her back. I still want to
hold her one last time," David Yeates told reporters. He also appealed to any
abductor. "If you have, if she is dead, then please tell somebody where she is."
Teresa Yeates said: "I sometimes picture her, if she had for some reason
collapsed or been discarded and if she was alive in all the snow and the cold. I
just can't bear the thought of it."
Mr Reardon said: "She was my future. This Christmas was going to be our first
together. We were going to head up to Scotland for New Year's Eve. She was
really looking forward to Christmas. We had put up a tree." On the weekend of
her disappearance, Ms Yeates had been planning to bake for a party that the
couple would have held last Tuesday.
Her brother Chris handed out leaflets and put up posters around Bristol in the
hope of someone coming forward with new information. On Friday he said the
family was "in complete despair".
Ms Yeates was also remembered during midnight mass at Christ Church in Clifton
and on Christmas Eve churchgoers across Bristol prayed for her safe return.
Tonight the website (
www.helpfindjo.wordpress.com ) set up for Jo Yeates carried a link to the
story of the discovery of a woman's body and stressed that there had been no
confirmation of the identity of the woman. "This will be a terrible day, no
matter who the young lady is," it concludes. "Please save a thought for those
who will not be having a merry Christmas."
Joanna Yeates disappearance generates
massive hunt on Facebook, G, 25.11.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/dec/25/joanna-yeates-disappearance-facebook
Murder inquiry launched after 'serious incident' in Berkshire
Police close off roads in Sunningdale as witnesses reports seeing a body wrapped
in plastic in the back of a van
Wednesday 17 November 2010
18.00 GMT
Guardian.co.uk
Haroon Siddique and agencies
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 18.00 GMT on Wednesday 17
November 2010.
It was last modified at 18.02 GMT on Wednesday 17 November 2010.
A murder inquiry was under way today after a fatally injured man was found in
the back of van pulled over by police in Berkshire.
Witnesses said the victim had been badly beaten, wrapped in plastic and was
barefoot. Police said he was "seriously injured" when he was discovered in the
van on London Road, Sunningdale.
Attempts were made to save his life but he is understood to have died shortly
after being found.
Thames Valley police said four men were arrested on suspicion of murder.
Television pictures showed a green tarpaulin thrown over what appeared to be a
body on the pavement beside a white van. Police officers and vehicles were
positioned on the road, which was cordoned off.
Witnesses said the van was pulled over by police without a chase. Three men said
to be in their 40s or 50s were told to lie on the ground. No shots were fired
and there was no struggle but a fourth man ran off before being caught,
according to the witnesses.
Amanda Bealin, a secretary from estate agency Hamptons, said the incident took
place between 2pm and 3pm near her branch.
"The police took three people out of the van and cuffed them on the floor, then
they opened up the back and there was two bodies there," she said.
She added that she believed a fourth man in the front of the van fled the scene
as the others were being held.
Marketing manager John McCann, 38, said his wife Samantha, 38, saw the incident
unfold as she walked to a cafe nearby. "As she came out from an alleyway on to
the road she bumped into somebody who was one of the armed suspects," he said.
"She noticed that there were three others already in custody, handcuffed by
police and surrounded, and this guy was running away.
"The man was eventually caught and she thinks four people were eventually taken
into custody.
"She said that in the white van there was one body and another man seriously
injured. An air ambulance was called, but apparently he did not survive."
David Redding-Lang, 52, landlord of the Sunningdale Lounge, saw the drama unfold
outside his pub.
He said: "I saw the police chasing someone down the road. There were three other
men on the ground. I later saw the police bring back the fourth man."
The men being held were in their 40s or 50s, according to Redding-Lang. He added
that they appeared not to be struggling and were just sitting, cuffed on the
floor.
He added: "I could see a body underneath the van, the van is directly opposite
and I could see the body on the floor. The person had no shoes on and was very
still."
Thames Valley and Chiltern Air Ambulance attended, along with a doctor and a
rapid response vehicle after receiving a report of "a male assaulted, breathing
shallow". The spokesman said the man was not taken to hospital but referred any
further inquiries to the police.
Murder inquiry launched
after 'serious incident' in Berkshire, G, 17.11.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/nov/17/serious-incident-berkshire
Couple jailed for allowing their adopted daughters to be
abused
Pair allowed paedophiles to attack their daughters in return for money and
favours, court hears
Friday 1 October 2010
21.12 BST
Guardian.co.uk
Helen Carter
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 21.12 BST on Friday 1 October
2010.
A version appeared on p12 of the Main section section of the Guardian on
Saturday 2 October 2010.
It was last modified at 12.24 BST on Saturday 2 October 2010.
A couple who allowed their adopted daughters to be abused by two paedophiles
were jailed today for child cruelty after a judge condemned their "deplorable
and terrible betrayal of trust".
The young sisters, from Trafford, Greater Manchester, were abused while in the
care of two friends of their parents whom they called "uncle".
Their adoptive parents, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, knew of the
abuse but did not intervene as the men "helped them with money and a car".
The 56-year-old father was also convicted of abusing the older girl over a
six-year period and was jailed for nine years at Manchester Minshull Street
crown court. His wife, 55, was jailed for five years.
The husband was ordered to sign the sex offenders register for life. The couple
had denied charges of failing to protect the children, who are now 10 and 16,
but were convicted of child cruelty in August.
Last year, paedophiles Colin Molloy and Sam Nelson were jailed for a string of
sexual offences against the two girls, which started when they were seven and
13.
Molloy, 46, admitted nine counts of raping the younger girl. Nelson, 43, pleaded
guilty to engaging in sexual activity with both. The girls complained to their
mother about the men and the father was made aware of Molloy, but they did
nothing.
Judge Jonathan Geake told them: "This was a deplorable and total failure to
protect those two girls from the risks posed. These were children adopted by you
and because of their unfortunate start in life they were probably more
vulnerable than other children."
The parents relied on babysitting, lifts home and, to some extent, cash from
Molloy and Nelson, the judge said. "You were prepared to put your own practical
convenience before their safety," he added.
"No one can know how much damage this has done to these two girls both
physically and psychologically."
Outside court, Detective Sergeant Charlotte Whalley, of Trafford Public
Protection Investigation Unit, said: "Even though these girls had the bravery to
tell an adult what was happening to them, it was allowed to continue. Thankfully
the girls were courageous enough to report the matter to the police."
The jury had watched police video interviews with the younger girl, who said she
had told her teacher last January about the abuse. She said Nelson had been
"doing rude stuff to her" at his flat after school while both parents were at
work.
The girl said: "My mum said they could not do anything because he helped them
out with money and a car."
Social services became involved when the allegations were made and removed the
children from their home, which was unfit for habitation and unsanitary. The
girls are now in foster care elsewhere.
Pauline Newman, Manchester council's director of children's services, said the
vast majority of adoptive parents did a fantastic job. She said: "This case must
not detract from that fact."
Couple jailed for
allowing their adopted daughters to be abused, G, 1.10.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/oct/01/parents-paedophiles-sentenced
Parents re-arrested over suspected 'honour' killing
Mother and father of 17-year-old Shafilea Ahmed questioned six years after
remains found by Cumbrian river
Thursday 2 September 2010
13.17 BST
Guardian.co.uk
Helen Carter
The parents of a Muslim teenager thought to have been the victim of an
"honour" killing were arrested today on suspicion of her murder, almost seven
years after she went missing.
The remains of Shafilea Ahmed, 17, from Warrington, Cheshire, were discovered by
the river Kent near Sedgwick, Cumbria, in February 2004, five months after she
disappeared from her home in Great Sankey.
After her disappearance, it emerged that the teenager had refused an arranged
marriage, and that during a visit to Pakistan to meet a prospective husband she
had swallowed bleach, causing injuries that required regular hospital treatment.
Her father, Iftikhar Ahmed, 50, later claimed she had drunk the liquid during a
power cut, mistaking it for fruit juice.
She had intended to go to university and wanted to become a lawyer.
This morning, Cheshire police arrested Shafilea's father, a taxi driver, and her
mother, Farzana Ahmed, 47, at their home. The couple are being questioned at a
police station in Runcorn.
They had previously been arrested and bailed by police on suspicion of
kidnapping in December 2004 but were never charged after the Crown Prosecution
Service said that there was insufficient evidence.
The couple had strenuously protested their innocence and claimed police had been
racist, a claim denied by investigators.
Six other members of Shafilea's extended family were also arrested in connection
with her disappearance but freed on police bail.
Her parents' arrests come in the wake of an armed robbery at their home last
month when Shafilea's mother and two of her siblings were tied up by three
masked men. Shafilea's sister Alisha Ahmed, 22, was later arrested on suspicion
of conspiracy to rob.
A Cheshire police spokeswoman said: "A 50-year-old man and a 47-year-old woman
from Warrington were arrested
on suspicion of the murder of Shafilea Ahmed in
2003."
No one has ever been charged over Shafilea's death. In January 2008, the Cumbria
coroner, Ian Smith, recorded a verdict of unlawful killing, saying she had been
the victim of "a very vile murder". Her family failed to overturn his ruling in
the high court.
During the inquest, it emerged that Shafilea had confided in her teachers that
she feared she was being forced into an arranged marriage.
The inquest was told that she had once arrived at school with a bruised neck and
a cut lip. Her parents denied any mistreatment of their daughter and said that
they were not involved in her disappearance, in September 2003.
Poignant song lyrics written by the teenager were found in her bedroom after her
disappearance.
In one song, Happy Families, she referred to a clash of cultures. "I don't
pretend like we're the perfect family no more," she wrote. "Desire to live is
burning. My stomach is turning."
In a second song, entitled I Feel Trapped, she wrote: "But came this day when
everything changed, I came home it seemed like a normal day. But sumthing wasn't
right. I feel trapped so trapped. I'm trapped."
Referring to arranged marriages, her father told the inquest: "When you look at
the children who are born here, whether they want to follow into our footsteps
or not is a different thing. I always ask to my kids, 'Whatever you decide to do
with your lives I'm fully behind you.'"
Shafilea had gone missing on two earlier occasions and her disappearance had
been reported to police both times.
The search was launched after staff at her school overheard her siblings
discussing her.
Parents re-arrested over
suspected 'honour' killing, NYT, 2.9.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/sep/02/parents-arrested-suspected-honour-killing
Crime in England and Wales at its lowest since 1981, says
survey
British Crime Survey show 43% fall since 1997 when Labour came to office
as police records confirm far fewer offences
Guardian.co.uk
Thursday 15 July 2010
18.24 BST
Alan Travis, home affairs editor
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 18.24 BST on Thursday 15 July
2010.
A version appeared on p4 of the Main section section of the Guardian on Friday
16 July 2010.
The British Crime Survey has confirmed figures shorwing that crime is falling
in England and Wales Photograph: Rex Features/ Rex Features Crime in England and
Wales fell by 9% last year to its lowest level since comparable records began in
1981, according to official figures published today.
The results of the 2010 British Crime Survey, which has estimated crime levels
based on the experience of 45,000 households since 1981, showed it dipped below
10m offences.
The continuing fall in crime in the 12 months to April this year, from a peak in
1995, is confirmed by figures showing crimes recorded by the police, which fell
by 8% to 4.3m.
The statistics show that crime has fallen by 43% since 1997, leaving Labour able
to claim that its level is lower now than when Tony Blair first entered Downing
Street.
The Conservatives, who put claims of rising crime at the centre of their Broken
Britain pre-election campaign, acknowledged that crime had been falling.
"Any reductions in crime are welcome, but we know these statistics offer a
partial picture about the true level of crime," said the home secretary, Theresa
May. "And there are many offences, including antisocial behaviour, which are not
always reported or fully recorded, but which ruin too many lives.
"Nobody should accept a situation where at least 26,000 people fall victim to
crime every day."
But the shadow home secretary, Alan Johnson, said: "We now have the bizarre
spectacle of Tory ministers trashing the official figures, which show undeniably
that crime has fallen."
The political sensitivity of the figures was highlighted by the publication of a
survey in Police Review magazine, conducted by a former chief constable, which
estimated that as many 60,000 police officers and staff could lose their jobs in
public sector cuts.
The home secretary dismissed this prediction today as "highly speculative" and
pointed out that not all savings would come from staff costs.
David Blunt, the Home Office's chief statistician, said the latest fall in the
figures might be seen as surprising because of expectations that the economic
recession would lead to an increase in crime, particularly property crime. He
said the new figures showed further substantial falls in car crime down 17%
and domestic burglary, down 9%.
Blunt said that the British Crime Survey was the best long-term measure of
trends in violent crime, which showed a significant fall between 1995 and 2005
and had changed little since then.
He said the long-term fall in crime had been seen in many developed countries
over a similar period.
Blunt acknowledged criticisms that the survey did not cover some of the more
serious violent crimes, such as homicide, rape and sexual assaults, but said
they were well documented in the police figures and the gaps in coverage did not
affect the overall trend.
Some criminologists have argued that the figures fail to capture new forms of
crime such as identity theft and online scams, but Blunt said the latest credit
card fraud figures also showed a fall for the first time.
The detailed figures show that the murder rate in England and Wales fell in
2009-10 by 6% to 615, the lowest level since 1997, although still above that of
the 1960s, when there were fewer than 400 murders a year.
Gun crime fell by 3% last year, with 39 fatal shootings, the same as in 2008-09.
These figures, however, cover the period before the recent Cumbria and
Northumberland shootings. Fatal stabbings were down from 255 to 205.
The one category which recorded an increase in the police figures was sexual
offences, which rose 6%, including a 15% rise in rapes against women.
The Home Office said the figures had to be treated with caution because the
police had recently issued new guidance to improve the recording and
investigation of rapes, which may have influenced the figures. The Association
of Chief Police Officers said it was encouraged by the increased reporting of
rape and sexual assaults.
The British Crime Survey continues to show that while people believe that crime
has fallen in their neighbourhood, 66% still believe that it has risen across
the country as a whole in the past few years. Only 10% believe they live in a
high-crime area: "This suggests that the public have a more realistic view of
crime in their local area," it concludes.
One worrying aspect of the figures is that while the overall number of crimes
has fallen, the police detection rate is falling even faster.
Crime in England and
Wales at its lowest since 1981, says survey, G, 15.7.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/15/crime-figures-fall-bcs-survey
Raoul Moat killed by single gunshot in standoff with police
Britain's most wanted man fatally shoots himself after six-hour confrontation
with armed officers
Saturday 10 July 2010 16.50 BST
Helen Carter, Mark Townsend and Martin Wainwright
Guardian.co.uk
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 16.50 BST on Saturday 10 July
2010.
It was last modified at 16.50 BST on Saturday 10 July 2010.
A tense, six-hour standoff between armed police and Raoul Moat, Britain's
most wanted man, ended early this morning when the fugitive shot himself.
At 1.15am a single gunshot was heard at the scene of the standoff and officers
were reported to have surrounded Moat and jumped on him. In a statement, the
police said "no shots were fired by police officers" and it "appears the suspect
shot himself".
An ambulance reportedly sped from the scene, taking the former nightclub
bouncer, 37, to a Newcastle hospital. He was pronounced dead at 2.20am.
Having evaded capture for almost a week, Moat had been surrounded by police
snipers in the Northumberland village of Rothbury while he pointed a shotgun at
his own neck.
He was wanted over the shooting of his ex-girlfriend Samantha Stobbart and the
fatal shooting of her partner, Chris Brown, last Saturday, followed by the
shooting of PC David Rathband on Sunday.
Just after 7pm yesterday Moat made a break from his hiding place near Cragside,
about 300 metres from Rothbury. Witnesses described him walking along the bank
of the River Coquet when two police officers approached him.
Within moments Moat was said to have gone down flat on his stomach and put a
sawn-off shotgun to his neck, his finger apparently on the trigger. In seconds
he was surrounded by 10 marksmen.
Trained police negotiators tried to talk with Moat, who was in a highly agitated
state and shouting at officers who ordered him to lie on the ground.
Marksmen trained their guns and Tasers on him, while snipers lay on the banks of
the river behind an armoured police vehicle. An RAF Tornado plane with infra-red
equipment roared overhead.
As daylight faded, police sent in food and water to try to help develop a
rapport. It was reported that Moat's friend Tony Laidler had arrived to try to
assist with negotiations.
As torrential rain poured on the scene, the deadlock was broken at 1.15am when a
single shot was heard, followed by the sound of shouting.
Peter Abiston was watching Moat throughout: "There are about 20 armed officers
lying down pointing weapons at him. He looks very calm. It looks as though the
police clearly have it under control."
Chris Robertson said he thought he had seen Moat holding a gun to his neck.
"There was a man down by the river with what appeared to be a sawn-off shotgun
pointing to his own neck. He was about 150 yards away. I wasn't sure it was
Moat. Then the police came and pointed their rifles at him."
The temporary chief constable of Northumbria police, Sue Sim, said: "While the
incident has been brought to a close we must be mindful of the impact it has had
on many lives. Our thoughts are with the family and friends of those affected.
"I'd like to thank the public, particularly the community of Rothbury, for their
continued help throughout the inquiry. This has been a difficult time for them
and their support has been invaluable."
The force also confirmed that the incident had been referred to the Independent
Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) because officers had had contact with Moat
prior to his death.
The IPCC commissioner, Nicholas Long, said: "Early indications show that
gunshots were not fired by police officers and this will of course form part of
the IPCC independent investigation. It is also understood that a police officer
did discharge a Taser and our investigation will also look at this."
Sim later confirmed that a stun gun had been fired, "however, this did not
prevent [Moat's] death".
The independent police watchdog is already investigating whether Northumbria
police took adequate action after they received a warning from Durham prison,
following Moat's release on 1 July, that he might intend to cause serious harm
to Stobbart.
Moat had remained at large for almost a week, allegedly aided by friends and
associates. Six people have been arrested in connection with the investigation
so far and two have already appeared before magistrates charged with conspiracy
to commit murder and possession of a firearm.
Hundreds of officers were involved in the search, with 14 additional forces
brought in, including 40 officers from the Metropolitan police's C019 sniper
unit and 20 armoured police cars shipped in from Northern Ireland.
Throughout the inquiry, Northumbria police remained convinced Moat was in the
area, despite cynicism as the search went on. Local sources believe Moat may
have been sleeping rough in a storm drain that runs beneath the town.
In a surreal development, the former England and Newcastle footballer Paul
Gascoigne turned up at the police cordon in an intoxicated state last night,
claiming to be a friend of Moat and offering to give the fugitive assistance.
Moat's uncle, a former paratrooper, said that he also called police and offered
to help negotiations.
Charles Alexander, 72, who served in the Paras for 18 years, said he was "the
nearest thing [Moat] had to a father".
Mr Alexander, who now expects to have to identify his nephew's body, said: "I
just can't believe it has come to this. I was praying he would hand himself in.
"What he has done is terrible, but he didn't deserve death. I just wish that
police had let me go to him.
"I rang the police at 11 o'clock to ask them to take me to him as I knew I could
make a difference. They brought one of his friends in but he was upset about
family it was family he needed."
Mr Alexander added: "What is most upsetting is that now we'll never know why it
happened and what made him crack."
The main approach to the town remains cut off today as police continue forensic
work on the banks of the Coquet.
Apart from the site of the shooting, most police attention today was focussed on
the large storm drain, or culvert, which threads under the centre of Rothbury,
helping relieve the River Coquet after heavy rain. There is speculation that
Moat may have used the storm drains to evade capture.
Shops and pubs in the village remain unusually quiet for a summer weekend with
just a scattering of people in the High Street, overseen by dozens of police.
The big difference is that none are armed, and the siege atmosphere of the last
week has gone.
"It's just great to be able to bring the children down here to the town centre,"
said lawyer Helen Woodford, who moved to Rothbury two years ago with her husband
Martin "for the peace and quiet". "Since then things have never stopped
happening. Snow, floods and now, to cap everything, this."
Martin Woodford, also a lawyer, expressed relief at the end of the siege.
He said: "It's a relief, although sad that they didn't succeed in avoiding a
death. We've found the police very good and helpful, though there are clearly
questions to be asked about the investigation. But it's always easy to be
critical with hindsight. Let's wait and see what the independent inquiry turns
up."
Volunteers opened Rothbury United Reform church for the day, offering a steady
flow of local people a cup of tea and the chance to share experiences and
feelings about the week. One volunteer, William Flett, said: "We've come through
because this is a very solid community."
He added: "The police were stunning. These were young people who had been told
that they were being targeted, but they were endlessly cheerful as well as
efficient. I think 99.9% of people in Rothbury will tell you that."
Raoul Moat killed by
single gunshot in standoff with police, G, 10.7.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/10/raoul-moat-fatal-standoff-police
an hunted over double shooting
Northumbria police warn public not to approach Raoul Thomas Moat, 37,
who is believed to have shot his ex-girlfriend before killing her new lover
Saturday 3 July 2010
19.31 BST
Guardian.co.uk
Press Association
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 19.31 BST on Saturday 3 July
2010.
A version appeared in the Observer on Sunday 4 July 2010.
Police havr warned the public not to approach Raoul Thomas Moat. Photograph:
Northumbria Police/PA A police manhunt was under way tonight for a gunman who is
believed to have shot his ex-girlfriend before killing her new lover.
Northumbria police named Raoul Thomas Moat, 37, from Newcastle, as the man they
want to find in connection with the incident. He was released from Durham prison
on Thursday having served a sentence for assault.
Police warned the public that he should not be approached.
Detective Superintendent Steve Howes, who is leading the investigation, said the
attack at a house in Scafell, Birtley, near Gateshead, was motivated by a grudge
against the couple.
He warned members of the public not to approach Moat, who is on the run and is
believed to be armed.
It is understood that Moat was previously in a relationship with the injured
woman, who was in the house in Scafell with her current partner when the
shooting took place at around 2.40am today.
Police were alerted to a disturbance in the Scafell area and when emergency
services arrived they found a man lying on a grassy area opposite the house.
The man, who is believed to be in his late 20s or early 30s and has not been
named, was pronounced dead at the scene.
The injured woman is thought to be in her 20s. Sources said she was injured when
a shot was fired through the living room window of her home. This incident is
said to have prompted her partner to leave the house and he was shot dead around
50 metres from the front door.
Det Supt Howes said: "I would like to stress that this is not a random attack
and that the people involved are all known to each other.
"We believe the offender targeted his victims because of a grudge he held
against them."
He added: "We would urge anyone who has any information about this incident or
the whereabouts of the offender to call police immediately. He should not be
approached."
He said a significant number of officers were involved with the search for Moat.
"We are trying to trace someone in connection with the incident and have a large
number of officers working on the case, including specialist firearms officers,"
he said.
Mary Hall, 63, a neighbour living close to the scene, said she saw the gunman
fire at the young woman through the living room window of her home.
Mrs Hall said she could also see a woman in the house screaming, apparently on
the phone to the police, and thought it was the mother of the woman who was
shot.
"The man shot through the window and shot the girl. I saw a figure of a man with
a handgun," she told the Northern Echo.
"It's all very shocking as there are a lot of old age pensioners around here and
you don't expect this to happen."
Another local resident, who did not wish to be named, said: "I didn't see it
happen but I heard a few loud bangs that must have been gun shots.
"There was a police helicopter hovering around for a long time.
"It's a really quiet area, it's residential you know, so it's a total shock."
The exact cause of death of the man has yet to be established but police said
both he and the woman suffered injuries "believed to be consistent with a
gunshot wound".
A post-mortem examination on the dead man is due to take place later.
Man hunted over double
shooting, G, 3.7.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/03/newcastle-police-hunt-man-shooting
Five arrested over fatal stabbing of teenager Zac Olumegbon
Boy of 15 was ambushed at the gates of his school in south London, and fell
into the arms of his teacher
James Meikle, Amy Fallon and agencies
Guardian.co.uk
Saturday 3 July 2010
13.27 BST
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 13.27 BST on Saturday 3 July
2010
Zac Olumegbon, 15, from Brixton Hill in south London, was confronted by four
young men at the gates of Park Campus School in West Norwood yesterday morning.
He was stabbed several times and afterwards fell into the arms of his teacher.
He was confirmed dead shortly after arriving at hospital.
Zac's 14-year-old companion ran back to the school to seek safety after the
attack, but was also stabbed in the arm in the school grounds. He was taken to
hospital with minor injuries.
"I am now satisfied this was a planned attack, with four black males arriving in
the area in a car," said Det Ch Insp McFarlane from the Metropolitan Police
Homicide and Serious Crime Command
"Our inquiries have so far led me to believe that a confrontation took place
outside the school involving the two victims and the suspects.
"The victims were chased into Gipsy Road Gardens where, sadly, the 15-year-old
suffered fatal injuries.
"The 14-year-old then ran back to the school to seek safety, but was attacked in
the grounds of the school, suffering minor injuries.
"Following the attack the four males left in the car and headed in the direction
of Gipsy Hill."
A local shopkeeper described how Zac fell into the arms of a teacher after the
attack. "She had her hands open but it was too late and he collapsed in her
arms," said Saima Sadfdar.
"I was told there were three or four people with a big knife. Apparently one of
the teachers realised something was going on and ran out to help."
She said she knew Zac, who was "no trouble".
Zac's family was too upset to comment but his friends laid flowers near the
murder scene.
Leonie Arecha, who said she was a friend of the dead teenager, laid a bunch
of flowers at the spot where he was killed. An attached card read: "I will
always remember you. The good, the bad times no matter what. I will always miss
you and see you when I come up there."
Arecha told the Guardian: "He was my friend. We called him 'little Zac' and I
had known him about a year. He was funny, I really don't know why he was
attacked."
Park Campus was opened two years ago and hailed as the first school of its kind
in Britain, aimed at getting young people back into mainstream education.
Residents said the school had developed a reputation for trouble since it
opened. Rose Gabriel, who lives nearby, said: "We were kind of expecting
something to kick off at some point. It's a shame it had to happen like this."
All pupils at the school, which has 80 places, were kept inside for questioning
by teachers and police yesterday.
A post-mortem examination will be held at Greenwich Mortuary today.
Zac was the 13th teenager to be killed in the capital this year.
Five arrested over fatal
stabbing of teenager Zac Olumegbon, G, 3.7.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jul/03/five-arrested-stabbing-zac-olumegbon
Twelve killed in Cumbria shooting spree
Three critically injured and five more seriously wounded
Queen says she is 'deeply shocked' by shootings
Gunman takes own life after rampage in Cumbria
James Meikle and agencies
Guardian.co.uk
Wednesday 2 June 2010 16.18
This article was published on guardian.co.uk at 16.18 BST on Wednesday 2 June
2010.
It was last modified at 20.32 BST on Wednesday 2 June 2010.
Twelve people have been killed and another 25 wounded after a gunman drove
across Cumbria shooting victims in several different locations, before taking
his own life.
Police said they were investigating 30 separate crime scenes after taxi driver
Derrick Bird, 52, attacked another man in Whitehaven and then embarked upon an
apparently random shooting spree in the area.
The Queen tonight said she was "deeply shocked" by the shootings in Cumbria and
shared the country's "grief and horror".
In a statement, police confirmed that Bird shot 12 people before killing
himself. Another 25 people were wounded, three of those critically and five
severely.
The first shooting was reported at 10.35am in the port of Whitehaven. Other
incidents followed in Egremont and Seascale as police warned the public to stay
indoors.
A manhunt took place for three hours as officers attempted to track down Bird as
reports emerged of shootings in nearby locations.
Witnesses spoke of their terror as Bird drove through Whitehaven with the
shotgun hanging out of the window of his taxi.
Police said that, after leaving the town, the gunman travelled south along the
coast, shooting people in Gosforth, Seascale and Egremont before turning inland
and ending up in Boot. Officers later recovered two weapons.
Deputy Chief Constable Stuart Hyde said it was a "truly exceptional" incident.
The prime minister, David Cameron, promised the government would do everything
it could to support the "shattered communities".
Police confirmed that a body found in a wooded area near the Lake District
village of Boot was that of Bird. Two guns have been recovered. Hyde declined to
comment on speculation that the first killing occurred last night, or that Bird
had been motivated by an argument with other taxi drivers.
"The circumstances and the gravity of this demands that we have a full and
comprehensive investigation," he told reporters in Whitehaven.
He went on: "Our condolences go out to families and friends of those affected by
the horrific incidents that unfolded today. These are local people and local
police who knew the people killed and injured today.
"It's been a truly exceptional and challenging incident that Cumbria police has
had to deal with today."
He added: "This has shocked the people of Cumbria and the country to the core."
Hyde asked for witnesses to contact the police, and said that a helpline had
been set up on 0800 096 0095 for concerned relatives of those involved in the
incident. Cumbria police also set up a casualty bureau line on 0845 3300 247 and
appealed for anyone with information about Bird's movements over the last 24
hours to contact them.
Earlier, police said those who were sheltering could now venture out, and
thanked them for "their patience in incredibly difficult circumstances". They
added: "Please be aware there are a number of crime scenes across the county and
we would ask for people's patience whilst we conduct our investigations."
Cameron told the Commons: "The government will do everything it possibly can
to help the local community and those affected and to keep the House informed.
"When lives and communities are suddenly shattered in this way, our thoughts
should be with all those caught up in these tragic events, especially the
families and friends of those killed or injured."
There would be a full statement in the Commons tomorrow, he said.
Jamie Reed, the Labour MP for Copeland, said the community was exceptionally
close-knit. "This is a paralysing shock for us all, " he said.
Helen Owens, who works at the solicitors Brockbank, Cain and Hall, said one
of her colleagues saw a dead man on the street: "We heard a couple of gunshots
and the police running about.
"One of our secretaries was out at the time and she saw a guy lying dead on the
ground covered with a sheet she saw his trainers sticking out."
Bird was self-employed and lived alone, said Sue Matthews, a telephonist at
A2B Taxis in Whitehaven.
She said: "To be honest, he was a quiet fellow. I am in absolute shock ... It is
like watching something from America. I know him through work, he was
self-employed but it's a small place.
"I know he had one son, who was grown up, and he lived alone. He was a regular
in town and would have a night out.
"I would say he was fairly popular. I would see him once a week out and about.
He was known as Birdy."
Rod Davies, landlord of Gosforth Hall Inn, said the close-knit Cumbrian
communities were shaken by the tragedies.
"There's a lot of very strong feeling of absolute shock. There's a lot of fear -
a lot of people are expecting to hear names of people they know," he said.
Bird was said to be close to a fellow taxi driver he killed in Duke Street,
Whitehaven, as he started his rampage at about 10.30am.
Glenda Pears, owner of Whitehaven firm L&G Taxis, said Bird drove past one of
her female drivers immediately after the first shooting, with a gun hanging out
of his cab window.
She said: "One of our drivers saw him in the car and had to swerve to avoid him.
"He was driving, and she saw the gun. She was hysterical and had to pull over
and stop. The gun was hanging out of the window."
She said staff were all "numb" after hearing of the tragedy, and added: "We're
just in shock really. You don't expect something like this to happen in such a
small town."
She described Bird as a man who enjoyed having a joke with others on the Duke
Street rank, and said scuba diving was his hobby. He was also said travelling,
and visited Thailand each year.
Many taxi drivers wanted to distance themselves from Bird today however, with
one saying: "We don't want to be associated with scum like him."
One Whitehaven cab driver said he understood a total of three taxi drivers had
been shot, two fatally.
The man, who did not want to be named, claimed an argument broke out between
Bird and the other three men last night at the Duke Street taxi rank.
He said: "All of the taxi drivers were friends. But I heard last night there was
an argument on the taxi rank.
"I don't know what caused it, but something must have happened last night.
Derrick Bird took off in his car and went home. I don't know what time of night
it was."
He said he knew one of the victims, describing him as "a real character".
The taxi driver, who had known Bird for 10 years, added: "He was quite a
friendly person. This has been a shock to all the taxi drivers. It's just a
tragic thing."
One witness said the gunman drove up alongside him at traffic lights by
Whitehaven police station in Duke Street.
Alan Hannah, 68, of Great Broughton, told the Whitehaven News: "A car pulled up
on the left, stopping at the lights.
"I saw a man with a large shotgun and his windscreen was smashed. I drove
through the red light to get into Lowther Street and get out of the way. I got
home safely but was very shaken."
A man reported finding the body of another of Bird's victims - a woman in her
60s carrying shopping bags - outside his house in Egremont.
Billy Boakes, 23, did not see the shooting but heard two gunshots at around
11am.
He said: "I thought nothing of it at first, I thought it was just a trailer
banging as it went down the lane but then I looked out the front window two
minutes later and saw a car and a push bike parked up and thought there had been
an accident.
"I went outside and saw the body of the woman lying outside my house."
Another Egremont resident said she saw the body of a man, thought to be in his
60s, lying on a road bridge in the town.Bird crashed and dumped his car at the
Boot Inn, continuing on foot into the woods where his body was found.
Early reports suggested that Bird also killed his mother, but Cumbria police
later confirmed that she was alive and being looked after by her family.
Twelve killed in Cumbria
shooting spree, G, 2.6.2010,
http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2010/jun/02/gunman-sought-person-shot-dead-whitehaven
|
