Missing April Jones: Police To End Search

By David Crabtree, News Correspondent

Police are preparing to call off their search for the body of missing April Jones by the end of next month.

The five-year-old vanished while playing on her bike near her home in Machynlleth, Wales, on October 1 last year.

Since then a massive search operation has been under way with police scouring some 300 points in a 60sq km area.

Mark Bridger denies murdering the schoolgirl

A Dyfed Powys spokesperson said: "The terrain is extremely challenging. The mountains, gorges, streams and waterfalls in the area mean extra care has to be taken and specialist safety equipment has to be worn.

"The force made a commitment to search until all viable lines of enquiry were complete.

"During April officers will searching specific areas of land with a view to all search areas identified being completed by the end of April."

Police added that a reactive team of specialist officers would be available to respond to any new information.

Mark Bridger, 47, is facing trial charged with abducting and murdering the schoolgirl and of unlawfully disposing of and concealing her body with intent to pervert the course of justice.

He pleaded not guilty on January 14, when his barrister Brendan Kelly QC told Mold Crown Court that Bridger is "probably responsible" for her death.

On the day she went missing, Mr and Mrs Jones had allowed April to play out late as a treat after she received a glowing report from school.

Bridger was arrested the following day.

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Brazilian Olympic Stadium Closed Indefinitely

A stadium in Brazil that was expected to hold some of the main events of the 2016 Olympics has been closed indefinitely because of problems with its roof.

Rio de Janeiro's Joao Havelange Olympic Stadium, which was scheduled to host athletics at the 2016 games, will have to undergo roof repairs, the city's mayor said.

The stadium, completed less than six years ago, is currently the city's main football venue while the Maracana is rebuilt for this year's Confederations Cup and the 2014 World Cup.

Although the Joao Havelange stadium was due to host the athletics in 2016, the opening and closing ceremonies will both take place at the Maracana.

The upgrade of the Maracana is also behind schedule, however.

Rio's mayor Eduardo Paes told a news conference: "Today, they informed me that the roof has structural problems.

"I asked if this represented a risk for spectators and they told me it did, depending on the wind speed and temperature.

"On that basis, I immediately decided to close the stadium until we had more details."

Mr Paes added: "It's simply not acceptable that a stadium which was inaugurated such a short time ago now has to face this sort of situation."

The stadium was built for the 2007 Panamerican Games at a cost of 380 million reais (£125m) and opened just one month before the event.

Afterwards, it was leased to local football club Botafogo although it is frequently used by other teams.

The first event to be affected was Wednesday's Carioca championship match between Brazilian champions Fluminense and Macae.

It has not yet been announced what other effects the closure will have.

The England football team were due to play Brazil in Rio de Janeiro on June 2, but the FA said the stadium where that match was due to take place has not yet been confirmed.

The Maracana is due to re-open at the end of April, four months behind schedule.

The capacity of the Joao Havelange stadium was due to be increased from 46,000 to 60,000 ahead of the Olympics.

The stadium is named after Joao Havelange, the Brazilian former president of Fifa and later member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), who has been accused of taking bribes while head of world football.

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Dog Attack: 'No Warnings' Before Jade Killed

There were no previous complaints about dangerous dogs at a house where a 14-year-old girl is thought to have been killed by a pack of "aggressive and out-of-control" dogs, police said.

Jade Lomas-Anderson's body was discovered with wounds consistent with a dog attack shortly after 2pm on Tuesday, following reports she was unconscious.

Superintendent Mark Kenny of Greater Manchester Police said: "The most likely scenario is that Jade was attacked by four dogs, that is still part and parcel of the investigation. That clearly is the most likely scenario of what's happened but we're looking obviously at all options."

He said the attack would have happened between 1pm and 2pm.

Jade was described as 'shy' by friends (Pic: Facebook tribute page)

A post-mortem examination is due to take place later.

The teenager was visiting the house in Chaucer Grove, Atherton, near Wigan, and was alone with the dogs, believed to include two bull mastiffs and two Staffordshire bull terriers.

Four animals were shot dead by police marksmen and a fifth was contained.

Supt Kenny said: "We have had no contact or reports, Greater Manchester Police, regarding reports for example of dangerous dogs at this location. We've certainly not had any incidents here.

Two dogs were believed to be Staffordshire bull terriers (file picture)

"This is the first incident of this nature we have attended at this location."

Officers have spoken to the owner of the dogs, the owner's family and neighbours since Jade was found.

Friends have paid tribute to the "quiet" and "timid" teenager, who is thought to have returned to the property from the shops with a meat pie when she was attacked.

Flowers were laid at the backyard where Jade was attacked. A sign on the gate read: "Beware of the Dog."

Locals said Jade was there to see a friend, Kimberley Concannon, 16, who lives there with her twin Catrina and mother Beverley Concannon.

One 15-year-old said of Jade: "She goes to my school in the year below.

"She's shy, quite timid, if you didn't know her you wouldn't recognise her around and about. It's horrible what's happened.

"She picks her little sister up Sienna from school, every day and walks past my house.

"She had a pie in her hand and has gone to bite it, she moved the pie and the dog's gone for her throat and then they have all gone for her."

Another friend said the dogs at the house were large and aggressive animals.

Friends are said to be 'deeply shocked' (Pic: Facebook tribute page)

"Every time you walk past the house they would be barking and barking and going mad," she said. "You would jump out of your skin."

Jade was a pupil at Fred Longworth High School in Tyldesley, which open to help pupils affected by the death.

Headteacher Janet Garretts said: "We are all deeply shocked and saddened by Jade's tragic death. She had only been a pupil at the school since the summer but had made a real impact in that short time.

"Jade was a lively student who always had a smile on her face. She loved music and dance and was a regular at our after school dancing club.

"At what turned out to be her last day at school, Jade was given a progress report by her teachers and told everyone was delighted with the progress she was making."

More than 11,000 people joined a Facebook group created to pay tribute to Jade, including the aunt of a four-year-old boy who was killed by a banned breed of dog.

A policeman stands guard outside the house in Atherton, near Wigan

John-Paul Massey died at his grandmother's house in Liverpool after suffering "massive injuries" inflicted by a pitbull.

Tricia Massey wrote on Jade's page: "Such a tragic thing to happen. I know what your poor family must be going through and how they are feeling, I lost my four-year-old nephew three years ago.

"He was killed by a dangerous dog in Liverpool. Something needs to be done about these aggressive animals.

"Sleep tight Jade, I'm sure my John-Paul will look after you."

Natasha Hunt posted: "RIP my beautiful baby girl! Don't know what I'm going do without you!

"Love you loads, you will never be forgotten, you will always be in my heart."

Norman Bradbury, a local councillor, told Sky News the whole community was in shock.

He said: "We need to establish what occurred with this horrible incident and how it an be avoided in future but we have to wait for the police to investigate what happened, how Jade died and the circumstances."

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Devil's Advocate Di Stefano Guilty Of Fraud

A self-styled lawyer who counted former Iraqi leader Saddam Hussein and the daughter of Serb leader Slobodan Milosevic among his friends has been found guilty of fraud.

Giovanni di Stefano, who became known as the Devil's Advocate for taking on unwinnable cases, claimed to be a bona fide lawyer despite having no legal qualifications.

The 57-year-old was convicted on 25 charges, including deception, fraud and money laundering after conning clients out of millions of pounds.

He used the Italian word "avvocato" on business cards, letterheads and identification documents to give clients - and the judiciary - the impression he was an advocate.

But he was not registered to work as a lawyer in Italy or the UK, London's Southwark Crown Court heard.

During the trial, di Stefano told the court about his links to Zimbabwean president Robert Mugabe and Osama Bin Laden.

Questioned over the nature of his relationship with Mr Mugabe, he said there were money transfers made to Zimbabwe.

He also said that Milosevic gave him a honorary doctorate of law from Belgrade's university simply because he had asked, looked after him at his home and introduced him to Saddam Hussein, who he thought was "a nice guy".

Di Stefano added that he was in Iraq when UN inspectors were there searching for weapons of mass destruction.

He campaigned for the International Criminal Court to investigate the trials of Saddam Hussein's half-brother Barzan Ibrahim al Tikriti and Iraq's judiciary head Awad Hamed al Bandar over the al Dujail massacre and appealed for a pardon for Ali Hassan al Majid, known as Chemical Ali.

In the UK, the self-styled defender of the indefensible counted among his clients the property tycoon Nicholas van Hoogstraten, who had a conviction for the manslaughter of a business rival overturned, and John 'Goldfinger' Palmer, who was convicted of operating the world's biggest timeshare fraud.

Di Stefano, who now faces sentencing, also said he represented mass murderer Dr Harold Shipman, a claim challenged by his family and other lawyers.

During the trial, prosecutor David Aaronberg QC told the jury that di Stefano developed "something of a reputation" among convicted criminals, lawyers, the media and the wider community.

"It was this that has gained him the fame, or the notoriety, that he enjoys," he said.

"He was a man who was willing to provide legal services to clients whose cases others considered unwinnable or too difficult to defend.

"He was willing to argue for unpopular causes."

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Cyprus Imposes Limits Ahead Of Bank Reopening

Cyprus is to impose strict limits on money transfers as it prepares for the planned reopening of its crippled banking system.

The measures, aimed at preventing a run on banks in the wake of the nation's controversial bailout, will include restrictions on large-scale transfers from the country's two largest and most troubled lenders, Bank of Cyprus and Laiki, it is understood.

They are expected to reopen tomorrow, almost two weeks after the Cypriot banking system was effectively shut down while the terms of the sovereign rescue were agreed and implemented.

Big depositors face losses of as much as 40% of their savings under the terms of the 10bn euro (£8.5bn) EU bailout.

Leaks of the draft capital controls include limits of 3,000 euros (£2,530) on the amount of cash individuals can take abroad.

Greek newspaper Kathimerini reported that the use of credit and debit cards would be restricted to 5,000 euros a month.

The cashing of cheques will not be accepted, Reuters said, although authorities are believed to be looking to increase the daily cash withdrawal limit per account from 100 euros to 300 euros.

Payroll payments will be allowed in order to help businesses, which have taken a huge hit as people cut down on their spending amid the uncertainty about the banks.

If implemented, these restrictions would be much harsher than those in other eurozone countries that have received rescue packages.

The leaks came hours after the Bank of Cyprus' chief executive was sacked by the governor of the central bank - reportedly on the orders of the international lenders behind the bailout deal.

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Domestic Abuse: Victim Shows Graphic Images

A victim of domestic violence has released images of the injuries she suffered from her abusive former partner.

Derrick Robinson has been jailed for 13 years after he attacked Sinead Noone at their Coventry home last February.

Ms Noone, who suffered a fractured cheek, broken nose and black eyes, has chosen to release the pictures through the police to help others leave abusive relationships.

"Don't let this happen to you," was the message from the 26-year-old.

Leicester Crown Court heard that on February 14, 2012, Ms Noone quizzed Robinson after he returned home late and spoiled their plans for a romantic dinner.

"He came home late and drunk ... the next day I asked where he'd been and he exploded, repeatedly hitting and kicking me," she said.

Ms Noone was hospitalised after the attack

"I curled up in a ball on the floor and tried to protect myself."

After the attack, police said Robinson bullied Ms Noone into saying she suffered the injuries after falling on their coffee table.

But with the encouragement and support of officers and her family, she reported the attacks and Robinson was charged.

Robinson, who has a previous conviction for manslaughter, denied grievous bodily harm, but was found guilty.

Speaking after the hearing, Ms Noone, who now works for domestic violence services, said she wished she had left Robinson earlier.

"I'd brushed previous incidents under the carpet. He put emotional pressure on me and each time convinced me it wouldn't happen again or that I was somehow to blame," she said.

"I wish I'd walked out then and moved on, but it's easy to say in hindsight.

"I'd urge anyone caught in a violent relationship to look at the photos of my injuries and understand that unless they report abuse there's a chance that could one day be them.

"It's hard to push charges against someone you love and hope will change … but the time comes when you have to move on as life is too short."

Elaine Yates, from the women's support centre Coventry Haven, said: "Many women don't seek help because they feel they're to blame - this is not the case.

"What's happening is not their fault and they can do something to change the situation."

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Street Cleaner Murder: Buckingham Jailed

A burglar has been jailed for the murder of a street cleaner who tried to stop him with his broom.

Roger Buckingham was sentenced to a minimum of 27 years at the Old Bailey.

Piotr Mikiewicz, 40, was stabbed through his heart while tackling Buckingham as he was leaving a house in west London with a stolen laptop. Flowers have remained outside the property ever since the Polish national was killed at the end of August last year.

Buckingham, 31, of Shepherd's Bush, London, was found guilty of murder and jailed for life.

The Recorder of London Judge Brian Barker said "cowardly" Buckingham must serve at least 27 years.

Buckingham, a petty criminal and drug addict with 25 previous convictions for 51 offences, had taken the life of a "truly exceptional man", he said.

Buckingham was caught on camera on nearby Askew Road after the stabbing

The judge said: "He was a brave man who acted beyond the call of duty. He ignored his own safety and he paid for his actions with his life.

"He was a valued member of the community."

Buckingham had acted "in frustration and temper", said the judge. "On any view, it was cowardly and selfish."

Buckingham stood with his hands behind his back as he was sentenced. His family had earlier shouted abuse at the jury.

Mr Mikiewicz's sister Anna told the court in a statement that her brother had been living in London for nine years and considered it his home.

She said: "He was a wonderful man, full of compassion for others. He did not tolerate lies and theft. He was a believer and lived according to these principles."

Busie Mikiewicz said her husband was a "brave and selfless man who wasn't frightened to stand up for what he believed was right".

CCTV filmed him on a stairwell of a block of flats after the attack

She added in a statement: "He was someone who represented everything that is good about decent people and was prepared to fight for what was right.

"Anyone who knew Piotr knew he was a truly good and honest person. He had a strong sense of what was right and wrong.

"He wasn't just a road sweeper, he was part of the community that genuinely cared for him.

"Piotr was a truly good person who was immensely proud of the job he did.

"A cruel and thoughtless act can take away his life, but not the inspiration that he brought to so many people."

Detective Chief Inspector Matt Bonner said: "Piotr Mikiewicz demonstrated extreme courage when he spotted Buckingham leaving a house he had burgled moments earlier.

"He acted on pure instinct to right a wrong but unfortunately paid for his brave act with his life."

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Stephen Seddon Guilty Of Parents' Murder

A man who tried to kill his parents by driving them into a canal has been found guilty of shooting them dead four months later.

Stephen Seddon, who had an "insatiable thirst for cash", carried out the "execution" to get his hands on his inheritance, a court heard.

The 46-year-old convicted fraudster had once before tried to murder his father, Robert Seddon, 68, and mother, Patricia, 65, in a staged car accident.

Strapped in the back seats of a hire car, Seddon drove the pair into a canal on March 20, last year, in a faked road accident.

He was forced to abort his plot and "play the hero" instead when bystanders went to their aid.

The Seddons on their wedding day

On July 4 of that year he shot the couple dead with a sawn-off shotgun at their home in Clough Avenue, Sale, Greater Manchester.

His elderly parents had made him sole beneficiary of their £230,000 estate in their will, should they both have died.

They had already gifted the father of three £40,000 in cash and bought him his home in Benevente Street, Seaham, in Co Durham.

After a five-week trial, a jury at Manchester Crown Court found him guilty of two counts of attempted murder and two counts of murder.

There were cried of "Yes!" from the victims' family in the public gallery, with some in tears and hugging each other when the verdicts were announced.

During the trial, Peter Wright QC, prosecuting, described Seddon as the ultimate "ungrateful son".

On his first attempt to kill his parents, the court heard Seddon had taken the pair out on the pretext of treating them to a belated Mother's Day meal.

His nephew Daniel - who managed to free himself and reach safety - was also in the car when it veered off the road into the Bridgewater Canal in Timperley, south Manchester.

Mr and Mrs Seddon were rescued from the water, after which their son gave varied accounts of what had happened to police.

He told one officer at the scene he had suffered a heart attack, and also suggested the car had hit a brick.

Months later, Robert Seddon confided in his GP that he believed the episode had been a deliberate attempt to kill him - and that he intended to confront his son about it.

The next day - he and his wife were shot dead at their home.

Seddon had taken three shotgun cartridges with him. Police believe he also intended to kill his disabled nephew, who he did not realise was in respite care that day.

The murder weapon was planted in his father's lap, and his right hand placed on it, to give the impression of a murder-suicide.

He denied the shooting and said it was "ridiculous" to claim he had tried to kill his own mother and father and "sick" to suggest he had intended to murder his nephew as well.

Seddon, who faces life in prison for the killings, will be sentenced on Thursday.

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Cancer Detection: DNA Study Brings 'New Era'

By Thomas Moore, Health Correspondent

Scientists have revealed a major leap forward in cancer detection after finding dozens of common genetic changes that can increase the risk of the disease.

Tests on 250,000 patients found 83 inherited variations in the DNA code that could either raise or lower the chances of developing breast, ovarian or prostate cancer.

Together the cancers affect almost 100,000 people a year in the UK. More than 26,000 of them die.

The findings will allow doctors to identify women with a near 100% chance of developing breast cancer, and men with a one in two risk of prostate cancer.

Scientists have hailed the research as the dawn of a new era in cancer diagnosis and treatment.

Research will help doctors identify the risk of breast cancer

Professor Ros Eeles from The Institute of Cancer Research said: "These results are the single biggest leap forward in finding the genetic causes of prostate cancer yet made.

"They allow us, for the first time, to identify men who have a very high risk of developing prostate cancer during their lifetime through inheritance of genetic variants.

"If we can show from further studies that such men benefit from regular screening we could have a big impact on the number of men dying from the disease."

This is the largest study of its kind, involving around 1,000 scientists around the world. They analysed DNA for tiny changes that could change the way genes work, altering cancer risk as a result.

It was the largest study of its kind, involving experts around the world

In the near future patients could be asked to spit into a tube by their GP who could then run a £30 test on their DNA in the surgery.

They would then have an individual risk profile for some of the most common cancers.

The most immediate practical use of the research could be in women who carry the inherited breast cancer gene BRCA1. On average they face a 70% risk of developing breast cancer in their lifetime.

But the new genetic variants can give women much more detail on their risk. If they also inherit several of the newly identified high risk changes to their DNA their chances of developing the disease are raised to between 90 and 100%.

But if they inherit the protective DNA changes, their risk drops to below 30%.

Scientists say it could help women with the BRCA gene decide whether to have a preventative mastectomy. Sharon Osborne had her breasts removed last year because she carried the gene.

Professor Montse Garcia-Closas, another of the researchers, said the study was a "huge step" in understanding the causes of breast cancer.

"These findings will help us to predict who is at increased risk of developing the disease and who could benefit most from prevention strategies, such as lifestyle changes and chemo-prevention, and early-detection strategies, such as regular screening," she said.

Around 57% of cancer risk is set by genetic factors, with lifestyle making up the rest.

Scientists believe there could be thousands of genetic variations that affect cancer risk. Patients with lung and colorectal cancers are to be tested as part of a study starting this summer

The study was funded by Cancer Research UK and the Wellcome Trust. The results are published in a series of papers in journals including Nature Genetics, PLOS Genetics, and the American Journal of Human Genetics.

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Abu Qatada Stays As Theresa May Loses Appeal

Timeline: Qatada Legal Battle

Updated: 1:54pm UK, Wednesday 27 March 2013

Abu Qatada has challenged and ultimately thwarted every attempt by the Government to detain and deport him since 2001.

Here is a timeline of the legal battle.

1993: Abu Qatada claims asylum when he arrives in Britain on a forged passport.

1994: Allowed to stay in Britain.

1995: Issues a "fatwa" justifying the killing of converts from Islam, their wives and children in Algeria.

1998: Applies for indefinite leave to remain in Britain.

1999: April - Convicted in his absence on terror charges in Jordan and sentenced to life imprisonment.

October - Speaks in London advocating the killing of Jews and praising attacks on Americans.

2001: February - Arrested by anti-terror police over involvement in a plot to bomb Strasbourg Christmas market. Officers find him with £170,000 in cash, including £805 in an envelope marked "For the mujahedin in Chechnya".

December - Becomes one of Britain's most wanted men after going on the run from his home in west London.

2002: Arrested by police in a council house in south London and detained in Belmarsh high-security jail.

2005: Freed on conditional bail and placed on a control order but arrested again in August under immigration rules as the Government seeks to deport him to Jordan.

2008: April: Court of Appeal rules deportation would breach is human rights because evidence used against him in Jordan might have been obtained through torture.

May - Granted bail by the immigration tribunal but told he must stay inside for 22 hours a day.

June - Released from Long Lartin jail in Worcestershire and moves into a four-bedroom house in west London.

November - He is rearrested after the Home Office tells an immigration hearing of fears he plans to abscond.

December - Qatada's bail is revoked by the Special Immigration Appeals Commission (Siac) after hearing secret evidence that the risk of him absconding has increased.

2009: Five Law Lords unanimously back the Government's policy of removing terror suspects from Britain on the basis of assurances from foreign governments and it is ruled he can be deported to Jordan to face a retrial on the terror charges.

He is awarded 2,800 euro (£2,500) compensation by the European Court of Human Rights after the judges rule that his detention without trial in the UK under anti-terrorism powers breached his human rights.

2012: January - European judges rule he can be sent to Jordan with diplomatic assurances but not while "there remains a real risk that evidence obtained by torture will be used against him".

February - He is released on strict bail conditions.

April - Rearrested as the Government prepares to deport him after Jordan gives assurances it will "bend over backwards" to ensure he receives a fair trial.

March - Qatada's legal team loses its bid to have the case heard by the Europe's human rights judges, clearing the way for deportation proceedings to continue.

May and August - Siac rejects Qatada's applications for bail.

October - Siac holds appeal hearing.

November - His appeal is granted and he is granted bail.

December - Qatada is moved to a larger residence in the greater London area.

2013:

:: March 9 - It emerges Qatada has been arrested for allegedly breaching his bail conditions. He is ordered to stay in custody and sent to Belmarsh.

:: March 21 - Police reveal the cleric is being investigated over extremist material.

:: March 27 - Home Secretary Theresa May loses her appeal over Siac's decision to allow Qatada to stay in the UK. The Home Office vows to appeal.

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