By Clare Jerrom and Reg McKay.
Shotgun farmer wins shorter jail term
The farmer who was jailed for life for shooting dead a teenage burglar could be free within a year, as his conviction was reduced from murder to manslaughter yesterday.
Three appeal judges accepted that Tony Martin was suffering from a paranoid personality disorder when he opened fire at his home in Norfolk.
The fresh evidence meant Martin’s conviction for murder was quashed and replaced by one of manslaughter on the grounds of diminished responsibility.
His life sentence was reduced to five years, making him eligible for parole in a year.
Source:- The Guardian Wednesday 31 October page 1
‘Behavioural problems’ may now be used as a defence in murder trials
Victims of sexual abuse who cannot form relationships with women can use the Tony Martin case to justify violence when they feel threatened, lawyers said yesterday.
Lord Chief Justice, Lord Woolfe was convinced Martin was suffering from a paranoid personality disorder when he shot Fred Barras.
But Malcolm Fowler, former chairman of the Law Society’s criminal law committee, warned that householders who identify with Martin could "latch on" by using the case to disproportionate violence against burglars or others of whom they feel threatened.
Lawyers warned the danger of accepting a plea of diminished responsibility, meant judges may have given the go ahead to lawyers to present many kinds of behavioural problems as defences to murder.
Source:- The Independent Wednesday 31 October page 10
Abuse as a child led to killer’s paranoia
Tony Martin suffered abuse as a child, which caused him to develop a paranoid personality disorder – evidence which yesterday saved him from life imprisonment.
His defence counsel Michael Wolkind QC said the legacy of child abuse was depression and a paranoid personality disorder that impaired his judgement.
"In particular, the paranoid disorder meant he is more likely to have felt his life was in danger than the average person," he said.
Dr Philip Joseph, a consultant forensic psychiatrist at St Mary’s hospital in Paddington, said Martin had a "lifelong fear of being molested that left him unable to form intimate relationships."
Source:- The Independent Wednesday 31 October page 10
300 migrants storm Channel tunnel
More than 200 illegal immigrants who broke into a freight yard near the Channel tunnel earlier this week, have been arrested by French police.
In the largest single mass break in of its kind this year, around 300 immigrants from the Red Cross camp at Sangatte stormed the compound, owned by French state railways SNCF, hoping to stowaway on a freight train.
Police were still looking for 100 immigrants thought to be hiding at the yard.
The Sangatte centre holds around 1,200 people mainly from Afghanistan, Iran and Kurds from Iraq and Turkey.
The number of would-be illegal immigrants trying to reach Britain from Sangatte has fallen dramatically since August when up to 200 attempted every night.
Eurotunnel has spent £6m on increasing security at its terminal. The company faces fines of £2,000 for every illegal immigrant who makes the journey to Britain.
Source:- The Guardian Wednesday 31 October page 12
Cannabis is ‘gateway to heroin addiction’
Former drugs tsar Keith Hellawell told MPs yesterday that every heroin addict he had met had started their drug abuse with cannabis.
His remarks undermined the government’s proposals to relax the laws covering cannabis. Last week David Blunekett said it would no longer be an arrestable offence for cannabis possession, with the aim being to free police time to concentrate on hard drugs.
Hellawell said he believed cannabis was "a gateway drug" to harder substances.
Source:- Daily Telegraph Wednesday 31 October page 13
Child porn raids
Fourteen people were arrested in dawn raids in the UK and Dublin yesterday, by detectives investigating the distribution of child pornography on the internet.
Officers from 11 forces took part in Operation Barcela following a seven-month investigation, according to Scotland Yard.
Four men were arrested in London.
Source:- The Times Wednesday 31 October page 14
The missing
Around 100,000 children run away every year. Many are escaping abuse or trouble at home, but some just go leaving parents mystified. One mother’s distraught story.
Source:- G2 Wednesday 31 October page 10
Guardian Society
Merit measure
Voluntary sector called to account
Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 31 October page 4
Coded warning
Charities face a shot across their bows as a government inquiry is poised to recommend that face-to-face fundraising will boost public trust.
Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 31 October page 5
Learning curve
For brain-injured people, specialist rehabilitation is vital in helping them rebuild their lives
Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 31 October page 112-111
On the run from misery
Research reveals the motives for children fleeing their home
Source:- Guardian Society Wednesday 31 October page 111
Scottish newspapers
Heroin addicts failed by health services
Heroin addicts are terrified to seek medical attention because medics treat them so badly, according to one man’s evidence to a fatal accident inquiry in Glasgow yesterday.
The inquiry at Glasgow sheriff court is considering the sudden deaths of 18 intravenous users of heroin in Glasgow last year. Maxwell McElvanney told the inquiry that his sister Deborah Martin was "terrified to go to hospital", and was "horrified they (medics) didn’t care".
Martin died one week after being admitted to Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Dr Craig Urquhart, a senior house officer at Glasgow Royal Infirmary, said that Martin had been seen within an hour of arriving at the accident and emergency unit. The inquiry continues.
Source:- The Scotsman Wednesday 31 October page 5
‘Chaotic’ system fails children
Inadequate government support for the most vulnerable youngsters in Scotland has created an "invisible" generation of children who have slipped through the net of social care, health and education services, according to a new report by the executive. The report, For Scotland’s Children, heralded the creation of a seven-strong ministerial taskforce - including the ministers for education and young people, health and social justice – to push forward an agenda of integrating childcare services across the country.
The report painted a bleak picture for Scotland’s most disadvantaged children with one child referred to 23 social workers in three years being a common finding. The executive will now come under increased pressure to appoint a children’s commissioner with the report’s 12 recommendations calling for an independent person to champion and co-ordinate children’s services.
Source:- The Herald Wednesday 31 October page 4