Other News In Brief

Man In Court Over Body In Boot Murder

A 56-year-old man is to appear in court, charged with the murder of a woman who was found stabbed to death in the boot of her car last year. Roger Kearney, of Painswick Close, Sarisbury Green, Southampton, is due before magistrates today, in relation to the death of 40-year-old Paula Poolton, of Titchfield in Fareham, who was found in her Peugeot 206 near Swanwick railway station on 28 October. She had been reported missing 11 days earlier. Divers recently searched for some of Ms Poolton's missing belongings in a lake at Burridge, near Fareham.

Man Jailed For Father Murder

A man has pleaded guilty to the murder of his father who died after being attacked at his Essex flat. William Leahy, 56, died after suffering injuries to his face, head and neck in the attack at his flat in Military Road, Colchester, last August. Michael Leahy, 34, of no fixed address, admitted murder when he appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court and was ordered to serve a minimum of 12 years in jail. Police said Leahy and his father had a "tempestuous relationship".

Shed Alarms To Beat The Burglar

Officers in Newcastle are giving out free garden shed alarms as part of a campaign to 'beat the burglar'. The Outer West Neighbourhood Policing Team joined forces with partners to fund 500 free alarms for residents in West Denton and Westerhope. Neighbourhood Beat Officers and Community Support Officers are visiting their local communities to hand them out to increase the security of sheds in the area. The alarms will not only be added peace of mind for residents but will act as a deterrent for burglars. The action forms part of the forcewide 'Let's draw a line under crime' campaign, which is aimed to ensure crime across Northumbria continues to fall during the economic downturn.

Youths Deny Big Issue Seller Murder

Three youths, including a 14-year-old boy, have appeared in court accused of murdering a Big Issue seller in Dorset. The body of Ralph Millward, 41, was found outside Marks and Spencer in Westbourne, Bournemouth, on 8 May. Three boys, two aged 16 and another, 14, appeared at Winchester Crown Court charged with murder. They all pleaded not guilty. The youths, who cannot be be named for legal reasons, were remanded in custody to face trial at the same court on 5 April 2010. Mr Millward had worked as a Big Issue vendor for almost nine years and was well known in the area.

Man Dies After Road crash

A man has died in an early morning crash on the A70 in South Lanarkshire. Emergency services were called to the scene near Carnwath at about 7am on Tuesday. The man, who was trapped inside the vehicle, was pronounced dead at the scene. Fire crews are working to remove his body. Police have closed the A70 in both directions and local diversions are in place. The road is expected to reopen about lunchtime.

(JM/BMcc)