Man charged over deaths of seven-year-old boy and his disabled sister

06.05.08

thisislondon.co.uk

http://www.thisislondon.co.uk/news/article-23482273-details/Man+charged+over+deaths+of+seven-year-old+boy+and+his+disabled+sister/article.do

A 49-year-old man has been charged in connection with the murders of a boy and his disabled sister.

Ryan Thomson, seven, and his 25-year-old sister Michelle were found dead in their father’s home, according to police.

It emerged yesterday that Ryan had been treated to a leaving party at his primary school just a day before his death.

Last night their father Robert, 49, who was found in the same house with serious injuries, was discharged from hospital.

Police also revealed that a man had been charged in connection with the murders and would appear in Kirkcaldy Sheriff Court today.

Police said the children had been staying with their father on a temporary basis in the Muiredge Cottages area of Buckhaven, Fife.

Mr Thomson’s estranged wife June, who discovered the bodies on Saturday evening, had been visiting to attempt a reconciliation.

It is understood Mrs Thomson had been looking for a new home in England. It was unclear whether she had been planning to move permanently and if she had also intended to take Michelle, who had Down’s syndrome, with her.

A friend of the family, who did not want to be named, said: “Ryan only just had a school leaving party at his primary school on Friday because the family were planning to leave for London.

“We just can’t believe what’s happened.”

It is understood that a third sibling, Ross Thomson, 20, had been upstairs during the incident on Saturday but had not been aware of anything happening.

The couple’s eldest son Shaun, 20, travelled back to the Fife area from his home in Essex as soon as he heard about the tragedy.

The family friend added: “Ryan and Michelle’s older brother Ross stayed with me over the weekend, but he hasn’t said a word about what happened. He is still in shock.”

Another friend, whose daughter helped to care for Michelle, said the Thomsons had split up recently and Mr Thomson was looking after the children.

She said: “A couple of weeks back, June left him and went down south to look for a new home. But she had come back to try and patch things up.

“I don’t know what would bring someone to do something like this, it’s just horrible to think.”

Neighbour Chris Arnott, 38, said: “It isn’t nice to think this could happen on your street right under your nose.”

Mrs Thomson was last night being comforted by relatives.

Detective Superintendent Alastair McKeen of Fife Constabulary said Mr Thomson had been released from Queen Margaret Hospital in Dunfermline yesterday.

Mr McKeen added: “Both Michelle and Ryan suffered a particularly violent death and the scene was extremely harrowing for the police officers and paramedics who arrived at the house.

“Following on from our appeal yesterday, we are extremely heartened by the very positive response from the members of the community in Buckhaven.”

Earlier, officers say they are continuing to build up a ‘general picture’ of the movements of Michelle and Ryan on Saturday morning and afternoon before they were discovered dead, but have declined to go in to detail.

The investigation team continued to ‘keep an open mind’ as the inquiry progressed but Mr McKeen added: “I can confirm there are no specific lines of inquiry in relation to other individuals at this stage that are being prioritised.”

The forensic investigation of the house at Muiredge Cottages was “progressing extremely well”, Mr McKeen added.

He said: “While that will continue over the next day or two we would again appeal for the co-operation of local residents in being mindful of the fact that this is a devastating tragedy to have befallen the family in Buckhaven and for the community itself and provide some respect to their position in terms of not visiting the scene unnecessarily.”

But he said the family “warmly appreciated” the floral tributes which had been laid.

Mr McKeen, head of CID with the force, did not disclose the nature of the siblings’ injuries.

“We are currently carrying out a thorough forensic examination of the house,” he said.

“We are not currently able to give precise details of the nature of Michelle and Ryan’s injuries.

“It has been a particularly harrowing experience for everyone involved in the investigation.”

Fife Constabulary also confirmed that extra community officers had arrived at the small community to provide extra reassurance for locals.

A spokesman said: “Officers will generally be patrolling the area, engaging people in conversation, and helping them feel more safe and secure again.”

Chief inspector Andy Morris described the incident as “a terrible tragedy which has shocked the entire community”.

Officers have set up an incident room and appealed for anyone who may have been around the Percival Road and Methilhaven Road areas, where the murders happened, to contact them.

Man accused of raping disabled victim may face 44 felony charges

By Elizabeth Dinan

edinan@seacoastonline.com

May 05, 2008

Portsmouth, N. H,

Seacoastonline.com

http://www.seacoastonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080505/NEWS/80505014

Portsmouth — Jordan Cantwell raped and sodomized a “mentally defective” woman eight times in a rented Brewster Street Rooming House room, say police. Charged with eight related felonies, Cantwell, 25, of 177 Ten Rod Road, Farmington, may face an additional 36 felony counts of aggravated felonious sexual assault involving the same disabled victim, police detective Mike Schwartz said during Cantwell’s Monday arraignment.

Schwartz told District Court Judge Sawako Gardner that Cantwell committed the crimes during three different 2007 incidents by “overcoming the victim by force and by virtue of the fact that she is mentally defective.” He said police did not file the charges until now due to a backlog at the state crime lab, which ultimately confirmed Cantwell’s DNA was on the victim’s linens.

Noting Cantwell’s criminal history includes bail-jumping and felony burglary convictions, he asked the court to set bail at $20,000 cash for each of the eight charges.

“He’s said he’s seen the victim since and he has not been returning my phone calls,” Schwartz testified.

In custody of local police, Cantwell asked for personal recognizance bail and told the judge he has “been staying out of trouble,” is “not doing drugs” and is “not a flight risk.”

“I’m not doing anything illegal,” he said, adding he works at a McDonald’s and comes to Portsmouth for monthly diabetes treatment.

“I’d be willing to do curfew or whatever it takes,” he told the court.

Judge Gardner set bail at $20,000 cash and $10,000 personal recognizance and ordered Cantwell to have no contact with the victim. The judge also granted Schwartz’s request to seal the police affidavit related to the case and scheduled Cantwell to return to the court for a May 13 probable cause hearing.

According to Herald archives, Cantwell was arrested in May of 2007 for breaking into a car on Brewster Street and a count of disorderly conduct. While on bail for those allegations, he was arrested for domestic assault and resisting arrest, following a police call to Holiday Drive where a victim alleged he struck her and slapped a phone out of her hand to prevent her from calling police. At that time, he cited his residence as the Cross Roads House homeless shelter.

Glen Ellyn man sentenced to 36 years in prison for sexual abuse of mentally disabled girl

Tribune staff report

May 5, 2008

chicaagotribune.com

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-sexual-assault-06-both.1-may06,0,3028620.story

A Glen Ellyn man was sentenced Monday to 36 years in prison for sexually abusing a mentally disabled girl for years.

Gerard Schlaiss, 51, admitted he inappropriately touched and fondled the girl, who was between the ages of 13 and 17, on six occasions before his arrest in September. He was sentenced by DuPage Judge Robert Anderson.

Police investigated Schlaiss and a report from a citizen who alleged seeing inappropriate contact between the two.

Schlaiss was convicted in 1990 of sexually abusing a 13-year-old girl in Lake County, according to the Illinois State Police sex offender registry.

He also was convicted of selling tobacco products to minors in DuPage County in 2005, said Assistant State’s Atty. Liam Brennan.

Police News - New Castle County

Delaware Online

http://www.delawareonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080506/NEWS05/805060356/-1/NEWS01

Burglary Charges Filed: A disabled man said he was burglarized in his home May 2 by a man he knew. New Castle city police said the incident happened about 10:45 p.m. The disabled man heard a loud noise and later discovered his door had been kicked in and his 32-inch flat-screen television was stolen. Robert Coates, 27, of East Second Street in New Castle, was arrested and charged with burglary, theft and criminal mischief. Police said Coates was also wanted by New Castle County police for theft. He was committed to the Young Correctional Institution after failing to post $13,250 secured bond. Police recovered the television in an alley near South Street. Coates, police said, had done house work for the victim before.

Bus conductor remanded for assaulting disabled commuter
   
By T. Farook Thajudeen
 
Sri Lanka

Daily Mirror

May 06, 2008

http://www.dailymirror.lk/DM_BLOG/Sections/frmNewsDetailView.aspx?ARTID=13844

A bus conductor who assaulted a disabled commuter with an umbrella was remanded till May 15 by the Colombo Additional Magistrate Ms. Sujatha Alahaperuma yesterday.

Wellampitiya police produce the suspect Bomiriya Arachcige Chamila Champika of Kohilawatte Kotkawatte before the Magistrate and informed court that the suspect was the conductor of the private bus plying from Colpetty to Kohilawatte.

The elderly disabled commuter who had boarded the bus asked the conductor to ring the bell at his destination which led to an argument between the conductor and the passenger. During the altercation the conductor severely assaulted the victim on his temple with an umbrella.

The victim G.G. Wijedasa (63) was later admitted to the Colombo National Hospital for treatment. The police told the Magistrate that they could not record the statement of the victim since the victim was in a serious condition with internal hemorrhage to the brain. The Magistrate remanded the suspect till May 15.

Disabled man victim of horrific attack

1 May 2008

By Robert Sutcliffe

Yorkshire Post

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/news/Police-name-disabled-man-attacked.4041472.jp

Police are hunting three men who carried out a vicious and unprovoked attack on a disabled man which left him seriously injured.

The 42-year-old victim, Damian Shepherd, who has cerebral palsy, was walking home when he was grabbed and attacked by three men just before midnight on Wednesday.

He suffered severe head and facial injuries in the attack, which took place in Cornholme, Todmorden.

Last night, he was in a critical but stable condition in intensive care at the Royal Oldham Hospital.

Det Insp Tony Nicholson of Calderdale CID said: “This was a horrific attack on a vulnerable man who clearly has disabilities. On the face of it it would seem this was a completely unprovoked assault with no indication of what sparked the confrontation.

“The victim has no defensive injuries. He wasn’t in any position at all to defend himself from the blows carried out by three young, fit men. His face is swollen, his eyes are shut and he is lucky to survive.”

Mr Shepherd, who lives in Cornholme, was walking home along Burnley Road when the three attackers grabbed him.

He was dragged on to a side street, Knotts Road, where he was beaten about the head and face.

A young couple living in a cottage nearby heard a commotion and ran out on to the street only to see the attackers flee back along Burnley Road, in the direction of Todmorden.

They wrapped him in a blanket and looked after him until paramedics and police arrived.

He was initially taken to Rochdale Infirmary but because of the seriousness of his injuries, he was transferred to Oldham.

Mr Nicholson said Mr Shepherd had been drinking Coke in The Staff of Life, on Burnley Road, 25-30 yards from where he was found, from 6.30pm to 10.30pm.

But he said officers were in the dark about his movements after he left the pub.

He added: “We are keen to speak to anyone who saw him between 10.30pm and midnight and, of course, we want to speak to the people who were seen to be running from the scene.”

John King, a barman at The Staff, said: “Everyone has been very shocked about what happened. We have got to know him quite well. He has been coming in here for a about a year now and comes in for company.

“He drinks soft drinks – mainly blackcurrant and water – and enjoys walking his pedigree dogs”

Yesterday, the area was cordoned off and a police tent put up while scenes of crime officers carried out forensic investigations.

Detectives were carrying out door-to-door inquiries and speaking to staff and regulars at The Staff of Life.

The attackers are all described as white men, aged in their late teens or early 20s, about 5ft 5in to 5ft 7in tall.

One man had short blonde hair and was wearing a blue jacket and jeans. Another was wearing a dark-coloured jacket and jeans.

Police are appealing for witnesses and anyone with information to get in touch urgently on 01422 337085 or to ring Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Man denies murdering ‘dearly missed’ disabled stepson

May 3, 2008

The Guardian

http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2008/may/03/ukcrime1

The stepfather of a disabled man whose decomposed remains were found in a suitcase at the family home broke his silence yesterday to say the family “dearly missed” the 22-year-old.

Brian Kirby, 36, and a 17-year-old were arrested on suspicion of murder last week after detectives discovered the body of James Hughes in a suitcase at the family home in Redditch, Worcestershire. Both men were released two days after their arrest but until yesterday Kirby had declined to comment.

Heather Wardle, 39, Hughes’s mother and Kirby’s long-term partner, was found at the base of a tree in dense woodland near the family home with a ligature around her neck days before Hughes’s body was found. A mother of four, she had been full-time carer for Hughes, who had the mental age of an 18-month-old child.

In a statement released by his solicitor, Kirby said: “We cannot express in words our feelings on being arrested by the police on suspicion of murder. We protested our innocence and the police released us without charge. This did not remove the grief that we continue to suffer.”

“We would like to thank the police for the sensitive way in which they dealt with this inquiry. We would also like to thank all our family, friends and work colleagues who have supported us and continue to support us during these difficult times.”

Kirby said his stepson, who had epilepsy, struggled to walk unaided and needed regular medication, was “a wonderful and special son and taught us about the important things in life”.

“He brought something special to everyone who had the privilege of knowing and meeting him. He was a son, brother and friend, and will be dearly missed.”

He described Wardle as “a devoted mother and partner”. “Her perseverance in providing care to James was second to none. Her parenting skills were an example for all. We will find it impossible to tell the younger members of the family where mummy is.”

A postmortem examination has failed to establish how Hughes died and officers are now awaiting the results of tests which they hope will reveal how decomposed his body was, and how he met his death. Police have said there are “many unanswered questions” in the investigation, and are attempting to trace Hughes’s last known appearances.

“It is a very unusual and tragic case and we will leave no stone unturned in trying to establish what happened,” Superintendent Jane Horwood said last week.

Kirby also expressed sympathy for James’s biological father. “Only those who have suffered the loss of a mother, son, partner and best friends will know what we are going through,” he said.

Kirby added that the family was now striving for normality and peace. “Time is a healer but only time will tell if it can heal the deep wounds left by our tragic loss,” he said.

Police Identify Teenage Shooting Victim

May 1, 2008

Action 3 News

http://www.action3news.com/Global/story.asp?S=8259723&nav=menu550_2

Omaha, NE - We now know who was shot near 16th and Vinton Streets on Thursday afternoon.  A bullet hit 16-year old Fernando Martinez in the backside near the “Mattress Store.”

Omaha Police tell Action 3 News it appears Martinez has two prosthetic legs.

Witnesses say two young men rode up to 16th and Vinton on a bike and opened fire with a small caliber handgun.

An officer spotted two suspects running from the scene of the shooting.  Cops caught both, and took them in for questioning.  Police tell us that Martinez was not seriously hurt.

Landmark United Nations Convention on Rights of Persons with Disabilities, Optional Protocol, Enter into Force Tomorrow, 3 May

7th Space Interactive

http://7thspace.com/headlines/280208/landmark_united_nations_convention_on_rights_of_persons_with_disabilities_optional_protocol_enter_into_force_tomorrow_3_may.html

The United Nations Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities is set to enter into force tomorrow, 3 May, marking a new era in efforts to protect those rights.

The Convention, the first new human rights treaty of the twenty-first century, has been signed by 127 countries since 30 March 2007, and ratified by 24. The Convention needed 20 countries to ratify before it could take effect. Jamaica was the first country to ratify the Convention and, on 3 April, Ecuador ratified, providing the sufficient number of parties for the Convention to enter into force.

Along with the Convention, an Optional Protocol allowing individuals and groups to petition for relief will also take effect on Saturday.

United Nations Secretary-General has called the Convention a powerful tool to eradicate the obstacles faced by persons with disabilities. “It is a historic moment in our quest for realization of the universal human rights for all persons, creating a fully inclusive society for all.”

The Convention itself does not create any new rights. Rather, it aims to ensure that the benefits of existing rights are fully extended and guaranteed to the world’s estimated 650 million people with disabilities.

“It had been argued that persons with disabilities were covered by existing human rights treaties, but the reality was very different,” says Akiko Ito, Chief of the Secretariat of the Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities and the UN Focal Point on Disability. “Persons with disabilities have routinely suffered discrimination in the job market, in schools and in receiving public services. This Convention will make sure that these people will no longer be ignored.”

By ratifying the Convention, States commit themselves to enact laws and other measures to improve disability rights, and also abolish legislation, customs and practices that discriminate against persons with disabilities.

The Convention, among the fastest ever negotiated at the United Nations and one of the fastest to enter into force, has the strong support of United Nations Member States, as well as advocacy by the global disability movement, which was instrumental in drafting the treaty.

To mark the Convention’s entry into force, the United Nations will convene a special ceremony in the General Assembly Hall in New York on 12 May, with participants from Governments, United Nations agencies and civil society.

A Conference of the Parties is expected to be convened within six months.

For more information, please contact Franck Kuwonu of the United Nations Department of Public Information, tel.: 1 212 963 8264; e-mail: kuwonu@un.org; or Sayre Nyce of the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs, tel.: 1 917 367 8090; e-mail: nyce@un.org.

Courthouse access is no ‘joke’ for disabled visitors

2 May 2008

By Andrew Keddie

Selkirk Weekend Advertiser

http://www.selkirkweekendadvertiser.co.uk/selkirknews/Courthouse-access-is-no-joke.4041863.jp

The start of another tourist season has come and gone and there has been no change to what one local councillor has called a “standing joke” in Selkirk.

Kenneth Gunn was referring to the enduring saga of the ramp designed to ease the passage of wheelchair users into the historic Sir Walter Scott’s Courtroom in Market Place.

The trouble is that to get to the ramp, people in wheelchairs must negotiate four flights of what are locally known as the Fleshmarket steps.

“For about two decades we have had a disabled access which cannot be accessed by the disabled” said Mr Gunn. “It’s a standing joke, although I don’t suppose it’s funny for those who can’t get in to see one of the town’s most historic attractions.”

Mr Gunn says Scottish Borders Council, which operates the courtroom through its museum service, has been aware of the problem for some time. “I have attended several meetings on the site with officials over the years, but to date, no solution has been forthcoming.

“A major issue has been the gradient of the steps which, if ramped, would still be too steep for wheelchair users and would present even more danger to them coming back down.”

From October 2004, under disability discrimination legislation, disabled people have the right to expect no physical barriers will exist in the provision of access and facilities within public buildings.

As from yesterday, the courtroom is open to the public on seven days a week.

The reality is that the principal users of the ramp are museum staff who carry the lifesize promotional cut-out of the great writer in and out of the courtroom.

A spokesman for SBC told The Wee Paper yesterday: “This council is the leading Scottish local authority in terms of compliance with the Disability Discrimination Act, so it is certainly not a case of us ignoring our responsibilities. The act states that ‘reasonable adjustments’ be made where possible to allow disabled access to our buildings. The work carried out to date in Selkirk is the best adjustment we can make at the moment. Because of the style and lay-out of the building and the steepness of the surrounding streets, we are severely limited on what we can do.

“A number of options are being looked at for the future and these include providing a virtual tour of the courthouse from Halliwell’s Museum which is fully accessible or waiting until the lease on the Courthouse Coffee Shop comes up for renewal and then investigate the possibility of an internal lift.

“People in Selkirk can be assured, however, that we will keep looking at the situation to investigate what can be done in the near future to improve access to this important building.”