Life for teen who killed father

29 April 2014 Last updated at 15:10 Sean Hackett, 19, denied murdering his 60-year-old father Aloysius last year A County Tyrone teenager who killed his father will spend at least ten years of a life sentence in jail.

Sean Hackett, 19, was cleared of murdering his father, Aloysius, 60, at their family home in Augher in 2013.

Instead, he was convicted of manslaughter on grounds of diminished responsibility.

The judge said that Hackett posed a significant risk and danger to the public for an unpredictable time.

He sentenced Hackett to life imprisonment with a minimum term of ten years to be served before he can be considered for parole.

He was also convicted on two charges of having a gun and ammunition with intent to endanger life.

The former Gaelic Athletic Association (GAA) footballer had always admitted killing his father, whom he shot twice in the head, in the driveway of their Aghindarrah Road family home in Augher, on 4 January 2013.

But he had denied murdering his father, who was a former chairman of St Macartan's GAA in Augher.

Aloysius Hackett was well-known in GAA circles in County Tyrone

In their verdict the jury of six women and six men accepted the defence case that Hackett, was a mentally disturbed, deluded teenager on the possible verge of schizophrenia when he killed the father he professed to have loved.

The trial was described as one of the most extraordinary and complex criminal cases ever to come before the courts.

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'More than 2,900' killed in Syria

6 October 2011 Last updated at 16:34 Many protesters are calling for the overthrow of President Assad The death toll in Syria has risen to more than 2,900 people since the pro-democracy protests began in March, the United Nations human rights office has said.

The UN had previously put the death toll at 2,700.

On Tuesday, the UN Security Council failed to agree a resolution on taking action against Syria.

Opposition activists said 16 people died in different parts of the country on Wednesday as protests continued.

President Bashar al-Assad has cracked down on them, blaming the unrest on "terrorists and armed gangs".

But he announced that local elections would be held in December.

Correspondents say this is unlikely to be acceptable to the protesters.

Many of them have stopped calling for reform, and are instead insisting on the overthrow of Mr Assad.

Propaganda victories

As activist networks reported more clashes on Thursday between forces loyal to the Syrian president and army defectors, videos surfaced of protesters burning Russian and Chinese flags - a reaction to the two countries' veto of the UN Security Council resolution on Syria.

A spokesman for the UN human rights office, Rupert Colville, said of the latest death toll that the names of the dead had all been confirmed and could include some members of the security forces.

He said the figures did not include those who had disappeared or remained unaccounted for.

The announcement came a day before the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva reviews Syria's record.

Meanwhile the BBC's Jim Muir, who is monitoring events in Syria from neighbouring Lebanon, says the government in Damascus is celebrating two big propaganda victories.

The state-run Syrian media are still playing up Russia and China's veto, with top officials clearly delighted, calling it a "historic" development dealing a blow to Western schemes for intervening in the country's internal affairs, our correspondent says.

Syrian state TV is also gleefully dwelling on the case of Zainab al-Hosni, the 18-year-old girl from Homs who was reported by her family and by human rights organisations to have been detained, beheaded and mutilated, he adds. She later appeared on Syrian TV to say she was alive and well.

'Rival' killed Mexico politician

6 October 2011 Last updated at 03:07 Judicial officials in Mexico say the murder of a federal Congressman in the southern state of Guerrero last month was ordered by a political rival.

Moises Villanueva, a representative in Mexico's lower house, the Chamber of Deputies, was found dead two weeks after being abducted.

Police said two men confessed to the crime and implicated a local mayor.

The suspects said the mayor, whom the authorities have not named, paid them $22,000 to kill Mr Villanueva.

Mr Villanueva was abducted along with his driver, Erick Estrada Vazquez, on 4 September.

Their bodies were found by the roadside in the southern state of Guerrero two weeks later. Forensic reports at the time said they had been shot dead.

Attorney General for Guerrero State Alberto Lopez Rosa said the two suspects, who are brothers, had confessed to the murder.

He said the suspects, one of whom is a police officer, had intercepted Mr Villanueva and his driver in the town of Huamuxtitlan.

Mr Lopez Rosa said they confessed to beating the two men and forcing them into the boot of their car before driving them to a bridge, from which they dumped them.

It is not clear whether the politician and his driver were still alive at the time.

Mr Lopez Rosa said he would soon reveal the identity of the man the suspects said had hired them to kill Mr Villanueva.

Tomlinson unlawfully killed by Pc

3 May 2011 Last updated at 18:20 Ian Tomlinson collapsed at the G20 protests in London two years ago Ian Tomlinson was unlawfully killed by a Metropolitan Police officer at the G20 protests, an inquest jury has said.

The 47-year-old collapsed and died after he was hit by a baton and pushed to the ground by Pc Simon Harwood at the protests in London on 1 April 2009.

His family said the verdict was a "huge relief", while the Crown Prosecution Service could reopen criminal proceedings against Pc Harwood.

The officer said after the verdict he had not intended to push him over.

The jury decided Pc Harwood acted illegally, recklessly and dangerously, and used "excessive and unreasonable" force in striking Mr Tomlinson.

Jurors added that the newspaper seller, who was not taking part in the protests, posed no threat.

Family hope

The case is set to be reviewed by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and the Met Police.

Pathologist Dr Freddy Patel told the inquest that Mr Tomlinson died of a heart attack but the jury favoured the evidence of a number of experts who said he died of internal bleeding.

During evidence, the family's lawyer Matthew Ryder QC said Pc Harwood had told "half truths" and "deliberately painted a false picture of Mr Tomlinson".

Outside the hearing, Mr Tomlinson's step-son Paul King said the family hoped manslaughter charges would be brought against Pc Harwood.

Mr King said: "After two years, we're really grateful that the inquest process has made a strong statement about how Ian died.

"We are grateful to the jury and the coroner and we think the jury finding speaks for itself in the verdict of unlawful killing."

'Blindingly obvious'

Last year, prosecutors said a decision not to pursue charges against Pc Harwood could be reviewed depending on the inquest findings.

Ian Tomlinson's family say they have "a long way to go in their search for justice"

Jurors took four-and-a-half hours to reach their verdict. The other possible verdicts available to them were misadventure, natural causes and open.

Jules Carey, of the Tomlinson family's solicitors, said: "Today's decision is a huge relief to Mr Tomlinson's family.

"To many, today's verdict will seem like a statement of the blindingly obvious; however this fails to take account of the significant and many obstacles faced by the family over the last two years to get to this decision.

"The CPS will now review whether a prosecution will be brought following today's verdict and the way in which the evidence has been clarified during the inquest process."

'Deep regret'

The CPS said a "thorough" review would take place.

A spokesman said: "It will take into account all of the evidence now available, including any new evidence that emerged at the inquest, the issues left by the coroner to the jury and the conclusions they reached.

Continue reading the main story

Pc Harwood did not intend, or foresee at the time, that his push would cause Mr Tomlinson to fall over, let alone that it would result in any injury”

End Quote Pc Simon Harwood's solicitor "The review will be conducted as quickly as is compatible with the care and rigour required in a thorough exercise."

The Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) said it acknowledged the verdict and would be publishing various reports on the incident.

Speaking after the verdict, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Rose Fitzpatrick of the Met Police said: "It is a matter of deep regret that the actions of an MPS [Metropolitan Police Service] officer have been found to have caused the death of a member of the public."

The Met said Pc Harwood would be the subject of misconduct proceedings.

Pc Harwood disputed the jury's verdict that he deliberately and intentionally shoved Mr Tomlinson to the ground.

A statement released by the officer's lawyer said: "The mass of video and other evidence gathered by the IPCC now presents a picture very different from the one which Pc Harwood had on the day.

"In particular, he wishes that he had known then all that he now knows about Mr Tomlinson's movements and fragile state of health.

"Pc Harwood did not intend, or foresee at the time, that his push would cause Mr Tomlinson to fall over, let alone that it would result in any injury."

1. 1855: Mr Tomlinson leaves Monument station to head home

2. 1859: He walks north along King William Street, but is turned back by police

3. 1902: The newspaper seller sits on a wall before cutting through onto Lombard Street

4. 1906: A few minutes later, he comes into contact with police again on Lombard Street

5. 1915: Mr Tomlinson then passes through Change Alley and is diverted again by more police officers

6. 1918: He crosses Cornhill towards Royal Exchange Buildings

7. 1920: As police sweep down Royal Exchange, Mr Tomlinson is hit by a baton and pushed to the ground. A bystander helps him to his feet

8. 1921: The newspaper vendor walks along Cornhill before collapsing and dying

Source: Inquest into the death of Ian Tomlinson. Note: Parts of route and some timings are approximate

OAP's murderer had killed before

3 May 2011 Last updated at 17:58 George Johnson abused Mrs Habesch's trust, the court heard A killer who beat an 89-year-old woman to death, 25 years after being jailed for life for another murder, has been told he will never leave prison.

Odd job man George Norman Johnson, 47, killed Florence May Habesch as she made him a cup of tea in Rhyl, Denbighshire.

Johnson, from Rhyl, had been released on licence after being jailed for life for murder in Wolverhampton in 1986.

Mr Justice Griffith-Williams sentenced him to life at Mold Crown Court and said he must never be released.

Johnson admitted murdering Mrs Habesch at her home in Grange Road, Rhyl, on 6 February, for drugs money, and made off with £25.

Prosecutor Elen Owen said the churchgoing widow lived alone. She was a customer of Johnson's partner - who did an Avon cosmetics round - and he carried out a number of jobs for Mrs Habesch around her home.

After taking heroin and crack cocaine, he went to her house and struck her with a heavy projector case as she made him a cup of tea, causing a massive head injury.

He stole £25 and jewellery, then struck her again because she was staring at him and still moving.

Continue reading the main story

This was a cowardly and vicious crime perpetrated against an elderly and vulnerable lady who had befriended and trusted her attacker”

End Quote Elen Owen Crown Prosecution Service Johnson got a nephew to buy drugs with the money and later told his brother what he had done.

He was taken to the West Midlands, where it was discussed whether anyone should check on the victim - but Johnson said she would be dead.

However, the court heard that a pathologist estimated she did not die until late that night, or early the following morning.

Johnson was arrested after his brother contacted police.

The judge said Johnson was "a very dangerous man" when influenced by alcohol or drugs.

"You knew that she would not give or lend you money," he told him.

"You did not scruple to take the life of that frail, defenceless old lady who had shown you nothing but kindness. You battered her to death in her own home."

Ms Owen said: "George Johnson carried out a particularly violent and unprovoked attack on Florence Habesch.

George Johnson, from Rhyl, had been released on licence after being jailed for life for murder in Wolverhampton in 1986

"This was a cowardly and vicious crime perpetrated against an elderly and vulnerable lady who had befriended and trusted her attacker."

The court heard Johnson and another man launched a "sustained and savage attack" with knives and a pair of scissors in 1986, killing a man in his own home for £3.

In October 1986 he admitted murder, and was jailed for life with a direction that he should serve at least 17 years.

Continue reading the main story

This was a despicable, unprovoked act which is hard to comprehend and is beyond explanation”

End Quote Det Insp Jo Williams North Wales Police He was released on 20 March, 2006, on the condition he took regular drugs and alcohol tests.

He was recalled in January 2007 after a positive test, but was released in December 2007.

By October 2010, he had admitted that he was taking drugs, and later admitted he was taking heroin daily and owed money to local drug dealers.

After sentencing, Det Insp Jo Williams, of North Wales Police, said: "Florence May Habesch was a gentle and dignified member of the community who played an active role in her church.

"She was a very private person who took Johnson into her trust.

"George Johnson abused the trust of Mrs Habesch in the very worst way possible.

"He took advantage of her good nature and kindness and repaid her with violence which resulted in him taking her life.

"This was a despicable, unprovoked act which is hard to comprehend and is beyond explanation.

"Incidents of this nature are very rare in north Wales."

The judge said: "No doubt an inquiry as to why you were not recalled at that time will be undertaken.

"But it was ultimately your responsibility to avoid re-offending, in particularly to avoid violent re-offending."

Wales Probation Trust said a review was being carried to "see if any lessons can be learnt".

"Our sympathies are with the victim's family following this horrific crime," said a spokesperson.

"The offender alone is responsible for these actions."

Joyce Challis, secretary of Rhyl's Christ Church, said Mrs Habesch was an active member, attending services and running a weekly bric-a-brac stall, raising "hundreds of pounds" for Save the Children.

"In later years as she became more frail she was one of the ladies in the back row in church who were not always as quiet as they might have been."

She said that a memorial service had been held and had given "comfort" to people "shocked at the way her life had ended".

"Everyone who knew her remarked what a gentle and private person she was and many of her friends have felt a personal loss and a deep sadness," she said.

US state Ohio has executed one-time neo-Nazi who killed a teen and 2 men in 1982 crime spree

US state Ohio has executed one-time neo-Nazi who killed a teen and 2 men in 1982 crime spree

Andrew Welsh-Huggins, The Associated Press

LUCASVILLE, Ohio - Ohio on Thursday executed a one-time neo-Nazi who shot to death two men and a teen more than a quarter century ago on the campus of Cleveland State University in a shooting spree that targeted blacks.

Frank Spisak, who chose to read Bible verses in German for a final statement, was pronounced dead shortly after 10:30 a.m. following an injection of sodium thiopental at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility.

Spisak, 59, set the Ohio record for the longest time on death row before execution, at more than 27 years.

He was also the last inmate in the Midwestern state to die by sodium thiopental, the scarce drug the state is giving up in favour of a more readily available substitute.

Spisak blamed the 1982 shootings on his hatred of gays, blacks and Jews and on his mental illness related to confusion about his sexual identity.

Spisak identified himself as a woman and referred to himself in correspondence as Frances Spisak, a name his attorneys also used.

Spisak read the first seven Bible verses from chapter seven of the book of Revelations from a handwritten yellow paper held over his head by a prison official, speaking in a halting voice and sometimes having trouble reading the verses. "I can't read it, it's too blurry, I can't read it," he said at one point.

"Heil Herr," he appeared to say when he was finished. It was unclear what he meant, as the phrase is not used in German.

His struggles with the German drew snickers from witnesses, who included the daughter of one victim, two brothers of another and John Hardaway, a surviving shooting victim.

"Speak English, you fool," said Jeffrey Duke, the brother of slaying victim Brian Warford.

A few minutes earlier, Duke said injection was too easy and Spisak should have been hooked up to some kind of generator.

"That's what he needs. A person like that, going around killing people just because he doesn't like the colour of their skin or their religion," Duke said. "I'm sorry, that's just how I feel."

Duke's brother, 17-year-old Brian Warford, was black, as was Spisak's first victim, Rev. Horace Rickerson.

After prison warden Donald Morgan signalled to start the sodium thiopental at about 10:22 a.m., Spisak's stomach rose and fell a few times, and after a minute he made several audible snoring sounds. He swallowed a few times and grew still about 10:25 a.m., his lips starting to turn blue about two minutes later.

"Oh God," Eric Barnes, another of Warford's brothers, said as Spisak died.

Barnes held photographs toward Spisak of Warford as a baby and a teen, and held a crucifix as Spisak read the Bible verses.

Spisak glanced at Warford's brothers as he was strapped to the gurney, then looked away.

Warford's mother, Cora Warford, said in a statement afterward that "justice has been served."

Spisak's attorneys, who watched the execution, issued a statement saying Spisak committed his crimes because of severe mental illness, not out of hate.

"We have the ability to provide treatment and protect the public without killing mentally ill people who commit crimes," said Alan Rossman and Michael Benz.

Spisak spent the night resting, listening to music and watching TV news. He wrote a letter — it was unknown to whom — and slept a little. He showered at 5 a.m. and received communion in a Roman Catholic mass in his cell at 7 a.m. He declined breakfast but had a cup of coffee.

The U.S. Supreme Court late Wednesday afternoon rejected his final appeal, in which Spisak asked for a delay so he could argue the death penalty's constitutionality based on recent comments by a state Supreme Court justice criticizing capital punishment in Ohio.

Last month, his attorneys asked the Ohio Parole Board to spare his life, saying Spisak suffers from a severe bipolar disorder that was not diagnosed until years after he was convicted.

But both the parole board and Gov. John Kasich, making his first decision on a condemned killer's request for mercy, rejected Spisak's plea.

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Man killed after traffic pile-up

1 January 2011 Last updated at 20:38 One man has been arrested following the accident on the A12 at Newbury Park A 69-year-old man has been killed and seven others injured in a five-vehicle pile-up at Newbury Park, east London.

Ambulances went to the scene on the A12 just before 1600 GMT on Saturday.

Of the seven injured, two were taken to the Royal London Hospital and five to Queen's Hospital in Romford. The extent of their injuries are not yet known.

One man has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and remains in custody at an east London police station.

Two people travelling with the deceased man were taken to hospital, where they are in a stable condition.

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Driver killed as 4x4 strikes tree

1 January 2011 Last updated at 11:29 A 23-year-old motorist died when his 4x4 pick-up truck hit a tree in Shropshire.

Emergency services were called to the A495 in Ellesmere shortly after 0200 GMT.

A West Midlands Ambulance spokesman said the driver was confirmed dead at the scene.

West Mercia Police said the driver had been in a blue Ford Ranger. The accident took place close to the junction with the A528.

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