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Sasha Marsden: Barman Guilty Of Teen's Murder

Written By Unknown on Sabtu, 27 Juli 2013 | 23.17

By Frazer Maude, Sky News Reporter

A barman has been found guilty of killing teenager Sasha Marsden, whose partially burned body was found in a Blackpool alleyway.

David Minto, described by police as "cold, callous and evil", sexually assaulted the youngster before stabbing her 58 times with a kitchen knife.

She suffered such serious injuries that her body, which was found wrapped in carpet underlay and bin liners, had to be identified using DNA from her toothbrush.

Sasha was just 16 years old and had been studying childcare at a local college.

However, her plan to take up a part-time cleaning job in a Blackpool hotel to earn some extra money ultimately cost her her life. 

Minto, who worked at the Grafton House Hotel, owned by his girlfriend and her mother, first met Sasha through a mutual acquaintance on a night out.

The 23-year-old contacted her on Facebook, where his online name was David "Demon" Minto, and used the promise of part-time work to lure her to her death.

He told Sasha to come to the hotel on a day when he knew it would be empty.

After sexually assaulting and stabbing her, mainly in the face and neck, he tried to destroy the evidence by setting her body on fire.

The prosecution at the trial in Preston said she was found with several defensive wounds, showing she tried to fight for her life.

Minto claimed he had consensual sex with the teenager and said her blood was on his clothes because she had a nose bleed.

He claimed she left the hotel alive but the jury refused to believe him and found him guilty of murder.

Sasha's mother Jayne Marsden said:  "For his sexual gratification he's robbed us of saying goodbye to her. But he's also robbed us of her 18th birthday, her 21st birthday and her future. He's just robbed us of everything. I can never forgive him. Never."

Detective Superintendent Andy Murphy, of Lancashire Constabulary, said: "After our dealings with Minto, I would describe him as cold, callous, and evil.

"He's put Sasha's family through a real ordeal by pleading not guilty and taking this to trial.

"But the family have been brave and very dignified, appearing in court every day to hear the terrible evidence about what happened to their daughter."

More follows...


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Stuart Hall Has Prison Sentence Doubled

Disgraced former broadcaster Stuart Hall's 15-month jail sentence for sex offences has been doubled to 30 months by Court of Appeal judges.

At the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice in London, Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge said Hall "got away with it" for decades and had "lived a lie for more than half of his life".

Attorney General Dominic Grieve had earlier told the packed courtroom: "The total sentence of 15 months' imprisonment ... failed adequately to reflect the gravity of the totality of the offences, and the public concern about offences of this nature.

Dominic GrieveStuart Hall, who was arrested over a rape allegation 051212 Dominic Grieve argued Hall's sentence did not reflect public concern

"Some of the sentences should have been made to run consecutively, so that the total sentence passed reflected the culpability of the offender, the harm caused and to deter others."

After the verdict, Mr Grieve said: "I asked the court to consider the multiple offending by Stuart Hall over a prolonged period of time which involved numerous victims.

"I also asked that the court take into account the breaches of trust in this case - Hall carried out some of these offences in places where the victims were entitled to feel safe, he used his celebrity status to invite them to attend the BBC, and he also displayed an element of planning and premeditation".

Hall, 83, who appeared in court via video link, was convicted of sexually assaulting several girls the youngest of whom was nine. The former It's A Knockout presenter was sentenced to 15-months in June.

Hall's QC Crispin Aylett had argued there was "nothing wrong" with the sentence imposed. He told the court: "If the object was to see this man punished, disgraced and financially ruined then all of that has been more than achieved."

Stuart Hall arrives at Preston Crown Court for sentencing. The former broadcaster was jailed in June for sexual assault

The former broadcaster, from Wilmslow, Cheshire, admitted 14 counts of indecent assault between 1967 and 1987.

Hall directly exploited his role as a popular BBC presenter to target four of his victims, while he assaulted another four on the pretence of giving elocution lessons to them at his home.

Before entering his guilty plea in April, he had made a public pronouncement on the steps of a court, describing all the claims against him as "cruel, pernicious and spurious".

Hall was arrested and subsequently charged on December 5 last year with indecently assaulting three young girls.

More women came forward as a result of publicity and he was rearrested before he later admitted sexual offences relating to 13 victims.

Judge Russell told Hall: "Several of these cases reveal an abuse of the trust placed in you by the parents of these children but all of them reveal an abuse of power by you because your status gave you an influence and standing which you abused."

The judge said Hall would have received 20 months after a trial but he reduced the sentence to reflect his guilty pleas.

At Hall's original sentencing, Mr Aylett said that 27 years had passed since the last offence and the presenter had led an "unblemished" life over those years.

The length of the jail term was immediately criticised as "unduly lenient" by shadow attorney general Emily Thornberry.

Harriet Harman, deputy leader of the Labour party, also added to calls for the sentence to be referred.


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Poplar Stabbing: Men Arrested For Murder

Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder after a man was found stabbed in the back in the street.

The victim, believed to be aged in his early 30s, was found in Poplar in east London shortly after 10pm on Friday and died in hospital a short time later, the Metropolitan Police said.

"Two men have been arrested on suspicion of murder," a Scotland Yard spokesman said. "They have been taken to east London police stations."

He said officers believe they know the identity of the dead man, who was found in Simpsons Road at the junction with Poplar High Street, but have yet to formally identify him.


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Michael Cope Held For Murder Of Linzi Ashton

Wanted man Michael Cope has been arrested in Manchester on suspicion of murdering his ex-girlfriend Linzi Ashton.

A statement released by Greater Manchester Police, said: "A man has been arrested following the death of Linzi Ashton, who was killed last month in Salford.

"At about 11.55pm on Friday 26 July 2013, police were called to an address on Larch Road in Leigh following a report a wanted man was at the address.

"Armed officers attended and a 28-year-old man handed himself in to police and was arrested on suspicion of murder. He remains in police custody for questioning".

Michael Cope Police released this CCTV image of Cope at a supermarket in Wigan

Linzi, a mother-of-two, was found dead at her home on Westbourne Road, Winton by relatives shortly before 6pm on Saturday 29 June 2013.

A Home Office post-mortem concluded she died as a result of pressure to the neck and multiple injuries.

Cope had a brief "acrimonious" relationship with Miss Ashton, 25, who had two daughters, Destiny, seven, and Daisy, two.

In a statement issued shortly after Miss Ashton's death, her family said: "She was the most beautiful, generous, caring person anyone could ever wish to meet. She would never harm anyone and was always there for her children and family.

"Life will never be the same again without her. Our whole family and friends have been devastated by her death. The whole community is in shock."

As part of the manhunt, police searched more than 30 addresses and two men have been charged, one with perverting the course of justice and the other with assisting an offender.

Cope, who is from Salford, had been known to make visits in and around the town centre of Leigh.


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Car Insurance Costs Fall At Record Rate

The cost of car insurance has dipped by record levels, according to new figures.

The average quote for annual comprehensive car insurance has plunged to £594.86 - a 9.8% fall from the figure of £659.53 in July last year, according to AA Insurance.

This is the biggest decrease since the AA insurance index began in 1994.

The figure for third party, fire and theft insurance has also dipped in the last 12 months, going down 4.8% to £820.58.

Comparing July 2013 figures with those of April, the AA showed that comprehensive insurance has fallen 3% and third-party insurance is down 2.2%.

Over the last 12 months, car insurance costs have fallen for all age groups, with those aged 23 to 29 enjoying the biggest decreases with their average costs dipping 12.8% to £738.93.

All age groups have seen 12-month falls of at least 5.4% except those aged 70 or above who have had to settle for a 3.9% fall in premiums. On average, those aged 60 to 69 have the cheapest annual insurance (£342.73) and those aged 17 to 22 have the most expensive (£1,210.54).

AA Insurance director Simon Douglas said: "This will be welcome news for hard-pressed motorists facing sharp fuel price increases.

"Insurers were facing a fast-widening gap between premium income and claims costs, largely driven by whiplash injury claims and fraud which saw very sharp premium increases between 2009 and 2011."

He went on: "That gap is closing and premiums are falling again thanks to competition, as well as improved fraud detection by the insurance industry and tightening of the law that is beginning to curb the number of spurious new whiplash injury claims.

"The news that hundreds of rogue 'no-win no-fee' claims firms have been reined in is welcome and in part, falling insurance premiums reflect that.

"I hope that Britain's shameful reputation as being the 'whiplash claim capital of Europe' will now be put behind us."


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Heavy Rain And Thunder Warning For Britain

Britain's spell of sunshine may be about to end after the Met Office issued a weather warning for heavy downpours and thunderstorms across the country.

Weather experts have warned that some regions of the UK may be hit by localiised flooding this weekend as thousands of holidaymakers prepare to set off for their summer break.

The Met Office has issued a "yellow" warning of rain following concerns that heavy showers and thunderstorms expected over France could move north to affect south-east England and East Anglia.

The thundery weather is then expected to move north to cover large parts of England, with as much as 30mm of rain falling in an hour in South East areas, forecasters have warned.

Sky weather presenter Sarah Pennock said: "Saturday morning will see the cloud build across southern and western Britain. Thundery rain will spread northwards from France, bringing torrential downpours for some.

"Most other places will see a mix of sunny spells and scattered showers with the best of the afternoon sunshine for northwestern England and Wales."

Winter Weather A man walks down a flooded road in Oxfordshire last December

Sean Penston, forecaster at MeteoGroup, said there was "every chance" of flash flooding in areas affected by the torrential rain.

"This rain will keep pushing north on Sunday into northern England and Scotland. Then, moving in from the west, further showers and outbreaks of rain with the risk of thunder will affect south-west England and Wales."

The South East will bear the brunt of the weekend's rain with as much as 30mm expected to fall within an hour, and 50mm within three hours in some places, according to the Met Office.

This compares to an average rainfall of around 80mm for the whole month of July, MeteoGroup said.

In its weather warning, the Met Office said: "Thunderstorms and areas of heavy, thundery rain are expected to move north from France during the course of Saturday afternoon and evening.

"The public should be aware of the risk of localised disruption to travel, due to surface water flooding and lightning strikes."

Temperatures will remain warm for most of the country, however, with highs between 23C to 25C (73F to 77F) for much of England today, Mr Penston said.


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Oxford Shooting: Woman In Serious Condition

A woman is in a serious condition in hospital in Oxford after being shot in the early hours of this morning.

Paramedics were called to Crowberry Road, in the Blackbird Leys area of Oxford by Thames Valley Police officers at 5.15am today, South Central Ambulance Service said.

The "middle-aged" woman was taken to the city's John Radcliffe Hospital with "serious but not life-threatening" injuries, an ambulance service spokesman said.

A 21-year-old man from Oxford has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder in connection with the shooting, Thames Valley Police said.

Two other men, aged 26 and 40 and also from the city, have been arrested on suspicion of affray. All three are in custody.

The victim, who is in her 40s, is in a stable condition in hospital, a force spokesman said.

South Central Ambulance spokesman James Keating-Wilkes said she was "concious and breathing".

Detective Inspector John Turner, who is leading the investigation, said: "I would like to reassure the local community that incidents such as these are extremely rare.

"Police officers and PCSOs will be undertaking extra patrols in the area to provide a reassurance to the community of Blackbird Leys.

"I would urge anyone with any information about the incident to contact the police immediately."


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Fracking Demo: Police Arrest 18 Protesters

Eighteen protesters have been arrested as a blockade at a rural site earmarked for exploratory oil drilling by a fracking company was cleared.

The arrests came as anti-fracking campaigners gathered for a second day in the village of Balcombe, West Sussex, where Cuadrilla is poised to start test drilling.

Sussex Police said five people were held for allegedly causing a danger to road users, 12 for trying to stop drivers and other workers accessing the site under section 241 of the Trade Union Labour Relations Act and one for assaulting a police officer.

A police spokesman said some had moved a tree across the entrance to the site, blocking access, but all arrests were made peacefully.

Fracking protest The village has become a focal point for direct-action campaigners

Superintendent Steve Whitton said: "I have officers at the site to ensure people can demonstrate peacefully and help facilitate the rights of those to go about their lawful business - this means allowing workers to access the site.

"We are trying to carefully balance the needs of everyone and we will continue to show a proportionate response to the challenge we are facing.

"Our aim at Balcombe is to provide a safe and secure environment for protesters, residents and the contractors alike, to minimise disproportionate disruption to the local community and to prevent crime and disorder.

"Protestors are being asked to clear entrances to allow access to the site and where they have refused following repeated requests we have arrested them".

Fracking protest It is the second day running that activists have protested in the village Fracking protest

The village has become a focal point for campaigners who have highlighted fears linked to fracking, including the use of chemicals.

The controversial method of hydraulic fracturing involves using high-pressure liquid pumped deep underground to split shale rock and release gas.

In Balcombe, some protesters, who include a former page three girl, a "professional clown" and veteran eco-campaigners, have vowed to mount a 24-hour campaign of resistance against fracking.

Some activists criticised the police response as "disproportionate". One critic, Ashley Williams, said: "The community are standing up for themselves against a company that is trying to poison them.

Fracking equipment Fracking uses high-pressure liquid to split rock and release gas

"As soon as regular people put their head above the parapet the state jumps in to defend the interests of a wealthy few."

Campaigners from No Fracking in Balcombe Society (NoFiBS) also criticised the police response and Cuadrilla's claims that it intends only to explore and not frack at this stage.

It said: "NoFiBS is deeply disappointed in the police role in facilitating the drilling for Cuadrilla when they have an obligation to facilitate protest. NoFiBS intend to continue to protest legally and peacefully on the verges by the site gate."

Campaigners called on the Government to change its policy on on-shore oil and gas exploration as they warned that oil rigs and frack sites could become widespread.

Police said the arrests were made to "ensure public safety" and came after talks between activists and protest liaison officers failed.


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Microsoft Introduces UK Child Abuse Warning

Microsoft has introduced the UK's first pop-up facility activated by anyone searching the Internet for child abuse images.

The Bing notification platform is intended to help stop anyone who may be drifting towards finding illegal content on the Internet through search engines.

When a search term is typed into Bing which indicates users are interested in child abuse images, an on-screen notification will be activated.

Bing introduces child abuse warning Warning: the screen that will greet users who search for abuse images

As well as warning users that child abuse images are illegal, the pop-up will link to the Stopitnow.org website which provides counselling for people addicted to looking at abuse images.

In a statement, Microsoft said: "Microsoft remain a strong proponent of proactive action by the technology industry in the fight against child exploitation. 

"The Bing Notification Platform is just one way Microsoft is working to tackle the scourge of online child abuse content.

David Cameron David Cameron has threatened tough new laws on internet service providers

"In addition, we have teams dedicated globally to abuse reporting on our services and the development of new innovations to combat child exploitation more broadly".

The Bing Notification Platform is triggered by search terms on a list provided by the The Child Exploitation and Online Protection Centre (CEOP), Microsoft said.

Andy Baker, CEOP's deputy chief executive, welcomed the creation of the device but said it was the first step towards blocking access to the illegal images and videos, and protect children.

He called on the industry to "take ownership" of the problem.

"While the Bing project isn't the whole solution, I hope it goes some way to making those who are curious about searching for indecent images think again," he said.

Research by Experian last December showed that Bing had a 4.99% share of the UK search engine market, which is dominated by Google and its 88.3% market share.

Microsoft's PhotoDNA technology is already widely used by Internet service providers and police to help prevent the proliferation of "some of the worst" illegal images online and to identify and rescue victims.

The move comes after David Cameron this week threatened to impose tough new laws on internet giants if they fail to blacklist key search terms for abuse images by October as part a crackdown on online porn.


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First London 2012 Olympic Venue Opens To Public

By Ian Woods, Senior News Correspondent

The first venue to be built and used in the London Olympics has opened its doors to members of the public.

The Copperbox Arena staged Olympic handball, the modern pentathlon and fencing as well as the Paralympics goalball.

It will now be used by clubs and individuals, as well as hosting London Lions basketball matches, and concerts.

Twelve months ago Roger Littlewood was one of the Olympic gamesmakers, one of the thousands of volunteers who assisted spectators.

But during his job he saw Olympic handball for the first time and decided to take up the sport. 

Now he finds himself sharing the same arena as a member of the London GD Handball Club.

OLY-2012-PARALYMPICS-GOALBALL-JPN-CHN Chinese Paralympians block a shot during the gold medal final last year

He said: "It's quite surreal actually.

"Probably the last handball players who were playing here were professionals during the group stages of the Olympics, so playing on here is a little bit strange, but a lot of fun."

Suzie Ogilvy is also a member of the club, inspired to take up the event by what she saw on TV.

She said: "I quite like fast sports and it's fast paced and it just looked very, very high tempo, so that's the sort of thing that I really enjoy.

"It's absolutely fantastic. I feel quite privileged to be playing here and having that opportunity."

Many of those taking part in netball, badminton and wheelchair basketball were youngsters who are encouraged to play sport at school. 

But sports administrators are also trying to target adults who have been idle for years.

Corinna Gage had drifted out of sport after leaving university, but has now joined Leyton Netball Club.

She said: "Probably just laziness really. I kind of got out of the habit of playing sport.

"I used to be a really keen netball and tennis player, and then just coming to watch that basketball match just got me out of the house really."

Measuring the extent of the Olympic legacy and feel good factor can be imprecise, other than recording the numbers participating.

London 2012 Chairman Lord Coe said: "I think some of it is unquantifiable - it's the spirit, the extraordinary nature of volunteering.

"In simple terms since 2005 when we won the right to stage the games, another million and a half people are playing sport and are actively engaged."

Tony Wallace is the manager of the Cooperbox Arena and told Sky News: "We run leisure centres across London and we are seeing increased participation in a number of sports.

"Basketball, badminton, volleyball, netball - so we've got real evidence of people coming through our doors, and more school use as well which is great news."

Former boxing champion Barry McGuigan is now involved in training youngsters, many who were inspired by Britain's Olympic champions. 

Nicola Adams, Anthony Joshua and Luke Campbell all won gold medals in the ring, and they will help in the fight against obesity and diabetes.

He told Sky News: "They will create thousands and thousands of kids walking through the door getting involved in boxing.

"The bottom line is they're active, they're participating in sport they're living a healthy life, eating healthy foods."

The Copperbox was busy, and crowds were heading to the athletics event in the stadium, but most of the rest of the Olympic Park is still off limits to the public. 

And it will be 2016 before West Ham United kick off their tenancy.

After this weekend's Anniversary Games, the stadium is not due to be used again until the 2015 Rugby World Cup.

And we will have to wait until spring next year for the aquatics centre and the velodrome to be opened for public use. 2014 will also see the first permanent residents moving into the former athletes village.

Shaun Lawson, the chief executive of Lea Valley Regional Park which will run the Velo Park as well as the hockey and tennis centres, said: "It's always been planned to open the park in stages.

"There's a lot of transformation work to be done to to transform the park from its Olympic to Legacy mode.

"And there's still a lot of work to be done in the north of the park where the velodrome is around access to make sure the road system is in place.

"So by next March it will be ready and open and we're very excited by that."


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