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Daily Record
a day ago
- Daily Record
Mum murdered 35 years ago "not killed by husband" says top investigator
A top private investigator says the husband of Ann Heron is innocent of her murder in 1990 and police should look elsewhere One of Britain's leading private investigators is convinced that Scot's mum Ann Heron wasn't murdered by her husband and says police should be looking at other suspects. Mum-of-three Ann, 44, from Glasgow, was killed on August 3, 1990, after spending the day sunbathing in the garden of her luxury home, Aeolian House near Darlington, County Durham. Her wealthy haulage contractor husband Peter Heron, who found her body, was arrested in 2005 by Durham Constabulary but the charges were dropped three months later after he was able to show he was at work at the time of the murder. However he has remained under suspicion since. Investigator Jen Jarvie, whose specialities include cold cases and crime scene analysis, has previously identified a second suspect violent criminal Michael Benson who died in 2011 but was eliminated by police. Jen, a member of the Association of British Investigators (ABI). said: "I would not put my reputation on the line if I did not believe Peter Heron was innocent. "He has an accountable timeframe detailed down to the minute the emergency services were called. "I still believe that Benson needs to be thoroughly investigated. "Durham Constabulary do not know where he was at the time of the murder so they can't rule him out even though they say he is not suspect. "The police should keep an open mind. "No one wants this solved more than Peter Heron and his family." Part-time carer Ann was found in a pool of blood in the lounge of her home around 6pm. Her throat had been cut and her bikini bottoms were missing. Jen, from Cleveland, North Yorkshire, taught trainee police officers for ten years before becoming a private investigator. She won the ABI Investigator of the Year in 2022 for her work on the Ann Heron case. Jen added:"The police need to do the right thing. "In my humble opinion it is not Peter. "You can't be in two places at the one time. "It's not about finding Peter guilty, but who has murdered Ann. "Its important that both families finally get some closure and peace of mind after 35 years." Jen discovered that Michael Benson 's hometown was Leeds - 45 minutes' drive from Darlington. He also had convictions for firearms offences, burglary and robbery with a carving knife. Benson was given a life sentence in December 1972 for grievous bodily harm. In May 1989 he absconded from prison while on a day release programme and wasn't recaptured until 1999. During his time on the run, he married but left his wife in June 1990, taking her blue Ford Orion car - similar to a car seen speeding away from the murder scene. Jen passed her file on Benson to police in October 2018 and DNA samples from Benson's family were later taken in the hope they would to match evidence collected from the crime scene. However no direct link was made with Benson and following a lengthy investigation he was dismissed as a suspect. Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. In the Daily Record yesterday Ann's former police officer son Ralph Cockburn said he hadn't given up hope his mum's killer will finally be brought to justice after 35 years. At the time of her death Ralph was a detective constable with Strathclyde Police in Glasgow. But the father of three had to quit in 1996 on the grounds of ill health - due in part to the trauma of his mum's murder - and is now an insurance claims investigator. Ralph, 61, said: "With the advancements in DNA and AI we are hoping that technology will finally give police the breakthrough we have been looking for all these years." In an exclusive interview with Criminal Record this week, Ralph's sister Ann Marie Cockburn from Largs, Ayrshire, added: "Mum and I were so close. "I miss being able to pick up the phone and chat about something or nothing, I miss going shopping with her and doing all the things a mum and daughter should be doing together." Detective Superintendent Craig Rudd of Durham Constabulary said: "The investigation into the murder of Ann Heron remains open.
CNBC
2 days ago
- Business
- CNBC
Architecture firms report decline in billings for commercial real estate
Architecture firms are reporting a drop in billings as concerns about the broader economy and tariffs impact commercial real estate development and spending. The AIA/Deltek Architecture Billings Index (ABI) remained in negative territory in June with a score of 46.8, down from 47.2 in May. Anything below 50 is considered negative sentiment. "Business conditions were soft nationwide in June, with a slight billing increase in the South for the first time since October," said Kermit Baker, chief economist at AIA, the American Institute of Architects. "Other regions saw declining billings, though at a slower pace. While all specializations experienced softer billings, the decline slowed for commercial/industrial and institutional firms. Multifamily firms faced the weakest conditions, with further declines." CNBC's Property Play with Diana Olick covers new and evolving opportunities for the real estate investor, delivered weekly to your inbox. Subscribe here to get access today. One bright spot was inquiries into new projects, which increased for the second consecutive month and grew at the strongest pace since last fall with a score of 53.6. This suggests that clients are starting to send out requests for proposals and will start working with architecture firms on potential projects. AIA notes that these inquiries do not necessarily translate into actual projects. The value of newly signed design contracts also fell for the 16th straight month. Billings are not likely to improve until the value of these new design contracts also sees gains. The AIA also put out its midyear forecast: The AIA forecasts that overall spending on nonresidential buildings, not adjusted for inflation, will increase only 1.7% this year and grow very modestly to just 2% next year. Spending on the construction of manufacturing facilities, which had been a bright spot in recent years, is now expected to decline 2% this year, with an additional drop of 2.6% next year. Institutional facilities are expected to be the strongest sector with projected gains of 6.1% this year and another 3.8% in 2026. In addition to a slowing economy, unclear and constantly changing tariff policy is creating growing uncertainty in the architect, engineer and construction services industry. "Not knowing what products will cost in the future, whether they will be available, how these changes might affect their supply chain, and whether they will provoke a trade war with the exporting countries are all questions that the AEC industry is asking before proceeding with planned projects," according to the report.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Storms and heavy rainfall driving up property insurance payouts
Some £1.6 billion worth of property claim payouts were made by insurers in the second quarter of this year, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), with adverse weather driving a significant portion of claims. The total, to help homeowners and businesses bounce back from incidents which also include fire and theft, marks a 7% rise compared with the first quarter of 2025. Between April and June, insurers paid out £322 million for damage caused by storms, heavy rainfall and frozen pipes. Of this, £198 million covered damage to people's homes and possessions, while weather-related business claims totalled £124 million. The average property claim was £6,200 for households and £17,400 for businesses. The annual average price of combined building and contents home insurance in the second quarter of 2025 was £391, £2 lower than the previous quarter, but £1 more compared with the same period in 2024, the ABI said. The average price of buildings-only insurance was down by £1 on the previous quarter, at £321. This was £4 higher compared with the same period in 2024. The typical price of contents-only insurance in the second quarter of 2025 dropped to £129 – £2 down on the previous quarter and £7 lower than the average price paid in the second quarter of 2024. Mark Shepherd, head of general insurance policy at the ABI, said: 'Our latest figures emphasise the vital protection insurance continues to offer people and businesses. 'They also underscore the growing impact of adverse weather on communities across the UK. 'With climate change making such events more severe and frequent, prevention must become a much greater part of the solution.' Louise Clark, manager of general insurance policy at the ABI, said: 'Flooding and storm damage can be deeply distressing and disruptive. 'While we can't control the weather, small preventative steps can go a long way in protecting our homes and reducing the fallout. 'Clearing gutters, securing roof tiles, fixing any leaks, repairing cracks in doors and windows, and fitting flood gates or airbrick covers where needed, all help limit physical damage when bad weather strikes. 'It's also important to stay on top of your insurance. 'Reviewing your policy regularly, checking with your provider if you're unsure what's covered, and keeping your home in good repair are essential to ensuring you're fully protected when the unexpected happens.'
The Independent
3 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Storms and heavy rainfall driving up property insurance payouts
Some £1.6 billion worth of property claim payouts were made by insurers in the second quarter of this year, according to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), with adverse weather driving a significant portion of claims. The total, to help homeowners and businesses bounce back from incidents which also include fire and theft, marks a 7% rise compared with the first quarter of 2025. Between April and June, insurers paid out £322 million for damage caused by storms, heavy rainfall and frozen pipes. Of this, £198 million covered damage to people's homes and possessions, while weather-related business claims totalled £124 million. The average property claim was £6,200 for households and £17,400 for businesses. The annual average price of combined building and contents home insurance in the second quarter of 2025 was £391, £2 lower than the previous quarter, but £1 more compared with the same period in 2024, the ABI said. The average price of buildings-only insurance was down by £1 on the previous quarter, at £321. This was £4 higher compared with the same period in 2024. The typical price of contents-only insurance in the second quarter of 2025 dropped to £129 – £2 down on the previous quarter and £7 lower than the average price paid in the second quarter of 2024. Mark Shepherd, head of general insurance policy at the ABI, said: 'Our latest figures emphasise the vital protection insurance continues to offer people and businesses. 'They also underscore the growing impact of adverse weather on communities across the UK. 'With climate change making such events more severe and frequent, prevention must become a much greater part of the solution.' Louise Clark, manager of general insurance policy at the ABI, said: 'Flooding and storm damage can be deeply distressing and disruptive. 'While we can't control the weather, small preventative steps can go a long way in protecting our homes and reducing the fallout. 'Clearing gutters, securing roof tiles, fixing any leaks, repairing cracks in doors and windows, and fitting flood gates or airbrick covers where needed, all help limit physical damage when bad weather strikes. 'It's also important to stay on top of your insurance. 'Reviewing your policy regularly, checking with your provider if you're unsure what's covered, and keeping your home in good repair are essential to ensuring you're fully protected when the unexpected happens.'
New Straits Times
25-07-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
HLIB downgrades ViTrox to 'Sell' on tax burden, valuation concerns
KUALA LUMPUR: ViTrox Corp Bhd's earnings outlook is clouded by rising tax burdens and stretched valuations, prompting HLIB Research to downgrade the automated test equipment manufacturer. The firm cautioned that the expiry of ViTrox's pioneer tax incentive could materially erode net profits going forward, highlighting it as a key de-rating catalyst. "The higher taxation was a negative surprise, following the expiry of ViTrox's pioneer status tax incentive on June 16, 2025, which limited the core profit after tax growth to 40 per cent, settling at RM37 million," it said in a note. HLIB Research downgraded its call to "Sell" from "Hold" previously with an unchanged target price of RM2.65 based on price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 34 times based on projected earnings for the financial year 2026 (FY26). ViTrox's book-to-bill ratio normalised to 1.1 times from 1.3 times in the first quarter, reflecting the tapering of frontloaded orders ahead of US tariff changes. All segments recorded growth, driven by a 16 per cent expansion in automated board inspection (ABI) and a robust 59 per cent surge in machine vision system and test (MVST). Meanwhile, earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (Ebitda) margins improved to 20 per cent from 17.5 per cent. Although the key segments posted strong growth and expanded Ebitda, foreign exchange losses and demand risks from tariff uncertainties continue to pose headwinds. "ViTrox maintains a cautious stance to capture anticipated demand recovery. "Ongoing, disciplined research and development investment will help the company stay technologically relevant. "However, foreign exchange volatility, higher reciprocal tariffs from the US and component shortages could weigh on its near-term margins," HLIB Research added, Despite a 40 per cent share price rally since April, HLIB Research argues that ViTrox's current valuation of price-to-earnings (PE) ratio of 48.5 times based on projected earnings for FY26 is excessive.
