Jumat, 02 Juli 2021

Man charged with common assault after Chris Whitty incident - BBC News

A still of the video footage appearing to show Chris Whitty being grabbed

A man has been charged with common assault after England's chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty was accosted by a group of men in a London park.

Lewis Hughes, 23, of Wigton Way in Romford, east London, was charged on Thursday over the incident, which took place on Sunday, the Met Police said.

Officers spoke to the victim, who had not suffered any injuries, and checked his welfare, the force added.

They then reviewed video footage that emerged later.

Mr Hughes was charged by postal requisition and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on 30 July.

"At approximately 19:20hrs on Sunday, 27 June officers in St James's Park became aware of a man being accosted by a group of men," the Metropolitan Police said in a statement.

"Officers subsequently reviewed video footage which emerged after the incident and the matter was referred to the Public Order Crime Team. Enquiries continue."

A video of the incident had been widely shared on social media.

Mr Hughes previously apologised for any "upset" caused and said he had lost his job as an estate agent over the incident.

"If I made [Prof Whitty] feel uncomfortable, which it does look like I did, then I am sorry to him for that," he told the Sun.

Police previously said that when they spoke to Prof Whitty at the time he did not wish to make any allegations.

It was not the first time Prof Whitty has been filmed being confronted by a member of the public.

Earlier this month, a man in Oxford accused him of lying to the public about coronavirus, while in February a man accosted the chief medical officer in Westminster.

And a group of people gathered outside what was apparently Prof Whitty's London flat on Saturday, chanting and shouting.

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Who is Prof Chris Whitty?

Prof Chris Whitty (left) alongside the PM at a Covid briefing
Reuters

Since the start of the coronavirus crisis, he has been front and centre of the UK's decision-making and communication of messages to the public.

He took on the chief medical officer role in October 2019, and until the coronavirus threat emerged, had never done broadcast interviews or held press briefings or conferences.

One of the country's foremost experts in infectious diseases, he has worked as a doctor in Africa and Asia, as well as the UK.

He continues to practise medicine at University College London Hospitals, where he was spotted doing a shift over Christmas.

His mother was a teacher and his father was a diplomat who was murdered by terrorists in Greece after they flagged him down in his car in 1984.

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2021-07-02 10:44:58Z
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Prosecutors drop Troubles cases against ex-soldiers - BBC News

James Wray, William McKinney and Daniel Hegarty

Two Army veterans facing murder charges from the Northern Ireland Troubles, including on Bloody Sunday in 1972, will now not face trial.

The cases involve individuals known as Soldier F and Soldier B.

Soldier F was to be prosecuted over the deaths of James Wray and William McKinney on Bloody Sunday.

The case against Soldier B relates to the death of 15-year-old Daniel Hegarty, who was shot twice in the head in Londonderry in July 1972.

It also relates to the wounding of his cousin, Christopher.

Thirteen people were shot dead and 15 were wounded when the Parachute Regiment opened fire on civil rights demonstrators on Bloody Sunday in Londonderry in January 1972.

Soldier F was also facing five counts of attempted murder.

'We will fight on'

In a statement, the Bloody Sunday families said the decision was a "damning indictment of the British justice system" and they would be challenging it.

The Hegarty family solicitor, Des Doherty, said: "I want to make this clear, under instruction from the family, and under much protest - and we made that clear, that it was under protest - we accepted letters from the PPS advising that they no longer would be proceeding with the prosecution of Soldier B for murder."

An inquest in 2011 found Daniel Hegarty posed no risk and was shot without warning as the Army moved in to clear "no-go" areas during Operation Motorman.

Reviews of the cases were prompted by the collapse of the trial in Belfast in May of two other veterans for Troubles-era offences.

The court ruled that statements by Soldiers A and C, accused of murdering IRA man Joe McCann, were inadmissible and the pair were acquitted.

Pre-trial proceedings against Soldier F had already commenced.

Discontinuing the prosecutions will involve a court hearing which the PPS is asking to be scheduled in coming days.

The Soldier B case had not yet progressed to court.

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2021-07-02 11:07:27Z
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Man charged with assaulting Professor Chris Whitty after video of park incident - Sky News

A man has been charged with assaulting England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty after he was accosted in London on Sunday.

Lewis Hughes, 23, has been charged with common assault, the Metropolitan Police said.

Hughes, from Romford, east London, was charged on Thursday by postal requisition and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday 30 July.

A statement from the Met said: "At approximately 7.20pm on Sunday 27 June officers in St James's Park became aware of a man being accosted by a group of men.

"They spoke to the victim and checked his welfare. He had not suffered any injuries.

"Officers subsequently reviewed video footage which emerged after the incident and the matter was referred to the Public Order Crime Team. Enquiries continue."

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2021-07-02 10:07:30Z
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Man charged with assaulting Professor Chris Whitty after video of park incident - Sky News

A man has been charged with assaulting England's chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty after he was accosted in London on Sunday.

Lewis Hughes, 23, has been charged with common assault, the Metropolitan Police said.

Hughes, of Romford, was charged on Thursday by postal requisition and will appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on Friday 30 July.

A statement from the Met said: "At approximately 7.20pm on Sunday 27 June officers in St James's Park became aware of a man being accosted by a group of men.

"They spoke to the victim and checked his welfare. He had not suffered any injuries.

"Officers subsequently reviewed video footage which emerged after the incident and the matter was referred to the Public Order Crime Team. Enquiries continue."

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2021-07-02 09:56:47Z
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Mum of man who grabbed Chris Whitty in park says he 'misread situation' - Metro.co.uk

Chris Whitty
A video of Jonathan Chew (pictured) and his friend Lewis Hughes, accosting Chris Whitty went viral

The mum of one of the men filmed manhandling Chris Whitty in a London park said he ‘misread the situation’ as she apologised for his actions.

A video of Jonathan Chew and his friend Lewis Hughes, both 24, grabbing the top medical adviser and trying to force him into a selfie as he attempted to wriggle free received widespread condemnation.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Home Secretary Priti Patel labelled the pair ‘thugs’ after footage of the incident went viral, sparking calls to ramp up Whitty’s security.

Yesterday it emerged that Hughes, 24, had been sacked from his job as an Essex estate agent in the aftermath of the incident.

Now Chew’s mum has joined in on the criticism, admitting she was ‘not overjoyed’ at the ‘over-exuberant’ way her son approached Prof Whitty.

Natasha, 49, said her son has ADHD and is autistic, so finds it hard to read situations.

Moment Chris Whitty harassed in park by group of men

She told Mailonline: ‘First and foremost I would like to apologise for any distress that the incident may have caused Mr Whitty.

‘My son and his friend had been enjoying their day, having a few social drinks together when they spotted Mr Whitty.

‘Realising who he was, and understanding how important he is to our country at this very moment, they wanted to get a picture with him.

‘As with most celebrities and famous people, it is commonplace for the public to want a picture with them and you can clearly hear Jonathan asking for a picture with Mr Whitty.

‘However, due to Jonathan’s autism, he finds it difficult to read situations and was not aware that his excitement at spotting Mr Whitty was causing any distress. I hope Mr Whitty is feeling more at ease now that sufficient time has passed and he can continue with his job without distractions.’

Ms Chews, from Barking, added that her son ‘did not intend to cause harm’.

UNCLEARED GRABS: Two men harassed Professor Chris Whitty in St James?s Park. Police are investigating the 20-second clip that shows the men trying to put the Chief Medical Officer into a headlock to pose for selfies and yelling into a camera phone. CREDIT: Twitter
Chew (left) has ADHD and autism and ‘misread’ the situation, his mum said
Whitty looked visibly distressed during the incident (Picture: PA)

She also hit out at the headline coverage the incident has received, saying the incident was witnessed by armed police ‘who chose to have a conversation with the boys and Mr Whitty and move the boys on’.

‘It has taken centre-stage across all of the main UK news broadcasters at a time in which several more significant stories have come out involving mishandlings by members of our government,’ she said.

She also offered an apology from her son, saying: ‘Jonathan wishes to apologise for any distress this incident has caused Mr Whitty, we hope he can move on from this incident as we also wish to.’

Hughes also apologised yesterday as he revealed he had ‘paid the price’, having been sacked from his job.

Chris Whitty Yob
Lewis Hughes already apologised and said he’s lost his job over the incident (Picture: Twitter/@lewis3443)

He said he’d had a few drinks at an anti-vax march with Chew when they ran into Prof Whitty at around 3pm on Sunday in St James’ Park.

He said: ‘If I made him feel uncomfortable, which it does look like I did, then I am sorry to him for that.

‘He is quite a timid, shy person and I think that is why he didn’t say, “Get off me”. If he had said that and I had realised how he felt, I wouldn’t have put my arm round him.’

The boxing enthusiast, from Romford Essex, said he ‘just wanted a selfie’ to show his mum and said there was ‘no malicious intent’.

He said he felt ‘let down’ by Mr Johnson, who he had voted for, after being branded a ‘despicable thug’.

The Metropolitan Police said officers spoke to all those involved at the time and ‘the circumstances continue to be investigated’.

Mr Johnson tweeted: ‘I’m shocked at seeing the despicable harassment of Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty.

‘Our hard-working public servants should not have to face this kind of intimidation on our streets and we will not tolerate it.’

Mr Johnson’s spokesman told journalists: ‘It’s completely unacceptable for a hard working public servant like the Chief Medical Officer and people who are working to save lives in the pandemic to face intimidation, harassment and abuse.’

Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.

For more stories like this, check our news page.

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2021-07-02 07:08:00Z
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Kamis, 01 Juli 2021

COVID-19: UK-EU restrictions set to be high on agenda as Boris Johnson welcomes Germany's Angela Merkel for talks - Sky News

The prime minister will welcome Angela Merkel to the UK on Friday, with coronavirus travel restrictions expected to be high on the agenda for their talks.

Boris Johnson will host the German chancellor at his country residence of Chequers, Mrs Merkel's final visit before she steps down later this year.

COVID-19 is anticipated to be among the topics up for discussion, particularly in the wake of Mrs Merkel reportedly calling for the European Union to ban all UK travellers from entering the bloc regardless of their vaccination status.

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PM 'confident' two jabs will enable travel

Fully-vaccinated Britons have been promised they will be able to travel to amber list countries - including the likes of Germany, France, Greece, Italy and Portugal - without having to quarantine upon their return "later this summer".

But according to The Times, the German chancellor wants the EU to designate Britain as a "country of concern" due to the spread of the Delta variant.

Germany has already designated the UK a "virus variant region", meaning anyone arriving from Britain and Northern Ireland has to quarantine for two weeks on arrival.

The two leaders, who last met at the G7 summit in Cornwall last month, are also expected to discuss relations between London and Berlin when they sit down for talks.

More on Angela Merkel

Mrs Merkel is set to address a virtual meeting of the British cabinet as part of her trip, while the PM will also announce the creation of a new academic medal in her honour.

Every year, an award of £10,000 will be given to a UK or Germany-based female scientist who has excelled in the field of astrophysics.

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The medal will be named after Caroline Herschel, a German-born British astrophysicist who was a pioneer in the field, with the first award expected to be made in early 2022.

"The UK and Germany have a steadfast friendship and a shared outlook on many issues," Mr Johnson said in a written statement released by Downing Street ahead of the visit.

"Our scientists, innovators and industrialists work together every day to make the world a better place.

"Over the 16 years of Chancellor Merkel's tenure the UK-Germany relationship has been re-energised and reinvigorated for a new era. And the new joint ventures we will agree today will leave a legacy that will last for generations."

The Queen will receive Mrs Merkel at Windsor Castle on Friday.

Mrs Merkel, who came to power in 2005 and is the first female chancellor of Germany, is making a number of farewell visits as she prepares to step down.

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2021-07-01 21:30:54Z
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Princess Diana statue: After a very public rift, seeing William and Harry together again felt like a return to the old days - Sky News

The smiles were striking as the brothers walked into the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace where they lived with their mother.

Watching them it felt like a return to the old days, and the many engagements I've attended with them both bouncing off each other in a way that only brothers can.

They had the air of two men enjoying each other's company on what is an incredibly poignant day for them both, the day that their mother would have marked her 60th birthday.

Prince William and Prince Harry at the unveiling of Princess Diana's statue at Kensington Palace
Image: Prince William and Prince Harry at the unveiling of Princess Diana's statue

They couldn't have appeared more relaxed as they talked to Diana's brother and sisters.

The small gathering and a friendly crowd, just what they needed after the very public rift that has blown up between them.

When they announced their intention to commission a statue back in 2017 - the 20th anniversary of Diana's death - it was anticipated that the unveiling would be a much larger public event.

It is, after all, designed to be a lasting memorial to recognise the impact their mothers work had on people in the UK and around the world.

More on Prince Harry

Yes, COVID-19 restricted the numbers, but I suspect the small low key event is also how the brothers wanted it.

The limited number of press allowed inside for the unveiling was viewed by some as a sign of Harry's continued mistrust of the UK press.

The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex arrive for the unveiling of a statue they commissioned of their mother Diana, Princess of Wales in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021.
Image: The Duke of Cambridge and Duke of Sussex appeared to enjoy each other's company

But don't forget both brothers have reasons for being wary of the media attention, all sparked by how they perceived their mother was treated in the final years of her life. Because of that, William and Harry will hate the way that their every move was being dissected.

For them, this day was about their mother - and the statue itself certainly merited attention. Not just because it's been four years in the making, but because the design was striking and in some ways unexpected, with Diana surrounded by three children.

The Duke of Sussex (centre) with his aunt Lady Jane Fellowes and uncle Earl Spencer, at the unveiling of a statue of his mother Diana, Princess of Wales, in the Sunken Garden at Kensington Palace, London, on what would have been her 60th birthday. Picture date: Thursday July 1, 2021.
Image: The Duke of Sussex with his aunt Lady Jane Fellowes and uncle Earl Spencer

But it was a depiction that very much fits with how Harry and William have followed in her footsteps, using her position in the spotlight to shine a light on others in need.

As members of the Royal Family, they both know what it means to put on appearances for the sake of not feeding any further the stories about them falling out.

The Princess of Wales, accompanied by Prince William and Prince Harry, arrives at the Queen's Medical Centre to visit Prince Charles. Sep 1990
Image: Diana and her boys arriving at the Queen's Medical Centre to visit Prince Charles in 1990

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Because of that, we'll never fully know if the apparent thaw in relations between Harry and William was a case of putting differences to one side for the cameras, and just for one day.

But one thing that will never be in doubt is their joint desire to publicly remember their mother, and their genuine love for her - now forever etched on this statue that they worked together to create.

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2021-07-01 17:09:48Z
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