Other UK News In Brief

Fresh Appeal Following 1995 Walthamstow Murder

Sixteen years on from the murder of a Walthamstow woman found strangled in her flat, detectives are launching a fresh appeal for witnesses and information. Christine McGovern, 47, was found naked at her home on Hamilton Road in east London, around midday on Thursday 22 June 1995. Officers hope that as the years have passed allegiances may have changed or someone too scared to come forward at the time now feels able. Detective Inspector Ken Hughes, of the Homicide and Serious Crime Command, said: "We are appealing for anyone who didn't originally come forward to contact us. Circumstances change over the years and it may be someone now feels they can approach us in confidence and anonymously if they wish." Christine was a known sex worker who worked from home where she lived alone with her Rottweiler dog. She was found by a friend in her flat and a post-mortem examination gave cause of death as asphyxiation. She had suffered other injuries, including a broken spine and nose and severe bruising. Christine was last seen alive at about 6.30pm on Wednesday June 21 1995. A number of people reported that at around 11.00pm they heard a dog barking - possibly the victim's. There had been no forced entry to her home but it had been ransacked and there were items missing, including a video recorder, a satellite decoder, four gold rings and a gold necklace with a St Christopher's pendant. Detectives believe she was murdered by someone she knew.

BBC Members Accept 2% Increase

BECTU members in the BBC have voted to accept this year's pay offer by a two thirds majority. The consultative ballot on the BBC pay offer closed at noon on Tuesday with 65.8% accepting the offer. This result applies to BECTU members employed by BBC and to Studios and Post Production Ltd. The NUJ have informed their reps that they have received legal advice regarding the legality of the BBC’s actions in relation to the 1% cap on pensionable pay. BECTU General Secretary, Gerry Morrissey, will be meeting with the NUJ General Secretary to discuss this legal advice.

Design Stars To Gather For Growth Summit

Around 150 leaders from industry will join Government ministers and policy teams at the 2011 Design Summit on Thursday. Broadcaster and designer Kevin McCloud, Senior Vice President Industrial Design for Apple Jonathan Ive and Design Directors at Jaguar and Land Rover Ian Callum and Gerry McGovern will be among those discussing how the design industry can generate sustainable growth. The summit, organised by the Design Council and the Department for Business, follows Chancellor George Osborne’s Budget for Growth, which seeks to encourage the production of world-leading products and services made in Britain and includes measures to promote the digital and creative industries. The programme includes a session on growth in the built environment, with speakers from the World Architecture Festival and the Olympic Park Legacy Company, and a session on valuing design and innovation in manufacturing.

(BMcN)