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Daily Mirror
18-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
50 years since Lord Lucan named 'murderer', victim's son insists he's Down Under
In a historic verdict Lord Lucan was named by an inquest jury as the man who murdered family nanny Sandra Rivett exactly 50 years ago - Sandra's son is still fighting for justice and insists Lucan is still alive and living in Australia Exactly 50 years ago one of the most dramatic British court verdicts in history came when a jury foreman uttered the words: "Murder by Lord Lucan." It was the very last time an inquest jury ever named a killer. The jury identified Lucan as the man who murdered the family nanny Sandra Rivett in a case that gripped the world. The law was quickly changed and no-one has ever been named as a killer at an inquest since. Westminster Coroner's Court had just heard the inquest into Sandra who was found bludgeoned to death. Sandra's son Neil Berriman has carried out extensive research into the inquest. He has spent years investigating the case and insists that Lucan is still alive living in Australia. He is hoping the 50th anniversary will focus attention again on the case. He said: "It's now 50 years since an inquest jury found Lord Lucan guilty of the murder of my mother. It was such an historic verdict. " I believe Lucan is still alive and living in Australia. Why don't the police interview this man? The world's leading expert on facial recognition said it was certain that this old man is the same person as the old photos of Lord Lucan. It was a match. Two other facial recognition companies have come to the same conclusion." Berriman, a building contractor from Milland, west Sussex was featured in a three part BBC documentary last year. It focused on his battle to prove that an elderly man living in Queensland is Lucan. He said: "It's so frustrating that this is still going on all these years later. "I promise you I will get justice for Sandra. I will never stop fighting for her until my last breath on this earth. This is such an establishment stitch up. They've covered this up from the start." Back in November 1974 Sandra was killed in Belgravia, London. Lucan fled and was never seen again. Police believe he threw himself off a cross channel ferry but no body was ever found. The inquest was held the following year and this is how the Daily Mirror reported the inquest: "Jury foreman William Thomas was asked if they had reached a decision. "He replied, 'Yes. Verdict, murder by Lord Lucan'. Coroner, Dr Gavin Thurston said: 'I will record that Sandra Helena Rivett died from head injuries. The offence was committed by Richard John Bingham, Earl of Lucan. The coroner added, it is very rare for a Coroner's Court that a person is named as you have done. "It is my duty to commit that person to trial at the central Criminal Court. But he added, in this case, there is nobody I can commit for trial because we don't know where Lord Lucan is. There is no doubt that if he turns up, he will be charged with the offence. I will keep this on my file until such time as there are any further developments." As he read the Mirror's report, Berriman sighed: "Here we are 50 years on and justice still hasn't been served."
Metro
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Metro
TV and soap legend Timothy West's cause of death revealed
An inquest has heard that acting legend and EastEnders star Timothy West 'died peacefully' following a fall last year. Westminster Coroner's Court heard that the actor, who played Mick Carter's (Danny Dyer) grandfather in the soap, had a fall on August 11, 2024, resulting in him sustaining a 'significant traumatic brain injury'. Assistant coroner Ellie Oakley revealed that he was treated in hospital for about three months, and then moved to Wandsworth Common Care Home. He received palliative care there, before his death on November 12. 'It is not possible to determine how the fall happened and there is no evidence of others being involved. Unfortunately he was not well enough to be discharged to his home despite receiving appropriate care in the care home', she said. Thomas Holden, the care home's general manager, noted in a statement: 'On 12 November his family were with him all day. They continued to stay with him in his room during the evening and he passed away peacefully with his family around him at 19:20.' A statement released by his family last year read: 'After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old. Tim was with friends and family at the end. 'He leaves his wife Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly. 'We would like to thank the incredible NHS staff at St George's Hospital, Tooting and at Avery Wandsworth for their loving care during his last days. Juliet, Samuel and Joseph West.' Born on October 20, 1934, Timothy appeared often on television and the stage. As well as his role in EastEnders, he also played a character called Eric Babbage in Coronation Street. From 2014-2019, Timothy and partner Prunella Scales travelled around the UK and overseas together in the Channel 4 show Great Canal Journeys. Tributes are pouring in following the news of Timothy's death. Actress Tracie Bennett, a Coronation Street star, wrote on X: 'Oh I'm so sorry about this. Loved Timothy since we met at Granada tv in the early 80's. R.I.P Timothy West', while fellow actor James Dreyfus said: 'Marvellous actor. A constant in many of our lives. He shall be much missed. My thoughts with his family. RIP Timothy West.' On Instagram, Danny Dyer commented on the tribute posted by the EastEnders account and said: 'Can't believe it'. Sam Strike, who previously played Johnny Carter, wrote on his Instagram Stories: 'Gutted to learn of Timothy West's passing. I remember thinking when he first showed up on set – this man is old school brilliance'. Want to be the first to hear shocking EastEnders spoilers? Who's leaving Coronation Street? The latest gossip from Emmerdale? Join 10,000 soaps fans on Metro's WhatsApp Soaps community and get access to spoiler galleries, must-watch videos, and exclusive interviews. Simply click on this link, select 'Join Chat' and you're in! Don't forget to turn on notifications so you can see when we've just dropped the latest spoilers! Timothy was introduced as Stan Carter, the father of established characters Shirley (Linda Henry) and Tina Carter (Luisa Bradshaw-White) in 2014. More Trending Mick had visited him in desperate need of cash, and he later moved into The Queen Vic pub with his family. The character was entwined in a love triangle with estranged wife Sylvie (Linda Marlowe) and Walford local Cora Cross (Ann Mitchell). Stan was killed off the BBC soap in April 2015 after a battle with terminal prostate cancer. This article was originally published on November 13, 2024. View More » MORE: Major EastEnders exit confirmed as star set to leave after 8 years MORE: Enjoy beautiful summer blooms from just £22 at one of these peonies by post delivery services MORE: Beloved Cheers and Space Jam actor Michael Alaimo dies aged 86
Yahoo
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Timothy West 'died peacefully' after hospital stay
Actor Timothy West died "peacefully with his family around him" at a care home where he was being looked after following a fall, an inquest has heard. West, who was married to actress Prunella Scales for more than 60 years, appeared in TV sitcoms Not Going Out, dramas such as Bleak House and Gentleman Jack, and soaps Coronation Street and EastEnders. Westminster Coroner's Court heard the Bradford-born actor had had a fall on 11 August last year, which resulted in a "significant traumatic brain injury". Assistant coroner Ellie Oakley said he had been treated in hospital for about three months before being moved to Wandsworth Common Care Home where he was receiving palliative care before his death on 12 November. She said: "It is not possible to determine how the fall happened and there is no evidence of others being involved. "Unfortunately he was not well enough to be discharged to his home despite receiving appropriate care in the care home." The care home's general manager, Thomas Holden, said in a statement read out at the inquest: "On 12 November his family were with him all day. "They continued to stay with him in his room during the evening and he passed away peacefully with his family around him at 19:20." In a statement announcing his death last year, West's children Juliet, Samuel and Joseph said: "After a long and extraordinary life on and off the stage, our darling father Timothy West died peacefully in his sleep yesterday evening. He was 90 years old. "He leaves his wife, Prunella Scales, to whom he was married for 61 years, a sister, a daughter, two sons, seven grandchildren and four greatgrandchildren. All of us will miss him terribly." West and Scales, 92, who played Sybil Fawlty in Fawlty Towers, appeared in the documentary series Great Canal Journeys between 2014 and 2021, which saw them travelling on narrowboats. The couple married in 1963 and had two sons, Samuel and Joseph. West was also married to actor Jacqueline Boyer from 1956 to 1961, and they had a daughter, Juliet. Listen to highlights from West Yorkshire on BBC Sounds, catch up with the latest episode of Look North. Actor Timothy West dies aged 90
BBC News
13-03-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Parents' grief after Ender Nihat's clinical trial death
The parents of a seven year old boy who died in a clinical trial have spoken of their "indescribable" Nihat, from Essex, suffered organ failure after receiving chemotherapy during experimental stem cell inquest heard Hassan and Nahide Nihat's concerns they had not been made fully aware of the risks before agreeing to take the man who ran the trial at London's St Mary's Hospital said a 1-5% chance of death had been properly explained to them. Ender, from Sible Hedingham, suffered with Transfusion-Dependent Beta-Thalassemia, in which not enough haemoglobin is produced to carry oxygen around the needed monthly blood new treatment was a gene editing therapy called CTX001, developed by US based Vertex Pharmaceuticals, which also sponsored the treatment had been approved for adults and the purpose of the trial was to learn more about its safety and efficacy in children. Westminster Coroner's Court heard how Ender was given a chemotherapy drug called Busulfan in February 2024, to create space in his bone marrow. He then received his own modified later Ender became poorly. He was diagnosed with Veno Occlusive Disease (VOD) a known potential side effect of Busulfan. Ender entered paediatric intensive care where he also developed macrophage activation syndrome, a rare inflammatory condition, and his breathing had to be resuscitation (CPR) was initiated on several occasions when his heart stopped this time he also suffered acute respiratory distress syndrome, lung bleeding, kidney failure and antibiotic resistant pneumonia. Four months later, on 13 July 2024, Ender died. Speaking to the BBC, Mrs Nihat said: "It is just like we have died as well. "I'm trying to continue for our daughter, his twin sister, but there's a massive hole left in our hearts, in our lives."Her husband Hassan said Ender was essentially healthy before he entered the trial. He added: "He was an amazing boy. He was very compassionate, very loving, very friendly. He was just full of life." Professor Josu de la Fuente said Ender's Beta-Thalassemia had a very high chance of causing organ damage in later life. He told the inquest VOD could occur in any bone barrow transplant and not just those involving stem cell parents were carefully appraised of the Busulfan risk, Professor de la Fuente added. "The consenting process was extensive. There was appropriate documentation. I think it was well written. It had been approved by lay people so it could be well understood," he said. Recording a narrative verdict, Assistant Coroner Jean Harkin said the death was due to a recognised complication of Busulfan and there had been a "robust" consent Julian Redhead, medical director at Imperial College Healthcare NHS Trust said they were "devastated' by what had happened."Our clinical teams put great emphasis on sharing the risks, including potential complications, and what to expect during a research trial. We have undertaken a detailed investigation into Ender's care and treatment and we are making improvements," he said Ender's death was not related to their therapy and that "patient safety is always our top priority and we continue to monitor our clinical trials". For Hassan and Nahide Nihat, a gap has opened in their lives which can never be closed."We go out to eat and where we used to be four, we are now three," Mr Nihat wife added: "His twin sister has been robbed of her brother. We sit at the dinner table and there's an empty space."Going to school, they used to hold both my the hands and now one of my hands is just empty." Follow Essex news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
