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Jury out in murder trial of Bharat Soma at Leicester Crown Court

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The jury in the trial of a man accused of attempting to murder his ex-fiancé and her boyfriend, by cutting their throats, are still considering the verdicts..

Bharat Soma, 26, of Stroud Road, North Evington, denies the attempted murder of, Darshana Narotam, 17, and Prashant Govinde, 22, on the afternoon of January 19.

They couple were walking home after visiting local shops on East Park Road, Spinney Hills, in Leicester, when Soma allegedly attacked them in the street with a knife.

Soma also denies inflicting grievous bodily harm upon a 15-year-old boy, who suffered a cut hand with severed tendons whilst trying to help injured Darshana and Prashant, who survived life-threatening injuries.

Adrienne Lucking QC, prosecuting, alleges that Soma attacked the young couple "in revenge" for being jilted by Darshana.

She had eloped with Prashant, to avoid an arranged marriage with Soma, Leicester Crown Court was told.

Darshana's father, Narotam Deugi, 41, and mother, Parvati Natu, 42, of Belmont Avenue, Wembley, are also on trial.

Both parents deny falsely imprisoning her by allegedly locking her in her bedroom and Deugi denies common assault upon her.

Deugi and four of Darshana's other relatives, all from Wembley, deny kidnapping Prashant's father, in an effort to establish the runaway couple's whereabouts.

They are: Jignesh Devgi, 31, an uncle, of Bridgewater Road, Harshad Jagdish, 25, an uncle, of Bridgewater Road, Shantilal Natu, 37, an uncle, of Belmont Avenue, and Kaushik Meghji, 18, a cousin, of Heather Park Parade.

The jury first retired on Friday morning and resumed deliberations today (MONDAY), in the seventh week of the trial.

No verdicts have yet been announced in relation to any of the charges.

High Court Judge, Mr Justice Saunders, sent the jury home overnight and they are due to continue considering the evidence Tuesday morning.

Jury out in murder trial of Bharat Soma at Leicester Crown Court


Hard shoulder driving on the M1 in Leicestershire proposed again to beat congestion

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The Government has re-announced a number of major road projects in Leicestershire as part of a £15 billion nationwide package of investment.

The majority of schemes outlined by the Department of Transport are linked the M1 corridor through the county and work on some of them is already well underway.

Conservative transport secretary Patrick McLoughlin has described the overall package as the "biggest, boldest and most far-reaching roads programme for decades."

Labour says he has made "yet another re-announcement" with no additional money to that proposed last year.

The schemes Leicestershire outlined include the £190 million project to reconstruct the M1 Junction 19 at Catthorpe which began in January.

It is designed free flowing traffic at one of the country's busiest junctions.

The dualling of the A453 between East Midlands Airport and Nottingham is also almost complete.

The M1 between junctions 23A, near East Midlands Airport, and Junction 19 will be upgraded as a section of "smart motorway".

That means there will be the potential to open up the hard shoulder to drivers - an idea explored in 2008 - while there will be signs which will allow speed limits to be altered in a move the Government says will reduce congestion and increase capacity.

A further scheme, funded by the developers of the proposed Roxhill rail freight interchange, will transform junctions 24 and 24A, near Kegworth helping to fix one of the worst bottlenecks in the region.

Major improvements to M1 Junction 21 at Fosse Park have also been outlined. They could see a fly-over linking the M1 southbound to the M69 so traffic between the M1 northbound and the M69 would not have to use the main junction.

The A5 at Hinckley will also be made dual carriageway.

Mr McLoughlin said: "Roads are key to our nation's prosperity.

"For too long they have suffered from under-investment. "This government has a long term plan to secure the country's future and this £15 billion roads programme is demonstration of that. It will directly benefit hardworking families across the Midlands."

"This is the biggest investment in roads in a generation and will update major corridors in the Midlands including the M6 and M1.

Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, said: "Our long term economic plan means today we can invest £1.4 billion into the Midland's infrastructure to improve, repair and expand our roads.

"Ambitious projects, such as the expansion of the M6, M1 and M42, as well as spending on important local infrastructure will boost productivity and help the local economy of the Midlands.

Leicestershire Chamber of Commerce head of information Chris Hobson said: "Overall, this investment needs to be part of a larger road, rail and air strategy for the East Midlands to ensure the infrastructure is in place to underpin the region's future economic success.

"Infrastructure is a driver of growth.

"However, large-scale projects are too often made political footballs, undermining businesses' ability to plan ahead.

"Many people who use the M1 will understand the pinch points at junctions and the need to alleviate congestion at peak times."

Hard shoulder driving on the M1 in Leicestershire proposed again to beat congestion

'Huge' Christmas Ferris wheel in Loughborough gives little cheer to disappointed residents

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A Christmas Ferris wheel which organisers promised would be "huge" has been dismissed by disappointed Loughborough residents as "a joke".

The wheel was brought to the town by Love Loughborough, a scheme which uses extra business rates to pay for projects to boost trade.

Last month, Love Loughborough said: "A huge Ferris wheel will be set up in Market Place for people to enjoy a bird's eye view of the town."

But when the wheel was set up on Sunday, its smaller-than-hoped size proved something of a disappointment to many.

Ann Barrass, manager at Denhams Jewellers, in High Street, said: "I think it's rubbish - we all do. It is just an old Ferris wheel.

Ann said: "They have sold advertising space all around it and it just looks scruffy.

"I know a lot of people are disappointed."

Shopper Amanda Hopkins, 48, from Shepshed said: "We were expecting something grander. It's not very attractive."

Dozens of people have also expressed their disappointment on social media.

Holly Kirkland wrote on Facebook: "I'm appalled... Really embarrassed! Quite a shocking start to our Christmas boost for our beloved town!"

Fellow poster Vickie Sharpe wrote: "It's a joke really."

Facebook user Craig Sanders called it: "The Loughborough Eye-sore."

However, not everyone agreed.

Among them was Darryl Symonds, who urged people to get things into perspective.

He wrote on Facebook: "All the problems in the world and the people of Loughborough are moaning about the size of the big wheel. Through the eyes of a child that's still a big wheel!"

People behind Love Loughborough said they wanted to apologise to everyone who was disappointed with the size of the wheel.

Jonathan Hale is project manager of Love Loughborough and of the Loughborough Business Improvement District (BID) initiative, which runs Love Loughborough with Charnwood Borough Council.

He said: "We were very careful in our marketing and promotion to make it clear that it was a Ferris wheel and not an 'Eye', but we did say it would be huge and it's clearly not. We are sorry about that.

"However, there were thousands of people in Market Place on Sunday for the lights switch on and hundreds of them took a ride on the wheel."

David Pagett-Wright, chairman of Love Loughborough and the BID, said: "We are sorry some people were disappointed and were expecting an observation wheel, but we did promote it as a Ferris wheel, and with a standard ticket price of just £2 we feel it is good value for money.

"The Ferris wheel adds atmosphere to the Market Place in the lead up to Christmas."

Mr Hale said that as well as the wheel, there would be a Christmas Market in Market Place until December 14, and extra markets each day from Sunday 21 until Wednesday 24 December.

The wheel is open daily from 12pm until 6pm, until Christmas Eve.

For more information visit: www.loveloughborough.co.uk/christmas

'Huge' Christmas Ferris wheel in Loughborough gives little cheer to disappointed residents

Reindeer on the loose in Leicestershire discovered in an old mine

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A white reindeer crossed roads, swam across a canal and ended up in an old coal mine after escaping from a Christmas tree farm.

Holly and Tinsel had only been at Friezeland Farm, Market Bosworth, for about 20 minutes when she somehow sneaked out on Friday morning.

She was missing all weekend but Friezeland Christmas Trees general manager Paul McRobert got a call this morning from a resident in Nailstone, three miles away, who said a reindeer had been spotted in the old mine just outside the village.

Paul said: "We had about half a dozen people at the old mine where we eventually got a rope on her and she was finally back here by the evening.

"There's no way she's escaping again. We don't know if she went under the fence or over it but we've made the whole place secure now.

"Holly was definitely pleased to see her again and they both seem happy after Tinsel's adventure.

"She would have had to swim over the Ashby Canal to get to Nailstone but swimming's no problem for reindeer."

The reindeer were brought to the farm so they could be seen by visitors in the run-up to Christmas and the businesses was also hoping Holly and Tinsel could be trained to wear harnesses for sleigh rides.

Reindeer on the loose in Leicestershire discovered in an old mine

Woman, 70, badly hurt in hit-and-run collision in Shepshed

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An elderly woman was badly hurt in a hit-and-run collision in Shepshed.

The 70-year-old woman was walking along The Meadows near to Glenmore Park in the town when a white car or van hit her and then fled the scene.

Police said the woman sustained serious injuries and was taken to hospital.

The crash happened at about 4.50pm on Friday, November 21, and police are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

PC Mark Davey, who is investigating the incident, said the woman had since been released from hospital.

He appealed for anyone who may have been driving in the area at the time to think back.

He said: "You might have been on your way home from work at the time and witnessed the collision or saw the vehicle shortly before or afterwards?

"If so, we would like to speak with you.

"We're also appealing to the driver of the white vehicle to come forward."

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the police on 101.

Follow the instructions to leave a message for the officer and when prompted key in the officer's identification number dial 1249.

Alternatively, contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Woman, 70, badly hurt in hit-and-run collision in Shepshed

Fire at garage yard in Troon Way, Leicester, might have been caused by thieves

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A fire which destroyed 14 cars in a garage yard might have been caused by a spark from a drill used by thieves to steal petrol from one of the vehicles.

The vehicles, at Belgrave Autos, near Troon Way, Rushey Mead, Leicester, were engulfed in flames last month.

Police said yesterday they believed the fire was caused by thieves drilling into the tank of one of the cars.

They said there had been a spate of 12 such thefts in the area in six weeks and the blaze illustrated the danger of the crime.

Fire crews battled to tackle the fire, which broke out shortly before 8pm on Sunday, November 16, and prevented it spreading to neighbouring businesses.

Police have urged people in the area to be on the look-out for fuel thieves and to report suspicious behaviour.

Pc James Thomas said: "We would like everyone to be aware just how dangerous crimes such as the theft of fuel from vehicles can be.

"There are enormous risks involved and the incident at Belgrave Autos is just one of a spate of similar crimes that could have potentially been life-threatening.

"We would urge anyone who witnesses any suspicious activity with regards to the theft of fuel, to please report it immediately."

Dave Watson, a fire investigator for Leicestershire Fire and Rescue Service, echoed the police message.

Mr Watson said: "It is extremely dangerous to syphon fuel from any vehicle.

"Free-flowing or spraying fuel and its vapour can be ignited very easily.

"It only takes a small spark, a naked flame or the spark from a drill to cause a rapid and uncontrolled fire.

"In cases like this people are likely to be close to the fuel and may even have it on their clothes, so they are at huge risk too – as well as any innocent bystanders. The fire would be rapid and uncontrolled. In this case there were properties nearby and the potential for the fire to spread to them was huge.

"We did a good job there in preventing it spreading to those neighbouring properties, including a plastics factory."

Pc Dean Flower said: "We are appealing for witnesses to the incident at Belgrave Autos and would like to speak to anyone who saw any suspicious activity in the area between 4pm and 7.50pm that day."

Contact Pc Flower on 101 or Crimestoppers, which is anonymous, on 0800 555 111.

leicestermercury.co.uk/crime

Fire at garage yard in Troon Way, Leicester, might have been caused by thieves

Residents' parking ticket machines vandalised in Westcotes Drive, Leicester

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Two ticket machines which were installed as part of a controversial residents' parking scheme have been vandalised.

The two machines, which are a few yards apart in Westcotes Drive, in Leicester's West End, appeared to have been forcibly pulled out of the ground and left lying on their sides.

The city council installed the machines early last month before the parking scheme went live two weeks ago.

The machines dispense tickets to people who are visiting the area and need to buy a ticket to park there.

The authority said it did not believe money had been taken from the machines, and that the damage was a case of vandalism.

The Leicester Mercury has previously reported that the scheme was popular with some residents, but opposed by others, who objected to paying £25 a year to park near their homes.

A number of businesses in the area also said they feared the scheme would hit trade by requiring people to pay to park.

A resident, who asked not to be named, said: "When I saw what had happened to these machines, I wondered how someone had done it.

"They must be heavy, but they've been pulled up and laid down on their sides.

"They've only been there a couple of weeks, so there can't have been much cash in them, so I wouldn't have thought this is about stealing money. The residents' parking scheme is a very contentious issue.

"If this is a case of vandalism by someone who disagreed with the scheme, then it is wrong and I can't condone it."

Another resident said: "The section of Westcotes Drive where the machines are was never busy anyway before the parking scheme came in, but now nobody can park there at all without paying, so what's the point of it?

"It doesn't seem very sensible to me, so I'm not surprised some people are cross about

it.

"The words 'sledgehammer' and 'nut' come to mind."

A city council spokeswoman said: "These machines were installed in early November, as part of the extension of the Westcotes residents' parking scheme. Our engineers have been out to assess the damage and both machines will be repaired as quickly as possible."

Residents' parking schemes were introduced on the city side of Narborough Road in autumn 2010 before being extended to the Hinckley Road area in October 2013.

The new scheme extends into Western Park where, residents say, cars have been displaced by the Westcotes scheme.

The incidents of vandalism have been reported to Leicestershire Police, the city council spokeswoman added.

Residents' parking ticket machines vandalised in Westcotes Drive, Leicester

Delays after vehicle hits railway bridge in Hinckley

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There were delays for rail passengers today after a vehicle hit a bridge in Hinckley.

The incident happened at about 6pm and the line between Leicester and Nuneaton were temporarily halted while damage done to the bridge structure was examined.

One rail passenger, Jacqui Cottrell, tweeted: "Delayed again due to a lorry striking a bridge.

"Why do lorries always hit that bridge in Hinckley? #stranded Hurry up @nationalrailenq!"

At 7.30pm tonight, CrossCountry trains tweeted that the disruptions were over but that some delays may continue later in the evening.

It said: "CLEARED: Following a bridge strike at Hinckley lines between Hinckley & Nuneaton have now reopened, but residual delays may occur."


Anti-terror arrests in Dover and London

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Five men have been arrested in Dover and east London by anti-terrorism police.

Scotland Yard said two of the five were arrested as they tried to board a boat at Dover port on Sunday.

Two others were arrested in east London in the early hours of Friday morning and the fifth had been apprehended in Dover at about 8.30am on Friday.

The BBC has reported that the offences are thought to relate to Syria and not to plans for an attack in the UK.

All the suspects are all being held in central London police stations.

Anti-terror arrests in Dover and London

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown to stand down from House of Commons

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Gordon Brown has officially announced that he is to stand down as an MP at the next general election.

Mr Brown, who spent three years at 10 Downing Street from 2007 to 2010, is the MP Kirkcaldy and Cowdenbeath in Scotland and he made the announcement at his constituency Labour party meeting this evening.

Under Mr Brown's leadership, Labour lost power in 2010 after 13 years in government, since then playing a central role in the campaign over Scottish independence.

Former Prime Minister Gordon Brown to stand down from House of Commons

Leicestershire firefighters to take part in national strike on December 9

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Firefighters in Leicestershire will go on strike next week over pension changes.

The 24-hour walkout will be held from Tuesday at 9am.

The Fire Brigades Union (FBU) claims the new pension system is "unfair, unaffordable and unworkable" and discussions have been ongoing for three years.

Matt Wrack, FBU general secretary, said: "Firefighters in England are reluctantly calling further strike action as a direct result of the Westminster government's failure to listen and negotiate over pensions.

"Firefighters are asking the Westminster government to immediately open genuine negotiations to resolve this dispute.

"We are not going to give up or go away. Firefighters will fight for however long it takes to secure a fair pensions deal – this dispute will not end as long as the regulations remain unchanged." 

Leicestershire firefighters to take part in national strike on December 9

Sports Awards: Cyclists get off to winning start in first season

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The huge crowds which greeted the Tour de France in Yorkshire and London this year show the mass support cycling is gaining.

In turn, that brings the sport to the attention of more and more young people, who want to get involved.

The Rutland Rouleur club has been set up to help cater for that need – and the early results are hugely encouraging.

The Rutland outfit is in the running for the Club of the Year title at this year's Mercury Sports Awards after firmly establishing itself on the county cycling scene in double quick time.

The summer saw them win the Mallory Park Youth Road Race League in their debut season.

There have already been some notable cyclo-cross performances from the club's young riders during the winter.

Former professional road racer and international track rider Rob Muzio, who lives in Kirby Bellars, is among the club's enthusiastic coaching team and has been delighted with the progress made.

That has been helped by the support of the county-based Metaltek-Kuona elite road squad, who put the young riders through their paces earlier this month.

"They came down to help us out and were buzzing about the whole thing," said Muzio.

"We have reached the point where the club has had quite a bit of success, considering it has only been going for 18 months, and we are looking to get linked to British Cycling's racing programmes."

The target age of riders is five to 23. At the moment they have about 40 members. 

Most have started out on mountain bikes but Muzio believes it is important they get a taste of as many disciplines as possible.

Muzio was a high-class road rider but also had success on the boards as junior and senior.

"Nobody at the club had a track coach or any knowledge of track racing," he said. 

"The lad I was coaching joined the club. My remit is to help the kids learn how you need to train and ride to get to the next level."

Several are already showing signs of that and the indications are that the next few seasons will see that success rate grow as the young Rutland riders continue to go through the gears.

Sports Awards: Cyclists get off to  winning start in  first  season

Audrey Hepburn: Images released ahead of exhibition at National Portrait Gallery

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Audrey Hepburn is the subject of a dedicated exhibition taking place at the National Portrait gallery next year.

The exhibition, titled Audrey Hepburn: Portraits of an Icon, will run from July 2 until October 18.

Portraits of the star were released today, ahead of the exhibition.

A spokesperson for the London gallery said: "This fascinating photographic exhibition will illustrate the life of actress and fashion icon Audrey Hepburn (1929-1993). From her early years as a chorus girl in London's West End through to her philanthropic work in later life, Portraits of an Icon will celebrate one of the world's most photographed and recognisable stars.

"A selection of more than sixty images will define Hepburn's iconography, including classic and rarely seen prints from leading twentieth-century photographers such as Richard Avedon, Cecil Beaton, Angus McBean, Norman Parkinson and Irving Penn. Alongside these, an array of vintage magazine covers, film stills, and extraordinary archival material will complete her captivating story."

To book tickets, click here

Audrey Hepburn: Images released ahead of exhibition at National Portrait Gallery

Do your Christmas lights match this Leicester couple's dazzling display?

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An elderly couple who have been creating dazzling Christmas displays at their home for the past 25 years will illuminate their neighbourhood again this December.

Husband and wife, Fred, 87, and Eileen Toon, 82, of Sextant Road, Thurnby Lodge, Leicester, are making the final preparations for their display ahead of this year's switch-on on Sunday.

Fred said he puts all of the Christmas lights up himself each year.

"It keeps us occupied," he said.

"The house is so cluttered with all the Christmas decorations everywhere. But it takes around three weeks to a month to get it all ready and put out.

"People ask me every year to do it and it gives them pleasure."

The couple said they cannot go out nowadays without being asked if they will be putting up their Christmas lights.

Fred said: "We get stopped in the streets and local shops.

"There are old pensioners' bungalows near by and we do it for them because they love it.

"We have four grown up children, 11 grandchildren and we lost count at 15 on our great-grandchildren and they all come and see it.

"I'm 87, diabetic and had a heart attack when I was 69 but I still do it all myself. As long as my limbs keep going, I will.

"We've had a hell of a response. I've been told my lights are better than the ones in town."

Mrs Toon said that it gives them "pleasure" and saves them "sitting in front of the TV".

"We lost my sister at Christmas 25 years ago, so we put the lights up in memory of her. We know that she is with us, it's a lovely thing to do," she added.

This year they are getting help from the branch of Lloyds bank, in Uppingham Road.

The bank has supplied tea, cakes and advertisement for their launch event this weekend.

The lights will raise money Alzheimer's Society and Children in Need.

Manjila Jattan, the branch manager at Lloyds bank, Uppingham Road, said: "Because of Mr Toon's age and the effort he makes to make the local community special, we wanted to support him and raise some money for our charities.

"It's an absolute delight to be joining them to make it a big thing for them".

This years switch-on will be on Sunday, December 7, at 5pm.

Have you put up a dazzling display of lights at your house? Send your pictures to picturedesk@leicestermercury.co.uk or tweet us at @Leicester_Merc

Do your Christmas lights match this Leicester couple's dazzling display?

Melton to host Britain's Got Talent auditions on Sunday

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Britain's Got Talent will be sending its scouts to Melton on Sunday as they search for acts for the next series.

Instead of making wannabes travel to far-off audition days, the show's producers are contacting well-connected people around the UK to set up local sessions.

Among them is Suzanne Forrester, owner of the Performing Stars Academy in Melton, who has been asked to pull together a diverse collection of acts from around the East Midlands for the talent scouts to watch on Sunday.

She said: "It's been pretty manic but I've got word out pretty quickly and have over 35 acts in mind.

"I want it to be as big a variety as possible so I've not confirmed most of the acts.

"We've got pole dancers, bands, singers and all sorts."

The auditions will be held at Sandy Lane Methodist Church hall in Melton and two talent scouts and a cameraman from the show will be going along to watch and film all the performers.

Suzanne said: "We've got about three hours and they want to see a quick performance and then have a chat with all the acts on camera.

"They've said they're happy to stay a bit longer than three hours if we've got lots of acts to show them.

"Hopefully they'll like the acts and pick some for the programme and also come back next year.

"It works well this way. Although they're getting people like me to do a lot of the hard work it's great for local acts to be able to audition here instead of travelling to Manchester or somewhere and then waiting for hours and hours."

Among those Suzanne has already confirmed for the auditions is Melton band Maslow.

Frontman George Simpson, 32, said: "We're very excited about it.

"I've been to TV auditions like this in the past and it's sometimes involved queuing for about 10 hours and then not getting a chance to perform.

"It's great that they're doing it like this now."

George, who also performs as a solo singer/songwriter is hoping his run of luck will continue. Last month he won the award for the best solo act at the East Midlands Wedding Industry Awards.

He said: "I'm hopeful about getting on the show - we've got quite a unique sound, doing cover versions of popular modern songs.

"We do them with bongos and flamenco guitar and we've been doing wedding and other events for about five years and we'd love to do well."

To find out more about taking part in the auditions, email Suzanne before Friday at suzanne@performingstars.co.uk and put "BGT Audition Melton" in the subject box.

Melton to host Britain's Got Talent auditions on Sunday


Attempted murder trial: ​Bharat Soma found guilty of trying to kill woman who refused to marry him, and her boyfriend

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A jilted man who slashed the throats of his ex-fiancé and her lover has been found guilty of attempting to murder them in the street.

Bharat Soma committed the "revenge" knife attack upon Darshana Narotam, 17, and Prashant Govinde, 22, after they eloped to Leicester.

He was also convicted by a jury of unlawfully wounding a 15-year-old boy who tried to stop the potentially lethal attack, on January 19.

Soma of Stroud Road, North Evington, who denied the offences, is due to receive a substantial jail term when he is sentenced at Leicester Crown Court tomorrow.

When the guilty verdicts were announced, Soma, wearing jeans and a checked shirt, stood completely still in the dock and showed no emotion or response.

During the 34-day trial he claimed he was the victim of a black magic curse and did not intend killing anyone.

He said: "My mind wasn't working at the time."

Adrienne Lucking QC, prosecuting, said Darshana, defied her parents' attempts to force her into a marriage with Soma, because she loved Prashant.

She ran away from her home in Wembley to start a new life with Prashant in Leicester – where Soma also lived.

Soma, who felt rejected and betrayed, received a tip-off call from a friend, informing him the couple were shopping in East Park Road.

He immediately went and bought a knife and tracked them down, launching an attack at a pedestrian crossing at the junction with St Saviour's Road.

Giving evidence from behind a screen, Darshana – who has since married Prashant - told the jury she feared they would die in the attack.

She described screaming as she was grabbed from behind and knifed across the throat.

Prashant who tried to rescue her was stabbed through the neck and had his face slashed, whilst a boy with them received a severely cut hand.

The jury also convicted, Darshana's father, Narotam Deugi, 41, of common assault upon her, by putting his hands around her throat in a separate incident, at the family home in Belmont Avenue, Wembley, on December 20 last year.

Her father and mother, Parvati Natu, 42, were both acquitted of falsely imprisoning her in her bedroom.

Deugi was acquitted with four other family members of kidnapping Prashant's father, in an attempt to find the missing couple.

Deugi, was originally charged with conspiracy to murder his daughter and served 100 days on remand in custody before that allegation was dropped.

He received a 12 month conditional discharge for the common assault.

Sentencing Deugi, High Court Judge, Mr Justice Saunders said: "The jury found you grabbed your daughter around the throat during an argument about whether she had to marry Soma as you wished, or Prashant, as she wished.

"You didn't give her a free choice as to who she should marry, as you have claimed.

"I'm concerned there must be no more trouble.

"The sentence I'm passing is lenient and that's only because of the 100 days already spent in custody.

"In my judgement you've suffered enough punishment already."

Soma's defence counsel, Jo Sidhu QC said that although Soma was not suffering from a "classified" mental illness he was "disturbed, troubled and depressed" after being jilted.

Mr Sidhu said: "He had nightmares and was seeing ghosts."

Darshana's four Wembley-based relatives, who were all acquitted of kidnapping Prashant's father, are: Jignesh Devgi, 31, an uncle, of Bridgewater Road, Harsad Jagdish, 25, an uncle, of Bridgewater Road, Shantilal Natu, 37, an uncle, of Belmont Avenue, and Kaushik Meghji, 18, a cousin, of Heather Park Parade.

Detective Inspector John Farndon, of Leicestershire Police's serious crime team, said after the verdicts were announced: "These were dreadful crimes, and could easily have caused the deaths of two young people who had harmed no-one.

"Crimes like these are very rare, and are sometimes called honour based violence. However, this has nothing to do with culture or religion, this is simple criminality."

In June, the Government introduced a new law where forced marriages were made a criminal offence.

Honour-based violence is defined as an incident or crime which has or may have been committed to protect or defend the honour of the family or community.

Forced Marriage is defined where one or both spouses do not (or in the case of some vulnerable adults, cannot) consent to the marriage and duress is involved. Duress can include physical, psychological, financial, sexual and emotional pressure.

Leicestershire Police is currently one of nine forces working with Karma Nirvana, a charity with more than 20 years' experience providing support to victims of forced marriage and honour-based violence.

A police spokesperson said: "The Force has been working closely with the charity to train its officers to ensure they become specialists in this rare but very serious crime. Thirty two police officers, who already work in this field, took part in a three day course run by Karma Nirvana in September to give them the skills to risk assess and investigate a very serious and complex area of crime.

"All front line officers and relevant staff will also receive a half day input to ensure they are confident to spot the signs of vulnerability and how to deal with it."

Detective Inspector Farndon added: "During our initial inquiries this case was quickly identified as being one of honour based violence and concerns regarding a possible forced marriage.

"This case demonstrates that we take crimes of this nature incredibly seriously and we hope it gives potential victims the confidence to report it to the police or other agencies.

"Anyone who fears they may be subjected to honour based violence or have concerns about someone else should contact us at the earliest opportunity. There are a range of criminal and civil powers we and partner agencies can put in place to keep you safe."

Attempted murder trial: ​Bharat Soma found guilty of trying to kill woman who refused to marry him, and her boyfriend

Transfer market: Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson staying tight-lipped over Jermain Defoe

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Leicester City may be linked with a host of players said to be potential transfer targets during the January transfer window, but manager Nigel Pearson will continue to play his cards close to his chest.

In the build-up to tonight's visit of Liverpool to the King Power Stadium, Pearson was asked about his interest in former Tottenham striker Jermain Defoe, but he was not about to give anything away.

City did show an interest in Defoe in August on transfer deadline day but no deal could be done with Defoe's club Toronto FC.

QPR were also in for Defoe and manager Harry Redknapp has confirmed it is a deal he wants to look at again in January, but Pearson did not go as far as Redknapp.

"Our policy remains the same, I don't intend to speculate on speculation," said Pearson.

"There are going to be names mentioned but any business we will do we will try to do appropriate to ourselves, other clubs and players.

"We've seen in the past deals do not go through and it is embarrassing for all concerned."

Transfer market: Leicester City boss Nigel Pearson staying tight-lipped over Jermain Defoe

Man who committed sex crimes against three boys and a girl told to expect "lengthy" jail sentence

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A man convicted of a catalogue of sex crimes against three boys and a girl has been told to expect a "lengthy" jail sentence.

Robin Leonard Burrows (54) was found guilty by a jury unanimously of 20 offences, including two of raping the girl when she was aged between six and nine.

The children were aged between four and 15 when the abuse was committed, at various locations in Leicester, between 1979 and 1987.

Burrows, of Jasmine Court, off Saffron Road, South Wigston, denied all the allegations, claiming nothing happened.

He claimed the victims, no adults, had "concocted" the offences.

Burrows was found guilty of eight offences of indecent assault on a male aged between eight and 15, and two of attempting to commit a serious sexual offence upon the same child.

He was convicted of two counts of sexual assault upon a six year old boy.

Burrows was also found guilty of one offence of indecency with a child, and two counts of indecent assault, upon a third boy, aged between four and 11 years.

He was further convicted of two counts of raping a girl and three offences of indecently assaulting her, between the ages of six and nine.

The Leicester Crown Court case was adjourned for the preparation of a pre-sentence report.

Sentencing was adjourned to January 15, to take place at Derby Crown Court, where the trial judge Ebraham Mooncey will then be sitting.

The judge told Burrows: "A lengthy sentence will follow."

Mary Prior, prosecuting in the trial, told the jury the historical sex abuse allegations came to light when the police were informed in May last year.

He was charged in relation to the offences in January and February this year.

In interview he said no sexual activity had ever taken place.

Man who committed sex crimes against three boys and a girl told to expect “lengthy” jail sentence

Leicester lorry driver: Firms ordered to pay £167,500 for offences which ended a driver's career

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Two companies were ordered to pay a total of £167,500 in fines and costs after a Leicester lorry driver was badly injured while loading train engine wheels onto his vehicle

Mark Furborough suffered a broken leg, a broken rib, fractured wrist and damaged knee ligaments after being hit by a 200kg lifting beam.

Leicester Crown Court was told Mr Furborough, who was 44 at the time, was off work for nine months and has had to give up lorry driving.

The hearing was told the incident happened at Brush Electrical Machines Ltd, in Meadow Lane, Loughborough on October 26, 2010.

Barry Berlin prosecuting said that the company breached its own safety routines by using a modified forklift truck to move the engine wheels which weighed up to 2.5 tonnes.

He said on this occasion the wheels began to shift which caused a modified lifting beam to fall down from the fork lift and hit Mr Furborough. It knocked him off the lorry and onto the ground.

Mr Berlin said: "There could have been a fatality if it had not been for the swift action of other staff."

The court heard that a crane should have been used but staff had breached safety protocols and had previously used the forklift truck using nylon slings to carry the wheels. They had even balanced the wheels directly on the tines of the truck.

An investigation by the Health and Safety Executive found that Quorn company Keenhandle Ltd had supplied the modified lifting beam. But it was unaware that it was being used in the way it was.

But Mr Berlin said under the law, Keenhandle should have predicted the possible misuse and should have carried out a risk assessment and informed Brush of the consequences of misuse.

Brush Electrical Machines Ltd of Arden Road, Alcester pleaded guilty to breaching 1974 health and safety at work act by putting workers at risk of injury at a hearing in June 2013.

Michael Hayton QC for Brush Electrical Machines Ltd, said the incident had occurred at the premises of a subsidiary company Brush Traction which had been sold a few months after the accident.

He said Brush had settled a compensation claim lodged by Mr Furborough.

He said: "My clients have an excellent safety record."

The court heard that Keenhandle was convicted of a breach of the act by a jury after a week-long trial in July.

Dominic Kay, for Keenhandle, said there was no causal link between the company's action and what happened.

He said that there was no guarantee that if the Keenhandle had carried out a risk assessment and issued guidelines that the Brush Traction employees would have obeyed them.

Recorder AWP King said: "It is clear from the evidence that Brush fell far short of the standards expected. There was a serious failure of management."

Sentencing the company he said that its conduct merited a £100,000 fine. But he reduced it to £67,000 because of the company's early plea. He also ordered the company to pay £15,500 costs.

He said that Keenhandle had fallen short of the standards required even though it had not been told what the beam was going to be used for.

He fined them £25,000 and ordered them to pay £60,000 costs.

After the hearing HSE inspector David Lefever said: "The incident was entirely preventable.

"Keenhandle Ltd failed to give the other company adequate instructions on how the equipment they had manufactured should be used. They failed to assess the foreseeable risks posed by the use of the equipment.

"Brush Electrical Machines Ltd failed to use a safe system of work, something which they could easily have done."

Leicester lorry driver: Firms ordered to pay £167,500 for offences which ended a driver's career

Richard III: New research raises questions over claims to the English throne

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University of Leicester academics who studied the DNA and lineage of Richard III have published a new scientific paper detailing their findings. Peter Warzynski reports.

Research confirming the identity of Richard III has raised questions about his claim to the throne - as well as that of the royal line of descent of the current monarch, Queen Elizabeth II.

University of Leicester academics yesterday revealed they are 99.999 per cent sure that the 500-year-old bones unearthed in a city centre car park in August 2012, are those of King Richard III.

In a paper published in Nature Communications, geneticist Dr Turi King and genealogist Professor Kevin Schurer explained how they used DNA and ancestry, as well as a number of other factors, to confirm the king's identity with "overwhelming" confidence.

Professor Kevin Schurer, of the University of Leicester, has studied the lineage of the Royal Family

However, while investigating the royal lineage, Prof Schurer also found at least two 'false paternity events' in the bloodline between Richard III and his present day relatives.

"Put in other words, someone was not the father of someone you might expect," said Prof Schurer.

It means that somewhere in 19 generations, between Edward III - Richard III's great great grandfather - and his present day relatives, a woman had a child by someone other than her husband.

"It's not surprising," said the academic. "Given the number of generations here there's a fairly high chance you're going to find a non-paternity event of this nature."

Prof Schurer said it was impossible to say where in history the break had taken place, but said it could mean a number of claims to the throne were in doubt – including the Plantagenets and the entire Tudor dynasty.

In the paper, Identification of the Remains of Richard III, he wrote: "One can speculate that a false paternity event at some point in this genealogy could be of key historical significance particularly if it occurred in the five generations between John of Gaunt and Richard III.

"A false paternity between Edward III and John would mean that John's son, Henry IV, and Henry's direct descendants would have had no legitimate claim to the crown.

"This would hold true, indirectly, for the entire Tudor dynasty (Henry VII, Henry VIII, Edward VI, Mary I and Elizabeth I)."

He added: "If the false paternity occurred in either of the three generations between Edward III and Richard, Duke of York – the father of Edward IV and Richard III – then neither of their claims to the crown would have been legitimate."

The genealogical hiccup could also mean that Queen Elizabeth might not have the ancestry she thought she did.

"We are not in any way suggesting that Her Majesty should not be on the throne," said Prof Schurer. "But the Tudors may not have had a bloodline to John of Gaunt, which means that kings and queens descended from Henry Tudor were not of royal blood."

The Windsor family's claim to the throne is through Henry Tudor's daughter, Margaret.

Queen Elizabeth II during her Diamond Jubilee visit to Leicester in 2012

However, Professor Schurer said the break in the line was likely to have happened after the point where it would have affected the current Royal Family.

He said: "We're talking about any one of 19 places in the chain which could have been broken.

"Only a break in five of those links would affect the current royals, so the chances are it doesn't affect them at all."

He added: "It's important to understand that the Tudors took the crown by force, they weren't the natural successors. That was Richard's cousins, the de la Poles.

"And the Queen is only Queen because her uncle abdicated. That's how monarchy works – it's all twists and turns.

"Queen Elizabeth II should be queen, because she is the queen. The question is purely academic."

A portrait of Richard III, painted years after his death, which hangs in the Society of Antiquaries, in London

Blonde haired, blue eyed Richard

Richard III would have had blonde hair and blue eyes according to research carried out by the University of Leicester.

The paper released today gives new facts about the Plantagenet king and leaves little doubt about the identity of the Grey Friars remains.

But one of the most striking revelations from the research is that Richard III would have had blue eyes and fair hair.

Dr Turi King, who led the research, said: "Almost all of the portraits of Richard that we know about were painted about 25 to 30 years after he died and show him with dark hair and dark eyes.

"But we've found that there was a 96 per cent probability that his eyes were blue and a 77 per cent chance of him having blonde hair – although this would have only been his childhood hair colour, so it could have darkened.

"But that makes the portrait of Richard in the Society of Antiquaries, in London, which shows him with much fairer features, the most accurate one we have."

Geneticist Dr Turi King (left), who led the research, and genealogist Professor Kevin Schurer (right), of the University of Leicester

Gathering the evidence and proving the identity of the king

"What we have concluded is that there is, at its most conservative, a 99.999 per cent probability that these are indeed the remains of Richard III." Dr Turi King

In February 2013, Dr Richard Buckley, who led the archaeological dig to find Richard III, announced that it was "beyond reasonable doubt" that the bones they unearthed belonged to the former monarch.

Now, after more than two years of research and analysis scientists have confidently confirmed with even more surety that they uncovered a king.

Here is how they reached that conclusion:

Osteological:

The remains found in Leicester match descriptions giving in historical texts.

Richard was known to be 32 when he died – osteological evidence suggest the skeleton belonged to someone aged between 30 and 34 at the time of death.

Richard was described as having one shoulder higher than the other – the skeleton found at the Grey Friars friary had scoliosis (bent spine).

Richard died in battle – archaeologists found numerous battle scars on the body and skull of the skeleton.

Archaeological:

Historical accounts suggest Richard was buried by the Grey Friars order in Leicester – the remains were found in the choir of the Grey Friars church.

High status – the remains were found in a grave which would have been reserved for nobility or high status burials.

Scientific:

Richard died at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 (529-years-ago) - Radiocarbon dating shows that the skeleton is between 484 and 558-year-old.

Isotopic analysis – a study of the bone chemistry reveals a diet filled with expensive, high status food, such as a variety of freshwater fish as well as swan, crane, heron and egret, and drink.

Lineage

The line of the Y chromosome from Richard III to his modern day relations (SOM)

DNA and genealogical evidence – Richard's DNA was traced and matched through both the male and female lines of descent.

Two types of DNA were used to trace relatives. The mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) which is only passed down by the female and the Y-chromosome which is passed through the male line.

Two people, Michael Ibsen and Wendy Duldig – who both live in London – were found using the mtDNA, and genetic analysis showed a perfect match with Richard III.

For the Y chromosome data, the academics had to use a common ancestor of both Richard III and his present day relations, so Prof Schurer had to go back in history and trace people using Richard's great great grandfather Edward III.

He found five descendants – four of which had a genetic match and one who did not – indicating a 'false paternity event'.

Distant relations of Richard III: Wendy Duldig (left) and Michael Ibsen (right)

Eliminating other candidates:

It is known that there were a number of other people on the battlefield at Bosworth who carried Richard's DNA.

With this in mind, genealogist Prof Schurer went through the painstaking process of tracing everyone who would have been linked to Richard, and who was of the same age, who would potentially have been at Bosworth

Prof Schurer said: "We eliminated pretty much everyone.

"There's one person who is unaccounted for I can't find a record of their death or burial, who would have been roughly the same age as Richard.

"He's actually somebody called Robert Eure - a distant cousin of Richard, but I think he was possibly away at the time.

"He was a Knight of St John and possibly out of the country at the time - I say possibly, it's only speculation, given that there's no record of his death in this country. But he possibly died abroad."

Dr Turi King has calculated that the probability of the remains found at Grey Friars being Richard III are at least 99.999 per cent certain

Geneticist Dr Turi King, who led the scientific research, said: "The Richard III identification project can be likened to a missing person's case and, as in any such case, you bring all of the lines of evidence together to bear on it.

"We know that Richard was killed in battle at the Battle of Bosworth in 1485 and he was then brought back to Leicester where he was buried in the choir of the church of the Grey Friars.

"We also know that he was aged 32 at the time of his death and that he was described during his lifetime as having one shoulder higher than the other.

"During excavation, we found the remains of a youngish male, in his early 30s.

"He has numerous battle injuries and severe scoliosis of the spine.

"We also find him in the choir of the church of the Grey Friars, in Leicester.

"We can also bring onboard the evidence from the radiocarbon dating and the positive DNA tests.

"Bringing all of these lines together we were able to calculate the statistical probability of these remains being Richard III.

"What we have concluded is that there is, at its most conservative, a 99,999 per cent probability that these are indeed the remains of Richard III.

"The evidence is overwhelming that these are the remains of Richard III."

Richard III: New research raises questions over claims to the English throne

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