The stuff of movies.

'Unexplained' DNA on bag containing dead MI6 spy Gareth Williams

Title. http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-17826633  24-04-2012

The 23^rd of August 2011 the body of a spy was found in a bag in the bathroom in his apartment. The bag was found locked and was situated in the bathtub. The bag seemed to be locked from the inside and no huge signs of a struggle were present at the scene. Mr Williams was found with a calm look on his face with the keys of the padlock that was used to close the bag inside it within reach. Unsure about the cause of death and puzzled by the circumstances investigators continued their search for clues and have know found small traces of unexplained DNA on the padlock and the bag’s zipper. This new evidence seems to support the victims’ family’s suspicions that a third party was involved in the death of their son.

 This for me is, however terrible it is for the victim and his family, a fantastic story. I love mysteries and spy stories on TV and in the movies and this article really got my imagination going crazy. What happened here?  Was the victim a spy like on the BBC series Spooks? What more will they find out, or will this case remain unsolved? All the while not forgetting that this actually happened of course. Which brings me to the next reason why this is such an amazing article: THIS ACTUALLY HAPPENED. Unbelievable. Truth is stranger than fiction!

3 men sentenced for paralysing a five-year-old-girl

‘Gang members jailed for shooting of five-year-old girl. ’ april 19 2012

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2012/apr/19/gang-members-shooting-thusha-kamaleswaran

Summary

Three member, between the ages of 19 and 21, have been sentenced to a total of 45 years jailtime. They were charged with shooting and paralysing a five-year-old-girl that was playing in a nearby shop, for shooting a man that was shopping there in the face and for shooting a member of a rival gang, whom they were following. The men shot into the shop twice, which was small and they knew there were people inside. The judge called  this an "exceptional case of the utmost gravity".

Most of the what happened was broadcast on CCTV. The young girl is permanently paralysed below the waist and is very scared of something happening again.  A charity has been organised to raise money for the young girls family.

Reaction

At first I thought that the girl and the man that was shopping accidentally got shot while they were chasing the gang member. But if they shot into the store, it does not seem very accidental to me. It is indeed a very scary thought that you could just be shot while playing or shopping. I think it is really nice that money is being raised for the young girl, although no amount of money can make up for being paralysed for the rest of your life. I am surprised to read that the shooting had been filmed ánd broadcast on CCTV. In Holland we don’t often see footage like that and I wonder if that is normal in the UK.

The aftermath of the big phone hacking scandal.

title article: ‘11 referred to prosecutors by phone-hacking squad. ‘ Wednesday 18 April 2012.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/crime/11-referred-to-prosecutors-by-phonehacking-squad-7657267.html

Summary

The article describes the next steps taken in the persecution of alleged offenders in the phone hacking scandal which started last year when it was discovered that various news corporations where hacking phones and voicemails of politicians, royalty and celebrities.  In 4 different investigations 11 people are being considered for further prosecution. The four files include:  One journalist and a police officer accused of misconduct in a public office and data protection offences; One journalist and six other individuals accused of perverting the course of justice;  One journalist relating to witness intimidation;  One journalist in relation to a breach of the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act.

Reaction

In my opinion this article shows how invasive the phone hacking scandal has been on Britain. What seemed to start out as a simple hacking scandal to fill the front page of tabloids has become a nationwide scandal that can be seen as a threat to society and justice. The phrases knowledge is power, and powers corrupts, come to mind. With not only journalists but also police officers in the accused box and crimes such as witness tampering and perverting the course of justice in play, this scandal will change the way Britain views privacy and the way investigatory powers  work with or around it. These investigations will  set the course for new laws and regulations, which were, as the scandal has thought us, long overdue.

The Breivik trial has started

The BBC on april 17 begins the subject with the title: “Defiant Breivik 'would carry out massacre again'.”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17737085

Summary

In court Breivik has stated that he does not recognise this court and also that he is very proud of his actions. Breivik: ‘I have carried out the most spectacular and sophisticated attack on Europe since World War II’. Breivik says he wanted to save Norway from immigration and multiculturalism and that his acts came out of goodness, not evil. Breivik also says he supports the government model of Japan and South Korea and he sees Norway as a prison. Where you live with the dangers of multiculturalism  The courtroom has been specially built for the trial and has room for 200 people. Glass partitions have been put up to separate Breivik and the victims and their families.

Reaction

Of course everybody agrees the massacre was horrible and Breivik is a scary lunatic who needs to be locked up for a long time. There is no need to discuss that! But the trial is very interesting to follow. It said that the trial will not be broadcasted and I think that is good because Breivik obviously has a very sick mind and people should not pay too much attention to what he says. I think it is very good that they have glass plates in between the victims and Breivik. If I was a victim’s family member  in there i would really want to hurt Breivik. Not that I care about Breivik’s safety, but I don’t want the victims or their families to go to jail because they could not control themselves.