Other News In Brief

Remand Over Jade Dafoe Death

A 33-year-old man has been remanded in custody after he appeared in court charged with the murder of the half-brother of footballer Jermaine Defoe. Jade Defoe, 26, suffered serious head injuries in an attack in Leytonstone, east London, on 20 April. He died five days after the attack in Walnut Gardens. Christopher Farley, 33, of Leytonstone, east London, appeared at Redbridge Magistrates' Court. He will appear at the Old Bailey on 5 August.

Man Died From Leg Stab Wounds

A man who was found stabbed to death in an east London flat died from multiple stab wounds to the leg, a post mortem has found. Alican Cetin, 20, was discovered by London Ambulance Service staff at the Evelyn Court flat, in Hackney on Monday morning. A 26-year-old arrested in connection with the death is still being questioned at an east London police station.

Two Arrested In Police Operation

Two men, aged 26 and 35, have been held in connection with an alleged conspiracy to rob. The arrests, part of a police operation on the southside of Glasgow, follow a pre-planned early morning operation by Strathclyde Police in the Nithsdale Road area. The were detained in custody and due to appear today at Glasgow Sheriff Court. A full report will be sent to the Procurator Fiscal.

Teens Charged With Death Crash

Two teenage drivers have been charged with causing the deaths of an elderly couple following a fatal road crash in Flintshire before Christmas. Ricky Challinor, 19, and David Hirst, 18, are accused of causing the death of Eric Townsend, 85, and his wife Marie, 83, from Ruthin, Denbighshire. They each face two counts of causing death by dangerous driving amid allegations they were racing. Both were granted unconditional bail by Flintshire magistrates in Mold. Mr Townsend, a retired police officer and his wife, a retired nurse, died in the crash on 5 December on the A494 at New Brighton near Mold in Flintshire.

Arrests In Suspected Pyramid Scheme

The OFT continued its criminal investigation into a suspected unlawful 'pyramid scheme' operating in the South West of England and South Wales by carrying out further raids in the Bristol area today. OFT officers executed entry warrants at home addresses in Bristol and East Harptree accompanied by police, who arrested three women alleged to be involved in the establishment, operation and promotion of the suspected pyramid scheme. The OFT also served notices at a number of other addresses requiring individuals and businesses to produce documents relevant to the investigation. The scheme appears to be aimed at women, with each participant promising to enlist two more members. The OFT estimates that up to £18 million may have passed through the scheme since May 2008 with thousands of consumers paying up to £3000 each to join.

New Measures To Harmonise Vehicle Standards

New measures coming in to force today will make it easier for manufacturers of commercial and special-purpose vehicles to access new European markets. These measures, which already apply to cars, are designed to ensure that all new vehicles across Europe meet the same safety and environmental standards. Once fully implemented they will enable vehicle manufacturers to sell their products across 27 member states without incurring additional approval costs. This considerably reduces the burden on manufacturers who until today have needed to apply for separate approval from each member state. The changes - which cover vans, trucks, minibuses, buses, coaches, trailers, wheelchair-accessible cars and other special-purpose vehicles - are in response to a new European Directive on Whole Vehicle Type Approval Directive (ECWVTA).

(JM/BMcC)