Former Co-op boss faces drug charges

16 April 2014 Last updated at 12:20 Paul Flowers told waiting journalists they were "vultures" as he arrived at the police station

Paul Flowers, the former Co-op Bank chairman, has been charged with drug possession, prosecutors have said.

Mr Flowers was arrested in November following newspaper allegations he was involved in a drug deal. He had stepped down from the Co-op six months earlier over concerns about his expenses.

He has been charged with two counts of possession of a class A drug and one count of possession of a class C drug.

A second man has also been charged with offering to supply drugs.

The charges against Mr Flowers relate to possession of cocaine, methamphetamine and ketamine.

'Hounded'

Accompanied by two minders, Mr Flowers fought through waiting photographers and TV crews as he arrived at Stainbeck Police station in Leeds earlier.

His solicitor Andrew Hollas told those gathered outside his client would make a full statement following his appearance at Leeds Magistrates' Court next month.

"He has been hounded for six months by certain elements of the press and they have included many allegations within their papers that have been completely without foundation," Mr Hollas added.

Claire Stevens from the Crown Prosecution Service said Yorkshire and Humberside's Complex Case Unit had "carefully considered a file of evidence gathered by West Yorkshire Police" in relation to the alleged offences.

"Following a review of the evidence, I have concluded that there is sufficient evidence and it is in the public interest to charge Paul Flowers with possession of Class A and Class C drugs relating to an incident on 9 November 2013," she added.

The second man, Gavin Woroniuk, is accused of offering to supply cocaine, methamphetamine, cannabis and ketamine, the CPS said.

Mr Woroniuk also faces a charge of possession of criminal property.

The former bank chairman appeared before MPs on 6 November last year

The drugs allegations put Mr Flowers at the centre of a political row as the Conservatives highlighted his connections to the Labour Party.

Chancellor George Osborne launched an inquiry into how he was deemed suitable to chair the bank.

The Methodist preacher had previously served as a Labour councillor in Bradford and on an informal board advising Ed Miliband on banking.

But his appearance before the Treasury Select Committee in November last year was widely criticised.

It has also since emerged that Mr Flowers left Lifeline, a drugs charity based in Manchester, after allegations about his expense claims.

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Tennessee prison frees former death row inmate

A woman who spent 26 years on death row and came within two months of being executed has been freed from prison in Tennessee.

Fifty-eight-year old Gaile Owens of Memphis was released Friday and greeted by a small group of supporters outside the Nashville prison.

She was sentenced to die for hiring a stranger to kill her husband in 1985, but her death sentence was commuted to life in prison last year and she won parole last week.

Supporters had urged her release, claiming she was a battered wife who didn't use that defense because she didn't want her young sons to know about the physical and sexual abuse.

One of those sons, Stephen Owens, was there as she left prison and she immediately hugged him.

View the original article here

Former Death Row Inmate Freed From Tennessee Prison

Published October 07, 2011

| Associated Press

NASHVILLE, Tenn. –  A U.S. woman who spent 26 years on death row and came within two months of being executed was freed Friday from prison.

Gaile Owens, 58, was released Friday and greeted by a small group of supporters outside Tennessee's Prison for Women.

She was sentenced to die for hiring a stranger to kill her husband in 1985, but her death sentence was commuted to life in prison last year. She won parole last week.

Supporters had claimed Owens was a battered wife who didn't use that defense because she didn't want her young sons to know about the physical and sexual abuse.

The first thing she did on leaving the prison was hug one of those sons, Stephen Owens, who is now grown and has children of his own.

"I'm looking forward to leading a quiet, private but productive life," Gaile Owens said in a written statement just before leaving the prison.

Stephen Owens said he was looking forward to spending the rest of the day with his mother.
Tennessee is one of 34 states that have the death penalty, according to the Death Penalty Information Center, a Washington-based nonprofit.

When he commuted her sentence to life in prison last year, former Gov. Phil Bredesen acknowledged the abuse claims but gave a different reason for his decision to spare her life. He said prosecutors had agreed not to seek the death penalty if Owens pleaded guilty but then put her on trial when her co-defendant wouldn't accept the plea bargain.

At the time she was imprisoned, a life sentence meant serving 30 years. She was eligible to be released now because of good conduct.

View the original article here

Tennessee prison frees former death row inmate

A woman who spent 26 years on death row and came within two months of being executed has been freed from prison in Tennessee.

Fifty-eight-year old Gaile Owens of Memphis was released Friday and greeted by a small group of supporters outside the Nashville prison.

She was sentenced to die for hiring a stranger to kill her husband in 1985, but her death sentence was commuted to life in prison last year and she won parole last week.

Supporters had urged her release, claiming she was a battered wife who didn't use that defense because she didn't want her young sons to know about the physical and sexual abuse.

One of those sons, Stephen Owens, was there as she left prison and she immediately hugged him.

View the original article here

Tennessee prison frees former death row inmate

A woman who spent 26 years on death row and came within two months of being executed has been freed from prison in Tennessee.

Fifty-eight-year old Gaile Owens of Memphis was released Friday and greeted by a small group of supporters outside the Nashville prison.

She was sentenced to die for hiring a stranger to kill her husband in 1985, but her death sentence was commuted to life in prison last year and she won parole last week.

Supporters had urged her release, claiming she was a battered wife who didn't use that defense because she didn't want her young sons to know about the physical and sexual abuse.

One of those sons, Stephen Owens, was there as she left prison and she immediately hugged him.

View the original article here

Tennessee prison frees former death row inmate

A woman who spent 26 years on death row and came within two months of being executed has been freed from prison in Tennessee.

Fifty-eight-year old Gaile Owens of Memphis was released Friday and greeted by a small group of supporters outside the Nashville prison.

She was sentenced to die for hiring a stranger to kill her husband in 1985, but her death sentence was commuted to life in prison last year and she won parole last week.

Supporters had urged her release, claiming she was a battered wife who didn't use that defense because she didn't want her young sons to know about the physical and sexual abuse.

One of those sons, Stephen Owens, was there as she left prison and she immediately hugged him.

View the original article here

Tennessee prison frees former death row inmate

A woman who spent 26 years on death row and came within two months of being executed has been freed from prison in Tennessee.

Fifty-eight-year old Gaile Owens of Memphis was released Friday and greeted by a small group of supporters outside the Nashville prison.

She was sentenced to die for hiring a stranger to kill her husband in 1985, but her death sentence was commuted to life in prison last year and she won parole last week.

Supporters had urged her release, claiming she was a battered wife who didn't use that defense because she didn't want her young sons to know about the physical and sexual abuse.

One of those sons, Stephen Owens, was there as she left prison and she immediately hugged him.

View the original article here

Tennessee prison frees former death row inmate

A woman who spent 26 years on death row and came within two months of being executed has been freed from prison in Tennessee.

Fifty-eight-year old Gaile Owens of Memphis was released Friday and greeted by a small group of supporters outside the Nashville prison.

She was sentenced to die for hiring a stranger to kill her husband in 1985, but her death sentence was commuted to life in prison last year and she won parole last week.

Supporters had urged her release, claiming she was a battered wife who didn't use that defense because she didn't want her young sons to know about the physical and sexual abuse.

One of those sons, Stephen Owens, was there as she left prison and she immediately hugged him.

View the original article here

Tennessee prison frees former death row inmate

A woman who spent 26 years on death row and came within two months of being executed has been freed from prison in Tennessee.

Fifty-eight-year old Gaile Owens of Memphis was released Friday and greeted by a small group of supporters outside the Nashville prison.

She was sentenced to die for hiring a stranger to kill her husband in 1985, but her death sentence was commuted to life in prison last year and she won parole last week.

Supporters had urged her release, claiming she was a battered wife who didn't use that defense because she didn't want her young sons to know about the physical and sexual abuse.

One of those sons, Stephen Owens, was there as she left prison and she immediately hugged him.

View the original article here

Tennessee prison frees former death row inmate

A woman who spent 26 years on death row and came within two months of being executed has been freed from prison in Tennessee.

Fifty-eight-year old Gaile Owens of Memphis was released Friday and greeted by a small group of supporters outside the Nashville prison.

She was sentenced to die for hiring a stranger to kill her husband in 1985, but her death sentence was commuted to life in prison last year and she won parole last week.

Supporters had urged her release, claiming she was a battered wife who didn't use that defense because she didn't want her young sons to know about the physical and sexual abuse.

One of those sons, Stephen Owens, was there as she left prison and she immediately hugged him.

View the original article here

Former Tunisian president sentenced in absentia to 35 years in prison

Former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his wife Leila Trabelsi were sentenced in absentia to 35 years each in prison, Tunisian television said Monday evening.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=dvd+with+media+on+it&_sacat=See-All-CategoriesThe conviction was made by a court in Tunis, which also ruled to fine the couple 91 million dinars (about 66 million U.S. dollars).

The trial, which started Monday, examined the charges of theft, corruption and drug smuggling against the couple. Other charges included money laundering, possession of arms and archeological artifacts.

After hearing the charges, Ben Ali's five court-appointed lawyers asked for a postponement of the trial, arguing that they needed more time to prepare for the defense.

Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14 amid popular protests against his 23-year rule.

Akram Azouri, the president's Lebanese lawyer, said in a statement Monday that Ben Ali denied the charges that he had issued orders to shoot protestors. He also denied having fled the country, saying he was tricked into leaving for Saudi Arabia by his former security chief Ali Seriaty.

Ben Ali also faces 182 charges in a military court, including voluntary manslaughter that may lead to death penalty under the Tunisian laws.

Both his Lebanese and French lawyers were not authorized to defend him, because under the Tunisian jurisdiction, foreign lawyers are not entitled to defend an indicted Tunisian national in absentia.

Following the sentence, Tunisian judicial authorities will send another extradition request against the former president to the Saudi authorities, a spokesman of the ministry of justice said.

Source: Xinhua

View the original article here

Former Tunisian president sentenced in absentia to 35 years in prison

Former Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and his wife Leila Trabelsi were sentenced in absentia to 35 years each in prison, Tunisian television said Monday evening.

http://shop.ebay.co.uk/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=p5197.m570.l1313&_nkw=dvd+with+media+on+it&_sacat=See-All-CategoriesThe conviction was made by a court in Tunis, which also ruled to fine the couple 91 million dinars (about 66 million U.S. dollars).

The trial, which started Monday, examined the charges of theft, corruption and drug smuggling against the couple. Other charges included money laundering, possession of arms and archeological artifacts.

After hearing the charges, Ben Ali's five court-appointed lawyers asked for a postponement of the trial, arguing that they needed more time to prepare for the defense.

Ben Ali fled to Saudi Arabia on January 14 amid popular protests against his 23-year rule.

Akram Azouri, the president's Lebanese lawyer, said in a statement Monday that Ben Ali denied the charges that he had issued orders to shoot protestors. He also denied having fled the country, saying he was tricked into leaving for Saudi Arabia by his former security chief Ali Seriaty.

Ben Ali also faces 182 charges in a military court, including voluntary manslaughter that may lead to death penalty under the Tunisian laws.

Both his Lebanese and French lawyers were not authorized to defend him, because under the Tunisian jurisdiction, foreign lawyers are not entitled to defend an indicted Tunisian national in absentia.

Following the sentence, Tunisian judicial authorities will send another extradition request against the former president to the Saudi authorities, a spokesman of the ministry of justice said.

Source: Xinhua

View the original article here