Latest news with #DetectiveChiefInspector
Sky News
6 days ago
- Sky News
Stephen Speedie: Two charged amid murder investigation after man found dead on road
Two suspects have been charged amid a murder investigation following the death of a man in Perthshire. Officers received a report of concern for a man on the road between Dunning and Kinross at about 7am on Friday. Stephen Speedie, a 29-year-old from Perth, was pronounced dead at the scene. In an update on Monday, Police Scotland said Mr Speedie's death is now being treated as murder following a post-mortem examination. Detectives believe it to be an "isolated incident" with "no wider risk to the public". Two men, aged 36 and 42, have been arrested and charged in connection with the case. The pair are due to appear before Perth Sheriff Court. A 40-year-old woman was also arrested but has been released pending further investigation. Detective Chief Inspector Carron McKellar said: "Our thoughts are with Stephen's family and friends at what is an extremely difficult time. "Officers are offering support and keeping them updated with the progress of our investigation. "I understand this incident will be concerning for the local community however I'd like to reassure them we believe this was an isolated incident and there is no wider risk to the public.
Daily Mail
13-06-2025
- Daily Mail
Hunt for fugitive Rochale grooming gang member who was found guilty of raping and abusing teenage girl as police warn him 'you can run but you can't hide'
One of the seven men convicted of exploiting two young girls as 'sex slaves' has gone on the run, police have revealed. The gang preyed on the vulnerabilities of the victims to groom them from the age of 13 over a five-year-long campaign of abuse between 2001 and 2006. Kasir Bashir, 50, was absent throughout his trial - despite answering bail on a weekly basis since being charged in 2023. In his absence, the abuser was convicted by a jury of two counts of rape, as well as two counts of indecency with a child. He is being actively sought by GMP, the force confirmed, and is officially a wanted man. It comes as three members of the gang were locked up partway through their trial following 'intelligence' that they planned to flee to Pakistan. Police said they are determined to find Bashir 'no matter where he thinks he can hide'. Anyone with information about Bashir's whereabouts have been urged to contact police or Crimestoppers, anonymously. Detective Chief Inspector Guy Laycock, the senior investigation officer on the case, said: 'The men who committed this horrific abuse have now been found guilty of their abhorrent crimes. One defendant, Kasir Bashir cowardly avoided the whole trial and thought he could escape justice. 'This is in stark contrast to the survivors who gave brave and painful testimony over the four-month trial in front of the men that so badly abused them. We will do all we can to find Bashir and ensure justice is fully served for them. 'Time was no barrier to bringing these groomers to justice, and Bashir evading the trial, will not stop us ensuring he now faces the full consequences of his actions.' Both female victims of the gang had 'deeply troubled home lives' and were given drugs, alcohol, cigarettes, places to stay and people to be with, Manchester Minshull Street Crown Court heard. They were expected to have sex 'whenever and wherever' the defendants and other men wanted in filthy flats, on rancid mattresses, in cars, car parks, alleyways and disused warehouses. Jurors deliberated for three weeks before delivering their unanimous guilty verdicts today. Rochdale is now not synonymous with the great achievements of the Industrial Revolution but with what has become known as Asian grooming gangs, the men's trial heard The gang's convictions in full Mohammed Zahid was convicted of ten counts of rape; four counts of indecency with a child; five counts of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse; and one count of attempt to procure a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse. Kasir Bashir was convicted of two counts of rape; and two counts of indecency with a child. Mushtaq Ahmed was convicted of four counts of rape; four counts of indecency with a child; and one count of procuring a girl under 21 to have unlawful sexual intercourse. Roheez Khan was convicted of one count of rape. Mohammed Shahzad was convicted of five counts of rape; and one count of assault by penetration. Nisar Hussain was convicted of two counts of rape; and one count of assault by penetration. Naheem Akram was convicted of six counts of rape; and one count of assault by penetration Three of the abusers, Mohammed Zahid, 64, Mushtaq Ahmed, 67, and Bashir - all born in Pakistan - were stallholders on Rochdale's indoor market. The gang's depraved ringleader Zahid was even known as 'Knickerman' because of his underwear stall at the centuries-old trading hub. The pot-bellied, wispy-haired father-of-three exploited his products' appeal to young girls to lure in vulnerable youngsters who were then subjected to 'years of misery'. In 2016, Zahid was jailed for five years in an earlier grooming gang case after he engaged in sexual activity in 2006 with a 15-year-old girl who he met when she visited his stall to buy tights for school. Bashir did not attend the current trial as jurors were ordered not to speculate why but it can be revealed that he absconded while on bail before the trial got under way. It can also be reported that co-defendants Mohammed Shahzad, 44, Naheem Akram, 48, and Nisar Hussain, 41, were remanded in custody with their bail revoked in January before the jury was sworn in. A seventh defendant, Pakistani-born Roheez Khan, 39, also featured in another previous Rochdale grooming trial in 2013 when he was one of five men convicted of sexually exploiting a 'profoundly vulnerable' 15-year-old girl in 2008 and 2009. Khan was jailed for six-and-a-half years for engaging in sexual activity with a child and witness intimidation. Starting when they were aged just 13, two terrified girls were 'passed around' for sex between fellow traders and taxi drivers – all from Rochdale's Pakistani community - between 2001 and 2006. They would then be callously 'discarded', jurors in a ten-week trial heard. Following a string of successful prosecutions which made the Greater Manchester town grimly synonymous with the scourge of grooming gangs, the victims – now in their 30s – decided to come forward to seek justice over their ordeals.
The Sun
10-06-2025
- The Sun
Gold suitcase found after mum-of-three, 32, ‘murdered' at home – as two more men are arrested
TWO further arrests have been made following the murder of a Portsmouth woman. Samantha Murphy, 32, was found dead inside her North End home in Portsmouth on June 5. 3 3 A gold suitcase was also found after police launched an appeal to help find the item they believed could further the investigation. A 30-year-old man from Southsea was arrested on suspicion of murder while a 41-year-old man from Portsmouth was arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender. Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary also announced that a gold suitcase had been found after they launched an appeal to help locate it. The two men remain in police custody. Two 32-year-old men previously arrested on suspicion of murder have been released on conditional bail until September 5. The police unit's Senior Investigating Officer, Detective Chief Inspector Jody Beresford said: 'We understand that this incident is both shocking and devastating to all those who knew Samantha, and we are working tirelessly to establish the full circumstances. 'We would like to thank the community for their patience and understanding whilst we have been carrying out enquiries in the area. 'As part of our enquiries, we appealed for help in locating a gold suitcase. We can confirm this has now been found and we would like to thank everyone who contacted us with information.'
The Independent
05-06-2025
- The Independent
Man arrested on suspicion of murder after 16-year-old hit by car on pavement
A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a teenager who was an 'entirely innocent bystander' was hit by a car which appeared to mount the pavement, police have said. Graphic CCTV footage of the incident in the Darnall area of Sheffield appears to show the car veer into the opposite carriageway before hitting the 16-year-old at speed. South Yorkshire Police said on Thursday that a man had been arrested in Kent on suspicion of murder. Three people – a 45-year-old woman and two men aged 26 and 46 – have been arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender, the force said. All four remain in custody. Detectives said they believe a grey Audi drove towards three electric bikes, colliding with one rider, who suffered serious injuries which are not thought to be life-threatening. The Audi then collided with the teenager and failed to stop at the scene, officers said. Detective Chief Inspector Benjamin Wood said: 'This is a tragic incident in which an entirely innocent bystander, who was going about his daily business, has sadly lost his life. 'Our thoughts are with the boy's loved ones and we remain focused on securing justice for them.' Mr Wood said: 'We know that this incident will have caused concern in the local community, and we have a team of detectives working at pace to piece together the circumstances which unfolded. 'We're aware of footage being shared online and I'd like to reiterate our message to the public to withhold from speculating or circulating videos which may cause distress to the boy's family. Detective Chief Inspector Benjamin Wood said: 'This is a tragic incident in which an entirely innocent bystander, who was going about his daily business, has sadly lost his life. 'If you have any footage, imagery or information that may help our investigation then please share this directly with us, it may form an important part of our inquiries. 'We are also keen to hear from the riders of two electric bikes who were in the area at the time of the incident.' Officers were called to reports of a road traffic collision on Staniforth Road shortly after 4.50pm on Wednesday. Mojid Khan said the boy came to rest at the gates of his Staniforth Road wholesale catering business, and his staff were the first on the scene after hearing the collision. He said he arrived half an hour later and was shocked to see what his CCTV system had recorded. Mr Khan said on Thursday: 'When it happens on your doorstep, literally, it does affect you. It's quite horrific to see how it happens.' He said: 'I think it's a local lad that's passed away and another local lad that got injured on a motorbike. It's shocking for us as a community. 'The disturbing thing is that this is not the first time that this has happened. It seems every few months something like this is going on. 'I think that's a matter for our politicians to do something about.' He said: 'Tomorrow is our Eid festival. That's going to hit them (the boy's family) even harder. 'It should be a happy day. I'm really sad for the family. Their loss is going to be that much greater tomorrow.' Mr Khan said people used the road outside his business 'like a racetrack', and there were increasing problems with quad bikes and scooters. 'I have children in this area who go to school, who go to work, and other family members going to the local shops,' he said. 'It's quite distressing and disturbing to know this kind of thing is happening on a regular basis.' Mr Khan said it was a close-knit community, in which he had worked since 1978, but speeding motorists and gang problems had begun to blight the area in recent years. People began to lay flowers outside Mr Khan's business as the large police presence in the area dispersed on Thursday. Debris from the collision could still be seen in the road, at the junction between Staniforth Road and Barnardiston Road.
Daily Mail
05-06-2025
- General
- Daily Mail
BREAKING NEWS Man, 20, is arrested on suspicion of murder after teenage pedestrian killed and e-rider, 18, seriously wounded in 'hit and run' involving Audi
A 20-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of murder after a teenager was killed in a 'hit and run'. The incident, which took place in Sheffield yesterday, saw a grey car appear to swerve towards a group of e-bike riders before ploughing into the boy as he walked along the pavement. The 16-year-old was rushed to hospital and later died from his injuries. An 18-year-old e-bike rider who was also struck by the vehicle remains fighting for his life. South Yorkshire Police have arrested a man and woman, both in their 40s, on suspicion of assisting an offender and remain in custody, whilst officers appeal for witnesses, footage, or any information about the crash. Video shared online appears to show two e-bike riders and a motorcyclist riding on the road before a grey Audi driving in the opposite direction, appears to swerve into their path. In harrowing footage, the motorcyclist narrowly misses the car while one of the e-bike riders is hit head on, being thrown into the air and into the hedge in front of a property. Less than a second later, the driver continues on a further 80ft, crashing into the 16-year-old pedestrian who had just stopped walking on the pavement at the corner of Barnardiston Road before appearing to raise his hand. Senior Investigating Officer in the case, Detective Chief Inspector Benjamin Wood said: 'This is a tragic incident in which an entirely innocent bystander, who was going about his daily business, has sadly lost his life. Our thoughts are with the boy's loved ones, and we remain focused on securing justice for them. 'We know that this incident will have caused concern in the local community, and we have a team of detectives working at pace to piece together the circumstances which unfolded. 'We're aware of footage being shared online and I'd like to reiterate our message to the public to withhold from speculating or circulating videos which may cause distress to the boy's family. 'If you have any footage, imagery or information that may help our investigation then please share this directly with us – it may form an important part of our enquiries. We are also keen to hear from the riders of two electric bikes who were in the area at the time of the incident.'
