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Paul Gambaccini: BBC DJ Held Over Sex Claims

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 02 November 2013 | 15.00

Veteran BBC broadcaster Paul Gambaccini has been arrested on suspicion of historical sexual offences.

He was held at his home in south London on Tuesday morning as part of Scotland Yard's Operation Yewtree.

The radio presenter, whose broadcasting career spans 40 years at the BBC, answered questions in police custody before being released on bail.

A BBC spokesman said Gambaccini denies the allegations against him.

"Paul Gambaccini has decided that, in light of [Friday's] media attention, he would rather not be on-air at present and we respect that decision," he said.

"Therefore, Paul will not be presenting on BBC Radio in coming weeks and replacement programmes for the period will be announced soon."

Yewtree has been investigating claims of historical sexual offences since the Jimmy Savile scandal broke last year.

Scotland Yard detectives have run the investigation in three strands - allegations involving Savile, those involving Savile and others, and those involving others.

Gambaccini was arrested under the strand known as "others", meaning the arrest is not connected to the Savile inquiry.

The DJ, one of Britain's foremost authorities on music, hosts a weekly show on BBC Radio 2.

He is the 15th person arrested under Yewtree and was bailed until January.

The presenter was highly vocal last year in the wake of Savile's years of sexual abuse being made public, and said it was known among BBC staff that the late presenter targeted vulnerable, "institutionalised" young people.

A 16th person - a 74-year-old who has not been named - was arrested at a separate address in south London on Tuesday, and also bailed until January.


 


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Pizza Delivery Driver Murder: Two Charged

Two people have been charged with the murder of pizza delivery driver Thavisha Lakindu Peiris, South Yorkshire Police have said.

Shamraze Khan, 25, of Southey Crescent, Sheffield, and a 17-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, are both due to appear at Sheffield Magistrates' Court later.

Mr Peiris had been delivering his last ever pizza when he was stabbed to death in his car in the Southey area of the city.

The 25-year-old was on his final shift before starting his dream job as an IT consultant.

He was found dead in a silver Toyota Yaris car in Southey Crescent at about 10.30pm by fellow Domino's workers who had gone looking for him after he failed to deliver his order.

His family described him as the "most caring and loving son a parent could have".

Speaking from their family home in Sri Lanka, his father Sarath Mahinda Peiris and mother Sudarma Narangoda said: "We sent our son to the UK to study so he can have a better life. Now we are left with only a broken heart.

"We were devastated and shocked to hear of our son's tragic end and we are still unable to comprehend that he is actually gone.

"Thavisha was one of the most caring and loving sons a parent could have. He was full of life and always had a smile on his face. Anyone who met him immediately liked him."

Mr Peiris came to the UK to finish an IT degree and graduated from Sheffield Hallam University in 2011.

His colleagues and police said he had been feeling unwell during his last shift and was going to go home early but agreed to deliver one last order.

Domino's Pizza has said it was funding the cost of flying his family to the UK in the coming days.

More follows...


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Cameras To Film Appeal Court After Campaign

Written By Unknown on Kamis, 31 Oktober 2013 | 15.00

By Ian Woods, Senior News Correspondent

Legal and broadcasting history will be made later when cameras are allowed to film inside the Royal Courts of Justice for the first time.

Permission has been granted to show civil and criminal cases at the Court of Appeal, although there are heavy restrictions on what can be filmed.

Cameras have been banned from courts in England and Wales since 1925.

The rules in Scottish courts are different and earlier this year cameras were allowed to film a murder trial - but only with the permission of all the participants, including the defendant.

Sky News and other broadcasters have been campaigning for a decade for cameras to be allowed to show all trials.

Cameras in court

After prolonged negotiations, the Government and the judiciary have agreed to allow cameras inside certain courtrooms.

The move has been welcomed by the Lord Chief Justice for England and Wales, Lord Thomas.

"My fellow judges and I welcome the commencement of broadcasting in the Court of Appeal," he said.

"The Court of Appeal has been open to the public and to journalists for a very long time.

"The bringing of cameras into the Court of Appeal and the recording of its proceedings will enable those to be understood much better by the public as a whole.

Cameras in courts Four remotely controlled cameras will be placed in the courtroom

"We hope it will increase confidence in the administration of justice."

Sky News, the BBC, ITN and the Press Association have co-operated on the project, and hired a video-journalist who will recommend which are the most interesting cases on a daily basis.

For now, only one courtroom per day can be televised. Matt Nicholls, an experienced court reporter, will place four remotely-controlled cameras in the courtroom before the case begins.

But he is not allowed to show anyone other than the judges and the lawyers arguing the case.

The dock, where the defendant or appellant sits, will be off-limits and there are no witnesses or jurors in the Court of Appeal.

Mr Nicholls said: "There are very strict rules on what we can and cannot shoot.

"You can't show a reaction shot of a judge. You can only show someone when they're actually speaking, so I'll be making sure I get those permitted shots.

"There's no swearing or graphic language, or anything that legally we can't broadcast."

He has the ability to censor the broadcast feed by muting the sound or cutting the video on the direction of the judges.

Cameras in courts A number of monitors will be linked to the cameras

The portable broadcasting equipment has been designed by Sky News technical staff and the control panel is housed in an oak trolley to try to blend in with the historic courtrooms in which it will sit.

Civil cases can be broadcast almost in real time, though there is a 70-second delay built into the feed to allow for contentious material to be removed.

And criminal appeals must be recorded and only broadcast if a retrial has not been ordered, in case a future jury member becomes familiar with the evidence.

Mr Nicholls added: "The judges have been very keen to see the equipment and see how it works.

"But really we don't want to impact on the court business. We've got the cameras and the equipment, but really we shouldn't be getting in the way."

Sky News Associate Editor Simon Bucks, who has led the negotiations over the introduction of cameras into court, said: "Yes it is quite limited, but it is definitely a first step.

"It's not surprising that both the politicians and the judiciary wanted to do this in baby steps and the Court of Appeal is a good place to start doing this.

"But we're really optimistic that this will work well and it won't be long before we're able to get into criminal trials, initially to hear judges deliver sentencing remarks.

"The first thing we have to do is to show that we can do this thing in the Court of Appeal responsibly and effectively."

Cameras in courts The control panel will be housed in an oak trolley

But critics fear it could open the door to American-style televised justice.

Baroness Helena Kennedy QC, a leading barrister who also became a successful broadcaster, told Sky News that while she supports cameras in the Court of Appeal, she opposes the televising of criminal trials.

"The television companies are playing a longer game here," she said.

"They want to get into the higher courts and they will behave perfectly well and most of the nation will doze off because what we lawyers do in the courts discussing the law is not that captivating.

"But they really are playing the game that they want to get into the courts where things are much juicier. What will be picked out will be the most sensational.

"It will be the most salacious and sexual cases. It will be the stuff that is dramatic and enticing and brings in viewing figures."

Andrew Walker QC is a civil law barrister who deals with appeal cases and can expect to be among the lawyers who may find themselves on camera in the months ahead.

He told Sky News that it will have little impact.

"I suspect that most people will get used to it and it will become part of the background," he said.

Cameras in courts Only those speaking will be filmed

"It's a fairly polite and rarefied atmosphere in the Appeal Court and that won't change. Judges aren't impressed by anything other than what the real issues are."

But he does not expect it to lead on to televised trials, with defendants and witness appearing on screen.

"There's been a long-running debate in America about the televising of trials and there are a lot of views both ways," he said.

"That says a lot, that even in America people are wary and see the difficulties, and here we're likely to be much more careful."

The Government says the new rules are designed to bring greater transparency to the judicial system.

Courts Minister Shailesh Vara told Sky News: "I think this is a landmark occasion for the justice system.

"I don't think we need to worry about this becoming a celebrity issue following the American route.

"For the past two years the highest court in the land, the Supreme Court, has been filmed on the internet and we haven't seen any change of behaviour of the judiciary or indeed the lawyers."

Despite the limitations, Mr Nicholls says he hopes the public will find the Appeal Court coverage "eye-opening".

"As an experienced court reporter you do get those dramatic moments in the court where someone's conviction is overturned after a lengthy legal fight, when the people learn of this decision that is going to change their lives," he said.

"Sometimes the arguments might be dry and quite weighty, but you do get those moments of drama as well. All human life is here."

Viscount Hewart, who was Lord Chief Justice for almost 20 years from 1922, originated the phrase about justice not merely being done, but being seen to be done.

Now appeal court judges can be truly be seen by everyone when they hand down their judgements.

:: Sky News will be broadcasting proceedings from inside the Court of Appeal from October 31 - watch coverage on Sky 501, Virgin Media 602, Freesat 202, Freeview 82, Skynews.com and Sky News for iPad.


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Supermarkets Announce New Petrol Price Cuts

Written By Unknown on Rabu, 30 Oktober 2013 | 15.00

By David Crabtree, Midlands Correspondent

The cost of fuel is being slashed at pumps across the UK in the latest phase of a supermarket petrol price war.

It was sparked by Asda, which is cutting prices to its lowest this year. Sainsbury's,Tesco and Morrisons have acted quickly to announce reductions.

Asda has launched a national cap on prices, saying drivers filling up at its forecourts will pay no more than 126.7p a litre for petrol or 133.7p for diesel.

Sainsbury's says it is cutting prices by up to 3p - their cheapest for two-and-a-half years.

Asda Petrol Station The cuts have been welcomed by drivers

Tesco will reduce prices by up to 2p. Morrisons will do the same "at the majority of its sites".

Quentin Wilson, from the campaign group FairFuel UK, said: "Don't get excited, everybody, because this will not stay. We will see it go up again.

"But at least now we have a much faster reflection of wholesale prices at the pump. We don't have to wait two or three or four weeks for the fuel to come down in price when we know it goes up in a heartbeat, so I'm pleased, FairFuel is pleased."

The AA has welcomed the move, saying it reflects a fall in the wholesale price of fuel, but the continued uncertainty over Libyan oil production continues to leave the market unpredictable.

An AA spokesman said: "The average price of petrol in the UK has hovered around the 132p a litre mark since mid-October, making 126.7p a very good price."

At Asda in Leamington Spa, motorists greeted the news with delight.

Susan Cooper, who drives 50 miles a day, said: "This will save me a lot of money. It is about time we had some better news with gas and electricity going up."

Supermarket Petrol Stations There are words of caution from campaigners that lower prices may not last

Another customer, Martin Cavanagh, said: "It has to be good news. I know oil and everything is a complicated commodity and that's why we get the price jumping around. Let's hope it goes low and stays low."

Oil analyst Richard Mallison said it was significant that retailers were passing on the fall in wholesale oil prices to consumers on the forecourt.

He told Sky News: "The biggest reason for supermarkets being able to slash prices at the pump has been the change in the dollar-to-pound exchange rate.

"The dollar's weakened, that's brought down the cost of oil and wholesale fuel and that's now being passed on."

But he warned that low prices may not last for long.

He said: "We've seen the UK recovery stronger than expected, we've seen the troubles with the US shutdown and debt ceiling - both of those effects might fade in terms of the exchange rate, which would then mean petrol prices starting to go up again."


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Breast Cancer Test 'Ready In Two Years'

A new test that identifies seven distinct types of breast cancer offers new hope to women with the disease, say scientists.

The tumour sample test could be available within two years and is expected to lead to more personalised treatments.

Identifying more biomarkers will help doctors tailor therapy plans that better suit their patients, avoiding over or under treatment.

Currently just two proteins are routinely identified in breast cancer cells.

One is the oestrogen receptor (ER) that makes a tumour hormone-sensitive.

The other is HER2, which is responsive to the breast cancer drug Herceptin.

Scientists funded by the Breast Cancer Campaign looked for signature biomarkers in 1,073 tumour samples from the charity's tissue bank.

They found that 93% fitted perfectly into one of seven classes. Another 7% had mixed characteristics and were harder to categorise.

Further verification of the seven cancer types was then made using another 28 tumour samples.

The seven classes are defined by different combinations and levels of 10 proteins found in breast cancer cells.

These include ER and HER2, but also others not currently tested, such as p53, cytokeratins, HER3 and HER4.

Each cancer type has a different effect on patient survival, according to the scientists whose findings are reported in the British Journal of Cancer.

Herceptin Current tests pick up HER2, which is responsive to Herceptin

Lead researcher Dr Andy Green, from the University of Nottingham, said: "With an increasing number of treatment options available for breast cancer patients, decision making regarding the choice of the most appropriate treatment method is becoming increasingly complex.

"Improvements in care and outcome for patients with breast cancer will involve improved targeting of effective therapies to appropriate patients.

"Equally important should be improvement in parallel strategies to avoid unnecessary or inappropriate treatment and side effects."

The technology needed to measure the proteins in tumour samples already exists in most pathology laboratories across the UK, he said.

Last year researchers categorised 10 different forms of breast cancer based on their underlying gene defects.

But they can only be identified using sophisticated genetic profiling, making this form of test for patients costly and impractical.

In contrast, the seven cancer test could be ready for use in the clinic in as little as two years, it is claimed.

The university-linked company Nottingham Prognostics Limited has integrated the biomarkers into its existing NPI test already used to assess information about tumour size, spread and grade.

Baroness Delyth Morgan, chief executive of the Breast Cancer Campaign, said: "The days of one-size-fits-all treatment are well and truly in the past.

"We need to ensure the life-saving and life-extending treatments we already have in the clinic are used more effectively - directing the right treatments to those who will benefit, and sparing others from unnecessary side effects, so that by 2050 we can achieve our ambition to overcome breast cancer.

"This new test could be a realistic step towards making the holy grail of personalised medicine a reality, offering hope to the 50,000 women diagnosed with breast cancer in the UK every year."


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Savile Chauffeur David Smith Found Dead

Written By Unknown on Selasa, 29 Oktober 2013 | 15.00

A former driver charged with sex offences as part of the investigation triggered by allegations of abuse against Jimmy Savile has been found dead.

David Smith, 66, was the first person to be charged by officers from the Metropolitan Police's Operation Yewtree investigation.

He had pleaded not guilty in July to two counts of indecent assault and two of gross indecency on a child following his arrest in December.

But he failed to turn up at Southwark Crown Court in London on Monday for the start of his trial, prompting police to go to his home in Effingham Road, Lewisham.

Jimmy Savile Smith had previously worked as Jimmy Savile's chauffeur

Scotland Yard said: "At approximately 14:20 officers entered the address and found the body of a man. A FME (forensic medical examiner) attended and pronounced the man dead at the scene. Next of kin are being informed."

Smith's barrister, Sandy Canavan, had told the court she was "concerned" that her solicitor had been unable to contact him ahead of the trial as she had regularly been in touch with him.

She told the court Smith was the sole carer for his elderly mother.

Police have separated the Yewtree investigation into three parts, the first concerned with the actions of Savile, while the second concerns allegations against what has become known as 'Savile and others'.

Smith was investigated under the third strand, concerning accusations of sexual abuse unconnected to Savile, but made by people who came forward following publicity surrounding the Savile allegations.


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Storm: Battle To Get Britain Working Again

Up to 61,000 homes are still without power overnight following the most powerful storm to hit Britain for a decade.

The authorities are continuing to clear away debris and fallen trees while engineers work to restore power and rail services slowly return to normal.

Dubbed St Jude after the patron saint of lost causes, the storm claimed four lives and caused transport disruption on road, rail, air and sea as it ripped across the country, leaving a trail of destruction in its wake.

National Rail said it was not yet able to say how services would be affected today, but urged travellers to check with their train operator, while ferry services from Dover are still delayed because of rough seas.

The storm, which is now over Scandinavia, will today be replaced with far lighter winds and rain, but dozens of areas in southern England still remain on flood alert, the Environment Agency said.

Insurers are counting the cost of the storm, but say it is too early to tell whether it will compare with the multi-billion pound hits caused by previous severe weather events.

The line between Farnham and Alton blocked by a fallen tree. Pic: South West Trains Fallen trees caused major delays for Monday morning commuters

On Monday morning, winds of up to 100mph swept through the South West, South, South East, the Midlands and the East of England after first hitting land in the early hours.

Up to 2.4in of rain - half the monthly average - fell in a just few hours during the storm in areas including Hampshire and Devon, causing flash-floods.

Bethany Freeman, 17, died after a 30ft tree fell on the caravans she and her family were living in while renovation work was taking place at their home at Edenbridge in Kent shortly after 7am.

"Loving husband" and father-of-three Donal Drohan, 51, originally from Waterford in the Irish Republic, died after his car was hit by a tree at the bridge over the River Colne in Watford.

Storm coverage: watch live

In Hounslow, west London, two people were killed by an explosion, thought to have been caused by an uprooted tree rupturing a gas main, which devastated three houses and damaged two others.

Met Office spokeswoman Laura Young warned that the impacts from the storm are still around and urged the public to remain alert.

John Lee, a forecaster for MeteoGroup, said it was the most powerful storm in years.

"There will no doubt be some disruption still following the damage caused by strong winds and heavy rain, but the weather will be quite different," he said.

"It will be blustery with some showers, especially in the west, but a lot lighter.

"On Friday there is an indication that stormy weather could return, but it's likely to bring heavy rain rather than strong winds."

:: Keep up to date with the latest travel information in your area:

TRAINS:

Greater Anglia
Stansted Express
East Coast
East Midlands Trains
C2C
First Hull Trains
Grand Central
London Midland
South West Trains
Southeastern
Southern Railway
First Capital Connect
Arriva Trains Wales
London Overground
London Underground

PLANES:

Heathrow Airport

FERRIES:

Brittany Ferries


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