'Heartbreak' over couple's deaths

12 January 2012 Last updated at 12:47 ET

The couple had four children and eight grandchildren

The family of a couple found murdered in their Birmingham home said their hearts had been broken forever.

Avtar Singh-Kolar, 62, and his wife Carole, 58, were found by their police officer son at their house in Friary Road, Handsworth Wood on Wednesday.

Speaking at a news conference, daughter Michelle Kirwan, 39, described her parents as "the sweetest and kindest people I have ever met".

Police said post-mortem examinations would start later.

They added forensic officers were on still on the scene and they were currently viewing CCTV footage from the area.

Making an appeal for information from the local community, Ms Kirwan said: "Yesterday the light was switched out in our lives and our hearts have been broken forever.

Det Supt Richard Baker: "It's a terrible crime, it's devastated not only a family, but a local community"

"They were the beautiful parents of myself, Jason, Taz and Marie, and the precious nanna and granddad of eight grandchilden, who adored them with all their hearts."

She said her mother had worked at the grandchildren's school at a before-school and after-school club where she was known as "Nanny Cal".

"She was like the Pied Piper with the children and they adored her."

The couple had been married for 40 years and had lived in the Handsworth Wood area for most of their lives.

One of their sons, Jason, a serving officer with the West Midlands force, went to his parents' house after being unable to contact them on the phone.

Avtar Kolar and his sister Michelle Kirwan could not contain their tears

Det Supt Richard Baker said Jason's job as a police officer was being examined as a line of inquiry.

"But what I can say at this time is there is nothing to suggest at all that Jason's role as a police officer has anything to do with the motive in relation to this investigation."

Another son, Avtar Kolar, 32, appealed for help in catching whoever was responsible, saying: "Somebody out there knows who did this, so please I beg of you."

Mr Kolar, whose own son was born just a week ago, said the whole family was struggling to come to terms with the deaths.

He said: "The hardest thing I've ever had to do is tell my children they're never going to see their nanny and granddad again.

"We all hurt so much inside because they were so special.

"They wouldn't hurt a fly, we just can't understand how this could happen."

Floral tributes were left at the scene by members of the family, bearing the message "Why?"

Det Supt Baker said officers were also investigating if the murder was related to an increase in gold thefts in the area.

Police said they had "numerous" calls from members of the community overnight and appealed for anyone else with information to come forward.

Continue Reading... Labels: 'Heartbreak', couple's, deaths

Focus on weapons at deaths house

2 January 2012 Last updated at 23:54 ET

The house is the subject of a detailed forensic operation

Police investigating the deaths of three women and the man who shot them before killing himself are expected to focus on why he owned six guns.

Michael Atherton, 42, had licences for the firearms despite police revealing they were told three years ago that he had threatened to harm himself.

He shot his partner Susan McGoldrick, her sister Alison Turnbull, 44, and her niece Tanya Turnbull, 24.

Officers found the bodies inside the house in Horden, Co Durham, on Sunday.

Det Supt Paul Goundry said detectives were not looking for anyone else in connection with deaths of 47-year-old Ms McGoldrick and the two other women.

Three other people, including a 19-year-old woman, escaped from an upstairs window during the incident at the property on Greenside Avenue.

The 19-year-old is believed to have suffered minor injuries.

Police found the victims downstairs in different rooms of the house in Horden near Peterlee.

'Minor contact'

Assistant Chief Constable Michael Banks said Mr Atherton was licensed to own six weapons, three of them shotguns and a further three "section-one" firearms.

The latter required a greater degree of authorisation than a shotgun licence, he said.

Mr Atherton had been a member of a gun club in the area but it is not known if he was still an active member.

"I can confirm that a resident at that address was the lawful holder of shotgun and firearms licences and we cannot confirm at this stage whether any of those weapons that were lawfully held have been used in this," said Mr Banks.

It has also emerged that the Durham force had previously had what has been described as "minor contact" with the family and that as a result, a voluntary referral to the Independent Police Complaints Commission (IPCC) was being made.

The victims had been in a group celebrating the New Year in what police have called a "close and very settled community".

Mr Goundry, who described the deaths as "a tragic event", added: "We have four people who died and our thoughts and feelings are with their family and friends at this moment."

Continue Reading... Labels: deaths, focus, house, weapons

Lodger charged over house deaths

10 December 2011 Last updated at 15:52 ET

Barry Morrow was a lodger at Mrs Holgate's Southport home

A man has been charged with the murders of his landlady and her mother.

The strangled bodies of Angela Holgate, 54, and 75-year-old Alice Huyton were discovered at Mrs Holgate's home near Southport, Merseyside, on 3 December.

A Europe-wide investigation was started after reports that a key suspect was seen arriving in Calais, France. A man was arrested in the UK on Thursday.

Barry Morrow, 51, of Fairhaven Road, Southport, will appear at South Sefton Magistrates' Court on Monday.

He was remanded in custody.

Continue Reading... Labels: charged, deaths, house, Lodger

Lodger sought over women's deaths

4 December 2011 Last updated at 12:11 ET

Police want to trace Barry Morrow, 51, who lodged in the house

Police investigating the deaths of a woman and her mother at a house on Merseyside have said they want to trace a man who lodged at the property.

The bodies of Angela Holgate, 54, and Alice Huyton, 75 were found at the house on Fairhaven Road in Churchtown at about 17:45 GMT on Saturday.

A Merseyside Police spokeswoman said officers wanted to trace Barry Morrow, 51, who may be in France or Spain.

Police are treating the women's deaths as suspicious.

They are also trying to find Ms Holgate's white Citroen car, registration number PN11 RWK, which was missing from the house's drive.

Mr Morrow is described as white, 5ft 7in (1.7m) tall, of a medium to stocky build with straight short brown, receding hair and blue eyes.

Police believe that he may have travelled from Dover to Calais on Saturday evening and that he has connections in Spain.

'Tragic deaths'

Officers were called to the house by Ms Holgate's son-in-law who found the bodies.

Ms Holgate is believed to have last been seen on 26 November.

Mrs Huyton had not been seen since Friday evening when she went to check on her daughter who had been ill.

Mrs Huyton's husband, who is in his 80s, is said to be devastated at the news of the deaths.

Neighbours said Ms Holgate had lived in the house for about 20 years

Ch Supt Nikki Holland said: "We are investigating the tragic deaths of these two women and our sympathy goes to their families.

"Detectives are investigating the circumstances around these deaths and are trying to piece together the women's last movements.

"We are appealing to anyone with any information that may help us with this investigation to come forward as soon as possible.

"In particular we are keen to trace Mr Morrow, who lived at the house for a period of time and who we believe may have vital information for this investigation."

Post-mortem examinations are expected to take place on Monday.

'A lovely woman'

Neighbours said Ms Holgate, who sold Avon products, had lived in the house for about 20 years.

A neighbour said: "It's a pretty well-to-do area around here so we don't get much police activity at all.

"I saw that there was a man coming and going from the house recently, doing the front garden, but I never knew he lived there.

"Angela and her daughters were always pleasant. She seemed like a lovely woman and they were a lovely family."

Forensic experts are examining the house and officers are carrying out house-to-house inquiries.

Continue Reading... Labels: deaths, Lodger, sought, women's

Nato admits Pakistan troop deaths

26 November 2011 Last updated at 14:46 ET

Brigadier-General Carsten Jacobson says the incident will be thoroughly investigated

It is "highly likely" that Nato aircraft were behind a deadly overnight raid on a Pakistani border checkpoint, a Nato spokesman has told the BBC.

Brigadier-General Carsten Jacobson said Nato was investigating how the incident occurred and sent condolences.

Pakistan says at least 24 soldiers were killed. Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani called it "outrageous".

Pakistan retaliated by blocking Nato supply convoys, and ordering a review of co-operation with the US and Nato.

It also demanded the US vacate the remote Shamsi airbase - though it has made a similar demand before and the base may already be empty of US personnel, a BBC correspondent says.

Investigation

The night-time attack took place at the Salala checkpoint, about 1.5 miles (2.5 km) from the Afghan border, at around 02:00 local time (21:00 GMT).

Gen Jacobson said a combined force of Afghan and Nato troops were in the area when "a tactical situation developed on the ground", though he gave no more details.

He said close air support was called in, and "we're aware it's highly likely this caused casualties".

He said it was a high priority for Nato to "find out what happened".

Military sources told the BBC's Quentin Sommerville in Paktika province in Afghanistan that a US-Afghan special forces mission came under fire from a position within Pakistan.

They received permission from the headquarters of Nato's Isaf mission to fire back at what they believed was a suspected Taliban training camp.

The Pakistani army said in a statement that two border posts had been attacked by helicopters and fighter aircraft, killing 24 people and leaving 13 injured.

It said Pakistani troops fired back as best they could.

Chief of Army Staff General Ashfaq Parvez Kayani had strongly condemned the "blatant and unacceptable act", and demanded "strong and urgent action be taken against those responsible for this aggression", the military said.

'Sincere condolences'

A senior Pakistani military officer told Reuters the attack came "without any reasons" and that soldiers were asleep at the time.

Pakistani officials have told the BBC there was no militant activity in the area at the time.

In a statement, Isaf commander Gen John R Allen said the incident "has my highest personal attention and my commitment to thoroughly investigate it to determine the facts".

"My most sincere and personal heartfelt condolences go out to the families and loved ones of any members of Pakistan Security Forces who may have been killed or injured."

The incident looks set to deal a fresh blow to US-Pakistan relations, which had only just begun to recover following a unilateral US raid that killed Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in May.

Prime Minister Gilani cut short a visit to his hometown to return to Islamabad, where he called an emergency meeting of the cabinet.

A foreign ministry statement said he was taking up the matter with Nato and the US "in the strongest terms".

Following the attack, lorries and fuel tankers were being stopped at Jamrud town in the Khyber tribal region near the city of Peshawar, officials and local media said - part of a key route supplying Nato equipment to Afghanistan.

"We have halted the supplies and some 40 tankers and trucks have been returned from the check post in Jamrud," Mutahir Zeb, a senior government official, told Reuters.

Pakistani troops are involved in fighting the Taliban in the crucial border region area. Hundreds of militants have been resisting attempts by the security forces to clear them from southern and south-eastern parts of the district.

In October, Pakistan's army chief Ashfaq Kayani warned the US against taking unilateral action in nearby North Waziristan.

Washington has for many years urged Islamabad to deal with militants in the area.

Continue Reading... Labels: admits, deaths, Pakistan, troop

Two E. coli baby deaths confirmed

22 November 2011 Last updated at 14:07 ET

Singleton Hospital's maternity unit is still open for full-term births

Two babies have died after an E. coli infection, health officials in Swansea have confirmed.

One was a very premature baby who died after contracting ESBL E. coli at the city's Singleton Hospital.

The other baby died in the community but doctors say the cases were linked. How the cross-infection occurred is being investigated.

As a precaution the unit, which has undergone a deep clean, is only open for full-term births.

An inquest has been opened and adjourned into the death of one of the babies, Hope Erin Evans from Aberdare, south Wales, who was just five days old when she died at the hospital on 4 November.

'Tragic loss'

Three other non-fatal cases have been confirmed but Abertawe Bro Morgannwg (ABM) University Health Board said they appeared to be isolated incidents.

The board's medical director Dr Bruce Ferguson said: "Tests have confirmed that in one of these cases the ESBL E.coli infection was contracted in the hospital.

"Sadly, this was a very premature baby who, despite the best efforts of staff, later died.

"The cause of death of this baby is currently being investigated by the coroner. Everyone involved with the unit and in the care of this baby deeply regret this tragic loss."

The other baby contracted the infection outside the hospital.

Dr Ferguson reassured expectant mothers due to give birth in Singleton Hospital that the maternity unit is open as usual for full-term births.

As a precaution, the health board has temporarily restricted the neonatal unit to admissions for babies of 36 weeks gestation, or longer.

"These appear to be isolated incidents which have been contained, and there is no evidence of the infection spreading further," Dr Ferguson added.

"Checks have been taken of patients, equipment and areas in the maternity/neonatal unit and no evidence of ESBL E. coli has been found.

"Very saddened"

"The unit has an excellent record for hand-hygiene and general infection control adherence. Reported infection levels in the unit have been below the national average in recent years."

Microbiologist Prof Hugh Pennington told BBC Radio Wales ESBL E. coli caused problems for young babies because their immune systems were not well-developed.

"These bugs . . . are really quite good at getting about and once they get into something like a neonatal unit, history tells us with other related bugs they can be really quite difficult to eradicate.

"I'm sure that the people at Singleton are doing their utmost to make sure that there aren't any problems.

"They have restricted admission to the very young babies because they are the ones really at risk from this particular nasty bug. It's a very reasonable approach to take."

Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said she was "very saddened" to hear of the two deaths.

Conservative health spokesman Darren Millar AM expressed his condolences for the families involved, adding: "This is obviously an incredibly serious case and I urge the health minister to update us on the current situation and the next planned steps as soon as possible.

"While I recognise these infections appear to be isolated and contained, those using the hospital will expect regular reassurances from the Welsh government in the immediate future."

Anxious people

Welsh Liberal Democrat leader Kirsty Williams said the deaths were a "terrible tragedy".

"While the unit is temporarily closed for some patients, pregnant women in the area who are expected to deliver at the unit need to be reassured that there are alternatives set in place," she added.

"Guarantees are needed that other units that will have to take pre-term mothers have the resources to cope.

Any mothers-to-be who have concerns or questions should speak to their community midwife in the first place. In addition a help line has also been set up: 07747 615627.

Continue Reading... Labels: confirmed, deaths

Aids deaths 'down 21% from peak'

21 November 2011 Last updated at 08:15 ET

Access to combination HIV therapy has significantly improved

Aids-related deaths are at the lowest level since their 2005 peak, down 21%, figures from UNAids suggest.

Globally, the number of new HIV infections in 2010 was 21% down on that peak, seen in 1997, according to UNAids 2011 report.

The organisation says both falls have been fuelled by a major expansion in access to treatment.

Its executive director, Michel Sidibe, said: "We are on the verge of a significant breakthrough."

He added: "Even in a very difficult financial crisis, countries are delivering results in the Aids response.

"We have seen a massive scale up in access to HIV treatment which has had a dramatic effect on the lives of people everywhere."

'End in sight?'

This latest analysis says the number of people living with HIV has reached a record 34 million.

Sub-Saharan Africa has seen the most dramatic improvement, with a 20% rise in people undergoing treatment between 2009 and 2010.

About half of those eligible for treatment are now receiving it.

UNAids estimates 700,000 deaths were averted last year because of better access to treatment.

That has also helped cut new HIV infections, as people undergoing care are less likely to infect others.

In 2010 there were an estimated 2.7m new HIV infections, down from 3.2m in 1997, and 1.8m people died from Aids-related illnesses, down from 2.2m in 2005.

The figures continue the downward trend reported in previous UNAids reports.

The UN agency said: "The number of new HIV infections is 30-50% lower now than it would have been in the absence of universal access to treatment for eligible people living with HIV."

Some countries have seen particularly striking improvements.

In Namibia, treatment access has reached 90% and condom use rose to 75%, resulting in a 60% drop in new infections by 2010.

UNAids says the full preventive impact of treatment is likely to be seen in the next five years, as more countries improve treatment.

Its report added that even if the Aids epidemic was not over: "The end may be in sight if countries invest smartly."

'Promising moment'

The charity Medecins Sans Frontieres urged governments to keep up their funding.

MSF's Tido von Schoen-Angerer, said: "Never, in more than a decade of treating people living with HIV/Aids, have we been at such a promising moment to really turn this epidemic around.

"Governments in some of the hardest hit countries want to act on the science, seize this moment and reverse the Aids epidemic. But this means nothing if there's no money to make it happen."

The International HIV/Aids Alliance said: "We welcome the ongoing commitment of UNAids to changing behaviours, changing social norms and changing laws, alongside efforts to improve access to HIV treatment.

"For bigger and better impact though, we must not be complacent. There is still much more to do."

Continue Reading... Labels: 'down, deaths, peak'