Murder Confession: Teen Copies Halloween Film

A Texas teenager has confessed to police that he shot his mother and sister after repeatedly watching a horror film about a boy who kills without remorse.

Newly released evidence in the case includes a four-page document handwritten by Jake Evans.

In it he calmly explained how he planned to kill several members of his family last October - inspired by the 2007 remake of the horror classic Halloween.

The film is about a young boy who knifes to death his sister and others, and escapes a mental hospital years later to continue killing as an adult.

Jake Evans repeatedly watched the 2007 remake of Halloween

"While watching it, I was amazed at how at ease the boy was during the murders and how little remorse he had," the 17-year-old wrote, just hours after the event.

"Afterward, I was thinking to myself it would be the same for me when I kill someone."

He said in the confession that he initially planned on using a knife to murder his mother Jami and 15-year-old sister Mallory at their home in Aledo.

"I went back upstairs and kept pacing back and forth imagining killing Mallory," he wrote.

"Thoughts of causing her pain kept entering my mind and were really bothering me. But then I'd think about the times she hurt my feelings."

Evans described how earlier that day, he and his sister had argued after he accused her of making a racist comment.

He said he sat on the sofa having a pillow fight with his sister with a knife in his pocket.

But then he changed his mind.

"After a while, I thought to myself that if I were to kill my mom and Mallory, I wouldn't want them to feel anything, so I decided to kill them both with the .22 revolver I stole from my grandpa," he wrote.

"I then spent probably over an hour walking nervously around the house thinking how life will never be the same and how I would never see them again."

Evans described knocking on his sister's bedroom door at about 11.15pm and shooting her in the back and head.

The teenager's police statement was released on the orders of the judge

He then went downstairs and shot his mother.

"As I emptied the shells on my bed, I heard noises and realised that Mallory was still alive," he wrote.

"While I loaded the gun back up, I was shouting that I was sorry and then ran as fast as I could to kill her. I made sure my mom was dead and shot her again in the head."

Evans called 911 and told the dispatcher what he had done.

"I know now though that I'm done with killing," he said at the end of his statement. "What happened last night will haunt me forever."

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Millie Martin Murder: Man Jailed For 25 Years

A man has been ordered to serve at least 25 years for murdering the 15-month-old daughter of his former partner.

Barry McCarney, 33, of County Tyrone, was found guilty last month of Millie Martin's murder in Enniskillen in 2009.

Setting the minimum tariff McCarney must serve before being considered for release, Mr Justice Ben Stephens told the labourer at Belfast Crown Court he was a "deeply manipulative man" who had carried out a "sadistic sexual assault" on the child.

Millie died in Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital after being badly beaten at a house in Enniskillen, County Fermanagh, the day before.

Millie was subjected to a 'sadistic sexual assault' by McCarney

Her mother Rachel Martin, 25, had gone briefly to a local shop in December 2009, but when she returned home her daughter and partner were not in the house.

She later said: "I was literally minutes away and when I got back ... I got a phone call telling me to get to the Erne hospital quick - Millie wasn't well - I was in hysterics."

McCarney was filmed on hospital CCTV carrying Millie into the emergency ward before she was transferred to the Royal Victoria hospital, where she was put on a life-support machine until members of her family arrived to say goodbye.

At the time, Millie's grandmother Margaret said the child "could never be replaced - it's just a nightmare, a nightmare every day".

During McCarney's trial, the jury heard how Millie received a fatal blow to the back of her head as well as a number of other injuries, including serious internal injuries which could also have proved fatal.

It was claimed that injuries to her abdomen had been caused by regular punching in the weeks before her death.

McCarney was also found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent and the sexual assault of Millie. He must serve at least six years and two years for those crimes respectively, and those terms will run concurrently with his murder tariff.

McCarney showed little emotion as he was sentenced.

Ms Martin looked on from the public gallery. She was previously acquitted of charges of allowing her daughter's death and cruelty through wilful neglect.

She criticised the sentence, saying outside the court: "I don't think it was long enough, 25 years isn't long enough."

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Dummy Taped To Baby's Face: Worker Suspended

A scandal-hit NHS trust has suspended a member of staff after a four-month-old baby had a dummy taped to his face at a hospital.

Mid Staffordshire NHS Foundation Trust, already at the centre of a public inquiry into serious failings of care, apologised and said the boy had not been harmed and police had begun an investigation.

A spokesman for the Staffordshire force confirmed that officers were investigating a complaint about the treatment of a youngster by a worker at the hospital earlier this month.

Colin Ovington, director of nursing and midwifery at the trust, said: "A member of staff has been suspended pending the outcome of the police investigation and the trust's investigation under our disciplinary policy.

"We cannot emphasise strongly enough that this incident is exceptional and apologise again to the family.

"We want other hospitals to learn from this incident so that we can be sure that it does not happen to any other baby."

A report from the public inquiry into failings at the trust will be published on February 6.

Inquiry chairman Robert Francis QC will recommend wide-ranging reforms of the NHS, it is understood.

The £11m review of what went wrong at Stafford Hospital between January 2005 and March 2009 will suggest hospitals that cover up mistakes by doctors and poor treatment of patients should face fines and possible closure, it has been reported.

A separate, highly-critical, report by the Healthcare Commission in 2009 revealed a catalogue of failings at the trust and said "appalling standards" had put patients at risk.

Between 400 and 1,200 more people died than would have been expected in a three-year period from 2005 to 2008, the commission said. 

In February 2010, an independent inquiry into events at the trust found it had "routinely neglected patients".

Mr Ovington said: "We have a zero tolerance approach to poor patient care and we take immediate, appropriate action as soon as we know about any potential serious incidents which happen in our hospitals.

"We are proud that our staff now feel confident to report any incidents which happen.  We will continue to encourage staff to do this, and will continue to report incidents, even before they have been fully investigated, despite any negative attention this may create."

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Eden Hazard Ball Boy Kick: FA Charges Player

The Football Association has charged Chelsea's Eden Hazard with violent conduct following his clash with a Swansea ballboy.

The FA said that the normal three-match ban that is a mandatory sanction for violent conduct "was clearly insufficient."

The charge came as ballboy Charlie Morgan briefly broke his silence around the drama.

The 17-year-old tweeted that the last 24 hours had been "crazy", adding he had spoken to the footballer and would not be pressing charges.

Charlie Morgan lies injured after the clash

An FA statement read: "The FA has charged Chelsea's Eden Hazard following his side's League Cup semi-final at Swansea on January 23, 2013.

"It is alleged that Hazard's behaviour in relation to a Swansea ball boy, for which the player was dismissed in the 78th minute, constituted violent conduct whereby the standard punishment that would otherwise apply was clearly insufficient.

"The player has until 6pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013 to respond to the charge.

"The FA will remind all clubs of their responsibilities in ensuring ball boys and other personnel around the pitch act in an appropriate manner at all times and will liaise with competitions accordingly."

Eden Hazard is dismissed by the referee

Hazard claims he was trying to wrestle the ball away from Morgan in Wednesday's Capital One Cup match at the Liberty Stadium.

The ballboy had apparently refused to hand over the ball after it had gone out for a goal kick towards the end of the semi-final second leg game.

Hazard was sent off by referee Chris Foy and Chelsea will not appeal his red card for violent conduct.

The red card carries a minimum three match suspension.

The match ended 0-0, the Welsh side going through to the final 2-0 on aggregate, and the kick affair became a worldwide talking point, including on Twitter.

South Wales Police are following up complaints from members of the public in Sussex, Kent and south Wales.

Swansea will not face any action over the teenager's role in the controversy, as any complaint of time-wasting is considered an issue to be handled by the officials during the game.

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Barry George Loses Jill Dando Compensation Case

Barry George, who was wrongly jailed for murdering Jill Dando, has lost his High Court bid for compensation.

Two judges rejected his claim that the Justice Secretary unfairly and unlawfully decided he was "not innocent enough to be compensated".

Lord Justice Beatson and Mr Justice Irwin ruled that the Secretary of State was "entirely justified in the conclusion he reached."

Mr George's solicitor, Nick Baird, said: "We are very disappointed with the judgement and we shall be applying for permission to leapfrog the Court of Appeal to have the matter heard before the Supreme Court."

Mr George, 52, spent eight years in jail for the murder of Jill Dando in 1999.

Jill Dando was shot at her home in Fulham in April 1999

He came to court to seek a reconsideration of his case which could have opened the way for him to claim an award of up to £500,000 for lost earnings and wrongful imprisonment.

But the judges ruled that he had "failed the legal test" to receive an award.

Miss Dando was shot dead outside her home in Fulham in April 1999.

After his conviction in July 2001, Mr George, of Fulham, west London, was acquitted of killing the 37-year-old BBC presenter at a retrial in August 2008.

The high-profile compensation action was one of five test cases assembled to decide who is now entitled to payments in "miscarriage of justice" cases following a landmark decision by the Supreme Court in May 2011.

Ian Lawless, who spent eight years behind bars for murder before being freed by the Court of Appeal in 2009, won his legal challenge.

Mr Lawless was jailed for life in 2002 after confessing to the murder of retired sea captain Alf Wilkins on the Yarborough estate in Grimsby, Lincolnshire.

His conviction was later ruled unsafe after fresh medical evidence revealed he had a "pathological need for attention".

The judges ruled that in his case the decision to refuse compensation was legally flawed and must be reconsidered in the light of their judgement.

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Judge Dredd Fans Upset By Suggestion He's Gay

Judge Dredd is set to cause a sensation among fans as the writers suggest he might be gay.

The latest edition of the comic 2000 AD, which is due out next week, is titled Closet, and deals with the issue of a teenager coming out.

The first page has been released on the internet and shows a figure who looks like Dredd kissing the youth in a gay club full of characters dressed as the judge.

Reaction to the teaser, which was released online last month, has been mixed, with some fans so hostile to the idea they have threatened to burn the comic.

But writer Rob Williams said Dredd's sexuality - whatever it is - was buried beneath his love for the law.

He said: "Sure, Dredd could be gay. You can't look at the original costume design of leather and chains and not see a fetishistic edge there.

"But Dredd's feeling are so deeply hidden, he is extremely unlikely to ever let them show."

Dredd appears to kiss the youth - but is it really the Judge himself?

The writer said comics were a "great" place to deal with issues such as homophobia.

He said: "As long as you stay true to the character throughout - which I think Closet does - you can deal with all sorts of issues in a story.

"And if they push people's buttons, fine. I'd rather a story be provocative than just 'and they have a fight'.

"Plus, putting Dredd in a gay club filled with men dressed as him is a pretty funny image. It's worth it for that alone."

A spokesman for the comic said reaction had been quite "extreme".

"Dredd has always been satirical, while touching on serious issues. This is another example of this," he added.

But there is a twist in the tale, with all not being as it seems, the spokesman said.

Dredd is a Street Judge in the American metropolis Mega-City One, with the power to enforce law and impose an instant sentence, including execution.

The strip, illustrated by CLiNT magazine's Mike Dowling, will be available on Wednesday.

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Newcastle Striker Ranger Held Over Rape Claim

Newcastle United striker Nile Ranger has been released on bail after being arrested on suspicion of rape.

The 21-year-old Premier League footballer was held by Northumbria Police following an allegation made by a woman that she was attacked at a hotel in Jesmond, Newcastle between Wednesday and Thursday.

London-born Ranger, who lives in Forest Hall, North Tyneside, was questioned earlier today.

Nile Ranger was arrested after an alleged incident at a hotel

A police spokeswoman said: "On Thursday, January 24 a woman reported to police that she had been raped overnight at a hotel in Jesmond.

"A 21-year-old man has been arrested at an address in Forest Hall on suspicion of rape."

Ranger, a former England under-19 player, angered fans by criticising them for booing after Newcastle lost to Reading at the weekend.

He has had a troubled time at Newcastle, with loans to Sheffield Wednesday and Barnsley. A Newcastle United spokeswoman declined to comment.

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UK GDP Falls By 0.3% In Last Quarter

How GDP Is Compiled Really Matters

Updated: 10:21am UK, Tuesday 27 November 2012

By Ed Conway, Economics Editor

I've covered economics for a decade or so, but I confess that until very recently I didn't really know what GDP really is.

I mean, like most of you I knew it was the broadest and most widely-used measure of our economy's health - that it determines whether we're officially in recession or not (two or more quarters of shrinking GDP equals a recession).

I knew it was the sum of everything spent, earned or made in Britain.

What I didn't know was how it's actually put together.

I guess I vaguely assumed - and I don't think I'm entirely alone - that the Office for National Statistics had some kind of electronic hotline into British business, some privileged access to their numbers, which in turn became the Gross Domestic Product number.

Turns out I was monumentally wrong.

For it transpires that GDP - that big number we're all so focused on, the figure that tells us whether we're in a recession or booming, that can end a political career and swing an election - is actually a big, big survey.

I know this because earlier this month I spent some time in the ONS headquarters in Newport with the team who put together this most significant of all numbers.

For the first time, they allowed cameras into their offices to show how GDP really comes into being - and the genesis might well surprise you.

At this point it might be worth explaining why this matters so much: there is arguably no other number out there that can swing the financial markets quite so much, that can influence Britain's feelgood factor, that dominates the headlines and strikes fear into politicians.

And yet there are many people who question whether we can really rely on the numbers.

Some economists argue that the GDP figures in recent months have painted a far more negative picture of the UK economy than is actually the case.

Some argue that Britain never really experienced a double-dip recession - but that this reality will only ever be confirmed many years into the future when the ONS revises those initial estimates.

So how GDP is put together really matters. And it all starts with the pounds in your pockets.

The first estimate of GDP is created from data collected in surveys of tens of thousands of surveys from businesses around the country - whether they're manufacturers, construction firms, retailers or others.

Each month a large sample of them is asked by the ONS to tell them their turnover (how much money is going through the till), along with a few other industry-specific questions which form part of the retail sales, manufacturing output and other releases.

The turnover number is what matters from the perspective of GDP. They fill the relevant questionnaire in and post it to the ONS (they can also submit the data through an automated telephone system).

When those envelopes arrive there the questionnaires are scanned and the numbers go into the ONS' systems.

The problem is that by the time that first estimate needs to be produced, the ONS only has 44% of the relevant data (the rest arrives in dribs and drabs over the following months, hence later revisions). In particular, the ONS only has early responses for the final month of the quarter.

So there are some pretty big gaps to be filled, and the ONS has to make some estimates about what the other data will eventually say when it comes in.

It relies for this on computer models, backed up by assumptions and calculations from the ONS staff themselves. After they make these calls they meet and discuss them in so-called "balancing meetings" - the statisticians ask each other whether the data are reliable and their assumptions have foundation.

During this entire period, those GDP assumptions and the ultimate figure are kept locked up (quite literally - there are safes into which they are put) such that only a dozen or so statisticians actually know the number before it comes out.

So far as anyone knows, there has never been a leak of a number as sensitive as this from the ONS. But 24 hours before the figures are published, selected ministers and officials also get a look.

The figures are revised again a month after that initial release, and then again a month later. During that period, more information has come in from quarterly surveys which measure families' and businesses' incomes, and other spending data.

As I said, GDP can be measured in terms of what we spend, what we earn and what we make - they should all add up to the same number, since what one person buys another person sells. And the extra data furnishes that initial estimate and, occasionally, contradicts it.

The ONS maintains that its record of revisions is acceptable by international standards. It points out that its surveys have far more respondents than those put together by independent competitors.

But some, most notably Kevin Daly of Goldman Sachs, argue that it has a tendency to revise the more distant history so substantially that often periods we thought at the time were slumps were actually booms.

A case in point is the early 1990s - at the time, the ONS said the UK was suffering a double-dip recession.

But by the end of the millennium it had revised its assessment - far from slumping, the UK was actually bouncing back forcefully at that point. When Norman Lamont referred to "green shoots", it turns out he was absolutely right.

Today, the GDP figures have been telling an altogether different story to the unemployment figures, which seem to suggest there never was a double-dip. Based on precedent, we are unlikely to know the definitive story for years to come.

Which implies that the ONS, and the way it puts together this most important of all numbers, will remain in the spotlight for the foreseeable future.

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Weather: Rush Hour Travel Fears Amid Snow

Heavy snow across the country is expected to bring widespread disruption to workers making their way home for the weekend.

There are warnings of blizzard conditions and drifting snow in the early evening, spreading across the whole country.

Most areas will see up to 10cm (4ins) of snow falling, which will hit road and rail networks as thousands head home for the weekend.

The band of snow is likely to be especially heavy over the key M40, M5, M6 and M4 motorways.

The AA has warned that the cold snap is going out with a bang and encouraged motorists to check conditions before setting out.

The last flurries come ahead of the big thaw, which is due over the weekend and will bring with it the threat of flooding.

As temperatures rise, heavy rain is expected and will increase the flood risk, bringing more misery to those dealing with the aftermath of last month's heavy rains.

Nazaneen Ghaffar, Sky News Weather Presenter, said: "The rain, sleet and snow will become heavy and push southeastwards towards this evening, however southeast England and East Anglia should stay dry until tonight.

Snow will blanket most of the country through the night

"With strong winds (mainly in the north) there will be the risk of blizzard conditions and drifting.

"Significant accumulations of snow are expected, up to 10cm (4ins) in most areas and possibly double that across the hills and mountains of Scotland and Cumbria.

"The sleet and snow will spread into East Anglia and southeast England tonight then it should clear by the early hours of the morning.

"Showers will follow behind that rain across many northern and western areas, some of these will turn wintry on higher ground."

Temperatures are expected to rise to an average of 4C before reaching more than 10C in the south on Sunday.

The Met Office has 12 amber warnings in place from the Midlands up to central England, urging the public to be prepared for likely disruption caused by the heavy snow.

There are also a number of yellow warnings in Wales, southwest England and London and the South East.

A man attempts to clear the snow outside his home

Almost one in five people have not been able to work a full day because of the bad weather, according to a survey by Green Flag Breakdown.

Despite delays, the survey of more than 2,000 workers found that many had chosen to travel on public transport instead of driving.

Darron Burness, of the AA, said: "It's difficult for forecasters to know the extent of the snowfall, so check the local weather and traffic reports before heading out and be prepared for possible disruption.

"Take extra care, particularly on higher ground, and allow extra time for your journey."

Women battle through the snow in County Durham

The number of deaths during the cold snap, which is now into its second week, is now in double figures.

The latest victim was a 42-year-old man who died after his car careered into a river as he was driving his daughter on the school run along a bridle path near the Monsal Trail, north of the A6 in Derbyshire.

Other casualties of the cold spell include postman John Bircham, 57, who collapsed soon after he was towed out of a snowdrift in Dulverton, Somerset, on Saturday, and Bernadette Lee, 25, who was found collapsed in the snow in Deal, Kent, on Sunday following a night out.

The Environment Agency has warned of the risk of flooding.

People are prepared as the cold spelll stretches in to its second week

The agency's flood risk manager, Phil Rothwell, said: "A combination of rain and snow melt over the weekend will increase the risk of flooding, especially in south west England, Wales, the West Midlands and northern England."

The severe weather has caused widespread disruption over the past week, including hundreds of flights cancelled and schools closed.

At one stage 30 people had to spend the night in a shelter after becoming stranded when the A39 between Bridgwater and Williton in Somerset became impassable in the early hours of Wednesday.

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Mali: RAF Plane Heads To Conflict

An RAF surveillance aircraft has been deployed in support of the French military action in Mali, the Ministry of Defence said.

Prime Minister David Cameron pledged extra help for the mission this week amid concern over the threat posed by Islamist militants in north Africa.

The Sentinel - which usually carries a crew of five - has now been added to two C17 transport aircraft which have already been sent to the region.

Defence secretary Philip Hammond said: "We have now decided to deploy Sentinel, a surveillance capability that has proved its worth in Libya and on an ongoing basis for counter-insurgency operations in Afghanistan.

One of the C17 planes before departure

"We have also agreed to continue to make available a C17 heavy lift transport aircraft which has already provided important logistical support over recent days."

Mr Cameron has insisted that Britain does not intend to deploy ground troops.

He spoke earlier this week of a global "generational struggle" against al Qaida-inspired Islamist terrorism in North Africa.

He said the UK should "thicken" links with the region following this month's hostage crisis in Algeria.

Britain will provide troops to an EU mission to train the Malian military to take on Islamist militants who have taken over the north of the country, he added.

The mission, due to deploy in February or March, is expected to include around 250 trainers and 250 force protection troops.

Mr Cameron said the British contribution would number "in the tens, not the hundreds", with aides saying it would be at the lower end of that range.

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