US detectives try to piece together the final movements of holidaymakers James Cooper and James Kouzaris Detectives in Florida have begun to focus on the crucial “lost hour” before two British holidaymakers were apparently led to their deaths in a suspected early-morning ambush in a run-down part of Sarasota in the early hours of Saturday. Assistant state attorney Karen Fraivillig said that teenager Shawn Tyson, 16, will be tried as an adult on first-degree murder charges following his arrest on Monday. A grand jury will hear allegations within two weeks that he shot and killed James Cooper, 25, and James Kouzaris, 24, after they had enjoyed a night out in Sarasota. Fraivillig added that although Florida still uses lethal injection for adults convicted of certain types of premeditated murder, Tyson’s age at the time of the double shooting keeps it “off the table”. “Despite the fact that he’s being tried as an adult, the death penalty simply doesn’t apply in Florida to anyone who’s under 18 years old, in any circumstances,” she said. “The grand jury is imminent but I haven’t set a date because we have to get our ducks in a row and make sure we have a presentation that the jury can understand all the facts of the case.” Tyson remained in custody at the Sarasota county jail, where detectives were attempting to interview him again about the killing of the Britons, who were enjoying a three-week holiday with Cooper’s parents on the exclusive west coast barrier island of Longboat Key. Central to the inquiry is what happened to the pair during the “lost hour” between 2am, when the bars in central Sarasota where they had been drinking in closed, and shortly before 3am, when their bodies were found with multiple gunshot wounds in the street in the crime-ridden neighbourhood of Newtown, several miles away. Photographs taken on Friday night show Cooper dancing in a bar called Smokin’ Joes on Sarasota’s Main Street and Kouzaris standing outside his resort, both wearing the same clothes their bodies were found in. Captain Paul Sutton of the Sarasota Police Department said the pictures helped with the chronology of their movements but that the trail went cold at 2am. “We have quite a narrow timeline,” he said. “We’d like to hear from anybody who has any information about what they were doing during that time.” Tyson, who has one previous arrest for gun crime, earlier this month, is said to be uncooperative. Investigators say he did not have access to a car and they believe he was already waiting in Newtown when an unknown third party arrived with Cooper, from Warwick, and Kouzaris, of Northampton, shortly before 3am. Police have said they believe the two were there of their own volition. “It’s plausible they were taken there and confronted by at least one individual,” Sutton said. Some reports say that several people were seen running when gunshots broke out, and Sutton added: “We’re continuing to investigate the possibility that others were involved.” While he said that detectives were still considering all theories, one that the former University of Sheffield students might have been part of a drugs deal that turned sour seemed to be losing popularity. Family members in the UK attacked suggestions that Cooper, a tennis coach at the University of Warwick, was buying marijuana. “He never did drugs. He did not even smoke – he hated people who smoked. He was a professional tennis coach. Taking drugs would be the last thing on his mind,” Desmond Walton, Cooper’s grandfather, told reporters. Gun crime Florida United States Crime Richard Luscombe guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …US detectives try to piece together the final movements of holidaymakers James Cooper and James Kouzaris Detectives in Florida have begun to focus on the crucial “lost hour” before two British holidaymakers were apparently led to their deaths in a suspected early-morning ambush in a run-down part of Sarasota in the early hours of Saturday. Assistant state attorney Karen Fraivillig said that teenager Shawn Tyson, 16, will be tried as an adult on first-degree murder charges following his arrest on Monday. A grand jury will hear allegations within two weeks that he shot and killed James Cooper, 25, and James Kouzaris, 24, after they had enjoyed a night out in Sarasota. Fraivillig added that although Florida still uses lethal injection for adults convicted of certain types of premeditated murder, Tyson’s age at the time of the double shooting keeps it “off the table”. “Despite the fact that he’s being tried as an adult, the death penalty simply doesn’t apply in Florida to anyone who’s under 18 years old, in any circumstances,” she said. “The grand jury is imminent but I haven’t set a date because we have to get our ducks in a row and make sure we have a presentation that the jury can understand all the facts of the case.” Tyson remained in custody at the Sarasota county jail, where detectives were attempting to interview him again about the killing of the Britons, who were enjoying a three-week holiday with Cooper’s parents on the exclusive west coast barrier island of Longboat Key. Central to the inquiry is what happened to the pair during the “lost hour” between 2am, when the bars in central Sarasota where they had been drinking in closed, and shortly before 3am, when their bodies were found with multiple gunshot wounds in the street in the crime-ridden neighbourhood of Newtown, several miles away. Photographs taken on Friday night show Cooper dancing in a bar called Smokin’ Joes on Sarasota’s Main Street and Kouzaris standing outside his resort, both wearing the same clothes their bodies were found in. Captain Paul Sutton of the Sarasota Police Department said the pictures helped with the chronology of their movements but that the trail went cold at 2am. “We have quite a narrow timeline,” he said. “We’d like to hear from anybody who has any information about what they were doing during that time.” Tyson, who has one previous arrest for gun crime, earlier this month, is said to be uncooperative. Investigators say he did not have access to a car and they believe he was already waiting in Newtown when an unknown third party arrived with Cooper, from Warwick, and Kouzaris, of Northampton, shortly before 3am. Police have said they believe the two were there of their own volition. “It’s plausible they were taken there and confronted by at least one individual,” Sutton said. Some reports say that several people were seen running when gunshots broke out, and Sutton added: “We’re continuing to investigate the possibility that others were involved.” While he said that detectives were still considering all theories, one that the former University of Sheffield students might have been part of a drugs deal that turned sour seemed to be losing popularity. Family members in the UK attacked suggestions that Cooper, a tennis coach at the University of Warwick, was buying marijuana. “He never did drugs. He did not even smoke – he hated people who smoked. He was a professional tennis coach. Taking drugs would be the last thing on his mind,” Desmond Walton, Cooper’s grandfather, told reporters. Gun crime Florida United States Crime Richard Luscombe guardian.co.uk
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Who says there are no good jobs anywhere? I just stumbled upon this help wanted ad for an investigative reporter in Sarasota, Florida. Who wouldn’t want to work for this guy? The passion and purpose leaping from this call-to-journalistic-arms is almost enough to persuade anyone to forget the humidity and the snakes in the Governor’s mansion and fly into the hurricane. Almost… We want to add some talent to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune investigative team. Every serious candidate should have a proven track record of conceiving, reporting and writing stellar investigative pieces that provoke change. However, our ideal candidate has also cursed out an editor, had spokespeople hang up on them in anger and threatened to resign at least once because some fool wanted to screw around with their perfect lede. We do a mix of quick hit investigative work when events call for it and mini-projects that might run for a few days. But every year we like to put together a project way too ambitious for a paper our size because we dream that one day Walt Bogdanich will have to say: “I can’t believe the Sarasota Whatever-Tribune cost me my 20th Pulitzer.” As many of you already know, those kinds of projects can be hellish, soul-sucking, doubt-inducing affairs. But if you’re the type of sicko who likes holing up in a tiny, closed office with reporters of questionable hygiene to build databases from scratch by hand-entering thousands of pages of documents to take on powerful people and institutions that wish you were dead, all for the glorious reward of having readers pick up the paper and glance at your potential prize-winning epic as they flip their way to the Jumble… well, if that sounds like journalism Heaven, then you’re our kind of sicko. For those unaware of Florida’s reputation, it’s arguably the best news state in the country and not just because of the great public records laws. We have all kinds of corruption, violence and scumbaggery. The 9/11 terrorists trained here. Bush read My Pet Goat here. Our elections are colossal clusterfucks. Our new governor once ran a health care company that got hit with a record fine because of rampant Medicare fraud. We have hurricanes, wildfires, tar balls, bedbugs, diseased citrus trees and an entire town overrun by giant roaches (only one of those things is made up). And we have Disney World and beaches, so bring the whole family. Send questions, or a resume/cover letter/links to clips to my email address below. If you already have your dream job, please pass this along to someone whose skills you covet. Thanks. Matthew Doig Sarasota Herald-Tribune 1741 Main St. Sarasota FL, 34236 (941) 361-4903 matthew.doig@heraldtribune.com Good Luck. And if you snag the job, don’t let them get their government hands on your Medicare!
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Who says there are no good jobs anywhere? I just stumbled upon this help wanted ad for an investigative reporter in Sarasota, Florida. Who wouldn’t want to work for this guy? The passion and purpose leaping from this call-to-journalistic-arms is almost enough to persuade anyone to forget the humidity and the snakes in the Governor’s mansion and fly into the hurricane. Almost… We want to add some talent to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune investigative team. Every serious candidate should have a proven track record of conceiving, reporting and writing stellar investigative pieces that provoke change. However, our ideal candidate has also cursed out an editor, had spokespeople hang up on them in anger and threatened to resign at least once because some fool wanted to screw around with their perfect lede. We do a mix of quick hit investigative work when events call for it and mini-projects that might run for a few days. But every year we like to put together a project way too ambitious for a paper our size because we dream that one day Walt Bogdanich will have to say: “I can’t believe the Sarasota Whatever-Tribune cost me my 20th Pulitzer.” As many of you already know, those kinds of projects can be hellish, soul-sucking, doubt-inducing affairs. But if you’re the type of sicko who likes holing up in a tiny, closed office with reporters of questionable hygiene to build databases from scratch by hand-entering thousands of pages of documents to take on powerful people and institutions that wish you were dead, all for the glorious reward of having readers pick up the paper and glance at your potential prize-winning epic as they flip their way to the Jumble… well, if that sounds like journalism Heaven, then you’re our kind of sicko. For those unaware of Florida’s reputation, it’s arguably the best news state in the country and not just because of the great public records laws. We have all kinds of corruption, violence and scumbaggery. The 9/11 terrorists trained here. Bush read My Pet Goat here. Our elections are colossal clusterfucks. Our new governor once ran a health care company that got hit with a record fine because of rampant Medicare fraud. We have hurricanes, wildfires, tar balls, bedbugs, diseased citrus trees and an entire town overrun by giant roaches (only one of those things is made up). And we have Disney World and beaches, so bring the whole family. Send questions, or a resume/cover letter/links to clips to my email address below. If you already have your dream job, please pass this along to someone whose skills you covet. Thanks. Matthew Doig Sarasota Herald-Tribune 1741 Main St. Sarasota FL, 34236 (941) 361-4903 matthew.doig@heraldtribune.com Good Luck. And if you snag the job, don’t let them get their government hands on your Medicare!
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Scotland Yard to mount one of its biggest ever operations on the day of the wedding amid fears of disruption by activists Police across the country could make pre-emptive strikes in the coming days to arrest activists intent on causing trouble during the royal wedding, Scotland Yard has revealed. The Metropolitan police are working with other forces across England and Wales and using local intelligence to identify activists and anarchists who they believe are committed to carrying out criminal activity on 29 April. “We will attempt to prevent people coming to London to carry out criminal activity,” said assistant commissioner Lynne Owens, head of central operations at Scotland Yard, adding there would be police activity in the days ahead of the event to “disrupt any criminal behaviour that may be anticipated”. But the tactic of making pre-emptive arrests of groups or individuals planning demonstrations is controversial. Police have to prove that a criminal plot has taken place before moving in, or that a breach of the peace is imminent, for example seconds, minutes or possibly hours away, according to legal experts. Scotland Yard has also said that two groups have applied for permission to protest in the immediate area of the wedding on the day. Muslims Against Crusades, an offshoot of the outlawed group al-Muhajiroun, is in ongoing discussions with the police. The Yard has refused them permission to demonstrate outside Westminster Abbey but cannot stop them mounting a static protest elsewhere. In response, the English Defence League has indicated they will mount a counter-demonstration, raising fears of a flashpoint on the day. Anjem Choudary, spokesman for Muslims Against Crusades, said the group believed the royal wedding was the perfect time to mount a demonstration. “The timing on the royal wedding is absolutely spot on because it will raise awareness among the masses here and around the world that the Muslims will never remain silent,” he said. In the past, members of the group have burned poppies on the anniversary of Armistice Day and carried out demonstrations in east London against troops returning from Afghanistan. Scotland Yard will mount one of the biggest operations in its history on the day of the wedding. Just under 5,000 officers will be deployed. Police are likely to use section 60 of the Criminal Justice Act 1996 to impose zones where officers can stop and search individuals, regardless of suspicion. Owens said: “If anyone comes to London on the day of the royal wedding intending to commit criminal acts, we will act quickly, robustly and decisively so it is a safe and happy environment for everyone else who wishes to be here and celebrate.” She said it was a security operation and, as such, might not be compatible with the wishes of any protesters. The police said they were getting daily intelligence updates from both covert and open sources, such as social media sites. But they admitted the tactic adopted by anarchists of creating a “black bloc”, where individuals turn up at an event, cover their heads and put on black clothing to appear as a solid mass and remain anonymous, was difficult to anticipate. The Yard said those who had committed criminal acts at previous demonstrations, including the TUC march and the anti-fees protest last year, came from all over the country. Sixty people who have been arrested at previous demonstrations have bail conditions which ban them from entering the City of Westminster. They would be arrested if they were seen in the area on the day, the police said. Pre-emptive action could include moving in to break up squats in London or elsewere where individuals are gathering. They could also carry out arrests under conspiracy laws if they had enough evidence that a criminal plot or conspiracy had taken place. But Mike Schwarz, of Bindmans solicitors, said: “Both of these tactics would be very controversial, particularly with protesters, because they have rights of expression under Article 10 of the European convention on human rights and under Article 11 of assembly, and the police have an obligation to facilitate that. “The police would have to show that what was planned was not just a demonstration but an unlawful act and that could be problematic for them.” Royal wedding Protest Police London Metropolitan police Sandra Laville guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Scotland Yard to mount one of its biggest ever operations on the day of the wedding amid fears of disruption by activists Police across the country could make pre-emptive strikes in the coming days to arrest activists intent on causing trouble during the royal wedding, Scotland Yard has revealed. The Metropolitan police are working with other forces across England and Wales and using local intelligence to identify activists and anarchists who they believe are committed to carrying out criminal activity on 29 April. “We will attempt to prevent people coming to London to carry out criminal activity,” said assistant commissioner Lynne Owens, head of central operations at Scotland Yard, adding there would be police activity in the days ahead of the event to “disrupt any criminal behaviour that may be anticipated”. But the tactic of making pre-emptive arrests of groups or individuals planning demonstrations is controversial. Police have to prove that a criminal plot has taken place before moving in, or that a breach of the peace is imminent, for example seconds, minutes or possibly hours away, according to legal experts. Scotland Yard has also said that two groups have applied for permission to protest in the immediate area of the wedding on the day. Muslims Against Crusades, an offshoot of the outlawed group al-Muhajiroun, is in ongoing discussions with the police. The Yard has refused them permission to demonstrate outside Westminster Abbey but cannot stop them mounting a static protest elsewhere. In response, the English Defence League has indicated they will mount a counter-demonstration, raising fears of a flashpoint on the day. Anjem Choudary, spokesman for Muslims Against Crusades, said the group believed the royal wedding was the perfect time to mount a demonstration. “The timing on the royal wedding is absolutely spot on because it will raise awareness among the masses here and around the world that the Muslims will never remain silent,” he said. In the past, members of the group have burned poppies on the anniversary of Armistice Day and carried out demonstrations in east London against troops returning from Afghanistan. Scotland Yard will mount one of the biggest operations in its history on the day of the wedding. Just under 5,000 officers will be deployed. Police are likely to use section 60 of the Criminal Justice Act 1996 to impose zones where officers can stop and search individuals, regardless of suspicion. Owens said: “If anyone comes to London on the day of the royal wedding intending to commit criminal acts, we will act quickly, robustly and decisively so it is a safe and happy environment for everyone else who wishes to be here and celebrate.” She said it was a security operation and, as such, might not be compatible with the wishes of any protesters. The police said they were getting daily intelligence updates from both covert and open sources, such as social media sites. But they admitted the tactic adopted by anarchists of creating a “black bloc”, where individuals turn up at an event, cover their heads and put on black clothing to appear as a solid mass and remain anonymous, was difficult to anticipate. The Yard said those who had committed criminal acts at previous demonstrations, including the TUC march and the anti-fees protest last year, came from all over the country. Sixty people who have been arrested at previous demonstrations have bail conditions which ban them from entering the City of Westminster. They would be arrested if they were seen in the area on the day, the police said. Pre-emptive action could include moving in to break up squats in London or elsewere where individuals are gathering. They could also carry out arrests under conspiracy laws if they had enough evidence that a criminal plot or conspiracy had taken place. But Mike Schwarz, of Bindmans solicitors, said: “Both of these tactics would be very controversial, particularly with protesters, because they have rights of expression under Article 10 of the European convention on human rights and under Article 11 of assembly, and the police have an obligation to facilitate that. “The police would have to show that what was planned was not just a demonstration but an unlawful act and that could be problematic for them.” Royal wedding Protest Police London Metropolitan police Sandra Laville guardian.co.uk
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UK and other governments oppose EU regulations aimed at preventing oil leaks at deepwater drilling operations European plans to crack down hard on oil companies with a series of measures to prevent a spill in EU waters like that of BP’s Gulf of Mexico disaster , are under attack from the UK and other national governments, the Guardian has learned. The measures, backed by the EU’s energy chief Günter Oettinger , require companies to use a higher standard of equipment, pay for damage for which they are not liable now, and prove they have enough funds to clear up after any accident, before they can be licensed to drill. The rules will be brought forward in July, and would apply to new and controversial deepwater drilling operations being embarked upon by several firms, such as Chevron at its site west of Shetland, and Cairn Energy in Greenland. A year ago on Wednesday , an explosion at BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling rig in the Gulf of Mexico killed 11 people and caused the biggest offshore oil spill in US history, wreaking devastation in the Gulf. Green campaigners welcomed the tougher stance from the European commission, but warned that the proposals were under attack. Richard George, an oil campaigner for Greenpeace, said: “If these regulations pass they’ll be a good first step towards ensuring that oil companies are held responsible for their spills. The concern right now is that national governments, with the UK at the forefront, are working hard to water down these proposals at the behest of the oil companies. David Cameron needs to get behind efforts to prevent a Deepwater Horizon-style disaster in European waters.” One proposal, which would extend the EU regulations to the overseas operations of European offshore oil firms, is the subject of a sustained attack. If this rule had been in place last year BP’s Deepwater Horizon drilling would have been subject to EU safety standards. Greenpeace said it was vital that this was retained. A European commission source said that at first officials tried to involve oil executives in talks on the proposals but had been rebuffed by the companies, which insisted the Deepwater Horizon spill was solely due to shoddy practices. The commission has now decided to go ahead with the crackdown without input from the industry. The oil industry is mounting a rearguard action, to get the rules changed before they can be brought into effect. The planned rules must be approved by member states and the European parliament before they can come into operation, a process likely to take at least two years. But lobbying from the energy industry has been intense even before the proposals are scheduled to be formally brought forward, in July. Under the commission plans, tough rules would apply to all drilling sites within 200 miles of the coast. Previous piecemeal EU attempts to regulate oil drilling extended only to wells within 12 miles of shore, a limit that would have exempted BP’s Deepwater Horizon operation. The rules would cover the boundary with international waters where the legal standing of wells is unclear, and mean virtually all offshore oil drilling operations within the EU being covered. Oil companies would have to prove they could pay for any damage caused, either through an obligation to buy sufficient insurance, or by paying into a fund. They would also have to submit detailed plans on dealing deal with any accident. Mobile oil rigs, like BP’s Deepwater Horizon floating platform, would also be covered, with new tough rules on the kind of equipment to be used, such as blowout preventers, the failure of which was a key factor in the BP catastrophe. At present, laws requiring a high standard of safety equipment are limited to fixed rigs. Companies would have to record any incidents, however minor, and notify the EU, with a description of the problem and and what was done to solve it. At present, companies can conceal such incidents. The disclosure rules will help regulators gain an early insight – for instance, if there is a pattern of incidents across a company’s sites, that could indicate problems with that firm’s practices. Oil spills Oil European Union Pollution Europe Oil Energy Fossil fuels Oil and gas companies Energy industry Fiona Harvey guardian.co.uk
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Rebels fighting Gaddafi regime to get military advice on the ground as MPs warn of ‘mission creep’ The British government has come under intense pressure over its response to the crisis in Libya as ministers prepared to dispatch a team of military officers to advise rebels fighting Muammar Gaddafi’s forces and the RAF stepped up air strikes. Nato commanders said the alliance was extending Nato’s targets in Libya to include small satellite communications systems and telephone exchanges in strikes described by defence officials as marking a clear “shift” in targeting policy. MPs expressed deep concern about mission creep. The UN appealed for a ceasefire in Misrata, saying at least 20 children had been killed in attacks by government forces on rebel-held parts of the city, but senior Nato officers admitted air strikes could do little on their own to prevent a worsening crisis there. Officials from countries engaged in the bombing campaign made it clear the situation is becoming increasingly difficult. Military action is not securing their goal, the end of the Gaddafi regime, while more direct intervention would be unpopular at home and might breach UN security council resolutions on Libya. William Hague, the foreign secretary, said a number of “experienced military officers” would be sent to Benghazi to advise the rebels on intelligence-gathering, logistics and communications. About 10 British and 10 French officers will make up a combined team run by a joint headquarters. The advisers “will enable the UK to build on the work already being undertaken to support and advise the NTC [National Transitional Council] on how to better protect civilians”, Hague said. “In particular they will advise the NTC on how to improve their military organisational structures, communications and logistics, including how best to distribute humanitarian aid and deliver medical assistance.” British defence officials stressed the team would consist of advisers, rather than trainers. The officers will be equipped with small arms for their own protection but would not arm the rebels. There are no plans for the team to go to Misrata, the officials added. General Lord Dannatt, a former head of the British army, said the decision to send military advisers to Benghazi was “an entirely logical further step to achieve legitimate aims”. Referring to last week’s joint statement by David Cameron, Barack Obama and Nicolas Sarkozy that it would be an “unconscionable betrayal” if Gaddafi were allowed to remain in power, Dannatt added: “Some will always say ‘mission creep’, but [Britain should] interpret the UN mandate broadly to avoid mission collapse.” But the decision provoked a political row at home. David Davis, a former Conservative home secretary, said: “A lot of people will see this as mission creep, some of us as an inevitable outcome.” The ex-Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said: “Sending advisers for a limited purpose is probably within the terms of Resolution 1973, but it must not be seen as a first instalment of further military deployment. Vietnam began with a US president sending military advisers. We must proceed with caution.” The Labour MP David Winnick said: “However much one despises the brutality of the Gaddafi clan which rules Libya, the fact remains that there is a danger of mission creep. There is a civil war in Libya and this is a big escalation of Britain’s involvement.” The six European countries in the bombing campaign – led by the French and the British and also including the Canadians, Danes, Norwegians, and Belgians – appear to have closed the gap in the bombing capacity caused by the withdrawal of the US more than a fortnight ago. Officials said France had taken on the lead role, moving the Charles De Gaulle aircraft carrier closer to the Libyan coast and placing the aircraft on board under Nato command. Officials pointed specifically to an attack near Tripoli that destroyed the communications facilities of Gaddafi’s crack 32nd brigade, regarded as the most formidable unit in the regime’s military. The aim was to cut the regime’s supply lines and disrupt Gaddafi’s ability to direct his forces. Alain Juppe, the French foreign minister, said he remained “absolutely opposed” to troop deployment on the ground. But he acknowleged: “What we have perhaps underestimated is Muammar Gaddafi’s capacity to adapt.” The British submarine HMS Triumph, is understood to have fired cruise missiles at Libyan targets over the past two days. It emerged that last Friday’s meeting of Nato foreign ministers supplied the go-ahead for more intensive bombing and securing more aircraft and weaponry. “Gaddafi is not able to use his forces as he wants. He’s not able to fight the way he wants,” said Brigadier General Mark van Uhm, Nato’s chief of allied operations. But “nothing indicates that Gaddafi has any intention of disengaging. His forces continue to use heavy weapons”. Nato officers admitted they could have little impact on the urban warfare in Misrata. “There’s a limit to what can be achieved by air power to stop fighting in a city,” said Van Uhm. Lieutenant-General Charles Bouchard, the Canadian commander of the air campaign, told German radio: “It’s a knife fight in a phone booth and it’s very difficult to get in the middle of that.” Aid groups say food, medicines and other basic items are in short supply in the city, and tens of thousands of casualties and foreign workers are waiting at the port to be evacuated. Libya Muammar Gaddafi William Hague Military Nato Middle East United Nations France Arab and Middle East unrest Europe David Cameron Barack Obama Nicolas Sarkozy Ian Traynor Richard Norton-Taylor guardian.co.uk
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