Other UK News In Brief

Murdered Posties' Husband Denies Killing

The husband of a postmistress who was found dead at her village store has pleaded not guilty to her murder. Diana Garbutt, 40, was found dead in the upstairs living quarters of Melsonby Post Office, in East Road, North Yorkshire, on 23 March. Robin Garbutt, 44, pleaded not guilty at Teeside Crown Court to the murder charge and was remanded in custody.

Dáil Reduces Legal Limit

The Irish parliament in Dublin has passed a new lower drink-driving limit, to the outrage of the country's publicans. The acceptable blood alcohol limit while driving has been lowered to 50mg instead of the previous level of 80mg. The new limit was part of the Road Traffic Bill. The Bill passed through the Dáil without a vote as agreement on its contents was reached on all sides. Drivers caught over the limit would receive three penalty points and a €200 fine, if they do not challenge the conviction in court, but they will not receive a driving ban.

Badger Vaccine Deployment Changes

There has been a review of the planned Badger Vaccine Deployment Project (BVDP), designed to vaccinate badgers against bovine TB in parts of England, due to start this summer. The BVDP was designed at a time when culling was not an option. Since the policy on badger control is still being developed, Government ministers have decided that vaccination will proceed as part of the project in the area near Stroud, Gloucestershire, only, beginning in July for five years. Badger sett surveys will also be completed in the area near Cheltenham, Gloucestershire. This reflects both the changed policy position and the need to consider carefully all public expenditure.

Al-Qaida 'Leader' Jailed

A self-styled British leader of al-Qaida who called for the assassination of former PMs Tony Blair and Gordon Brown was jailed for five years today. Ishaq Kanmi, 24, wrote on a Jihadi website in January 2008 that the two former prime ministers would be targeted by "martyrdom seekers" if his demands that British troops were withdrawn from Iraq and Afghanistan and all Muslims were released from London's Belmarsh prison were not met within two months. He posed online as Umar Rabie, the leader of "al-Qaida in Britain", but Manchester crown court heard that the supposed offshoot of Osama Bin Laden's terrorist group was fictitious and there was no evidence that Kanmi had any links with al-Qaida.

(BMcC/GK)