Police hunt for man over deliberate car fire in Aberdeen
Det Insp Kate Coyle said: "Inquiries are ongoing and we are appealing to anyone with any information, particularly anyone who saw a man running in the direction of the old railway line around that time, to contact us."It is believed he may have suffered injuries to his hands during the incident and I would urge anyone who recognises this description to get in touch."
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Daily Mail
22 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Couple 'planned to travel to Morocco to sacrifice their five-year-old son in the desert'
A French couple went on trial on Thursday accused of planning to 'sacrifice' their five-year-old son in the Moroccan desert. The two music teachers from Carcans, on the Gironde coast, were arrested in southern Spain in December 2023 before boarding a ferry to Tangiers. The couple had recently sublet their apartment near the French city of Bordeaux and left in a new four-wheel-drive. The Bordeaux prosecutor's office had received a report from a female relative a few days prior expressing concerns about comments made by the father. The relative said the father had said he wanted to 'sacrifice' the child in the Sahara Desert because he believed he was 'possessed', the investigation showed. The father, Florian L., denies ever having said that, his lawyer Audrey Boussillon said. 'Never did he have the intention to harm his son in any way,' she added. The couple vehemently reject the charges of being part of a criminal gang and failing in their parental duties, their defence team has said. The trial is to last a single day and the verdict will likely be announced at a later date. FILE PHOTO: A relative raised concerns about the father's alleged comments days before the arrests. The father denied having made the comments The attorney for the mother Marie L., Aurelie Filippi-Codaccioni, said the couple had been to Morocco two years earlier and had wanted to return for an 'indefinite period'. 'They had been there two years before and had loved it, hence the long-standing plan to return,' the lawyer said. But Merlene Labadie, representing the interests of the child, argued that 'the mystical remarks and the inexplicable behavior of the couple' had endangered their son. The child was said to have spoken of 'being cold, scared and removing the snake within us' when found. The Spanish Civil Guard said at the time the parents appeared to be suffering from 'psychiatric problems'. Two months before the arrests, during a storm, the father was found naked in the woods of a nearby town, Le Monde reported. He was hospitalised for two weeks. Marie L.'s sister told the outlet at the time that Florian L. had 'recently encountered health problems' and pushed back on media reports as 'exaggerated'. 'While it is undeniable that he needs help, they make my sister and him out to be premeditated child murderers,' she said. The child is now in the custody of his maternal grandparents, lawyer Merlene Labadie said. The grandparents 'have done a lot of work to deconstruct all these ideas, so that he is no longer afraid of the outside world, of others', she added. The Bordeaux prosecutor's office originally received the report from the female relative on December 19, 2023, two days before the couple were arrested. The woman, who was characterised as a friend in earlier reports, said the father had said he was planning a journey to the Maghreb to undertake an initiation rite. An investigation was opened a day later and the parents were ultimately imprisoned in Spain, Le Monde reported in January 2024. A woman from Carcans said one of her friends was planning to sublet their house at the start of January. 'One day, he told me that their house had been sealed off, and that they were wanted, he didn't know why,' she told the outlet. 'Since he found out, he's been completely shocked. Like all of us, by the way.' Mayor Patrick Meiffren said the parents opened the Music Education Center (CEM) school, teaching 'up to 250' children music. He said: 'Florian could sometimes get carried away. He could explode with anger but he would calm down after a few minutes and apologise.' 'It was impossible to imagine that these two could one day be suspected of wanting to harm their child.' Meiffren also said the couple were 'well integrated into the village', Le Figaro reported at the time of the arrests. 'It's all the more surprising since their child - who was home-schooled - was everything to them,' he told Le Monde.
The Independent
24 minutes ago
- The Independent
Fujitsu ‘kicking can down the road' on compensation, says Post Office campaigner
Fujitsu are 'kicking the can down the road' on compensation for its role in the Post Office scandal, a leading campaigner has told Parliament. Conservative peer Lord Arbuthnot of Edrom, who played a pivotal role in exposing the outrage, accused the Japanese tech giant of holding out with a view to reducing the amount it would ultimately have to pay. He argued the only way to change the under-fire company's attitude would be for the Government to stop awarding it contracts. Despite its involvement in the Post Office debacle, the firm has continued to secure multimillion-pound deals with Whitehall, bankrolled by the taxpayer. Fujitsu has already acknowledged it has a 'moral obligation' to contribute to compensation, pending the outcome of the public inquiry led by Sir Wyn Williams. The firm has come under renewed pressure after the publication of the first part of Sir Wyn's final report. It found around 1,000 people were wrongly prosecuted and convicted after Fujitsu's defective Horizon accounting system made it appear that money was missing at their Post Office branches. Some victims were sent to prison or financially ruined, others were shunned by their communities, and some took their own lives. The long-running battle for justice accelerated dramatically after ITV broadcast the drama Mr Bates Vs The Post Office, which highlighted the scandal. Sir Wyn said around 10,000 people are eligible to submit compensation claims following what has been dubbed as the worst miscarriage of justice in British legal history. Speaking in Parliament, Lord Arbuthnot said: 'This matter has taken place over many years, under Labour ministers, Lib Dem ministers, Conservative ministers, 'We should all, frankly, hang our heads in shame.' He added: 'I went along to The Oval last week to listen to Sir Wyn give his excellent report, and he used a telling phrase about Fujitsu, namely that they were kicking the can down the road. 'That's exactly what they are doing. 'The longer they think they can stave off paying a single penny towards the victims of this matter, the less they think they will have to pay. 'Does the Government recognise that the only way we can change that behaviour is to stop giving them contracts?' Responding, business minister Baroness Jones of Whitchurch said: 'I must pay absolute tribute to him for all of his involvement in this running scandal over many years, and for helping to bring the scandal to light.' She said the Government was in 'active dialogue' with Fujitsu on the issue of compensation. The company has said it will not bid for contracts 'with new Government customers' until the Post Office Horizon inquiry concludes. However, this still leaves it open to tender for work with existing Whitehall clients or 'where there is an agreed need for Fujitsu's skills and capabilities'. Latest figures show a further 12 new deals had been struck with the company over the last year, in addition to extensions of existing contracts. The Government has said the majority are for services already provided by Fujitsu and were put in place to ensure continuity of services. Lady Jones told peers: 'The extent of Fujitsu's role on the scandal is not fully known, and therefore we feel it would be inappropriate for the Government to take further action until we have all parts of the inquiry before us.' A Fujitsu spokesperson said: 'We have apologised for, and deeply regret, our role in subpostmasters' suffering. We hope for a swift resolution that ensures a just outcome for the victims. 'We are considering the recommendations set out by Sir Wyn in volume one of the inquiry's report, and are engaged with Government regarding Fujitsu's contribution to compensation.'
Daily Mail
25 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
Police probing murder of baby boy found dumped in canal four years ago offer £10,000 reward
Police investigating the murder of a baby boy who was dumped in a canal four years ago are offering a £10,000 reward to help them solve the case. The newborn was found 'chucked like rubbish' in the Wyrley and Essington Canal by full-time carer Lee Coles as he walked through Rough Wood country park in Walsall on May 20, 2021. Detectives took DNA from the boy and forensically analysed a card and flowers left at the scene nine months after the body was found. However, the mother has never been identified, meaning the boy's identity remains a mystery more four years later. It is believed that the baby was born full-term and died either during or shortly after labour. Despite extensive investigations the heartbreaking case remains open with West Midlands Police treating the child's death as murder. A fresh appeal by Crimestoppers has seen a £10,000 reward offered to anyone with information leading to the conviction of the killers. Detective Superintendent Jim Munro said: 'This baby boy deserves justice. His short life and tragic death must not be forgotten. 'We are determined to find answers, and with the public's help, we believe we can. 'We'll always act upon any new information provided to us. Please, if you have any information get in touch. 'You can remain anonymous by giving information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.' Alan Edwards, West Midlands Regional Manager at Crimestoppers, said: 'This is a particularly sad and tragic case that has deeply affected the local community. 'We urgently need information that can help bring justice for this little boy and support for his mother. 'We believe someone out there knows something and we want to encourage them to come forward anonymously. 'The £10,000 reward is offered to prompt anyone with information to speak up, no matter how small the detail.'
