19 December 201217 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Hillsborough inquest verdicts quashed by High Court

originally by: BBC News
published: 19 December 2012

The High Court has quashed the original inquest verdicts returned on 96 Liverpool football fans who died in the 1989 Hillsborough disaster. The Lord Chief Justice Lord Judge ordered fresh inquests following an application by the Attorney General.

Trevor Hicks of the Hillsborough Family Support Group said it was “a huge step for the families”.

The home secretary has also announced a new police inquiry into the disaster. Theresa May said the new inquiry would re-examine what happened in April 1989.

12 December 201217 December 2022 4WardEverUK

More than 100 cops and civilian staff quit while under investigation by West Midlands Police

originally by: Birmingham Mail
published: 8 December 2012

More than 100 cops and civilian staff have resigned or retired while under investigation by West Midlands Police, shock new figures have revealed. And a total of 26 employees admitted or were convicted of criminal offences – while a further eight received cautions.

The Mail has also discovered two cops under investigation have remained suspended on FULL PAY since 2010, eight since 2011 and two this year.

A Freedom of Information request to West Midlands Police revealed 111 officers, PCSOs and civilian staff resigned or retired while under investigation between 2009 and 2012.

12 December 201217 December 2022 4WardEverUK

Endgame for death penalty in California

originally by: SFGate
published: 8 Dec 2012

The election-night headlines didn’t seem cheerful for those dedicated to ending capital punishment in California. Proposition 34, the audacious attempt to use ballot initiatives to abolish the death penalty, was defeated. The narrowness of the final vote (52-48 percent) was some consolation, but this was in part the result of the lack of an energetic campaign by the state’s district attorneys.

And isn’t it folk wisdom that close calls only count in horseshoes? Don’t the anti-death-penalty partisans belong in the ballot initiative loser’s bracket for 2012 along with the food labelers and union busters?