The family of Meredith Kercher say they're "happy" with the sentences handed out to her killers.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 11:15 am
Pair found GUILTY of Coulsdon student's murder
Meredith Susanna Cara Kercher, known to her friends as "Mez", was born in February 1986 in Southwark, and lived in Coulsdon. She attended the University of Leeds.She had been part of the ERASMUS student exchange programme, and had gone to Italy to complete her degree course.
In Perugia, she had lived in a suite on the top floor of a house at Via della Pergola 7, sharing it with two Italian women, and Knox. The bottom floor of the house contained a suite which had been occupied by four young Italian men at the time of the crime.
Her funeral service was held on 14 December 2007 at the Parish Church in Croydon, with over 300 people in attendance.She has since been awarded a posthumous degree by the University of Leeds.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 12:10 am
Friday, 4 December 2009
Pair are GUILTY of Coulsdon student's murder
Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito guilty of murdering Meredith Kercher
Justice for Meredith's family two years after her murder. The Jury took twelve hours to reach a guilty verdict.
An American woman and her Italian ex-boyfriend have been found guilty of murdering a British exchange student.
Meredith Kercher, who was 21 and from Coulsdon, was attacked in the student flat she shared with Knox in Perugia in 2007. She was found naked, covered in a duvet. She had been stabbed.
Knox's strange behaviour, cartwheels at the police station and uncontrollable giggling fits, led them to suspect her of the murder.
Her DNA was found on the knife used to kill Meredith. The Jury heard how Knox killed Meredith during a sex game with Sollecito that went wrong.
Amanda Knox and Raffaele Sollecito have been sentenced to 26 and 25 years in prison respectively.
The court ordered them to pay one million euros to Miss Kercher's mother and the same amount to her father. Her siblings would each receive 800,000 euros, the court ruled.
The pair committed the killing with small-time drug dealer Rudy Guede, 22, who was jailed for 30 years for murder and sexual violence last October.
They have 90 days to make an appeal. Drama in the Court room
As the verdicts were read out Sollecito's step-mother screamed obscenities before hyperventilating. Miss Knox's step-mother burst into tears and also began shouting before collapsing.
Knox began to sob while Sollecito appeared unaffected.
Speaking before the verdict, Knox's father Curt told of how he blamed Guede for the murder. In an interview he said Guede killed Meredith after he broke into the flat to steal money. Curt says as it was very close to pay day for the students, they were an easy target for thieves. He claims Guede killed Meredith after he stumbled across her unexpectedly. He also claims his daughter was nowhere near the flat on the night of the crime.
Can you help make music history by saving Putney's best known haunt?
The Halfmoon Putney, one of London's last independent live music venues, may have to call time on almost 50 years of hosting live music.
The Halfmoon has been hosting live music regularly since 1963. Since that time it has seen performances by, among others, The Rolling Stones, U2, The Small Faces, Ralph McTell, Badly Drawn Boy, Kate Bush and countless more.
As well as still catering for touring bands and artists The Halfmoon has, more recently, been an important stepping stone for artists/ bands such as Kasabian, Imogen Heap, The Wombats, Newton Faulkner, Mr Hudson, Amy McDonald, and Natasha Bedingfield. Oh, and Jamie Archer of X Factor fame!
Current tenant James Harris says "We are at the grass roots of live music and The Halfmoon is an engine room for rising bands throughout the UK, who are now running out of quality venues to play."
Hairdresser of the Year Awards
Celebrity hairdresser Leo Bancroft is proving he’s a cut above the rest.
The Weybridge based stylist [left] has been presented with the Southern Hairdresser of the Year Award.
Presenter Dermot O’Leary handed him the accolade at a star studded ceremony last week.
For more information about Leo log onto leobancroft.composted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 4:34 pm
The teenage team is up for national award
A team of midwives who care for pregnant teenagers at Epsom and St Helier University Hospitals NHS Trust has been shortlisted for a national award.
The ‘teenage team’, which is made up of midwives Colleen Robinson and Sue Sasse, were nominated for the prestigious Royal College of Midwives’ ‘Team of the year’ award and are now through to the final.
The annual Royal College of Midwives’ awards are judged by a team of childbirth experts, including staff from the National Childbirth Trust.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 3:40 pm
Single to be released to raise money for the Shooting Star Children's Hospice
A group of Shooting Stars including Wizard’s Roy Wood and Slade’s Dave Hill have helped create the ultimate Christmas song in aid of The Shooting Star Children’s Hospice in Hampton.
All profits go to Shooting Star so by downloading the single, you can help make a real difference to our children and families this Christmas.
Can My Christmas Card To You compete with the X-Factor single? It’s up to you! The song will be available on all download sites from Sunday 6th December but you can pre-order it now and help get Shooting Star into the charts!
Simply text XMAS09 to 78789. Texts cost just £1.50.
Curtain call for Richmond Panto
Rehearsals are well underway in Richmond for this year's panto Snow White and The Seven Dwarfs starring Jane Asher as the Wicked Witch. The first performance is this Friday.
McLaren drivers to be treated equally
McLaren believe that they will be able to provide Lewis Hamilton and Jenson Button with equal chances of success.
The Woking team ran into difficulties when Hamilton was partnered with double champion Fernando Alonso.
But team boss Martin Whitmarsh says they’ll be able to manage the demands and expectations of both drivers.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 5:01 pm
Chelsea football fans lead the way in west London
Chelsea fans top the west London leader board when it comes to quitting smoking.
Their fans are battling it out in a new initiative titled ‘Smokefree London’ which aims to help smokers kick the addiction.
With 77 claiming to have quit so far, they tower 61 points ahead of Fulham who are sitting healthy in mid-table.
They both need to get their finishing boots on if they are to displace Arsenal who are the top London club with 138 quitters.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 4:53 pm
Cleaner cleared of murder
A cleaner cleared of murdering an elderly widow in Epsom has been given a 12-month conditional discharge for stealing £40 from her.
Jurors heard Nicola Bushnell used Joyce Cregeen's bank card to withdraw the money in May last year because she was in debt.
81 year old Mrs Cregeen was stabbed 25 times in her house in Sefton Road. It took a jury at the Old Bailey more than 8 hours to reach their verdict.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 4:40 pm
Mother allegedly smothered baby on flight
A woman has allegedly smothered her baby whilst on a flight to Heathrow.
She was apparently breastfeeding the month old girl when she fell asleep.
The plane was heading from Washington DC to Kuwait but had to be diverted to the West London airport last month.
The baby was pronounced dead at Hillingdon Hospital – no arrests have been made.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 4:36 pm
Alternative therapy prepares to launch in Earlsfield
A magnetic therapy centre is about to launch in Earlsfield .
Magnetic therapy has a long and high-class history – Cleopatra placed magnets on her head to help preserve her beauty, Elizabeth I had them for arthritis and former US President Bill Clinton uses them for backache.
The new Bemer Health Centre uses the very latest computerized magnetic technology to provide patients with relief and recovery from a whole raft of ailments, as well as boosting health and vitality, and even sports performance and libido.
The hi-tech medical centre – the first of its kind in London – is based in a 100-year-old former church on the Earlsfield Road.
Magnetic therapy works by passing low-frequency, pulsating magnetic waves through the body, energizing every cell in the patient's body simultaneously.
The Bemer (Bio Electro Magnetic Energy Regulation) Health Centre has a range of special hi-tech equipment, including mats with computerized magnetic fields.
The therapy is pain-free, non-invasive and has no side effects.
For more information email [email protected] or visit www.bemerhealthcentre.co.uk
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 2:37 pm
Monday, 30 November 2009
Have you got what it takes to be a blood runner?
You may have heard of the Blood Runners. But do you know what they do?
SERV or Service by Emergency Rider Volunteers, is a group of riders who deliver blood stocks to hospitals free of charge.
The volunteers are on call after hours from 7pm to 6am, 365 nights a year from their headquarters in New Malden.
They are currently looking for sponsorship and extra volunteers.
Investigation into a fire in Claygate
An investigation is under way into the cause of a fire which gutted several derelict buildings at a garden centre in Claygate.
Crews were sent to Kennedys in Oaken Lane after the blaze broke out in the early hours.
The Fire Service says it believes it was started deliberately.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 6:30 pm
Naked cyclist stalks women in Barnes
Police are looking for a naked cyclist who has been stalking women joggers in west London.
Detectives are examining a series of sightings of the man close to the River Thames in Barnes.
The suspect has been exposing himself on towpaths and riverside roads.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 6:09 pm
Street lights in Surrey are changing
Surrey will soon be changing it’s colour.
The County Council has signed a new deal to replace the old orange lamps with brighter white ones.
It says the move is expected to save around £12,000,000 and also cut tonnes of carbon dioxide.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 6:03 pm
Man acquitted of Dando's murder takes police to court
The man acquitted of the murder of TV presenter Jill Dando in Fulham is to take the MET police to court.
49 year old Barry George claims his human rights are being breached as officers are still tracking his movements.
The force says he’s a risk to the public on the grounds of previous convictions for attempted rape.
They say other women have complained about him since he was freed from prison just over a year ago.
Jill Dando was shot dead on her doorstep in 1999.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 5:57 pm
Claygate racing driver moves up a gear
Claygate racing driver Sam Bird’s career has moved up a gear.
It’s been confirmed he will compete in the GP2 series next year for the ART team.
They powered Lewis Hamilton to championship success in the series.
GP2 is widely regarded as a stepping stone into Formula One.
posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 5:54 pm
Sunday, 29 November 2009
Reports of a Chemical Smell at St Helier Hospital
There were reports of 'a chemical smell' at St Helier Hospital in the early hours of this morning
A spokesperson for the London Ambulance Service said they had been on standby since 1am at the hospital, although they had not treated anyone in connection with the incident.
St Helier Hospital have assured the Radio Jackie Newsroom that there is no cause for concern.posted by Radio Jackie News Team @ 3:04 am
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Lucy Mayer
Lucy is the News and Travel Editor. Find out more about her on the Presenters page.
Luke Williams
Luke spends his free time playing synthesisers and watching old sitcoms. Journalism helps remind him of the 21st century.
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Chloe presents both news and travel - find out more about her on the Presenters page.
Sandra Aggrey
Sandra wants to travel the world in 60 days.
Alex Loveridge
Alex loves watching tennis at Surbiton and Wimbledon and also plays a bit too. He swims at Richmond, but not in the Thames.
Mike Oban
Mike enjoys playing and watching sports and is a budding football coach.
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Jacqui enjoys all sports and has had a go at most! She loves talking, current affairs, music, and walking her polar bear sized dog.
David Walker
David´s philosophy is you only live once so go out and grab every opportunity no matter how small.
Paul Francis
Paul grew up in Fetcham and now lives in Teddington with his wife, two cats and a dog. He supports Fulham and plays in a band.
Sharmeen Ziauddin
Sharmeen lives in Worcester Park and loves lie-ins, kittens, books, politics, make-up and anything with sugar in it, but hates Monday mornings with a vengeance.
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John lives in Hounslow. He enjoys beer and singing with barbershop quartets and choruses, though not necessarily in that order.
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Amelia thinks living in New Malden definitely has its benefits: she gets the shops and beautiful riverside from Kingston, can walk her dogs on the common and visit the tennis in Wimbledon, as well as having a great range of Asian culture and cuisines on her high street.
Abby Chitty
Abby is from Southfields and her favourite band of all time is The Killers.
Nick Ellerby
Back in the UK after six years in Brazil, Nick is missing the sun. He's a big fan of cricket, stand-up comedy and all things radio.
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