Showing posts with label Law and Crime. Show all posts

Thursday, October 11, 2018

SLIDER October 11, 2018

Trans inmate jailed for Wakefield prison sex offences

A transgender prisoner who sexually assaulted two inmates at a women's jail and had previously raped two other women has been given a life sentence.

Karen White attacked two women in 2017 while on remand at HMP New Hall, in Wakefield, for other offences.

White, 52, who is transitioning, was described as a "predator" who was a danger to women and children.

She must serve a minimum of nine-and-a-half years for rape, sexual assault and wounding, Leeds Crown Court was told.

The court heard White, who was born male and now identifies as a woman, used her "transgender persona" to put herself in contact with vulnerable women.

New hall prison sign — Image captionKaren White admitted two counts of sexual touching at New Hall Prison, Wakefield

Passing sentence, Judge Christopher Batty said: "You are a predator and highly manipulative and in my view you are a danger.

"You represent a significant risk of serious harm to children, to women and to the general public."

Latest news and stories from across Yorkshire

White was on remand at HMP New Hall for other offences when she attacked the two women between September and October last year.

She was moved to a male prison after pleading guilty to the offences in September.

She also is highly unlikely to be moved back into a women's prison due to the risk she poses even if she were to be legally declared a woman, the BBC understands.

The court heard White has previous convictions for indecent assault, indecent exposure and gross indecency involving children, violence and dishonesty.

Image captionKaren White was born Stephen Wood and is transitioning

Prosecutor Christopher Dunn told the court: "She is allegedly a transgender female.

"The prosecution say allegedly because there's smatterings of evidence in this case that the defendant's approach to transitioning has been less than committed.

"The prosecution suggest the reason for the lack of commitment towards transitioning is so the defendant can use a transgender persona to put herself in contact with vulnerable persons she can then abuse."

White, who was born Stephen Wood and is originally from the Manchester area, was first arrested last August after attacking a 66-year-old neighbour with a steak-knife in Mytholmroyd.

While on remand at HMP New Hall, she began gender re-alignment, wearing a wig, make-up and false breasts.

She also admitted to probation officers she was sexually interested in children and could abuse a child and "think nothing of it".

'Spiked drink'

The two counts of rape did not come to light until one of the victims came forward after White wrote to her from prison.

The woman, in her 20s, said White had violently raped her five or six times between January and December 2016, after meeting at a psychiatric unit in West Yorkshire.

Investigators also discovered White had raped a woman in 2003 when she was two months pregnant.

The court heard White attacked her after spiking her drink with vodka until she passed out.

White was arrested but no information was given in court as to why he was not prosecuted at the time.

A Prison Service spokesman said: "We apologise sincerely for the mistakes which were made in this case.

"While we work to manage all prisoners, including those who are transgender, sensitively and in line with the law, we are clear that the safety of all prisoners must be our absolute priority."

Det Insp David Rogerson said: "White has pleaded guilty to a number of serious sexual offences which span many years.

"We are pleased to see White appropriately sentenced by the courts for what are very serious offences."

Source : bbc news

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Wednesday, October 3, 2018

Law and Crime October 03, 2018

International Court of Justice orders US to ease Iran sanctions

The International Court of Justice (ICJ) has ordered the US to ease sanctions it re-imposed on Iran after abandoning a nuclear deal in May.

Judges ruled that the US had to remove "any impediments" to the export of humanitarian goods, including food, medicine and aviation safety equipment.

The US argued the ruling was a "defeat" for Iran, saying it already allowed humanitarian-related transactions.

The rulings of the ICJ are binding but the court has no power to enforce them.

It is the main judicial organ of the UN and settles legal disputes between member states. But both nations have in the past ignored the court's rulings.

What were the arguments in court?

Iran said the sanctions violated the 1955 Treaty of Amity, Economic Relations, and Consular Rights between Iran and the US, which grants the ICJ jurisdiction over disputes.

It also said the reasons cited by President Donald Trump for re-imposing the sanctions were unfounded because the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) had repeatedly confirmed that Iran was complying with the terms of the 2015 nuclear accord signed by Tehran and six world powers.

Media captionUS-Iran sanctions: What do they mean?

US lawyers argued that the ICJ should not have jurisdiction and that Iran's assertions fell outside the bounds of the treaty.

The ICJ has ruled previously that the 1955 treaty is valid even though it was signed before the 1979 Revolution in Iran, which saw the US-backed shah overthrown and heralded four decades of hostility between the two countries.

How did the ICJ rule?

The 15-judge panel rejected Iran's call for them to order the reinstated US sanctions to be terminated without delay, and for the US to compensate Iran for the revenue losses it has incurred.

But the judges did order the US to "remove, by means of its choosing, any impediments arising from the measures on 8 May to the free exportation to the territory of the Islamic Republic of Iran" of:

medicines and medical devices
foodstuffs and agricultural commodities
spare parts, equipment and services necessary for the safety of civil aviation

A curb on 'economic warfare'?

Analysis by Anna Holligan, BBC News, The Hague

This is essentially the first time international judges have ruled on what's been described as a case of "economic warfare".

It is a provisional measure issued in response to Iran's urgent request ahead of the second round of sanctions scheduled to be reinstated next month.

The decision could encourage European companies, which ceased trading with Iran for fear of falling foul of President Trump, to reconsider their position, specifically those dealing in the humanitarian items outlined by the judges.

How did both sides react?

The Iranian foreign ministry said the decision "vindicates the Islamic Republic of Iran and confirms the illegitimacy and oppressiveness" of US sanctions.

But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo accused Iran of abusing the ICJ for political ends and said the court had rejected all of its "baseless requests".

Media captionMohammad Javad Zarif praises European efforts to preserve the nuclear deal

"With regard to the aspects of the court's order focusing on potential humanitarian issues, we have been clear," he added.

"Existing exceptions, authorisations and licensing policies for humanitarian-related transactions and safety of flight will remain in effect. The United States has been actively engaged on these issues without regard to any proceeding before the ICJ."

Mr Pompeo announced that the US was terminating the Treaty of Amity, adding: "This is a decision that is, frankly, 39 years overdue."

He also said the US had "solid" evidence that Iran was to blame for recent attacks against the US consulate in the Iraqi city of Basra and the embassy in Baghdad.

"These latest destabilising acts in Iraq are attempts by the Iranian regime to push back on our efforts to constrain its malign behaviour. Clearly, they see our comprehensive pressure campaign as serious and succeeding."

Why did the US abandon the nuclear deal?

The 2015 accord saw the Islamic Republic limit its controversial nuclear activities in return for relief from international sanctions.

But Mr Trump said it had "failed to achieve the fundamental objective of blocking all paths to an Iranian nuclear bomb" and did not deal with Tehran's "malign activities, including its ballistic missile programme and its support for terrorism".

In an attempt to compel Iran to agree to a new accord, the president reinstated sanctions that targeted the Iranian government's purchase of US dollars, Iran's trade in gold and other precious metals, and its automotive sector.

In November, a second batch of potentially more damaging sanctions will be re-imposed on Iran's oil and shipping sectors as well as its central bank.

The other parties to the deal - the UK, France, Germany, China and Russia - have pledged to abide by their commitments. But many firms have pulled out of Iran.

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Monday, September 24, 2018

Law and Crime September 24, 2018

3D-printed gun pioneer bailed after sex assault charge

Media captionCody Wilson: The man behind America's 3D-printed guns

Cody Wilson has been released on bail in Houston, Texas, after being charged with the sexual assault of an under-age girl.

His bail was posted at $150,000 (£114,000).

Mr Wilson runs Defense Distributed, a company that offers blueprints for creating 3D printed guns.

He was deported back to the US from Taiwan on 22 September, having travelled there after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

In August, a 16-year-old said she had been paid $500 (£380) to have sex with him at a hotel in Austin, Texas.

The legal age of consent in the state is 17.

Mr Wilson's lawyer Samy Khalil said: "We are glad that Cody is back in Texas again where we can work with him on his case.

"That's our focus right now, representing our client and preparing his defence."

Local TV news station Khou 11 broadcast footage of Mr Wilson leaving Harris County Jail.

If found guilty, Mr Wilson faces up to 20 years in prison.

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Wednesday, September 12, 2018

Law and Crime September 12, 2018

Westminster Bridge terror attack: Victim 'completely unaware' of attacker

A victim of the 2017 Westminster terror attack was "completely unaware" of the vehicle speeding towards her, an inquest into the attack has heard.

Khalid Masood ran down and killed four people on Westminster Bridge before stabbing a policeman to death.

Mother-of-two Aysha Frade was thrown 17m into the path of an oncoming bus after being hit by Masood.

The court heard Ms Frade, on her way to pick up her children from school, was on her phone at the moment of impact.

Those killed in the attack on 22 March last year were Kurt Cochran, 54, Leslie Rhodes, 75, Ms Frade, 44, and Andreea Cristea, 31.

Masood was shot dead at the scene by armed police officers.

CCTV footage of the moment the car hit Ms Frade, who worked as a PA at independent sixth-form DLD College London, was shown during the third day of the inquest.

It showed her being thrown into the air and propelled forwards under the rear side of the bus.

Ms Frade's husband and two sisters closed their eyes as the footage was played.

Ms Frade, who did not turn around before being hit, was seen falling under the rear wheel of the bus, which was seen to brake.

The footage subsequently captured a man banging on the side of the bus and someone else getting off it and approaching Ms Frade.

The court heard Ms Frade's husband called her phone shortly after she had been hit. A bystander answered.

"There's been a terrible accident" he told him.

Emergency services on Westminster Bridge after attack on 22 March 2017

Witness Rob Lyon, who answered Ms Frade's phone, had been in London for an interview and was crossing the bridge with two colleagues.

He told the court one colleague had shouted "get out of the way" and how he then "heard a crunch sound" and "very high revving of an engine".

He described seeing "three people being hit by the car" before hearing "noises, bangs, shouts and next thing I remember is being in the road".

He went on: "Initially I was frozen. I just remember trying to slow the bus down because I could see it was going to run over Aysha.

"I was just completely in shock."

Image captionClockwise from top left - PC Keith Palmer, Aysha Frade, Leslie Rhodes, Andreea Cristea and Kurt Cochran all lost their lives

One man stood over Ms Frade until a paramedic arrived on a motorcycle around five minutes after she was first hit.

The paramedic, who told the court he arrived at the scene two minutes after receiving the relevant call, knew instantly Ms Frade was dead as her condition was "unequivocal, incompatible with life".

The lawyer for the family said graphic photos and videos had been posted on the internet of her body by those on the bridge, causing "real distress to the family".

In a 999 call played to the Old Bailey, a man described the aftermath of the attack, saying: "There's been a serious accident on Westminster Bridge. About four or five people have been run over."

He went on to say there were "six or seven" casualties, adding: "There's actually a woman underneath a bus.

"I think she's dead. I think she's dead."

'Horrific injuries'

A police officer broke down in tears as she gave evidence about the incident.

PC Kirsty Bamborough had been deployed to the bridge that day and was involved in securing the scene around Ms Frade.

She went through the victim's bag and found a letter from her children's school. She contacted the school to tell them what happened.

When it was put to PC Bamborough that she had seen "horrific injuries" suffered by Ms Frade, she agreed and started crying.

Media captionCCTV footage shows Kurt and Melissa Cochran moments before Westminster attack

Earlier, the inquest heard how Mr Rhodes was taken in an ambulance to Kings College Hospital in south London after also being hit during the attack.

Consultant Dr Simon Calvert told the inquest he considered surgery for Mr Rhodes but concluded that his injuries were "likely to be unsurvivable".

The retired window cleaner was transferred to intensive care and died the following evening.

The inquest is set to last about five weeks. A separate inquest into the death of Masood will be held but only once the one into his victims' deaths has concluded.

The coroner is expected to examine Masood's background, police records, and look into the fact that he briefly featured in MI5 investigations in 2009 and 2010. The absence of armed officers at the scene will also be examined.

Source:bbc

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Law and Crime September 12, 2018

Skripal poisoning: Putin says suspects 'civilians, not criminals

Media captionPresident Vladimir Putin says the suspects are civilians

The two suspects in the poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter are civilians, not criminals, Russian President Vladimir Putin says.

The UK government named them as Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov, and said they were from Russia's military intelligence service, the GRU.

Mr Putin said his government had found the pair and he hoped they would appear soon and tell their story.

Mr Skripal and Yulia were poisoned in Salisbury, in the UK, in March.

"We know who they are, we have found them," Mr Putin said in the far eastern city of Vladivostok.

"I hope they will turn up themselves and tell everything. This would be best for everyone.

"There is nothing special there, nothing criminal, I assure you. We'll see in the near future," he added.

BBC Moscow correspondent Sarah Rainsford called Mr Putin's words a "tantalising hint" that the two men will speak "very soon".

"But the question of course is who will we see because don't forget that, in the UK, the suspicion is that the two names that were given are in fact aliases," our correspondent added.

Russian state TV says one of the suspects, Mr Petrov, told the channel he might comment publicly on the case next week.

'Simply sensational' - Russia reacts

By BBC Monitoring

Within minutes, Putin's remarks became top news on Russian TV, which called them "simply sensational".

On state TV's Channel One, a talk show speculated whether Theresa May would resign upon seeing that Petrov and Boshirov are not Russian hitmen after all, or whether the British government would come up with more "lies" to denigrate Russia.

Rossiya 1, another government-run TV channel, showed a beaming commentator saying he was "full of admiration for how Vladimir Putin is doing it", as the studio erupted in applause.

But the Kremlin's media machine suggested the most exciting news is yet to come - when the two suspects appear on TV in person and deal the final blow to accusations of Russia's involvement in the poisoning.

Scotland Yard and the UK's Crown Prosecution Service have said there is enough evidence to charge the men, who are understood to have travelled to London from Moscow on 2 March on Russian passports.

Two days later, police say they sprayed the nerve agent, Novichok, on the front door of Mr Skripal's home in the Wiltshire city of Salisbury, before travelling home to Russia later that day.

UK Home Secretary Sajid Javid has warned the men, thought to be aged about 40, will be caught and prosecuted if they ever step out of Russia.

The CPS is not applying to Russia for the extradition of the two men, as Russia does not extradite its own nationals.

But a European Arrest Warrant has been obtained in case they travel to the EU.

Media captionOn the Novichok suspects' trail

Det Sgt Nick Bailey also fell ill after responding to the incident in the city of Salisbury. He was later discharged from hospital, as were the Skripals.

Police are linking the attack to a separate Novichok poisoning on 30 June, when Dawn Sturgess and Charlie Rowley became unwell at a house in Amesbury, about eight miles away.

Ms Sturgess died in hospital on 8 July.

Alexander Petrov and Ruslan Boshirov — Image captionMr Putin said his government had found the pair and hoped they would appear soon and tell their story

UK police said the two men arrived at Gatwick Airport from Moscow on 2 March and stayed at the City Stay Hotel in Bow Road, east London.

On 4 March they travelled to Salisbury - having also visited for reconnaissance the previous day - where Mr Skripal's front door was contaminated with Novichok.

Officers believe a modified perfume bottle was used to spray the door.

The pair flew back to Moscow from Heathrow later that night.

The perfume bottle recovered from Mr Rowley's home and the box it came in — Image captionThe counterfeit perfume bottle recovered from Mr Rowley's home and the box police say it came in.

Police said Ms Sturgess and Mr Rowley were later exposed to Novichok after handling a contaminated container, labelled as Nina Ricci Premier Jour perfume.

Mr Rowley told police he found the box containing the small bottle and an applicator - all found to be counterfeit - in a charity bin.

He tried to put bottle and applicator together and got some of the contents on himself. His partner, Ms Sturgess, applied some of the contents to her wrists and became unwell.

The attack in Salisbury prompted an international row, with more than 20 countries expelling Russian envoys in solidarity with the UK, including the US, while Moscow expelled diplomats in response.

Last month the US confirmed it was implementing fresh sanctions against Russia over the incident. UK Prime Minister Theresa May has also said Britain will push for the EU to agree new sanctions.

Since the UK named the two suspects, US, France, Germany and Canada have agreed that the Russian government "almost certainly" approved the poisoning of the Skripals and have urged Russia to provide full disclosure of its Novichok programme.

In response, Russia accused the British authorities of Russophobia, misleading the international community and UK citizens and of "disgusting anti-Russian hysteria".