Other News In Brief

Sam Hallam Criticises Metropolitan Police

Sam Hallam has criticised the Metropolitan police for taking away eight years of his life after the court of appeal quashed his conviction for murder when hearing fresh evidence that "significantly undermined" his conviction.

Speaking outside the high court, Hallam – who was put in prison at the age of 17 and released only on Wednesday – said he had not received an apology from the police for wrongly focusing on him as one of the killers of Essayas Kassahun in a gang attack in Hoxton, north London, in 2004.

"It [the investigation] just wasn't done properly," he said.

"Them not doing their job properly cost me eight years of my life. I lost eight years of my life and nothing is going to happen to them."

The court of appeal quashed his 2005 conviction for murder on Thursday after hearing that evidence he had had all along on his own mobile phone undermined the case against him.

Six Charged On Human Trafficking Charges

Six people, including a butcher and an optician, have been charged in connection with trafficking an Indian woman.

The suspects, all from London, face a number of counts including rape, sexual assault and making threats to kill the victim, said the Metropolitan Police.

Scotland Yard said the 37-year-old woman was from the southern city of Hyderabad.

The suspects are due at Westminster Magistrates' Court on bail on 7 June.

Dieting Safe For Pregnant Women

Dieting in pregnancy is safe for women and does not carry risks for the baby, a review of research has suggested.

The British Medical Journal analysis looked at the findings from 44 previous studies involving more than 7,000 women.

The London-based team said following a healthy diet - and not eating for two - prevents excess weight gain and cuts the risk of complications.

This is in contradiction of current guideline, which do not advocate dieting or weight monitoring.