A 17-year-old Turkish waiter who wanted to marry victim’s daughter has confessed to the murder of the two women The family of a Northern Irish woman stabbed to death with her best friend in Turkey are travelling to the country to comfort her teenage daughter. Marion Elizabeth Graham and Kathy Dinsmore, both aged 53, from Newry, County Down, were found murdered in woods near the port city of Izmir on Thursday. A 17-year-old Turkish waiter has confessed to the murder of the two women following a row with Graham after she refused his proposal to marry her 15-year-old daughter Shannon. Graham’s son, and her ex-partner Raymond McGuinness, the father of Shannon, has flown to Turkey to bring the girl home, with her mother’s body and that of her friend. The two women were found after Graham’s daughter reported that she had failed to turn up for a planned boat trip off the resort of Kusadasi. They suffered multiple stab wounds, including having their throats cut. McGuinness said he had never been fully in favour of the relationship since the two teenagers began going out last summer. “There was always something that was not quite right,” he said. The waiter, known to the family as Alex, is believed to have worked in a Kusadasi restaurant where both the Graham and Dinsmore families often ate during their holidays. After a police interrogation he is alleged to have told detectives that he lured the two women into the area promising them a tour of Izmir. Local reports said the teenager claimed he decided to kill the women because Graham was standing in the way of his marriage to her daughter. Earlier he had claimed that en route to taking the women to a local shopping centre his car had been blocked on a road by another vehicle and the three of them had been kidnapped. He told police that the next thing he could remember was waking up near his house. McGuinness said: “He told Shannon that he had tried to stop the kidnappers and he had a cut on his hand and that’s how he suffered it.” It is understood the waiter had been involved in a separate row with Shannon’s mother last week. Graham’s sister, Monica Higgins, said the family was devastated by the double murder. “It’s absolutely devastating. We’ve just found out. My mother’s in the car crying her eyes out,” she said. “We’re trying to work with the Irish department of foreign affairs to find out what exactly happened to her.” In a statement, members of the Dinsmore also family spoke of their sorrow. “John and George Dinsmore are devastated by the tragic death of their beloved sister Kathy Dinsmore while on holiday in Turkey,” it said. “The Dinsmore family are grateful for the many condolences that they have received and appeal for privacy during this difficult time.” Northern Ireland Turkey Europe Ireland Crime guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …A 17-year-old Turkish waiter who wanted to marry victim’s daughter has confessed to the murder of the two women The family of a Northern Irish woman stabbed to death with her best friend in Turkey are travelling to the country to comfort her teenage daughter. Marion Elizabeth Graham and Kathy Dinsmore, both aged 53, from Newry, County Down, were found murdered in woods near the port city of Izmir on Thursday. A 17-year-old Turkish waiter has confessed to the murder of the two women following a row with Graham after she refused his proposal to marry her 15-year-old daughter Shannon. Graham’s son, and her ex-partner Raymond McGuinness, the father of Shannon, has flown to Turkey to bring the girl home, with her mother’s body and that of her friend. The two women were found after Graham’s daughter reported that she had failed to turn up for a planned boat trip off the resort of Kusadasi. They suffered multiple stab wounds, including having their throats cut. McGuinness said he had never been fully in favour of the relationship since the two teenagers began going out last summer. “There was always something that was not quite right,” he said. The waiter, known to the family as Alex, is believed to have worked in a Kusadasi restaurant where both the Graham and Dinsmore families often ate during their holidays. After a police interrogation he is alleged to have told detectives that he lured the two women into the area promising them a tour of Izmir. Local reports said the teenager claimed he decided to kill the women because Graham was standing in the way of his marriage to her daughter. Earlier he had claimed that en route to taking the women to a local shopping centre his car had been blocked on a road by another vehicle and the three of them had been kidnapped. He told police that the next thing he could remember was waking up near his house. McGuinness said: “He told Shannon that he had tried to stop the kidnappers and he had a cut on his hand and that’s how he suffered it.” It is understood the waiter had been involved in a separate row with Shannon’s mother last week. Graham’s sister, Monica Higgins, said the family was devastated by the double murder. “It’s absolutely devastating. We’ve just found out. My mother’s in the car crying her eyes out,” she said. “We’re trying to work with the Irish department of foreign affairs to find out what exactly happened to her.” In a statement, members of the Dinsmore also family spoke of their sorrow. “John and George Dinsmore are devastated by the tragic death of their beloved sister Kathy Dinsmore while on holiday in Turkey,” it said. “The Dinsmore family are grateful for the many condolences that they have received and appeal for privacy during this difficult time.” Northern Ireland Turkey Europe Ireland Crime guardian.co.uk
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Plane belonging to Royal Air Force’s aerobatics display team plunged to the ground in Dorset after a demonstration A Red Arrows jet has crashed in Dorset following an aerobatics display, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The plane belonging to one of the Royal Air Force’s aerobatics display team plunged to the ground near Bournemouth Airport in Dorset after a demonstration at the town’s air festival. An MoD spokesman said: “We can confirm that we are aware of an incident involving one of the Red Arrows and we are investigating.” The Bournemouth Air Festival said events were continuing as scheduled. The Red Arrows are famous for their airborne stunts, multicoloured vapour trails, dramatic flypasts and trademark diamond formation. Formed in 1965, the arrows have flown more than 4,000 displays in 53 countries. Their red single-engine jet trainers are a familiar sight at air shows and military events. Military David Batty guardian.co.uk
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Plane belonging to Royal Air Force’s aerobatics display team plunged to the ground in Dorset after a demonstration A Red Arrows jet has crashed in Dorset following an aerobatics display, the Ministry of Defence has confirmed. The plane belonging to one of the Royal Air Force’s aerobatics display team plunged to the ground near Bournemouth Airport in Dorset after a demonstration at the town’s air festival. An MoD spokesman said: “We can confirm that we are aware of an incident involving one of the Red Arrows and we are investigating.” The Bournemouth Air Festival said events were continuing as scheduled. The Red Arrows are famous for their airborne stunts, multicoloured vapour trails, dramatic flypasts and trademark diamond formation. Formed in 1965, the arrows have flown more than 4,000 displays in 53 countries. Their red single-engine jet trainers are a familiar sight at air shows and military events. Military David Batty guardian.co.uk
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Diplomatic row escalates as Israel accuses Egypt of having lost control of Sinai region to terrorists Egypt is to withdraw its ambassador to Israel as tensions between the two allies rose sharply following Thursday’s cross-border attack by suspected Palestinian militants in which at least three Egyptian soldiers were killed. The fallout from the attack continued to spiral, both in terms of a diplomatic breach with Israel’s strategically vital neighbour and continued exchanges of rocket and missile fire between Gaza and Israel. Egypt demanded an apology for Israel’s “hasty and regrettable statements” about the security situation in the Sinai, from where Thursday’s attack was launched. Following the attack, Israel’s defence minister, Ehud Barak, spoke of “the weakening Egyptian grip on Sinai and the widening operation of terrorists there” and Israeli officials briefed that Egypt had lost control of the area. Egypt also demanded an investigation into the deaths of its soldiers, who were killed when Israeli forces chased the militants across the border. The incident unleashed a wave of anti-Israel feeling in Cairo. Protesters gathered outside the Israeli embassy following Friday prayers, waving Palestinian flags and chanting “Death to Israel”. Amr Moussa, the former head of Arab League and an Egyptian presidential candidate, said: “Israel and any other [country] must understand that the day our sons get killed without a strong and appropriate response is gone and will not come back.” In a statement, the Egyptian government said: “The cabinet committee has decided to withdraw the Egyptian ambassador in Israel until the result of investigations by the Israeli authorities is provided and an apology from the Israeli leadership over the hasty and regrettable statements about Egypt is given. “Egypt deplores the irresponsible and hasty statements made by some leaders in Israel, which lack wisdom and prudence and passes judgment before arriving at the truth, particularly keeping in mind the sensitivity of Egyptian-Israeli relations.” Israeli government officials were meeting today to consider their response to Egypt’s move. “We have seen the communique and we are holding internal consultations on how to proceed,” said foreign ministry spokesman Yigal Palmor. Attempts to ameliorate the diplomatic rupture were already under way. Amos Gilad of the Israeli defence ministry told Israel Radio that “nobody in the security establishment or the IDF had any intention of harming Egyptian policemen or soldiers”. Peace between the two countries was “fundamental” and a “strategic asset”. Israeli officials insisted the two countries were co-operating in the aftermath of Thursday’s attack. “At an army and defence ministry level we are working together. It’s in our mutual interests,” said one. Since the fall of the Mubarak regime in February, Israel has been worried about the future of its relations with one of the only two Arab countries with whom it has signed a peace treaty. Mubarak was considered a friend of Israel and kept the Islamist Muslim Brotherhood, which has strong connections to Hamas in Gaza, in check. Israel fears that the post-Mubarak regime will be more sympathetic to Hamas and could even revoke the 1979 peace treaty with Israel. “They feel the need to respond to the [Arab] street,” said an Israeli government official. “Instead of calming things down, they are being dragged.” The Egyptian statement was “a very dismal development”, he said. Israel blamed Thursday’s attacks on Palestinian militants who it said had entered Egypt through tunnels from Gaza, travelled around 200km through the Sinai and entered Israel about 20km north of Eilat. Six Israeli civilians, two Israeli soldiers and seven militants were killed in gun fire and explosions. A senior Israeli military officer said it was possible that some Egyptian soldiers may have been killed accidentally by Israeli fire during the fighting. “It is a possibility that it happened by mistake,” he said. Some of the attackers might have been wearing Egyptian army or police uniforms, he added. Egyptian officials suggested their soldiers were killed in gunfire from an Israeli helicopter which was pursuing militants across the border. Israeli concern about security in the Sinai, a vast area of desert mainly inhabited by Bedouin, has been growing since the fall of Mubarak. They claim the Egyptian government has lost control of the area, which has become a haven for terrorists and criminals. A vital gas pipeline which supplies Israel has been sabotaged several times in recent months. The cycle of rocket fire from Gaza and Israeli airstrikes continued today. According to the IDF, at least six rockets landed in southern Israel during the morning, with one seriously injuring three Palestinians who were working illegally in the city of Ashdod. About 30 rockets were fired on Friday. Israeli warplanes continued to target sites in Gaza, killing three people overnight. Three children aged two, five and 13 are among the 15 people killed in airstrikes since Thursday, according to Palestinian sources. Hamas’s military wing said it was calling off a truce with Israel in place since early 2009. However, a Hamas political spokesman denied this had been agreed. The Hamas leader in Gaza, Ismail Haniyeh, called on Egypt and the UN to intervene “to stop the aggression on Gaza”. The Gaza-based Popular Resistance Committee, which Israel claims was behind Thursday’s attack, denied involvement but said its militants had fired rockets on Friday. Israeli airstrikes have killed at least five leaders of the PRC in the past two days. Egypt Israel Africa Middle East Harriet Sherwood guardian.co.uk
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Click here to view this media We’re not sure what BofA would see in Rick Perry but at this point they seem to need all the help they can get before they go under. Bank of America announced today they were laying off 3500 immediately, and as many as 10,000 in the near future. And their stock continues in free fall, down over 50 percent this year. Via Tyler Durden at Zero Hedge . Should we be surprised, frightened, disgusted or simply say “we knew it”, that in the informal mixer just after Texas Governor and Republican presidential candidate Rick Perry spoke at a Politics and Eggs breakfast in Bedford, New Hampshire, an unknown gentlemen approaches a casual Perry like an Ian Flemming character, and proceeds to dead drop the following: “Bank of America… We will help you out”… and silently moves on. At least we know now who is funding what, and whose interests potential future president Perry will be paid to defend. And for those who believe the man is a plant, we believe it is James Mahoney, Director of Public Policy for BoA. You can see a photo of him here . He’s on the board of directors for the New England Council , the sponsors of yesterday’s Politics and Eggs breakfast. Full video can be seen at CSPAN, here .
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A man sits on a roof, wearing a Santa hat. He’s talking to his ex-girlfriend on a cell phone, trying with fake cheer to wish her a Merry Christmas. He asks if she’s with her new boyfriend. Yes, she replies, and she’s with her whole family, opening presents. He says “That’s great, because I have a present for you” – and saws off his own head so it falls down the chimney into the fireplace. This isn’t a horror movie. It’s a cartoon , filmed in stop-motion animation like “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer.” It runs on the Cartoon Network, which is owned by Time Warner. And it’s aimed at children. This horrific little severed-head sketch was part of a show called “Robot Chicken,”which has aired for years on this network. Nobody watches that, you say. Think again: “Robot Chicken” has turned up on a list of the Top 25 shows watched by children aged 12 to 17. Some might say all this “fun” is clearly designed for young adults, not children. It’s after dark, when the Cartoon Network turns (from Jekyll to Hyde) into the “Adult Swim” channel. But that’s not at midnight. Since December, it’s been moved into prime time at 9 pm Eastern, 8 pm Central time. Even before that, Nielsen reported in 2008 that the top U.S. networks for teenagers were Fox, Nickelodeon, Disney…and “Adult Swim.” Speaking of Christmas, that show also has a cartoon of a man tied up for a stoning, and Jesus says “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone.” As men beginning dropping their rocks, Jesus then whacks the tied-up man in the head with a rock and yells “Blam-o!” Mocking Jesus is an ongoing theme. In another skit called “Jesus and the Argonauts,” when all his men leave, Jesus complains “Oh, Dad damn it!” In a new survey of the top 20 animated cable shows, the Parents Television Council gave an A grade to Disney and Nickelodeon for its top cartoons. But the Cartoon Network and its “Adult Swim” bloc earned an F for excessive sex, violence, profanity, and drug use. In watching just 123 programs in a four-week study period, the PTC documented one thousand, four hundred, eighty-seven examples of offensive material…on cartoons . On average, young viewers were exposed to this junk once every two minutes and 19 seconds. Let’s go through the numbers. There were 680 sexual references or depictions. Some were typically sleazy, and some go way beyond. In one episode of “American Dad,” Stan breaks in on a child molester named Randy, who’s trying to seduce his son Stan along with other boys. Stan pulls a gun on him, but Randy stands his ground. “Look, I’m a sex offender. I love offensive sex,” he proclaims. “I offend people with the sex I have. That’s who I am, and it’s who I’ll always be.” Stan finds that inspiring. “My God, boys! We can all take a page from Randy the Molester’s book. He’s comfortable with who he is! And I should be as well!” These cartoons were loaded with 565 incidents of explicit language – much of it bleeped out of necessity, even by today’s bohemian standards. For example, in one “American Dad” show, the teen character Barry screams into the school public-address system that “You [bleeps] are going to do what I say or I will put my [bleeped G.D.] foot so far up your [bleeped A-word] you will rue the day that you crawled out of of your mother’s [bleep].” In another “Dad” episode, Francine, the sitcom’s mother character, hates George Clooney so much that when her husband calls Clooney a “future Senator from California,” she explodes. “Oh, I will chop his [bleeped F-bomb] head in two.” It’s a violence-and-profanity two-fer. There were 242 references to drug use. Here again was “Adult Swim,” replaying a “King of the Hill” show where a friend tricks the child Bobby into making crystal meth for a science project at school. She later tricks him into making more drugs at home, and sells the meth to a trucker. It’s another uplifting plot line for children, don’t you think? If you think this isn’t aiming “adult” material squarely at children, check out how this network often rates its sleazy programming: “TV-PG,” or acceptable for children under 14 with parental “guidance suggested.”
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• Hammer F5 or click on auto-refresh for all the latest action • Ping your emails towards scott.murray@guardian.co.uk • Keep up to date with our Live Scores service • Please sign the e-petition demanding full disclosure of all government documents relating to the Hillsborough disaster 17 min: The news is that Koscielny’s back has gone into spasm. 15 min: Koscielny is being helped off the pitch. This is terrible to see. It’s all he can do to hobble. He’s in a whole world of pain. The 18-year-old Ignasi Miquel comes on for his debut. 14 min: This looks bad for Arsenal: Koscielny is trotting up the pitch with the ball at his feet and he suddenly pulls up, holding the small of his back. As he drops to his knees, he pounds the turf with his fist, then shakes his head. I’m not sure he’ll be able to continue. He looks in a lot of pain. 12 min: Arsenal are clearly up for this. Walcott and Arshavin both receive a lecture from the referee for their up-and-at-’em style. 10 min: Arsenal are looking really dangerous. Walcott tears down the right and sends a lovely low ball across the front of the six-yard box. Arshavin can’t quite get there, though. Not sure where Van Persie was. Maybe he was close at hand too, so let’s not jump to conclusions. 8 min: The youngster Frimpong – 19, he is – is booked for squaring up to Henderson over a throw-in. He’s got the proper heat on! He’s got the Arsenal genes, this lad, for sure. 7 min: This is a rare old start, with most of the attacking effort coming from the home side. Yet another corner for Arsenal, down the left, Vermaelen winning a header at the far post but only glancing it well wide right. 6 min: Arsenal stream up the other end and win a corner down the right. The ball falls to Arshavin, free on the penalty spot, who shanks a dreadful effort away at 90 degrees. Liverpool clear. There was a half-arsed shout for a penalty as Kelly and Ramsey bustled at the near post, but nobody’s heart was really in it. 5 min: A low ball into the Arsenal box from the right by Downing. Kuyt should get hold of it with a view to shooting, or help it on, or something, but he lets a dangerous ball roll under his feet and through to Szczesny, who snaffles. 4 min: A minute or so’s worth of pressure from Arsenal, including a couple of pretty triangles down the inside-left channel involving Nasri, and one corner on the left that comes to nothing. 2 min: Liverpool’s new expansive style: Adam launches a free kick into the Arsenal area towards the head of Carroll. Hmm. “Suarez on the bench? Henderson on the pitch? And people are talking about Wenger being the one who has gone crazy?” splutters Luke Stevenson. And we’re off. Arsenal set the ball rolling. There’s some atmosphere at the Emirates. Walcott goes trundling after a long ball down the right, but Jose Enrique gets his body in the way and earns the visitors a free kick. A nice understated start to the match, and no wonder: these poor sods had to play 111 minutes last time round. The teams are out! Arsenal are sporting their traditional red and white shirts, with their new faux-traditional crest with surrounding shrubbery. Liverpool are in their all-black away strip. “Given Wenger’s record, surely the only surprise is that he hasn’t made Nasri captain,” quips the tinder-dry Chris Sturrock. In the meantime: If you’ve not signed the petition yet demanding full disclosure of all government documents relating to 1989 Hillsborough disaster – something Government flunkies are outrageously opposing – please take a minute to do so. Whoever you support. Kick off: 12.45pm. Referee: Martin Atkinson (W Yorkshire). Liverpool, with Luis Suarez on the bench?! Reina, Kelly, Carragher, Agger, Jose Enrique, Lucas, Henderson, Adam, Downing, Kuyt, Carroll. Subs: Doni, Meireles, Suarez, Maxi, Spearing, Skrtel, Flanagan. Arsenal, and please put your hands together, ladies and gentlemen, for Mr Samir Nasri! Szczesny, Koscielny, Vermaelen, Jenkinson, Sagna, Frimpong, Ramsey, Nasri, Arshavin, Walcott, van Persie. Subs: Fabianski, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Chamakh, Miyaichi, Lansbury, Miquel, Bendtner. The last time Kenny Dalglish set about totally rebuilding a Liverpool side, his new charges announced themselves at the Arsenal. On the opening day of the 1987 season, a beautiful late summer’s day at Highbury, in front of the biggest league attendance for nearly three years – a whopping 54,703, kids – Dalglish’s big-name summer signings John Barnes and Peter Beardsley combined to set up the almost-box-fresh John Aldridge on nine minutes. Paul Davis levelled the scores on 17, before Steve Nicol settled an end-to-end game with a header from outside the box . The parallels with today aren’t exact – it’s not the opening day, this isn’t Highbury, and nobody’s expecting the title to end up at Anfield this season – but just like then, this is an unfamiliar Liverpool side that piques the interest. And just like back in those early George Graham days – a young Tony Adams at one end, Arsenal new boy Alan Smith at the other – the modern post-Cesc Gunners are in transition too. So here’s hoping for another belter between two slightly uncertain teams, whichever way it goes. Premier League Premier League 2011-12 Arsenal Liverpool Scott Murray guardian.co.uk
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Attempted murder investigation launched after CCTV footage of Birmingham riot shows unarmed officers and a police helicopter being shot at New CCTV footage of the riots in Birmingham shows police officers and a force helicopter being shot at. The footage, which has been released by West Midlands police to encourage members of the public to come forward, shows a group of 30 to 40 young men rioting in the Newtown area of the city on the night of Tuesday 9 August. The force said the group, all masked and wearing black clothing, caused extensive damage to the Barton Arms pub in Newtown and the surrounding area. Police arrived at the scene at about 11.50pm, whereupon petrol bombs were thrown at a marked police car and 11 shots were fired at officers and a force helicopter. An attempted murder and arson investigation has been launched and officers have appealed for anyone with information about the attacks to contact them. A spokesman said a small amount of money was stolen from the pub, but the use of alcohol and petrol leads police to believe that the intention was to start a fire. Chief Constable Chris Sims said: “Releasing footage that is so disturbing in nature is an unusual step for us as a force, however, the potential for serious harm, or worse, in this incident has led us to this decision. “Eleven shots were fired at unarmed officers to enable disorder to continue, while petrol bombs were also thrown at officers who initially attended the scene. “This footage shows seemingly co-ordinated criminal behaviour with no regard for people’s lives, whether it be through the setting of a fire, shooting at unarmed officers or shooting at the police helicopter. “This investigation is being treated as attempted murder and arson, and I am only thankful that this is not a murder inquiry. “This was not only police officers’ lives that were put at risk, but also members of the public who may have been passing by.” UK riots Birmingham Gun crime Crime David Batty guardian.co.uk
Continue reading …Attempted murder investigation launched after CCTV footage of Birmingham riot shows unarmed officers and a police helicopter being shot at New CCTV footage of the riots in Birmingham shows police officers and a force helicopter being shot at. The footage, which has been released by West Midlands police to encourage members of the public to come forward, shows a group of 30 to 40 young men rioting in the Newtown area of the city on the night of Tuesday 9 August. The force said the group, all masked and wearing black clothing, caused extensive damage to the Barton Arms pub in Newtown and the surrounding area. Police arrived at the scene at about 11.50pm, whereupon petrol bombs were thrown at a marked police car and 11 shots were fired at officers and a force helicopter. An attempted murder and arson investigation has been launched and officers have appealed for anyone with information about the attacks to contact them. A spokesman said a small amount of money was stolen from the pub, but the use of alcohol and petrol leads police to believe that the intention was to start a fire. Chief Constable Chris Sims said: “Releasing footage that is so disturbing in nature is an unusual step for us as a force, however, the potential for serious harm, or worse, in this incident has led us to this decision. “Eleven shots were fired at unarmed officers to enable disorder to continue, while petrol bombs were also thrown at officers who initially attended the scene. “This footage shows seemingly co-ordinated criminal behaviour with no regard for people’s lives, whether it be through the setting of a fire, shooting at unarmed officers or shooting at the police helicopter. “This investigation is being treated as attempted murder and arson, and I am only thankful that this is not a murder inquiry. “This was not only police officers’ lives that were put at risk, but also members of the public who may have been passing by.” UK riots Birmingham Gun crime Crime David Batty guardian.co.uk
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