Ruling on will ‘a blow to charitable bequests’
A court ruling on a will yesterday could have devastating impact on charitable giving, charities said. The Court of Appeal upheld Heather Illott’s challenge regarding the will of her mother, who had left nearly all her £486,000 estate to animal charities. Melita Jackson had instructed executors to defend any claim brought by her estranged daughter, of Great Munden, Herfordshire. Keith Hamilton of The Blue Cross charity said of the decision: “It opens the floodgates to legal challenges from any aggrieved relative.”
Police apology over collapse of trial
The Metropolitan Police apologised yesterday to the family of a murdered private detective for the corruption that prevented his killers from being brought to justice. Charges against five men accused in relation to the death of Daniel Morgan in Sydenham, southeast London, 24 years ago were dropped last month. Deputy Commissioner Tim Godwin told a police authority meeting: “I am sorry that for 24 years the Met police have failed to achieve justice . . . We have accepted that corruption in the original investigation is a significant factor.”
Pathologist suspended over missed findings
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A pathologist found guilty of serious misconduct over his post-mortem examination reports into the death of a victim of the so-called “Camden Ripper”, Anthony Hardy, was suspended yesterday for four months. Freddy Patel, 63, omitted autopsy findings that he considered not relevant. A General Medical Council panel, which ruled last month that his fitness to practise was impaired and found him guilty of dishonesty, concluded that his behaviour was “fundamentally at odds” with the responsibilities expected of a doctor.
Impaled teenager was sent invoice for railings
A council has apologised to a teenager who was paralysed after he was impaled on metal railings in a cycling accident after he was told he must pay for the damage caused. Ben Foulds, 18, nearly died in the accident in Barnstaple, North Devon, in November last year and spent weeks in hospital.
A spokesman for Devon County Council apologised and said that the letter was sent in error.
“We apologise for the concern and distress that this may have caused.” He added that the council was unaware of the circumstances of the incident.
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Circus elephant to be rehomed after abuse
A circus elephant is to be rehomed after animal rights groups filmed her being attacked with a pitchfork by her groom. Anne, an Asian elephant, is to be moved from The Bobby Roberts Super Circus to Longleat Safari Park in Wiltshire after secret footage showed her being kicked and beaten. She will be assessed by vets “as soon as possible”, the RSPCA said. The circus said the attacks, filmed in ealier this year in Polebrook, Northamptonshire, were “isolated incidents when the owner was away”.