Sarah Myatt, who acted for Peter Sullivan to quash his murder conviction
How long it has taken to clear Peter's name. While Peter remained positive, it has been a long battle despite clear concerns, which was frustrating.
For me, moving from mental health law to criminal law has been fascinating and invaluable. It's shown me how fragile the human mind can be and deepened my commitment to fairness and justice — especially for those with mental health challenges or
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The Sun
21 minutes ago
- The Sun
I was on FaceTime call with my best friend when she was killed in a horror car crash – her screams will haunt me forever
A YOUNG woman who was on FaceTime with her best pal when she was killed in a car crash says she'll be haunted by the memory forever. Ebony Neville heard tragic work colleague Stephanie Nye-Diroyan suddenly scream as the video call cut out. 9 9 9 The 21-year-old then began frantically trying to call her friend back before getting into her own car and driving along the same route, eventually coming across the crash site. Stephanie, 21, was a passenger in a BMW being driven by another work colleague, Ivan Zaliac, 24, when they ploughed into a lorry at nearly 100mph on Mollison Avenue, in Enfield North London. Ebony told The Sun: "Seconds before the phone cut out you could hear the engine revving and Stephanie's scream - then it froze on her face." She added: 'I tried to ring her back - I don't know what I was thinking had happened. 'I then got in my car and I didn't know where to go, I knew that they were in Brimsdown, in that local area, but I had no idea where.' Zaliac - who walked free from court last month after being deemed unfit to stand trial - had been giving Stephanie a lift on October 23 2022 after they finished work at nearby second hand car dealership Big Motoring World. Ebony was ill that day and Stephanie had agreed to stop off to see her on her way home when she died. The crash happened at 7.54pm. 'It was literally a quick call,' explained Ebony. 'She worked that day - it was a Sunday - and I wasn't in. 'It was a quick catch up, really. A catch up with a friend, that's all. She was such a good friend, she'd been non-stop checking in throughout the day - but couldn't ring me until she finished work. 'We were on the phone and then it froze on Stephanie's face, and the call cut out.' Three pedestrians injured by falling rubble as van crashes through multi-storey car park wall in UK city centre She added: 'I then rang her personal phone. I also rang Ivan's phone, both were disconnected and were being put through to voicemail.' Ebony said she waited 20 minutes and was 'still ringing during this time… just to try and find out what had happened'. She rang the police and found out there'd been a 'bad crash' in Brimsdown so 'drove around'. 'It wasn't too far from my house, it was about an 11-minute drive,' Ebony said. 'The road was blocked off. I hadn't been told who was involved in the crash or what had happened. 'I wasn't allowed to know any information.' She was then directed to The Royal London Hospital in Whitechapel in the East End, where Stephanie had been taken. Holding back tears, Ebony said: 'I did everything I could that day and I wouldn't change anything. I went to the hospital… I wasn't allowed to know anything without Stephanie's mother knowing first.' 9 9 A screen shot she captured of Stephanie during the call, a few minutes before the crash, was shown in court. Ebony took to the stand to give evidence. She said: 'I was quite upset and ran out of the room immediately afterwards, and put myself together before returning.' Zailac suffers from amnesia and doesn't remember the details of what happened after suffering a brain injury in the collision and subsequent psychiatric issues. He had been ruled unfit to stand trial so the jury had to formally decide whether he did the act alleged, namely causing Stephanie's death by dangerous driving. The jury then found he did carry out the act. Judge Sarah Munro, KC, said Zailac will be supervised by a nominated social worker and the Hillingdon mental health team for two years. 'This is the only way your mental health can be restored in order for a decision to be made as to whether there are further legal consequences for you to face,' the judge said. Prosecutor Frederick Hookway told the court that the Crown intends to put Zailac on trial if he recovers. 'The objective of this order is for the improvement of the defendant's mental health not only for his own sake but for the future of these proceedings,' he said. 'The crown do intend to reinstitute these proceedings when and if appropriate.' Stephanie's mum Nicholle Diroyan sobbed as she read her victim impact statement at the Old Bailey on July 7. She said: 'The pain of losing her is immeasurable and every day without her feels incomplete.' Ebony, who now lives in Manchester, has launched a petition to try and ensure Stephanie's family get justice. 'There's been three years of constant delays and adjournments - and now we're told it'll be 2027 before we know if Ivan can even stand trial. 'It's the waiting. We're left in the dark.'. 'I feel so sorry for Stephanie's mum Nicholle - who's always at the court but then left frustrated each time.' Ebony added: 'We were told the jury returned a verdict in a record time. Quickest for death by dangerous driving for 27 years. 'Despite this clear outcome, family and friends are waiting for justice.' Referring to the two-year order, she said: 'It's a deterrent of the law, rather than an enforcement.' She added: 'That grievance, when everything is brought back up. I'm quite shaky on this call, it's traumatic to relive the tragic crash and death of Stephanie.' Ebony went on to say: 'Stephanie was the most lovely, genuine, outgoing person. She was there for her friends, she was there for her family. 'If anyone needed her, she'd message, she'd ring, she'd be there for you. To see her face in the newspaper in such a tragic way, and yet we're still yet to receive any justice, is so heartbreaking.' Stephanie had hired Ebony several months before, and was her manager before being promoted to the finance department shortly prior to her death. 'We became friends so quickly,' she said. 'The week before she died we were in Manchester and Nottingham, just enjoying ourselves. 'I was always going round to hers and picking her up or going for lunch break. 'Sometimes we'd get a takeaway into work and would be sitting there with 10 different Greggs items. She was amazing.' Ebony added: 'We believe she's looking down on us so proud of us all.' Do you know more? Email 9 9
BBC News
21 minutes ago
- BBC News
Charity fun day held in Birmingham to remember 12-year-old Leo Ross
A family fun day has been held to keep alive the memory of a 12-year-old boy who was stabbed to death on his way home from school. Leo Ross died from a wound to the stomach on a riverside path in the Shire Country Park in Hall Green, Birmingham, on 21 Legacy Foundation Family Fun Day was held at Highfield Hall on Sunday, more than six months on from the Shah, Leo's former foster carer who helped to set up the Leo's Legacy Foundation, said: "We've started this in memory of Leo and to keep Leo's memory alive." Mr Shah said setting up the charity had not only helped him after his loss but could also inform others about the impact of knife crime."It's to get other young people to think about Leo and think about the impact it has on young people, the victims themselves as well as the perpetrators and their families," he added: "We can't stop people from leaving their homes with knives, but if we can get them to think twice before they do, I think that's going to be a big achievement." Family friend Syd Femtinos was at the fun day with her pet bird called Baby, which is a type of parrot called a conure that Leo used to play said: "My bird doesn't go to kids usually, and when they first met, he just flew over to Leo. He spent the whole afternoon with him."Ms Femtinos said: "That just goes to show the nature that Leo had."The event included crafts, food and drink traders, and entertainment, including face painting, DJs and alpacas. Funds raised will go to the charity. Follow BBC Birmingham on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
Daily Mail
21 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Peaceful pink-wearing mothers' migrants protest turns to violence: Masked men hijack demonstration, trying to rush gates at asylum seekers hotel before police crack down
A peaceful protest by mothers wearing pink turned to violence this afternoon as masked thugs hijacked the demonstration outside a migrant hotel. The group of women and children gathered outside the four-star Britannia International hotel in Canary Wharf, London, today where they sat and chanted 'stop the boats'. The group held up England flags and wore pink clothing to raise awareness of how women and young people are being 'let down' by the migrant crisis. But the peaceful protest quickly turned to chaos as a group of up to 30 balaclava-clad men - all with their faces covered - swarmed the crowd. The thugs caused a huge bang as they set off smoke bombs and chanted ' Keir Starmer is a w*****'. After trying to charge the fence surrounding the hotel, the group of far-right activists ran back in the direction they came from - but were caught by police and several arrests were made. Protester Kim, 60, a resident of the area, said she was demonstrating as she worries for the safety of her family. 'I live in this area, I have kids and grandkids and it needs to be safe for them to live. We don't know them [asylum seekers], we don't know what they've done. My son can't get a house; he has been on the council list since he was 17.' Speaking about the disruption from masked protesters, Kim said: 'It is disgraceful. It completely upset the atmosphere. I don't want to see that and I don't want my kids to see. 'If that was one of my children I would embarrassed. It ruined the atmosphere. This was meant to be a peaceful protest for women and children.' A 17-year-old protester, who goes by the nickname of 'Young Bob', said he is concerned migrants will struggle to 'integrate' if they are housed in hotels in Canary Wharf. Young Bob, who was part of the peaceful mothers' protest, said: 'The counter demonstrators libel us as Nazis. 'But financial districts like these are not ideal for refugees who in the long term need integration. 'During the weekday there are not a lot of people around. 'How will they assimilate into Britishness in this environment? 'Business people who had bookings in the hotel are being turned away which will impact businesses round here.' He added: 'The biggest diversity we can have is the diversity of opinion. 'The protesters who disagree with us should relax in the expletives because it demonstrates a childishness.' On Saturday, people believed to be asylum seekers appeared to move into the four-star hotel in London under the cover of darkness. A coach full of suspected migrants was seen arriving at the Britannia International Hotel at around 1.40am on Saturday morning. Tower Hamlets Council confirmed the Government intends to use the hotel - which has around 500 rooms - for asylum seekers in a move that has angered anti-migrant protesters and guests whose bookings have been cancelled. Footage of the passengers getting off the coach showed they were all men, with the vast majority dressed in matching grey tracksuit tops and bottoms. They were helped by masked security guards, some of whom appeared to be wearing body cameras. Last week, workers were seen hauling beds and mattresses into the hotel in preparation for the arrival of 'hundreds' of asylum seekers. A barricade of metal fencing was placed around the hotel by the Metropolitan Police after anti-migrant demonstrators protested the plan for immigrants to be housed there. The Daily Mail has contacted the Met Police for comment.
