The world watched as 98 were killed in unimaginable horror. Now shock plans for the site have left families furious
The furious families of the Surfside victims have torn into plans for an ultra-luxury condo tower on the site of the collapsed complex.
Ninety-eight people were killed when Champlain Towers South crumbled on the night of June 24, 2021, in Miami, Florida, sending shockwaves across the world.
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Daily Mail
an hour ago
- Daily Mail
EXCLUSIVE American father-of-one built £50k Grand Designs-style extension without planning permission because he wanted to 'bring a slice of California' to UK
An American builder who created a spectacular Grand Designs-style pad carved into a steep railway embankment has been ordered to tear it down - after council officials ruled the stunning structure was built without permission. Shokat Khan, 55, excavated tonnes of soil from his garden in Bradford to create the three-storey, white-rendered annexe, designed as a home office, games room, gym and rooftop terrace. The father-of-one said he wanted to 'bring a slice of California ' to West Yorkshire with his bunker-like creation, hidden from view by the railway embankment below and visible only to passing trains. But now, after investing years and more than £50k into the ambitious build, the council has declared the entire project illegal and ordered it to be demolished. Mr Khan told MailOnline: 'I was born and raised in California and I wanted to bring a little bit of home over here. 'I wanted something which was not over-intrusive and wouldn't spoil the view for the neighbours. 'Because it's in a valley that nobody can see, I thought it was perfect. I won't build it up, I'll build it down, so you can't see anything. 'The building inspector came out in 2008 and gave me the go-ahead, and I never heard anything from the council for years. 'There was no suggestion at all that I had done anything wrong.' Mr Khan's grand annexe would have cost around £250,000 if built commercially, but he did it all himself - removing lorry loads of vegetation and laying concrete foundations at the foot of the embankment, then building up to garden level where steps lead to a rooftop terrace. He claims he was reassured by council officials that his project was legal and fell within permitted development rights. But last August, Bradford Council took enforcement action, demanding he demolish the entire structure within three months. At a planning committee meeting, council officials slammed the build as 'incongruous' and 'prominent' - criticising its modern design, white render finish, and the 'scale, massing and position upon an otherwise undeveloped embankment.' Planners also criticised the rooftop terrace, claiming it gave users 'unrestricted views into the most private areas' of a neighbour's home. In a meeting of the authority's planning committee, officials ruled the build was 'incongruous' and 'prominent' because of its modern design, white render finish, and its 'scale, massing and position upon an otherwise undeveloped embankment'. They added that the rooftop gave users 'unrestricted views into the most private areas' of a neighbour's home. Despite the backlash, Mr Khan, whose wife works for the NHS, insists he built the annexe to a very high standard, with structural engineer backing. He claims the council are out-of-time to bring any enforcement action, in any event, because the project was started more than a decade ago. He said: 'I've gone at least five times over what is stipulated by building regulations. When I build something, I build something where it's going to last. 'Bradford's got buildings that are falling down all over the place. 'I just can't get why they are coming after me. It is jealousy? What is it that keeps them having a go at me? 'I've done everything by the book, gone above and beyond. I've worked on it after work, digging and building myself. 'You just want to create something beautiful that'll be there after you're gone - and still, you're treated like you've done something wrong.' Showing Mail Online the unfinished interior - currently used for storage and a makeshift gym - Mr Khan said he had grand plans for the annexe, including a kitchenette, toilet, jacuzzi, and a full-size pool table. But if he loses an appeal currently being reviewed by the Planning Inspectorate, he faces having to demolish the entire build and restore the railway embankment to its former state. Determined to fight on, Mr Khan added: 'I've got lawyers. I'll go all the way. Anyone with sense can see the value in what I've built. 'It's not intrusive at all. You have to think of people other than yourself. I could have built a granny annexe at ground level which would have been imposing - instead they're looking at something much nicer.' He revealed the emotional toll the dispute has taken on him, adding: 'It's been two years since I've done anything inside. I could get it all finished in five months but I'm too scared to keep on working on in case they make me tear it down for no reason. 'I've felt like jumping off the rooftop because of all this constant harassment from the council.' Mr Khan said he believes a neighbour's complaint was the source of the council's ire. He continued: 'It's one thing to build something for yourself. It's another thing to build something that the whole area can enjoy. 'I wanted the neighbours to come over and use the building. I didn't want it to be a Taj Mahal, where people look from afar but can't got in. 'If I've got a pool table, come play it. That's how I've always been. 'It's just a massive shame it has turned out this way. 'If they take this to court, I'll fight it all the way. My insurance lawyers said the same - anyone with a bit of sense will see the value and integrity of what I've built.' Bradford Council defended their decision in a refusal notice, stating: 'The difficulty with this proposal is that the size of the outbuilding with the amount of floor space over multiple levels is substantial in the context of a private dwelling.' 'The building is large and the floorspace is utilised over multiple floors, and the local planning authority has not been provided with any details or any explanations as to why such an amount of space for an outbuilding use would be required for that amount of ancillary space.'
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Police demand legal fees from domestic violence campaigner
A 'vindictive' police force is pursuing court costs from a woman who tried to win justice after alleging her niece had been a victim of domestic violence. Teresa McMahon, an ITV journalist, was found dead in 2021 after reporting claims of domestic abuse. Lorna McMahon, her aunt, believes that police did not adequately investigate the potential involvement of Robert Chalmers, Teresa's former partner. After the police watchdog denied her request for her niece's death to be reinvestigated, Ms McMahon lost a legal action and was ordered to pay costs of £2,778.40 to Greater Manchester Police (GMP). GMP has now decided to pursue those costs, despite a High Court judge urging it to think 'very carefully' about doing so. In February, Ms McMahon applied for the costs order to be set aside or paused until all matters relating to the 'inadequate investigation' into Teresa's death had been concluded. Judge Matthew Butt KC, sitting at the High Court in London, denied that request, ruling that he did not have the power to make such an order. But he questioned whether it was right for the costs to be enforced, given the tragic circumstances of the case. In his ruling, the judge wrote: 'I would urge the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) and Greater Manchester Police (GMP) to consider very carefully whether, in all of the circumstances, it would be right to seek to enforce the costs order against Ms McMahon given the tragic death of her beloved niece, the recent death of Teresa's mother, Barbara, the health problems Ms McMahon suffers from, and her limited means.' He said that he had been struck by the 'dedication, eloquence and determination' of Ms McMahon in trying to ensure that full details of her niece's death were disclosed and lessons learnt for the future. The judge added: 'I have also read a letter to the claimant from Queen Camilla in which she expresses how she is full of admiration for her work.' Following the ruling, the IOPC wrote to Ms McMahon to indicate it would not be seeking to enforce the payment of costs. But GMP is pressing ahead with recovery of their costs from Ms McMahon, who has criticised the stance adopted by the force. In a letter to GMP, seen by The Telegraph, Ms McMahon wrote: 'I find it absolutely vexatious and vindictive that GMP's police chief, Stephen Watson, appears to have singled me out when choosing to enforce this particular cost order, especially since Mr Justice Matthew Butt urged GMP not to pursue the cost order made against me considering all the circumstances. 'I also find it difficult to believe that out of all the outstanding cost orders GMP has managed to obtain against individuals over the years, it is only a grieving member of the public Mr Watson chooses to pursue.' Found dead at her flat Teresa, a 43-year-old Granada Reports news editor, was found dead at her flat in Little Hulton, Salford, on Aug 3 2021. Last December, Mary Hassell, the senior coroner for Inner North London, concluded that she took her own life and that 'no other person forced her to do that'. The inquest heard that in weeks before she died, Teresa was 'mistakenly' told by a GMP officer that she was not entitled to details of her former partner Robert Chalmers' alleged history of domestic abuse because she was not in a current relationship with him. GMP subsequently tried to contact Teresa to tell her she might be entitled to the information under Clare's Law, but the inquest heard that there was no response to their calls. She had reported to GMP that she had had her fingers and potentially one of her ribs broken. Mr Chalmers, who gave evidence by video link from Bolton after he was arrested for failing to appear at her inquest in London, accepted that the relationship had been volatile but denied either hurting her physically or trying to control her. 'Appalling crime' Earlier that year, in September, Lorna McMahon had complained to GMP that their initial investigation had not adequately investigated the potential involvement of Mr Chalmers in her niece's death. At her request, the IOPC conducted a review of GMP's investigation and found that her complaint had not been 'sufficiently' addressed and should be looked at again. The reinvestigation identified some organisational failings and errors on the part of individual officers, but the overall conclusion was that the service was acceptable. The Queen wrote to Ms McMahon last November, thanking her for her letter about the documentary Behind Closed Doors, which featured Queen Camilla. She added: 'I was deeply touched by your kind words and very much hope that it has opened the eyes of many people who knew little about this appalling crime. Thank you for telling me about your own work to combat domestic abuse – I am full of admiration for you.' A GMP spokesman said: 'Our thoughts remain with Mrs. McMahon after the tragic death of her niece and while officers worked tirelessly to provide her with answers, we recognise we weren't able to provide the closure she was seeking despite the thousands of hours spent reviewing complaints and opening new investigations. 'We always carefully consider the circumstances of individuals when seeking to recover costs lawfully ordered by the court. As a public body, the force must balance these considerations against its obligations to protect scarce public funds.'
The Sun
3 hours ago
- The Sun
Andrew Tate escapes charges for allegedly assaulting ex Bri Stern after model accused him of choking her during sex
ANDREW Tate has escaped further criminal charges after he was accused of violently choking his ex-girlfriend during sex. Model Bri Stern, 25, alleged the disgraced British influencer attacked her on March 11 while the pair were staying in Beverly Hills Hotel together. 6 6 The latest in a string of serious allegations lobbied against Tate, 38, was rejected by US courts due to "insufficient evidence". Tate's attorney Joseph McBride announced the prosecution had dropped the sexual harassment and battery cases online. He celebrated the decision by the Los Angeles County District Attorney's Office as a "huge win". McBride also claimed it proved they had been able to "expose lies" from Stern - despite the case being dropped rather than cleared. The attorney added that Tate had responded to the allegations when asked and vehemently denied them. He also supplied a "do-not-prosecute" packet of information urging prosecutors not to pursue charges, according to McBride. Sources close to Stern say she was never notified of the decision to decline charges, TMZ reports. She has also filed a complaint with the Beverly Hills Police Department and is seeking a restraining order against Tate. Stern first claimed back in March that her face and body has been left bruised by Tate when he "attacked" her during sex. The social media model even posted pictures and videos showing the alleged injuries which she says were taken directly after the former couple stayed together in a hotel room in Beverly Hills. Andrew Tate and his brother charged with rape against four women in the UK and string of other offences A police report from Stern accused Tate of choking her and failing to stop even when she begged him to during rough sex. She claimed Tate got more violent as she pleaded with him - but shockingly revealed she "still loves him". Stern described feeling like she was slipping out of consciousness during the alleged assault. Tate's lawyer described the allegations as "fake news" at the time. Text messages were also shared in the court documents which were allegedly sent to Stern by Tate during their relationship. In the messages, Tate is accused of telling her he wants to "beat the f**k out of you" and boasts about how she "deserves it". He also told the model that there was "no point in having you" if he didn't "beat and impregnate you". Tate, and his younger brother Tristan, still face a number of criminal charges in both the UK and Romania. 6 6 Andrew, who is currently living in Bucharest, is accused of ten charges in total. This includes rape, actual bodily harm, human trafficking and controlling prostitution for gain against three women. His brother, 36, is charged with 11 offences against one alleged victim - including rape, actual bodily harm and human trafficking. The pair deny all of the charges. The charges lobbied against them in Romania have been ongoing for a number of years now and must be settled before they can be taken to court in the UK. Both have said they will return to London to plead their case after the pair were hit with rape charges in May, their lawyer has said. Ex-kickboxer Andrew moved to Romania years ago after first starting a webcam business in the UK. He was joined by Tristan with the pair living together since. Self-proclaimed misogynist Andrew also appeared on Big Brother but was famously booted off the show. Domestic abuse - how to get help DOMESTIC abuse can affect anyone - including men - and does not always involve physical violence. Here are some signs that you could be in an abusive relationship: Emotional abuse - Including being belittled, blamed for the abuse - gaslighting - being isolated from family and friends, having no control over your finances, what you where and who you speak to Threats and intimidation - Some partners might threaten to kill or hurt you, destroy your belongings, stalk or harass you Physical abuse - This can range from slapping or hitting to being shoved over, choked or bitten. Sexual abuse - Being touched in a way you do not want to be touched, hurt during sex, pressured into sex or forced to have sex when you do not consent. If any of the above apply to you or a friend, you can call these numbers: The Freephone National Domestic Abuse Helpline, run by Refuge on 0808 2000 247 for free at any time, day or night Men who are being abused can call Respect Men's Advice Line on 0808 8010 327 or ManKind on 0182 3334 244 Those who identify as LGBT+ can ring Galop on 0800 999 5428 If you are in immediate danger or fear for your life, always ring 999 Remember, you are not alone. 1 in 4 women and 1 in 7 men will experience domestic abuse over the course of their lifetime. Every 30 seconds the police receive a call for help relating to domestic abuse. 6
