Boy released on bail after death of seven-year-old girl in Walsall - Evening Standard

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14-year-old boy who was arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving after a seven-year-old died following a motorbike collision has been released on bail “with strict conditions”, police said.

Katniss Seleznev was killed in the crash in Walsall just after 7pm on Thursday, West Midlands Police said.

The girl was found with critical injuries and was taken to Birmingham Children’s Hospital but later died.

Officers said they have found two abandoned motorbikes which will now be forensically examined.

Detective Sergeant Paul Hughes, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Our work to establish the facts around this tragic incident is continuing.

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“We have recovered two motorbikes and they will now be forensically examined as part of those extensive inquiries.

“And at this awful time our thoughts remain with the family of Katniss, who are being supported and have asked to be left to grieve in private.”

Flowers, balloons and stuffed toys were left at the scene of the crash on Friday.

Dozens of bunches of brightly-coloured bouquets paid tribute to the girl, with one reading: “I will remember your beautiful soul forever. Thinking and praying for your family.”

Another said: “Rest in peace beautiful girl.”

A steady stream of emotional people had been visiting the scene to add their own tributes and comfort each other.

In a Facebook post, her mother said that her “heart is bleeding”, adding: “God took her away too young and fragile.

“I don’t have strength and I don’t want to say goodbye to you, my star.

“How to let you go, my heart is bleeding, my soul is aching.”

Mr Hughes said: “I would also like to extend my thanks to all those people who have already come to us with information, it is truly appreciated.

“We would ask again that anyone who was at the scene does still come forward, as what they know may be valuable to our ongoing investigation.”

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2023-07-30 06:06:45Z
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Teenager dies after double stabbing in Lancashire - The Guardian

A teenager has died in hospital after a double stabbing in Lancashire.

Emergency services were unable to save the 19-year-old after the attack in Ormskirk town centre just after midnight.

Another 19-year-old has also been taken to hospital but he is not thought to have life-threatening injuries.

Two men have been arrested, also both 19, on suspicion of affray and they remain in custody.

A spokesperson from Lancashire constabulary said officers were called to Railway Road in the town centre at 12.05am Saturday after reports of an “ongoing disturbance” involving “a number of males”.

They said: “A 19-year-old man from Liverpool and a 19-year-old man from Maghull have been arrested on suspicion of affray. They remain in custody at this time.

“A significant area within the town centre has been secured as a crime scene.”

Anyone with information or footage is asked to call 101.

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2023-07-29 14:02:00Z
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Police investigating Walsall hit-and-run crash death of Katniss Selezneva find two motorbikes - Sky News

Two abandoned motorbikes have been recovered by police investigating the death of a seven-year-old girl in a hit-and-run crash in Walsall.

A 14-year-old-boy arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving has been released on conditional bail.

Katniss Selezneva was struck by a motorbike just after 7pm on Thursday at Turnstone Road in Blakenall.

She was found with critical injuries and taken to Birmingham Children's Hospital where she later died.

Det Sgt Paul Hughes, from the Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: "Our work to establish the facts around this tragic incident is continuing.

"We have recovered two motorbikes and they will now be forensically examined as part of those extensive enquiries. And at this awful time our thoughts remain with the family of Katniss, who are being supported and have asked to be left to grieve in private.

"I would also like to extend my thanks to all those people who have already come to us with information - it is truly appreciated.

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"We would ask again that anyone who was at the scene does still come forward, as what they know may be valuable to our ongoing investigation."

Katniss's mother Tsvetelina Selezneva paid tribute to her "angel" in a Facebook post.

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"God took her away too young and fragile. I don't have strength and I don't want to say goodbye to you, my star," she wrote.

Image: Police tape on Turnstone Road

"How to let you go, my heart is bleeding, my soul is aching. Who will take care of you now up there my angel! I'm powerless, words are not enough, no consolation!"

She said her daughter had told her every day "I love you mom, you are the best mother".

Addressing her daughter, Ms Selezneva wrote: "Your dad was calling you - 'open your eyes Katniss, dad is here, open them' - but you closed them forever!"

Flowers, balloons and stuffed toys were left at the scene of the crash on Friday.

Image: Flowers are left on Turnstone Road

Dozens of bunches of brightly-coloured bouquets paid tribute to the girl, with one reading: "I will remember your beautiful soul forever. Thinking and praying for your family."

Another said: "Rest in peace beautiful girl."

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2023-07-29 12:56:15Z
2266780135

Andrew Malkinson: End living cost charge for wrongfully convicted, Tory MP says - BBC

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By Marie Jackson

BBC News

A senior Conservative MP has urged ministers to change prison compensation rules after it emerged a man who wrongly spent 17 years in jail may have money deducted from his payout.

Andrew Malkinson, 57, was cleared of a rape he did not commit. He called the current rules "kind of sick".

Under existing rules, savings made on living costs while in prison can be deducted from compensation.

Sir Bob Neill said: "Any fair-minded person thinks this is just wrong."

The government has no plans for any changes but keeps all laws under review.

The rules date back to a decision made in 2007 by the House of Lords.

It said that money could be deducted from compensation for "saved living expenses". This refers to costs the prisoner would have incurred if they had not been locked up, such as food and accommodation, according to a House of Commons briefing paper.

Sir Bob, who is chairman of the Justice Select Committee, said that at the time the decision was made, it was thought that taxpayers would be offended at paying money to someone who was freed on a technicality.

He said Mr Malkinson, however, was not cleared on a technicality, but on DNA evidence.

"This was a serious miscarriage of justice," he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme.

"It's clearly not right that somebody who was deprived of their liberty, because of the failures of the state and its institutions for a number of years, then should pay the state or be obliged to give some money back to the state, for the privilege of having been wrongly incarcerated.

"That surely offends any any kind of sense of justice," he added.

• Why are wrongfully convicted prisoners charged jail costs?
• Man's rape conviction quashed after 20-year fight
• The world finally knows the truth - Andrew Malkinson

He said he would like ministers to change the rules to protect those wrongly convicted from paying such costs.

"The sums involved are trivial in the overall scheme of things," he said.

The maximum payment in cases where someone has been in jail for more than 10 years is £1m.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: "This was a deeply troubling case and we recognise the pain of any individual punished for a crime they did not commit - which is why we continue to support the work of the independent Criminal Cases Review Commission (CCRC).

"It is only right victims of miscarriages of justice can apply for compensation and that all requests are properly assessed independent of government."

In 1997, convictions against cousins Vincent and Michael Hickey for the murder of Carl Bridgewater at a farm near Stourbridge in 1978 were found to be fundamentally flawed.

Michael Hickey was subsequently awarded £1.02m and Vincent Hickey £550,000 but, in each case, a 25% deduction was made from the part of their compensation that reflected loss of earnings while in prison.

This was because of living expenses they did not have to pay while in prison.

On the programme, criminal defence lawyer Matthew Ryder KC described the difficulties of getting the Court of Appeal to consider cases of possible wrongful conviction.

He said two Parliamentary committees had found the CCRC needed to be "less hesitant" about referring cases to the Court of Appeal.

"We've got to get ourselves in a position where if there's a risk of injustice, a risk of someone like an innocent man staying in custody for a very long time when their cases should be considered, we've got to find a mechanism where those cases get considered by the Court of Appeal," he said.

Related Topics

• HM Prison Service

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2023-07-29 12:42:19Z
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Police recover two motorbikes in Walsall hit-and-run inquiry - The Guardian

Police investigating the death of a seven-year-old girl in a hit-and-run in Walsall say they have found two abandoned motorbikes, while a 14-year-old boy arrested over the incident has been released on bail.

The discovery came after Katniss Seleznev’s mother, Tsvetelina Selezneva, spoke of her devastation at her daughter’s death, saying her “soul is aching” after losing her “star”.

The child was found with critical injuries and was taken to Birmingham children’s hospital, but later died. The 14-year-old boy was arrested by West Midlands police officers on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Paying tribute to Katniss in a Facebook post, her mother said that her “heart is bleeding”. She said: “God took her away too young and fragile. I don’t have strength and I don’t want to say goodbye to you, my star. How to let you go, my heart is bleeding, my soul is aching.”

On Saturday, Det Sgt Paul Hughes, from the force’s serious collision investigation unit, said: “Our work to establish the facts around this tragic incident is continuing.

“We have recovered two motorbikes and they will now be forensically examined as part of those extensive enquiries. And, at this awful time, our thoughts remain with the family of Katniss, who are being supported and have asked to be left to grieve in private.

“I would also like to extend my thanks to all those people who have already come to us with information – it is truly appreciated. We would ask again that anyone who was at the scene does still come forward, as what they know may be valuable to our ongoing investigation.”

Flowers, balloons and stuffed toys were left at the scene of the crash on Friday.

Dozens of bunches of brightly coloured bouquets paid tribute to the girl, with one reading: “I will remember your beautiful soul for ever. Thinking and praying for your family.” Another says: “Rest in peace beautiful girl.”

A steady stream of people have been visiting the scene to add their own tributes and comfort each other.

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2023-07-29 08:01:00Z
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London mayor Sadiq hails Ulez expansion ruling by High Court - BBC

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By Harry Low

BBC News

The expansion of the Ultra Low Emission Zone (Ulez) across London can go ahead after the High Court ruled it lawful.

Five Conservative-led councils had challenged the Labour mayor of London's plans to charge older, more polluting vehicles £12.50 a day from 29 August.

Mayor of London Sadiq Khan told the BBC: "This landmark decision is good news as it means we can proceed with cleaning up the air in outer London."

Surrey Council's leader branded the decision "incredibly disappointing".

• Live: Sadiq Khan's plan to extend Ulez zone can go ahead
• What is Ulez and why is its expansion controversial?
• ULEZ expansion: Contested claims examined

The judge, Mr Justice Swift, said the mayor's expansion decision "was within his powers".

He wrote: "Having carefully considered the decision published for the purposes of consultation, I'm satisfied sufficient information was provided to permit this wanting to respond to the consultation to provide informed responses.

"I'm further satisfied that when taking the decision on the grant to meet the cost of the vehicle scrappage scheme, the mayor understood the likely provision that would be made.

"While the consultation conducted was not in-depth, it was lawful."

When and where will Ulez be extended?

The Ulez currently covers the area between the North and South Circulars, but this judgment means it will be spread across Greater London from the end of August.

When it was first introduced in 2019, the zone covered the Congestion Charge area in central London, then was enlarged in October 2021.

The new borders of the zone will reach Buckinghamshire, Essex, Hertfordshire, Kent and Surrey.

You can check if your vehicle meets the emission standards on the Transport for London website.

City Hall has claimed that 90% of cars seen driving in outer London complied with Ulez standards which has been backed by the UK Statistics Authority, although the watchdog criticised the mayor over data transparency.

Mr Khan said: "The decision to expand the Ulez was very difficult and not something I took lightly and I continue to do everything possible to address any concerns Londoners may have.

"This unambiguous decision today in the High Court allows us to press on with the difficult but vital task of cleaning up London's air and tackling the climate crisis."

On Wednesday, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer urged the mayor to reflect on the expansion in the wake of a by-election victory for the Conservatives in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, which he said was due to the "impact it's having on people".

Reuters

The action was launched by February by the London boroughs of Bexley, Bromley, Harrow and Hillingdon, as well as Surrey County Council.

Tim Oliver, leader of Surrey Council, said: "Whilst we respect today's court decision, it is incredibly disappointing."

Bromley Council leader, Colin Smith, said: "To the legion of families who will now have to trade in perfectly good cars at significant cost they can't really afford, for a newer vehicle they don't want or need, I can only say sorry.

"We've tried our very hardest to protect you but ultimately, today's judgement does mean that the mayor has taken another step closer to getting his way."

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Harrow, Surrey and Bromley, which spent £32,000 contesting the expansion, have confirmed they will not appeal the court's decision.

Air pollutants, such as nitrogen dioxide, can cause and worsen respiratory problems like asthma, and can affect those with heart conditions, according to multiple scientific studies.

Dr Anna Moore, a respiratory doctor working at a London hospital, called Ulez a health policy which was "going to improve the health of millions of Londoners".

She said: "I see patients suffer from the effects of toxic air week in and week out. There is no organ in the body which is not harmed by air pollution."

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Nicholas Lyes, head of roads policy at the RAC, said: "While the principle of cleaning up London's air is the right one, it has come at a time where drivers can ill afford to replace their vehicles during a cost-of-living crisis.

"This is being made by worse by new evidence which shows drivers are having to pay far more than they should have to purchase a compliant vehicle on the second-hand car market."

Steve Tuckwell, the newly elected MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip, said: "Uxbridge and South Ruislip sent mayor Sadiq Khan a clear message last week - halt your Ulez expansion.

"Londoners cannot go on being ignored by the Labour Party, who are making the choice to expand Ulez, saddling families and businesses with a £4,500 a year charge - a tax on carers, parents, patients, sole traders and all hard-working Londoners."

Follow BBC London on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to hellobbclondon@bbc.co.uk

Related Topics

• Surrey County Council
• Mayor of London
• London
• Uxbridge
• London transport
• London Ulez
• Air pollution
• Sadiq Khan

Related Internet Links

• HM Courts & Tribunals Service

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2023-07-28 12:04:34Z
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Boy, 14, arrested after hit-and-run death of seven-year-old girl in Walsall - The Guardian

A 14-year-old boy has been arrested after a seven-year-old girl was killed in a hit-and-run involving a motorcycle in Walsall.

West Midlands police said officers were called to the Blakenall area of the town after the fatal collision on Thursday night.

The boy, who cannot be named because of his age, has been arrested and remains in custody, the force said. It did not disclose what offence the teenager had been held on suspicion of.

Police said the girl was hit by a blue and black motorcycle on Turnstone Road shortly after 7pm on Thursday. Officers have appealed for help to trace the motorcycle and identity the make and model.

DS Paul Hughes from the serious collision investigation unit said: “This is an absolutely tragic event which has resulted in the death of an innocent child. We have still to recover the motorbike involved and I know someone out there in the local community knows where the bike is.

“I now need that community to come together and work with me. This is not about protecting people, this is about doing the right thing. As such I would urge anyone with any information, however large or small, to make contact with us.

“This is a heart-breaking situation that no family should ever go through and my thoughts are with the family of this young girl.”

The girl’s family are being supported by family liaison officers.

Anyone with information can contact the force via 101 or email the investigation team at SCIU@westmidlands.police.uk.

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2023-07-28 10:13:00Z
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