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Man charged with manslaughter of actor’s daughter
A man has been charged with the manslaughter of Louella Eve Fletcher-Michie who died at the Bestival music festival in September. Ceon Broughton, 28, from Enfield, North London, will appear before magistrates at a special hearing today. Mr Broughton is believed to have been Ms Fletcher-Michie’s boyfriend and has been charged with manslaughter by gross negligence. Senior investigating officer Neil Devoto said: “Following a detailed investigation, we have consulted with the Crown Prosecution Service, which has this evening authorised a charge of manslaughter. Louella’s family has been updated with this development and our thoughts remain with them at this very difficult time.”
Ms Fletcher-Michie, 25, was found dead in the woods on the edge of the festival site at Lulworth Castle. Dorset Police said a post-mortem examination was carried out shortly after Ms Fletcher-Michie’s death and it showed there were no clear signs of an assault. Ms Fletcher-Michie was the daughter of actor John Michie, who played neurosurgeon Guy Self in BBC medical drama Holby City. Following her death, Mr
Michie said the family had “lost an angel”.
Corbyn’s position strengthened as Labour Party general secretary resigns
Iain McNicol, the general secretary of the Labour Party, has resigned as Jeremy Corbyn continued to tighten his grip on the party machine. The former trade union official has held the top post since 2011 but said he was stepping down to “pursue new projects”. He will stand aside once a successor is chosen. Mr McNicol, the party’s most senior employee, has clashed with Mr Corbyn’s office in private, and Labour left-wingers are understood to have long wished to replace him with someone more favourable to their agenda. His successor will be confirmed at the party’s annual conference following a recommendation by the National Executive Committee, on which the left of the party has a majority. He is all but certain to be replaced by one of the Labour leader’s allies.
Mr McNicol clashed with Mr Corbyn’s team during the 2016 Labour leadership contest, when he was accused of trying to prevent the party leader getting on the ballot paper a second time by arguing that he should have to seek nominations from MPs. Announcing his resignation, Mr McNicol said: “It’s been an absolute honour and a privilege to serve as general secretary of the Labour Party. I have now decided to move on to pursue new challenges in the service of the Labour Party and wider labour movement.” Mr Corbyn thanked Mr McNicol for his “long and dedicated service”.
Police ‘don’t understand’ stats as rape reports rise by 20% in London over a year
The number of alleged rapes reported to police in London has risen by almost 20 per cent in a disturbing increase police are struggling to explain. There were 7,613 reported rapes in the year to January, compared to 6,392 over the previous 12 months, according to figures collated by the Mayor’s Office for Policing and Crime (MOPAC). Sir Craig Mackey, deputy commissioner of the Metropolitan Police, said the rise could not be accounted for simply by more victims feeling able to report abuse, or better recording practices. “It is not as simple as saying this is increased confidence,” he told the London Assembly’s police and come committee. “Of course that plays a part, and faith in the process, but there is something going on with sexual offending in London that we don’t fully understand. We see the end of it but we don’t understand the causes.”
Joanne McCartney, deputy mayor of London, told the meeting that Sir Craig’s statement was “the first time a senior officer has come to this committee and accepted that the increase in sexual violence may not just be about an increase in reporting and confidence”. Susan Hall, a Conservative assembly member, called for police to measure the outcome of plans in place to combat violence against women and girls in the capital. “Figures are really going in the wrong direction,” she added. Scotland Yard has emphasised that the vast majority of rapes are carried out by attackers known to victims, but the statistics emerged following a “stranger rape” in Shoreditch.
Grenfell Tower inquiry petition tops 100,000 signatures
A petition calling on the Prime Minister to take action to build public trust in the Grenfell Tower Inquiry has topped 100,000 signatures. The petition, which urges Theresa May to appoint additional members with decision-making powers to the inquiry panel, passed the milestone required for it to be considered for debate by MPs in Parliament. Organisers Adel Chaoui, Karim Mussilhy and Sandra Ruiz said in a joint statement: “This week the public have shown they’ve not forgotten about Grenfell. Just as they supported us in the immediate aftermath of the fire, when local and national government response was lacking, they’ve backed us again – and demanded the voices of the survivors and bereaved are heard.” PA