Charges over lawyer’s murder
Two teenagers appeared in court yesterday charged with the murder of the City lawyer Tom ap Rhys Pryce, who was stabbed to death outside his home in Willesden, northwest London.
Donnel Marcus Carty, 19, and a 17-year-old also face charges of robbing the lawyer, 31, and another man, Kurshid Ali, 46, on January 12.
Both were remanded in custody by London Magistrates’ Court to appear at the Old Bailey next month.
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A post-mortem examination found that Mr ap Rhys died from shock and haemorrhage from stab wounds.
Aids trial halted
The largest trial of Aids drugs has been halted after researchers found that it was doubling patients’ risk of death. The study by the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, involving about 5,000 patients from Britain and 32 other countries, showed that patients who used the antiretroviral drugs intermittently were more likely to die than those on constant medication.
Ex-doctor held over bungled ops
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A gynaecologist whose botched operations left dozens of women in agony has been arrested after a two-year criminal investigation into his work.
Richard Neale was released on bail after facing questions about his ten-year employment at a North Yorkshire hospital. He also worked in London, Leicester and the Isle of Wight. Mr Neale, 59, was struck off the medical register in 2000.
Iraq blast death
Stephen Enright, 29, from Devon, who was working for the US Army Engineering and Support Centre in Iraq, died when an explosive device hit the vehicle in which he was travelling. Mr Enright was a paratrooper until the end of last year. He left the regiment but continued to work in Iraq as a civilian.
Big Brother exit
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Rula Lenska became the third person to be evicted from Celebrity Big Brother. The actress will be remembered for allowing George Galloway, pretending to be a cat, to lap imaginary milk from her hands. Lenska, 57, the ex-wife of actor Dennis Waterman, chose Children in Crisis and Wildlifeline as her charities.
Truant attack
A teacher suffered facial injuries and a suspected broken arm after he was attacked by truants at a school in Colchester, Essex. Dave Deeny was supervising a mock examination at the time of the attack. Nine boys aged 15 and 16 were arrested on suspicion of causing violent disorder and aggravated bodily harm.
Doherty guilty
The rock star Pete Doherty, 26, pleaded guilty to four drugs charges. The singer in the band Babyshambles admitted to the possession of heroin, crack, morphine and cannabis when he appeared before Thames magistrates in East London, where sentencing was adjourned until February 8.
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Teenage murderer
An “aimless” teenager was jailed for at least 15 years at Liverpool Crown Court for the murder of Lauren Pilkington-Smith, 10. Kieron Smith, 18, beat her to death in undergrowth behind her terraced home in Leigh, Greater Manchester, last July after playing a game of street cricket with her and a friend.
Generous boss
Peter Tracey, 68, has given up the chance of a fortune to pay for his retirement and handed over his electronics company, Herga, to a trust for his employees. He said that if he had sold the firm, or agreed to a management buyout, the future for staff in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, would have been uncertain.
Three charged over fire deaths
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Three people appeared in court charged with the murder of Maureen Cochrane, 45, and her husband Alex, 54, who died after a fire at their home in Brooklands, Manchester, last week. Their daughter Lucy, 16, is still in a critical condition in hospital. Michael Connor, 39, of Stockport, his wife, Jane Connor, 39, of Wythenshawe, and a 17-year-old girl were remanded in custody by Manchester magistrates.
Fuel costs rise
The price of petrol this month has risen by 10p compared with the price a year ago. The average price is now 89.35p per litre of petrol, and 93.54p for diesel, compared with 79.64p and 84.78p last year, the AA said. The rise means that on average motorists will have to spend an extra £340 on car fuel this year.
New leaf is turned
Blackwell’s, the family-owned bookseller, has appointed a non-family member to head the company for the first time in 127 years. Philip Blackwell, the grandson of founder Basil Blackwell, will be replaced as executive chairman by Gerry Connolly, a chartered accountant. The family also owns Blackwell Publishing.
July 21 suspect
A student appeared at the Old Bailey in connection with the attempted bombings in London on July 21. Adel Yahya, 23, of Tottenham, North London, was charged with conspiring with five men accused of involvement in the failed attacks. He was taken back into custody to appear at a further hearing on April 28.
Eye in the North
A giant observation wheel similar to the London Eye is to be erected at the National Railway Museum in York. Subject to details being finalised with the museum’s partners, World Tourist Attractions, the wheel — 60 metres (200ft) high, with 43 capsules holding eight people — will open by the summer.
GPs struck off
Husband and wife GPs who put patients at risk at the nursing home they ran in Birmingham were struck off the medical register. The General Medical Council described Jamalapuram Hari Gopal and his wife, Pratury Samrajya Lakshmi, who ran the home, as “inappropriate, irresponsible and inadequate”.
Weighty matter
St John Ambulance in Suffolk is to put into service a vehicle that is capable of transporting particularly large patients. The charity said that the goal of using the ambulance adapted for size and weight-bearing was to ensure that all patients were treated with dignity and respect, regardless of their special needs.