MoD challenges inquest verdict
The Ministry of Defence is to go to the High Court today to challenge an inquest verdict of unlawful killing on the death of an RAF serviceman who underwent lethal nerve gas tests more than 50 years ago. Leading Aircraftsman Ronald Maddison, from Consett, Co Durham, died aged 20 after having sarin dabbed on to his arm at Porton Down chemical warfare testing facility on Salisbury Plain, Wiltshire, in 1953.
Courage rewarded
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Scotland Yard will give a record number of officers its highest award for courage to honour their work after the Asian tsunami and the July 7 bombings. On Wednesday more than 200 officers will receive the Commissioner’s Commendations, of whom 90 will get High Commendations for “supreme courage”.
Extradition delay
Snowstorms that have closed airports could delay the extradition of Neil Entwistle to the US until the middle of this week. The 27-year-old computer programmer is waiting to be flown to the US to face trial for the murder of his wife and nine-month-old daughter.
July 7 a ‘good’ joke
Police are investigating reports that an imam at a mosque where the July 7 bombers prayed hailed their attacks as a “good” act. Officers are examining claims that Hamid Ali, of the al-Madina Masjid mosque, in Leeds, claimed that the attacks forced people to take notice when peaceful discussions had failed.
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Depressed youth
Teenagers need more help in learning to make judgments about religion, a report, Urban Hope and Spiritual Health: The Adolescent Voice, says today. It found that more than half often felt depressed, and more than a quarter had considered suicide. Nearly a third said that the Church and Bible were irrelevant to life today.
Origin of Darwin
Charles Darwin’s birthday was celebrated in his home town of Shrewsbury, Shropshire, and at Newquay Zoo, where visitors were urged to sport beards, real or fake. The event coincided with the opening of the zoo’s Great Victorians Trail. Lectures are being held in Shrewsbury, where the naturalist was born in 1809.
Missing Briton: police plan trip
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Detectives from Greater Manchester Police are seeking permission to visit Ecuador to search for the missing backpacker Jennifer Pope, 50. Mrs Pope’s husband and son have not heard from her since January 9. Police are keen to recover CCTV footage of a cashpoint in Santo Domingo, where £2,500 was withdrawn from her account over a week. Mrs Pope took a sabbatical from her nursing job to travel round South America.
M-way blunder
Police have appealed for witnesses after a driver caused “seven miles of chaos” by going the wrong way along the M4. The 63-year-old man was on his way to Cardiff with his wife after collecting her from Heathrow Airport when he did a U-turn. Two police officers brought the car to a halt near Membury Services.
Fatal NHS error
A hospital patient died a day after she was mistakenly given medicine intended for the previous patient in her bed. Barbara Maguire, 51, was admitted to Stobhill Hospital, Glasgow, with a stomach complaint in 2004 and was placed in an emergency ward bed. NHS Greater Glasgow has now confirmed the error.
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Train death
A woman was killed by a 70mph train passing through Hampden Park railway station in East Sussex. Services were stopped for more than an hour and a half. Police said the driver saw the woman jump in front of the train. There was no one else on the platform and there were no suspicious circumstances.
Baby charges
Three people will appear before Birmingham magistrates today in connection with the death of Troy Simpson, 6 months. His body was found on wasteland in Smethwick, West Midlands. Two women, aged 17 and 47, and a man aged 20 have been charged with perverting the course of justice.
Met drug tests
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The Metropolitan Police has adopted a policy under which officers can be tested when there is a reasonable suspicion of drug misuse, or to disprove a claim of misuse. Officers of all ranks may be screened for signs of drugs, including cannabis, Ecstasy and heroin. Other forces are expected to follow suit.
Giraffes die in fire
A six-day old giraffe and its mother have died in a fire at Paignton Zoo, Devon. A zookeeper, a male giraffe and two elephants were led to safety from the blaze, which is thought to have broken out in the elephant house. More than 30 firefighters attended the incident. It is not known how the fire started.
Elgar letter sale
A letter written by the composer Sir Edward Elgar in which he expresses a desire to write a popular funeral march, and the original marching banner of the Irish Brigade in the American Civil War, are to be sold at an auction of rare documents at Ludlow racecourse, Shropshire. The banner dates from 1851.
Modern Casanova
Robbie Williams has been voted Britain’s modern-day Casanova. The singer was named as the celebrity who best embodied the spirit of the legendary lover in a survey to mark the release of the film Casanova. He has been linked to a string of beautiful women including Anna Friel, Nicole Kidman and Rachel Hunter.