Man Who Incinerated Wife's Body Jailed For Life

A bank worker who murdered his wife and burned her body after she threatened to expose his homosexuality has been sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 21 years.

Jasvir Ginday stared down at the floor as he was told his decision to throttle Varkha Rani and set fire to her remains in a home incinerator in his back garden was "unbelievably casual and callous".

He carried out the crime just months after they tied the knot to cover up his homosexuality, which his 24-year-old bride had been threatening to reveal to friends and family.

Judge John Warner told Ginday, who had no previous convictions, that his behaviour towards his wife before the killing had been a "fundamental deception" of a vulnerable woman living thousands of miles away from her home country.

"It was a very cruel situation in which you put her," he said.

Jasvir Ginday and Varkha Rani on their wedding day

"You have told lie after lie about a number of matters such that it is impossible to rely on anything you say.

"I am satisfied that you intended to kill - you are a devious, controlling man and a meticulous planner in a number of aspects of your life."

A jury of seven women and five men took around 17 hours to find him guilty of murder after a three-week trial at Wolverhampton Crown Court.

Ginday initially told police that his Indian wife had packed her bags and walked out on him following a row at their home in Victory Lane, Walsall, West Midlands.

The 29-year-old claimed throughout his trial that he had accidentally killed Ms Rani while restraining her with a vacuum cleaner hose. 

But the jury believed the prosecution's case that the Royal Bank of Scotland employee had planned the killing of his wife, who had only been in the country for about a month.

Ginday had confided to a friend in 2008 that he was attracted to men but that he could not tell his family as his mother was very strict.

It later emerged that he was frequenting gay bars and having relationships with men around the time of his engagement to Ms Rani in 2012.

The following year, after his new wife arrived from India, the pair moved into a house with his parents.

Ginday's back garden and the incinerator in which Ms Rani's body was burnt

The court heard that on the morning of the crime, on September 12, he was caught on camera filling a two-litre bottle with petrol at a service station.

Later that day, while the rest of the family were out, Ginday claimed that his wife had attacked him and run off with £500.

The family told police who, the following day, carried out a full search of the house and garden where they found the incinerator which was still emitting smoke.

A police officer lifted the lid off the metal bin to discover the gruesome remains of a human skull.

An unburned black plastic bin liner was found partially covering her body. 

Her cousin Sunil Kumar said: "No words can truly express the sadness and hurt my family and I are experiencing at the loss of Varkha, she was loved dearly by all, she had a great passion for life and doted on her family.

"Varkha attained a masters degree and was driven to make her life a success, unfortunately she fell prey to Ginday who had ulterior motives which Varkha would not have appreciated."

Senior investigating officer Detective Chief Inspector Sarbjit Johal said: "Ginday got married as a matter of convenience - he tricked a poor innocent girl into marriage but was living a lie.

"When she uncovered the truth he could not live with it and killed her quickly then tried to dispose of her body and her possessions by burning them.

"Had another day passed before police attended, Ginday may well have successfully removed all traces of Varkha.

"I hope that this verdict brings some comfort to Varkha's family who have travelled from India to see justice is brought for their daughter."

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London Hotel Hammer Attack: Man Charged

A man has been charged with the attempted murder of three wealthy tourists who were attacked with a hammer at a London hotel.

Philip Spence, 32, of no fixed address, also faces a count of aggravated burglary.

He is accused of entering the family room the women were sharing with three children on the seventh floor of the 1,000-room Cumberland Hotel, near Oxford Street, and carrying out the attack.

The victims, who were on a family holiday from the United Arab Emirates, remain in hospital - one in a critical condition.

Three other people have been charged in connection with the attack in the early hours of Sunday morning, Scotland Yard said.

Thomas Efremi, 56, of Upper Handa Walk, Islington, north London, and James Moss, 33, of Hanley Road, Finsbury Park, north London, are charged with handling stolen goods.

Efremi also faces an additional charge of fraud by false representation.

He, Moss and Spence are due to appear in custody at Westminster Magistrates' Court on April 12.

Carly Baker, 31, of Hanley Road, Finsbury Park, north London, is also accused of handling stolen goods and has been bailed to appear at the same court on April 15.

A 34-year-old man has been bailed, pending further inquiries, to a date in May.

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Little Girl's Wish List Before Going Blind

By Nick Lester, Sky News Online

A little girl who is going blind has drawn up a wish list of things she would like to see before losing her sight completely.

Six-year-old Molly Bent has been diagnosed with the degenerative eye disease Retinitis Pigmentosa (RP), for which there is no treatment or cure.

Despite her condition getting progressively worse, her mum, Eve, 26, says she takes it "in her stride".

Seeing the penguins at the zoo was on Molly's wish list

Among the "bucket list" of things the youngster said she would like to do before her eyes get "too poorly" include trips to the zoo, aquarium, museums, and Legoland.

But top of her list is Disneyland.

Following her diagnosis in December, Mrs Bent said: "We were obviously quite upset about it.

"We sort of said 'right we can't dwell on this. Let's turn it around. Let's do everything we can do, while we can do it'."

The trips have been organised before Molly's eyes become "too poorly"

What started out as a charity run by her husband Chris, 27, and a group of friends, has grown into a fund-raising drive to fulfill Molly's wish list, which has so far reached £3,500.

Mrs Bent said: "It's beyond belief. We are so overwhelmed with all the kindness of people."

The family, who live in Manchester, are currently on a holiday in Blackpool provided by Trewan Sands Children's Trust, where Molly has been enjoying horse-riding and swimming.

Tests every three months have shown that Molly's sight is deteriorating.

Playing in puddles on long walks is also fun

Mrs Bent said: "She has very little peripheral vision. She knows it's getting worse."

But she added: "She's so resilient. She knows what's happening. She know's she's struggling and she just takes it in her stride."

RP is a genetic condition, which Molly's uncle also suffers from, and her sister Charlotte, five, and brother Samuel, two, are regularly tested for the disease.

To contribute to Making Molly's Memories go to www.gofundme.com/makingmollysmemories

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Boy Band Singer Lee Ryan In Drug Arrest

Blue singer Lee Ryan has been arrested for alleged drink-driving and suspected possession of class A drugs, Sky News understands.

The 30-year-old was pulled over by police while allegedly driving his Range Rover erratically in West London at 5.30am on Friday.

Ryan, who appeared in the last series of Celebrity Big Brother, was taken into custody at a West London police station.

He was charged with failing to provide a specimen and criminal damage.

Officers said he will appear at Ealing Magistrates' Court on May 2.

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Most Voters Want Farage In Leaders' Debate

By Anushka Asthana, Political Correspondent

A new poll suggests most of the public believe Nigel Farage should take part in any televised leaders' debates ahead of next year's general election.

A Comres poll has found 51% of people think UKIP should be represented alongside David Cameron, Labour leader Ed Miliband and Lib Dem Nick Clegg.

Even more - 53% - say the Prime Minister would look like a coward if he refused to take on Mr Farage.

It comes amid Conservative fears that the right-wing UKIP could top the polls in England in next month's European elections.

Mr Cameron said debates "sucked the life" out of the last campaign

The party is enjoying a popularity boost after Mr Farage easily won a television debate against Mr Clegg.

The party thinks its overall poll position - which at 15% is well ahead of the Lib Dems - means it ought to be included in any further debates.

And Mr Farage has warned that if the party is excluded he will provide "an alternative form of entertainment on the evening".

The poll was carried out for Grassroots Conservatives, a Tory pressure group that feels the liberal wing of the party has too much control over the leadership.

Mr Clegg, left, had challenged Mr Farage to a debate

James Joshua, executive director of the organisation, told Sky News that Mr Cameron would be most respected by party members if he took the UKIP threat on face to face.

But some senior Conservative strategists do not want their leader to take part in the clashes at all - because they believe three debates in quick succession before the 2010 election cost the party a majority.

Mr Cameron said the debates "sucked the life" out of the campaign.

Others argue that UKIP should not be included because they have not achieved any success in general elections with no seats, while other small parties excluded from the debates do have MPs in Parliament. 

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Schools 'Asking Parents To Pay For Textbooks'

Teachers are concerned poorer pupils are being put at a disadvantage by an increasing number of schools asking parents to pay for textbooks, computers and trips away.

More than two fifths (43%) of parents have contributed around £50 a year per pupil for things not linked to their child's school work, according to a poll by the Association of Teachers and Lecturers (ATL).

And 70% have donated up to £50 a year per pupil to help pay for items and trips that are related to the school curriculum.

In some cases, families have been asked for donations to help with the upkeep of school buildings.

Staff are worried children could be put at a disadvantage or made to feel left out if their parents are unable to afford the hand-outs.

The survey, which questioned around 500 people working in England's state schools, comes as ATL is due to debate the issue at its annual conference in Manchester next week.

Schools are increasingly turning to parents for help with pens and books

The resolution calls on the union to express concerns that schools increasingly need to ask parents for voluntary contributions and the effect it has, particularly on poorer families.

It says: "The burden of meeting this request falls disproportionately on poor families and increases the disadvantages for these children."

Jo Inglis, an ATL member from Wokingham who is proposing the motion, said just 7% of teachers felt that asking parents for donations had no impact on disadvantaged pupils.

Jo Fludder, a Reading teacher who is seconding the motion, said: "Parents who have difficulties putting their children into school uniform, providing them with transport to school and with food, find the added pressure of additional money demands from schools very stressful."

A Department for Education spokesman said there is "absolutely no obligation" for parents to donate.

"If a parent is unable or unwilling to pay, their child must be given an equal chance to take part in school life," he said.

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Bereaved Mother Starts Knife Crime Charity

By Emma Birchley, East of England Correspondent

A bereaved mother driven by the loss of her teenage son has set up a charity to ensure young people know the stark facts about knife crime.

Jay Whiston was only 17 years old when he was stabbed to death by Edward Redman, now aged 18, at a house party in Colchester, Essex, in September 2012.

Within weeks of Jay's murder, his mother Caroline Shearer, from Clacton, had vowed to educate children about the dangers of using weapons.

Since September 2013, more than 10,000 young people in schools, colleges and even prisons have been on the Only Cowards Carry Weapons Awareness course.

Jay was fatally stabbed at a friend's 16th birthday party

Mrs Shearer said: "Jay had only been at the party 20 minutes. He walked in and they attacked him. He was dead 20 minutes later. It was a decent party. It was gatecrashed by kids.

"This is where the awareness comes in. Had Jay had the training for what to be aware of and watch out for in the schools he may still have been here."

The jury at Chelmsford Crown Court was told how Jay stepped in when the gatecrashers tried to take a friend's drink at the 16th birthday party.

He was beaten by the group then stabbed by Redman, the wound to his heart proving fatal. The teenager was found guilty of murder on Tuesday.

For Elliott Mcmillan, the death of his friend has been hard to comprehend. That is why he gave up his job to join the charity.

He helps run the course that leaves no doubt of the damage that can be inflicted and just how quickly a wound can prove fatal.

Elliott said: "He was a very good friend. He always taught me not to fight and be friendly to other people so when this happened I really needed to make a difference for him to make sure that these children don't lose their best friends ... so they don't have to put up with the heartache and loss."

Jay was considering a career in law. He was very close to his older sister, Holly Fairburn, who struggled to listen to the graphic evidence in court and hear what Redman did.

She said: "I will never forgive him. He is a waste of a person ... he is a coward.

"How somebody can go out with a knife in their pocket and not use it. It's like having an umbrella in your bag and not using it when it's raining.

"If you hold something like that then you are prepared to use and you should face the consequences."

The charity has given Mrs Shearer a focus. She will not stop until weapons awareness is part of the national curriculum.

But nothing will take away the pain of losing her only son.

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Osborne Jail Threat For Offshore Tax Evaders

Wealthy people who stash money in offshore accounts to evade paying tax could be sent to jail, the government has said.

Chancellor George Osborne said new proposals could mean that people who hide their cash overseas could face criminal charges even if they did not intend to evade tax.

Mr Osborne, who is consulting on the new powers, said there would be "no safe haven" for anyone who cheats the Exchequer.

It comes after concerns that some wealthy people are costing the government millions of pounds a year by keeping money away from the glare of UK authorities.

HM Revenue & Customs will have the power to prosecute people who do not declare their foreign income, regardless of whether they intend to avoid payment.

Previously, in order to earn a conviction with a jail sentence, prosecutors had to show that individuals intended to avoid paying tax on foreign income.

Mr Osborne, who has been at the International Monetary Fund meeting in Washington, told the Financial Times: "We are changing the balance of the law so the burden of proof falls on those who are hiding their money offshore and we don't have to prove that they intended to do so."

He added: "It is totally unacceptable for people not to pay the tax that is due and the message will be clear now with this new criminal offence that if you're evading tax offshore, there is no safe haven."

HM Revenue and Customs (HMRC) has been criticised for not prosecuting enough tax evaders.

Sky News' Ecomonics Editor Ed Conway said there has been much international discussion about what can be done to clamp down on people who hide money overseas.

David Cameron has previously announced a crackdown on so-called shell companies to help combat tax evasion and corruption.

The new criminal offence and sanctions are expected to come into effect next year, but many are expected to contribute to the consultation before that can happen.

The announcement was greeted by dismay from some, with critics suggesting the law could result in people being jailed when they were genuinely ignorant of the law.

Bill Dowdell, head of tax at Deloitte, told The Times: "It's horrifying. People should not be put in prison unless you can prove intent.

"I'm shocked to find that an offence which could lead to a prison sentence could be decided on a strict-liability basis."

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Crufts Champion Among Five Stolen Chihuahuas

A couple say they have been left devastated after their five chihuahuas, including a Crufts champion, were stolen from their home.

Intruders used an iron bar to smash their way into the property in Lisset, East Yorkshire, and took Valenchino Chihuahua Xena, who was named Best Puppy in Breed at Crufts 2014, along with four other dogs.

Officers believe the raiders may have used a wicker basket to remove the dogs.

Owner Mal Hilton and his partner Lucy Hilton are desperate for the safe return of Xena, her grandmother Angel and her mother Io, as well as two others called Pandora and Evie.

They are concerned the thieves will realise the dogs, worth tens of thousands of pounds, are impossible to sell and will harm them instead.

Mr Hilton said: "I'm 65-years-old and I haven't cried for years until now.

"They are just like our children. We are devastated by this and we just want them back.

"I just want someone to hand them in - to the RSPCA, to a vet, to anywhere safe. It doesn't matter. Just leave them somewhere so we can get them back.

"I'm just so worried they will come to harm."

Fourteen-month old fawn long coat Xena - whose show name is Valenchino Made of Candy - has won at many shows but her crowning glory was being named Best Puppy in Breed at Crufts last month.

She has also qualified for Crufts 2015.

The dogs were taken between 9.30am and 4.50pm on Thursday.

A police spokesman said: "The owner of the chihuahuas is desperate to find them.

"These dogs need to be reunited with their owner and police are appealing for anyone who knows anything to contact them immediately so that we can have a happy ending to this story."

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Scotland 'Should Determine Its Own Future'

By Niall Paterson, Scotland Correspondent

Alex Salmond has used his party conference speech to urge voters north of the border to "put Scotland's future in Scotland's hands".

As the nationalist party, committed to fulfilling an 80-year pledge to gain Scotland its independence from the United Kingdom, continues to reduce the gap in the polls ahead of September's referendum, he insisted the vote is not about him.

"This referendum is not about this party, or this First Minister, or even the wider Yes campaign," he told delegates in Aberdeen.

"It's about putting Scotland's future in Scotland's hands.

"Our party is hugely popular, and we are currently five, 10 and 15 points ahead in polls for Westminster, Europe and Holyrood respectively.

"But a Yes vote in September is not a vote for me, or for an SNP government in 2016.

"It's a vote for a government in Scotland that the people of Scotland choose, pursuing policies the people of Scotland support."

The speech, much like the campaign, made much of the fact that Scots have voted in a way at significant variance with the overall result of recent general elections.

Mr Salmond says a Yes vote is a vote for the future of Scotland

He said: "I tell you what (the government of an independent Scotland) won't be. It won't be a government led by a party with just a single MP in Scotland.

"A government dismantling our welfare state. Determined to privatise public services.

"In an independent Scotland we can give this guarantee: The era of unelected Tory governments handing out punishment to the poor and the disabled will be gone and gone for good."

Results vary, but the Yes campaign is still significantly behind the No vote in all major polls, although the margin has narrowed in recent months.

And despite the fact the Yes campaign has yet even to come close to a majority in said polls, the SNP leader in Westminster remains upbeat, with five months of campaigning to go.

"When people are able to contrast the Yes case with the No case and understand the momentum is going in the direction of the Yes case, I'm confident we will get a Yes result," Angus Robertson MP told Sky News.

"It might surprise some people in the bunkers of Whitehall and Westminster when it does, but when they wake up they will realise this is about Scotland governing itself like so many other places have decided to do over recent decades.

"We will have excellent relations with our friends on these islands.

"But we will always have a government that we actually elect making better decisions for people who life here - regardless of where they are from."

Given their lead in the polls it's unsurprising that the Better Together camp remains positive, despite considerable media and public opinion branding their campaign negative.

Asked whether it was easier for people to enthuse about independence rather than maintaining the status quo, Lewis Macdonald, a Labour member of the Scottish Parliament, told Sky News: "It's important to say there's a lot to be enthusiastic about.

"The union has worked very, very well for many generations and it's delivered us many benefits. But this isn't about change versus the status quo. This is about devolution, the kind of change that people in Scotland have wanted for a long time.

"It's a referendum that will be decided by the judgement people make at the end of the day. I think many people have made up their minds, some still have to choose.

"My expectation is that those people who still have to make up their mind will come to the same conclusion as those who have already made up their mind.

"At the moment, and for as long as I can remember the split has basically been two to one for remaining in the UK. I expect that the undecideds will come down in much the same kind of split.

"But only time will tell."

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