Former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Blair dies aged 72
Ian Blair, who ran the force from 2005 to 2008, took a seat as a crossbench peer in 2010 when he became Lord Blair of Boughton. He had earlier been knighted in 1999.
His death was confirmed by Christ Church Oxford, where he was an honorary student.
In a statement on Friday, Christ Church Oxford said: 'The Christ Church community would like to extend its condolences to the family of Ian Blair, the Lord Blair of Boughton QPM, who has died at the age of 72.
'Lord Blair, an alumnus and honorary student (fellow) of Christ Church, served as the commissioner of the Metropolitan Police from 2005 to 2008.'
The often controversial senior police officer saw his career cut short when he was axed from Scotland Yard by Tory mayor Boris Johnson.
Until that point, he had held on to the job despite the furore caused by death of Jean Charles de Menezes, whom police shot at Stockwell Tube station in July 2005 after mistaking him for a suicide bomber.
He clung on through a series of further hurdles with the support of the Home Secretary, the Police Authority and most of all, his senior officers.
But when the new mayor took charge of the Police Authority and told him privately that he had no confidence in his work, he walked out.
Lord Blair was chief constable of Surrey Police for two years before becoming deputy commissioner of the Met in 2000, taking over the top job five years later.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
New York Post
21 minutes ago
- New York Post
Multiple families were sent the wrong bodies after Air India disaster: report
Families of UK residents killed in last month's Air India disaster have been sent the wrong bodies in repatriation blunders. The Daily Mail reports that at least two cases of mistaken identity had come to light, with one family having to abandon a funeral after being informed their coffin contained an unknown body. In another case, a coffin contained 'co-mingled' remains of more than one person killed in the flight 171 crash at Ahmedabad in western India on June 12. The scandal has sparked top-level inquiries in both the UK and India, the Mail reports, and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer is expected to raise concerns with counterpart Narendra Modi this week. 5 Basit Zargar/ZUMA Press Wire / There were 52 British citizens killed among the 261 people who died after the plane lost power and crashed into a residential area soon after it lifted off to fly to London. All but one of the 242 people on board died as well as 19 people on the ground. Aviation lawyer James Healy-Pratt has been engaged to represent UK-based people impacted by the tragedy, with the remains of 12 people repatriated so far. 'I've been sitting down in the homes of these lovely British families over the last month, and the first thing they want is their loved ones back,' he told the Mail. 'But some of them have got the wrong remains and they are clearly distraught over this. 5 Getty Images 'It has been going on for a couple of weeks (and) I think these families deserve an explanation.' Healy-Pratt said the family which had received the wrong body had been left 'in limbo' since the devastating discovery was made. '(They) have no one to bury because it was the wrong person in their casket. 'And if isn't their relative, the question is, who is it in that coffin? Presumably it's another passenger and their relatives have been given the wrong remains. 'The coroner also has a problem because she has an unidentified person in her jurisdiction.' Investigations continue into how the disaster unfolded, with mounting attention on the actions of lead pilot Captain Sumeet Sabharwal. 5 AFP via Getty Images Some experts who have reviewed the initial report from India's Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau (AAIB) believe a pilot on turned off two switches controlling fuel flow to the plane's engines. The first was moved three seconds after lift off and the other one second later, the AAIB report found, before being turned back on a further 10 seconds later. Fingers have been pointed at Captain Sabharwal because his younger co-pilot, Clive Kunder, would have had his 'hands full' while flying the plane. Air India's inspection of the locking feature on the fuel control switches of its existing Boeing 787 aircraft found no issues, an internal communication circulated within the airline said on July 17. 5 AFP via Getty Images India's aviation regulator ordered the country's airlines this week to investigate the locking feature on the switches of several Boeing models. The order came after Boeing notified operators that the fuel switch locks on its jets were safe. However, it was in line with a Special Airworthiness Information Bulletin (SAIB) issued by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) in 2018, which recommended inspection of the locks to ensure they could not be moved accidentally. Air India's probe found no problems with the locking mechanism. 5 Saurabh Sirohiya/NurPhoto/Shutterstock 'Over the weekend, our Engineering team initiated precautionary inspections on the locking mechanism of Fuel Control Switch (FCS) on all our Boeing 787 aircraft,' the airline's flight operations department said in a communication to its pilots. 'The inspections have been completed and no issues were found.' A spokesperson for the UK government told the Mail formal identification of the bodies was a 'matter for the Indian authorities'. 'We understand that this is an extremely distressing time for the families, and our thoughts remain with them,' they said.
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Verdict expected in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial
Warning: this story contains graphic details Five Canadian ice hockey players accused of sexually assaulting a woman will learn their fate on Thursday in a case that has gripped the country. The accused men, all former players for Canada's world junior hockey team, have pleaded not guilty to assaulting the woman in a hotel room in 2018 in the city of London, Ontario, where they had been attending a Hockey Canada gala. At the heart of the trial is whether the woman, who was 20-years-old at the time, consented to every sexual act that unfolded over several hours in that hotel room. The case also raised questions on whether a toxic culture exists within Canada's favourite sport. Justice Maria Carroccia, who is presiding over the case, will be handing down her ruling on Thursday morning in a London courtroom. Hockey Canada: A sex assault scandal disgraces country's pastime Four NHL players charged in Canada over 2018 sexual assault Prior to the trial, the case forced a reckoning within Hockey Canada - largely seen as Canada's voice for ice hockey on the international stage - after it emerged that the sports body had reached a quiet settlement with the alleged victim in 2022, and had set aside a fund to settle similar allegations. Hockey Canada lost major sponsors, faced a parliamentary probe and had its federal funding frozen in the aftermath. It later announced a plan to address "systemic issues" in the culture of ice hockey. What is the case about? The complainant, a woman known publicly as EM due to a standard publication ban, alleges that a group of hockey players engaged in sexual activity with her without her consent. The accused are Michael McLeod, Dillon Dube, Cal Foote, Alex Formenton and Carter Hart. All were players with the National Hockey League (NHL) when the allegations surfaced, although one was playing in Europe. Over nine days of sometimes graphic testimony during the trial, EM described how a one-night stand with McLeod turned into a group sexual assault. EM said she went to McLeod's hotel room after meeting him at a local bar, and they had consensual sexual intercourse. But she alleges he invited other teammates into the room, leaving her shocked and humiliated as they engaged in sexual activity with her that she said she did not consent to. Over the course of the trial, the judge has heard that the players performed a variety of sexual acts on her, including oral sex, intercourse, and slapping the woman's buttocks. Lawyers for the players tell a different story, asserting EM consented to these acts. They argue she gave the men the impression that she wanted to have a "wild night" and that she had discussed with McLeod inviting his friends over "to have some fun". The players claim the woman asked them to have sex with her, and that she had agreed to what transpired that evening in London. How the trial unfolded There were many legal twists and turns since the trial began on 23 April, including a declaration of a mistrial early on and the dismissal of the jury mid-way through, after members accused some defence lawyers of mocking them. The case will now be decided by the judge. In opening arguments, Crown attorney Heather Donkers warned the jury that the case would be unconventional and might challenge preconceptions about consent and assault. It would not be about whether the woman "removed herself from an unwelcome situation", but rather if she "voluntarily agreed to engage in each and every sexual act that took place", she argued. Evidence included texts from McLeod's phone, which showed him inviting the other players to his room for a "3 way" and asking EM to make a police investigation into the night "go away". The court also viewed a group chat from June 2018 between the players in which they appeared to discuss damage control after they had been informed that there would be an internal Hockey Canada investigation into the incident. A text on the group chat from McLeod's phone read: "We all need to say the same thing if we get interviewed [by Hockey Canada], can't have different stories or make anything up." "No boys, like you don't need to make anything up. No one did anything wrong. We went to that room to eat. The girl came. She wanted to have sex with all of us," another teammate replied. The court was also shown two videos of the woman wrapped in a towel after the incident, where she can be heard saying "it was all consensual". Over days of testimony, EM said that she was "uncomfortable" and went on "auto-pilot" mode as the men demanded sex acts from her, and that they at one point discussed putting golf balls and a golf club in her vagina. The woman told the court that she had adopted a "porn star persona" as a coping mechanism. A lawyer for one of the players countered by arguing that her actions made the men think she was consenting. Defence lawyers also used text messages EM sent to her friend the following day, noting that she discussed the incident but did not say she was sexually assaulted. "I'm going to suggest to you that if you had – in any way, shape or form – felt that you had been sexually violated or assaulted that night, you would have said that to your best friend," defence lawyer Lisa Carnelos said. Only one of the accused players, Carter Hart, testified in his own defence. Asked by the Crown why the woman was asked to be filmed giving consent, he responded that it was common practice for professional athletes. From jury to judge alone The case was re-opened by London police after their initial investigation in 2018 and early 2019 ended without charges. Formal charges were later laid in early 2024. The five players have had to put their hockey careers on hold during the case. All had NHL contracts when they were asked to surrender to police in January 2024, forcing them to take a leave of absence from their respective teams. Their NHL contracts have since expired. Just two days after the trial began on 23 April, a mistrial was declared by Justice Carroccia after an interaction between a jury member and one of the defence lawyers. A new trial was then ordered with a brand new, 14-member jury. Then on 16 May, that jury was dismissed when one member complained to Justice Carroccia that the same defence lawyer had laughed at them and mocked their appearance. While the judge said she had not witnessed bad behaviour, the accusation compromised the fairness of the trial. Instead of restarting the trial once again, lawyers for both sides agreed the case would be decided by the judge alone. Its wider impact in Canada The case has made headlines across the country. Carolynn Conron, a criminal lawyer from London, Ontario, told the BBC that the courtroom was crammed on the first days - especially during EM's testimony. The high profile of the defendants, and the revered place that ice hockey has in the national consciousness, has captivated attention. "It is quite an extraordinary case from a legal and social perspective," said Daphne Gilbert, a law professor at the University of Ottawa, citing the "winding" and "unusual" road leading up to the trial, as well as the impact the allegations have had on Hockey Canada as an institution. Legally, Prof Gilbert said there is interest in how the case could reshape how consent is interpreted in Canada. It has been established under Canadian law that consent is not the absence of "no," but rather the affirmation of "yes" in words or conduct. Consent also cannot be obtained prior to or after the sexual act. But the case raises important questions on how consent can be interpreted in a situation where the victim says they felt that they have no choice, Prof Gilbert said. There has been criticism of the proceedings from some, especially from support groups for victims of sexual assault. The Ontario Coalition of Rape Crisis Centres, which is a network of more than 30 community-based sexual assault centres in Ontario, said the trial and the conduct of the attorneys perpetuates harmful "myths" about sexual assault. "Over the last few weeks and five cross-examinations in court, EM has faced almost every harmful and victim-blaming sexual assault myth in existence," they said in a statement. A big question will be if it was "ultimately good for EM to have gone through this experience," regardless of the outcome, said Prof Gilbert. "There will be conversations about how we treat sexual assault complainants and what we ask for them in these cases," she said, with some likely wondering: "Is it worth it?" NHL Commissioner Gary Bettman did not say whether the players would be allowed to return to play in the league if they were acquitted. "We have said continuously we are not making any comments while the judicial process is taking place. We respect that," Mr Bettman said earlier this year. "I want to be clear. What has been alleged is abhorrent and disgusting and should not be allowed," he added. Mistrial declared in Canadian hockey assault case A sex assault scandal disgraces Canada's pastime Four NHL players charged over 2018 sexual assault
Yahoo
an hour ago
- Yahoo
Ozzy Osbourne's gigantic net worth his 6 kids could inherit in 'complex' case
Ozzy Osbourne was surrounded by his family when the Black Sabbath frontman passed away on 22 July at the age of 76. During his rock 'n' roll life, Ozzy welcomed six children; three with ex-wife Thelma Riley and three with Sharon Osbourne. The star shared Jessica, Louis and Elliot with Thelma, and Jack, Kelly, and Aimee with Sharon. Related content Ozzy Osbourne called a 'trailblazer' in heartbreaking tributes from stars Ozzy Osbourne's health battles before tragic death at 76 – explained Rare photos of Sharon and Ozzy Osbourne's 5 grandchildren As one of the faces of heavy metal, Ozzy amassed a staggering fortune during his life, with much of his income derived from his music career. However, thanks to Ozzfest and his ventures into reality television, he was able to earn money through other sources of income. Discover the fortune that Ozzy will be leaving behind to his nearest and dearest… Ozzy's net worth At the time of his death, Ozzy was believed to be worth £162 million. A lot of the money will have come from his time with Black Sabbath, as well as his successful music career. Back in 1979, when he was fired from Black Sabbath, the star got a payout of £96,000, though he admitted he spent most of this on "coke and booze", believing that he would be heading back "to Birmingham and the dole". The star's wealth was a far cry from his early life. Before becoming famous, he'd worked in construction, plumbing and toolmaking. When he was 17, he was jailed for six weeks for robbing a clothes store after he was unable to pay the fine. Alongside his music career, Ozzy is also the founder of Ozzfest, a music festival that ran on and off between 1996 and 2018. The event celebrated heavy metal and hard rock music and Ozzy would often make appearances at the festival. It's believed that over the years, the festival brought in £73 million, while merchandise sold meant that the star became the first ever metal star to earn over $50 million in merchandise sales alone. Music wasn't Ozzy's only source of income, as the star also became a flourishing reality television star with his show, The Osbournes. The MTV show followed the family and aired between 2002 and 2005; it also helped to launch the reality television careers of his children Kelly and Jack. Alongside this, Ozzy also appeared in adverts for I Can't Believe It's Not Butter and World of Warcraft, while his likeness was used in Guitar Hero World Tour. Who gets the money? Following Ozzy's death, dividing up his fortune could get difficult. Adam Jones, a family legal specialist from HD Claims, explained that the situation could get "complex", stating: "While Sharon is likely to inherit at least 50%, there are six children involved, and any disputes could delay things for months." He added: "Unless Ozzy made clear arrangements in a will or trust, UK and US laws would assume his spouse inherits the bulk, but all children would have a claim. In blended families, this often leads to rows if things aren't watertight." Adam also warned of the possibility of a "full legal challenge" depending on how each of the parties feel about what Ozzy has left them. "If even one of Ozzy's older children feels left out or short-changed, it could trigger a full legal challenge," he said. "This is where you see things get ugly — and public. This isn't just about money, it's about preserving legacy. The best outcome is a clear will, respected by all parties. But if anything's ambiguous? Expect headlines."
