Interpreter Guilty Of 'Communicating Information To Enemy'

An Army interpreter who worked for Britain's top general in Afghanistan, has been found guilty of spying for Iran. Daniel James, 45 - an Iranian-born corporal - translated for the head of multi-national forces, General David Richards. James denied two charges under the Official Secrets Act and willful misconduct in public office. The court heard he sent coded messages to an colonel at Iran's embassy in Kabul telling him "I am at your service". He was found guilty of communicating information to an enemy, and jurors are still deliberating charges of collecting documents useful to an enemy and wilful misconduct in public office.

Teen Injured In Liverpool Shooting

A teenager has been seriously hurt in a shooting in Liverpool. The 17-year-old victim was discovered at a house in Cardigan Road, Wavertree, after reports shots being fired. The teenager was taken to hospital with gunshot wounds to the upper body. Merseyside police said they have not established a motive, but believe he was targeted deliberately. He remains in a serious but stable condition.

Lawrie Golf Plans Given Green Light

A multi-million golf course has been given the go-ahead by the Scottish Government.

The £115 million course, designed by former Open champion Paul Lawrie, will include a hotel, housing and leisure centre on the former Blairs Seminary site. The course will be on the outskirts of Aberdeen, and comes about after a full meeting of Aberdeenshire Council earlier backed plans. Over the next 12 months, the Muir Group - the developers behind the project - will work alongside the council and the local community to create a detailed planning application. The news comes just days after American tycoon Donald trump was granted planning approval for his £1 million Balmedie golf resort.

New Criminal Cases Review Chair Announced

Richard Foster CBE has been appointed as the new Chair of the Criminal Cases Review Commission. The appointment by Her Majesty was announced to Parliament today by the Lord Chancellor and the Secretary of State for Justice. The appointment is for a period of five years. Mr Foster is the third Chair of the CCRC since it was set up in 1997 as the independent body responsible for reviewing suspected miscarriages of justice in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.

'Significant Breakthrough' In Murder Investigation

Officers investigating the death of Mohammed Al Majed on 22nd August 2008 in Hastings have made a significant breakthrough. Hours of CCTV evidence and many detailed witness statements have pointed to one particular man who the investigation team are now anxious to trace. Detective Chief Inspector Trevor Bowles, who is leading the inquiry, said: "We have identified a young man who was at the scene of the attack on Mohammed. I am, for legal reasons, unable to name this individual. We know his identity, that he is 21 years old and from South London. We also know that he is currently in the Mediterranean. We are liaising closely with the Serious & Organised Crime Agency and with a number of other authorities both in the UK and elsewhere, in order to trace and arrest him on suspicion of murder."

Company Fined After Employee Badly Injured

The Health and Safety Executive (HSE) is urging companies to carry out suitable and sufficient risk assessments in order to ensure the safety of their employees, after a West Sussex factory worker was severely injured in an industrial incident. At Chichester Crown Court today, Natures Way Foods Ltd of Vinnetrow Road, Chichester, was fined £30,000 and ordered to pay costs of £16,282. HSE prosecuted the company over an incident at its Chichester factory on 27 July, 2007, when a thorough cleaning of the production lines in the factory was being carried out. A Polish employee was asked to leave her regular duties to help with the cleaning, but was only given brief instructions on how to clean the machine, with which she was unfamiliar. As a result, her hand was drawn into the machine and one of her fingers was cut off.

(JM)