21/05/2014 BBC London News

at Six. Actions in Ukraine and Nat C

Germany. So it's goodbye from me and on BBC One we now join the BBC's

news teams where you are. Tonight on BBC London News: The mother stabbed

to death by her ex`partner in front of her young daughter, even though

she'd warned police about him. Women need protection from people like

him. The best place for him to be is in jail. The police watchdog is now

looking into whether officers could have done more to protect her. Also

tonight: An investigation's underway into allegations of widespread

cheating in exams amongst London's paramedics. Criticism of the Mayor

for giving the go`ahead to a new luxury hotel development which won't

deliver the new jobs it promised. Plus, why Regent's Park's Open Air

Theatre is looking forward to another glorious summer.

Good evening. Her family described her as loving and caring, and always

smiling. Today Linah Keza's ex`boyfriend was found guilty of her

murder at the Old Bailey. She was stabbed in front of her

three`year`old daughter, days after she told police she was petrified of

him. The police watchdog the IPCC is now investigating the circumstances

surrounding the contact between Met officers and the victim in the week

leading up to her death. Our Home Affairs Correspondent Guy Smith

reports. She wanted to be free from fear,

from the control of her violent former boyfriend. Just days before

she was murdered, Linah Keza had even tried to secure a

non`molestation order at a County Court, claiming this man, David

Gikawa had threatened to kill her and once even inserted a knife into

her mouth. On July the 31st last year, at her home, here in Leyton,

he stabbed her multiple times in front of their three`year`old

daughter. A neighbour heard her screaming and want to help. David

Gikawa was seen running. Yellow in his mind he said, all right, I can't

have you, no one should have you. That is what he wanted, to end the

relationship by butchering her. She worked as a model and was a mother,

described by her family as caring, open and always with a smile. She

was this person that would sacrifice, even her own life for

someone. She could put other people's interest beforehand. I

can't believe I will never see her again. When she came over to this

country, there was no single day that I would ever even go to bed

without talking to her. She came from Rwanda to study in the UK and

seek a better life. The court held Heard she first called police a week

before her death complaining about David Gikawa. The next day she gave

a witness statement. On July the 29th, she called the police to

report that he had been stalking her and have slashed a friend's car

tyres. Two days later, she was dead. The prosecution said the systems in

place failed to prevent her death. She told the police she was

petrified of her ex`partner. She told the police he carried a knife,

that he had sharpened. It's very evident today that those fears were

not taken as seriously as they should have been. We find that

victims of domestic violence often underestimate the risk that they are

in, but they never overestimated. The Old Bailey jury heard that when

she said the relationship was over, he became jealous and was out for

revenge. The police watchdog is currently investigating the conduct

of four officers and if there was any way she could have been saved.

20 more ahead this evening, including: More and more parcels are

being delivered as we buy more and more stuff online. Now the Royal

mail is trialling a Sunday delivery in and around London.

Almost half of the paramedics working in the London Ambulance

Service could be investigated after allegations of widespread cheating

in exams. BBC London has learned that 850 staff who qualified over a

four`year period may have had access to the final exam paper before

sitting the test. Marc Ashdown the story.

They are the best of the best, often first on the scene providing expert

medical help when Londoners most need it. But questions have been

raised over whether some paramedics could have cheated in their final

exams. BBC London has been told that the whistle`blower e`mail alleges

that between 2008 and 2012, students had access to the exam paper before

they sat it. So, how many people could this have affected? The London

Ambulance Service employs 3200 clinical staff. Of those, 1700 are

paramedics, the top of the profession. These allegations

related to a four year period. Over that time, 850 people trained, sat

the exam and qualified as a paramedic. A full forensic external

investigation has now been launched. For now, all exams have

been suspended. There was supporting information that came with the

allegation that gave me reason to think we needed to look at it. In

addition, it's very important, I think, that we listen to concerns

that come from members of the public and particularly our own staff, when

they raise concerns about how things are operating in the trust. London's

paramedics go through a three`year training course, much of it modular

and practical. Once qualified, they are constantly assessed. But this is

an important exam. The Health And Care Professions Council awards

licenses to paramedics. They told us they had been made aware of this

potential issue. We are taking the matter very seriously, they say, and

will take any necessary action as appropriate. I think Londoners will

want to know, are we safe, can we trust our paramedics? I think

Londoners can take huge confidence in the paramedics working on the

streets of London today. The vast majority of my staff are not

affected by this allegation. The practice of paramedics, day in, day

out, is regularly reviewed in the London Ambulance Service. 200

paramedics affected have now left, so the LAS has alerted other trusts

around the country. It is a job based on trust. Anything which might

question that needs to be thoroughly investigated, and quickly.

So, what are the implications for the paramedics involved? Worst`case

scenario, their licences could be rendered null and void. That doesn't

mean they are not capable of doing the job, they might just have to

reset something to prove it. The service deserves credit, really, for

acting quickly. I think Londoners can also be satisfied that there are

checks in place, when they call for an ambulance they will get a fully

qualified and trained paramedic. But it is embarrassing, it calls into

the questioned the integrity of an important exam.

The Mayor's being criticised for giving the go ahead to a new luxury

hotel development in Nine Elms which is going to fall well short of its

promise of nearly 1000 new jobs. The Chinese developers have cut all the

office space from their plans, replacing it with more hotel rooms

and private apartments. But City Hall says it will help regenerate a

neglected area. Tim Donovan's report does contain some flash photography

from the start. That's the restaurant? In Beijing

last autumn, the bosses of the project showed the Mayor their

vision for a luxury hotel on London's South Bank. Its 200 metre

high. Then there was only planning permission for a small hotel. Now,

six months on, they have what they wanted. Market Towers in nine Elms

currently consists of these two office blocks, which I've seen

better days. This is what will replace them, two towers soaring

into the sky, one 200 metres high. The initial planning permission was

for apartments, a hotel and 10,000 square metres of offices. First the

local council and now the Mayor have allowed a key change. It is allowing

the Chinese company to get rid of all of the office space and instead

double the size of the luxury hotel. Critics point out that will actually

lead to fewer jobs being created in an area which badly needs them. One

local community job `` group says it breaks a commitment to write decent,

local jobs. The jobs will not be luxury, they will be cleaners,

janitors and security staff, which will not provide quality careers for

local people, which we were promised when this development came forward.

The site is at the heart of one of the Mayor's economic opportunity

areas, where job creation is a priority. Whereas with offices this

would have brought more than 900 new jobs, with the hotel it will be 500

maximum, a reduction of 45%. The neighbouring council, Lambeth, has

objected to the removal of office floor space and related enlargement

of the hotel. Wandsworth Council's own economic team said it was

disappointing. It risks undermining the establishment of a new office

cluster in the area, it said. The council and the Mayor decided in the

end that the hotel option meant jobs that were guaranteed. As the

planning chief for the capital, there would be nothing stopping the

Mayor saying to the Chinese investors, you are going to be

making considerable more profit out of this development now, we need

some more money, not just to create more jobs, but also to provide more

affordable homes, sake. The bigger hotel will not replace any of the

expensive homes planned. Most profitable to the developer. Nearly

500 apartments, only one in ten deemed affordable, non`for rent. ?7

million is being provided to build homes elsewhere. One critic says it

all amounts to a gift from the Mayor to the developers. These overseas

Chinese developers are making a vast profit out of this. The local

residents of Lambeth and ones without getting nothing in return.

But if you don't let them make these profits, they'll put their

investment somewhere else? I don't believe that. I think everybody

thinks this is the place to come. They have do know we need something

in return. City Hall say the developers are paying an extra

?300,000 for employment training, along with ?14 million towards the

new law `` Northern line extension. They say there is no sound legal

basis for an objection, and he is fully in support of a building that

is just one part of a much wider rejuvenation. He promised his trip

to China would bring benefits. Some would question if he is getting

quite enough. Around 200 cyclists gathered at the

Elephant and Castle roundabout this evening, marking the site where a

cyclist died last week. The Stop Killing Cyclists protest wants to

get Southwark Council and Transport for London to take emergency action

to protect cyclists and pedestrians. They used chalk to draw where they

think cycle lane should have been built, and performed a die`in. TfL

says it is investing nearly ?1 billion to give more protection to

cyclists. A fire at the Stables Market in

Camden was likely to have been caused by an electrical fault,

according to London Fire Brigade. It broke out on Monday night. Around

600 people had to be evacuated from the area. Tests to establish its

exact cause are continuing. CCTV footage has been released of an

attack on a student who lost consciousness as a mugger squeezed

his throat and then stole his ?5,000 Rolex. The suspect, described as a

"hugger mugger", had approached the 24`year`old as he was walking along

Regent's Street towards Oxford Circus. The footage shows the victim

dropping to the ground as he losses consciousness for a few minutes.

Tomorrow is polling day for the local and European elections. Today

we have seen a last`minute burst of activity from political parties.

Across London and the south`east, politicians have been trying to

secure every vote they can. Thank you so much. The start of the

day at the end of the campaign trail, time for a quick bacon

sandwich for the Labour leader at new Covent Garden market. Let's hear

it for your very hard`working leader of the conservatives here. Across

Ealing, a rallying cry for his troops from the Prime Minister. In

Lib Dem territory, only a few hours left for a feud last `` few

last`minute leaflets. Tomorrow it will be out of their hands. So, a

warning with his roses for Ed Miliband, but his party has much to

defend in London. Labour runs 15 town halls, the Conservative's ten,

four no overall control and Tower Hamlets is led by an independent

Mayor. I am interested in showing, yes, there is a need for change in

this country, Labour offers real practical changes that can make your

family better off. Whether it is on rent for the minimum wage,

childcare, it is Labour that has been showing in this campaign the

practical ways we can change Britain. Holding onto what they have

got will the Conservative challenge, plus a chance of taking

Kingston from the Lib Dems. We said we would cut the deficit, we have

cut it by a third. We said we would get London and the country back to

work. 300,000 new jobs here in London. 1.6 million more people in

work across our country compared to when I became feminist. Sutton is

the Lib Dem stronghold and they aim to keep it that way after tomorrow.

Four Lib Dems it is about pushing the message through people's doors,

many leaflets, possibly too many. That's out opportunity to remind

people that we control the council, we have got an excellent track

record, the fifth year of council tax freeze. What is not clear is

what effect having European elections on the same day will have

on the town Hall in London. UKIP and The Greens will be hoping it boosts

their local vote. To see a full list of who is

standing in tomorrow's local elections check your local council

website. In the European actions in London, the Communities United party

has eight candidate standing. It says it is campaigning for reform of

council tax and business rate and universal education for all. The

party was established in the last five years and is working hard on

the grassroots. Three surgeries in London, helping a lot of people. We

receive 40 calls every day on different issues, the benefit cuts,

welfare cuts, legal aid cuts. They need more help and we want to do

more help. Still to come this evening: They've got brand`new,

water resistant, comfortable seats and an exciting new programme. Even

the weather shouldn't dampen the spirits of their audience. We speak

to the director and cast members at Regents Park open`air theatre as

they commenced a new season. Next, how changes to mortgages could

affect house`hunters in London. Next, how changes to mortgages could

affect house hunters in London. Lloyds has announced that it will

impose new restrictions on mortgages of over ?500,000 to try and ease

inflation in the capital's housing market. So what will that mean for

everyone else? Tarah Welsh has been finding out.

A wedding dress might be the most special buy of your life, but a home

will be the biggest. Kate Stiles the rich and famous but she still had to

take out a big mortgage. My husband and I borrowed six times are salary

just to buy the property we are in now. If we didn't have that sort of

multiple, there's no way we could afford the property we live in and

we'd be living in the suburbs and not even in London. From now on,

Lloyds says it will limit mortgage lending to four times income for

loans worth more than ?500,000. You might think borrowing four times

your salary is a huge burden to take on, but there are households owing

more than that. You may also think that half a million is an awful lot

to lend out, but the average house price in London is 4000 and ?59,000,

and prices are going up. We recently put one on the market that went for

500 thousand pounds. Annex council flat in Camden went up in value by

?80,000 in four months. Lloyd says this will help tackle inflation in

the London housing market. But combined with tighter measures and

lending, some say it will be harder to stay in the capital. If a couple

has a quarter of a million in cash from the sale of a previous hoppity

and they want to borrow 500 thousand, that means they have got

to show they are earning ?125,000 minimum to borrow 500,000. That

might be difficult. It does not mean they cannot service the debt. There

has been no indication that other lenders will follow. A lot of

lenders will do five times and for those clients with good credit

scores and solid incomes, up to even six times. Money may still be

available, but will there ever be enough homes for all of us?

In a break from tradition, Royal Mail is to begin delivering parcels

seven days a week within the M25, as part of a trial. The company, which

was partly privatised last October, also plans to open some of its

busiest delivery offices on Sundays so that parcels can be collected. We

can join Nick Beake who's at Mount Pleasant Sorting Office in central

London. It is extremely busy part of the

day. In the coming hours they will be dealing with 90,000 parcels. The

parcels come in at the other end of this vast room. In the middle they

sorted out and it is here they are put in various different postcodes

ready for collection tomorrow. As many of us know, parcels are

normally delivered during what are working hours for many of us. Royal

mail hope with this trial it will be more for customers.

There may be fewer letters dropping through our doors these days, but

the number of parcels is soaring. Royal Mail needs to grow this

increasingly important part of its business, so it will trial Sunday

parcel delivery in and around London. It will also open around 100

of its busiest post offices for customers to come and collect. We

are responding to customers requests. You have got to have

collections and deliveries on a Sunday. We are going to sell this

one. It is down to them boom in online sales. Royal Mail is

responding to the changing way we shop. There was a warm welcome the

prospect of more convenience the customers. I am a fisherman, we need

it delivered on Sunday. It will a bonus. Sunday is the day most people

are home anyway. I missed something last week and I am still trying to

contact them now to get hold of it. If they deliver on Sunday, will be

easier. Royal Mail may be the oldest and biggest company delivering

parcels, but other companies have moved faster. This is one

competitor, UK mail announced today annual profits had ridden `` risen

early 30%. We are investing in giving people a one hour window for

delivery and a text when you are neck will be launched in the summer.

Royal Mail may be hosting welcome news for its customers today, but it

knows it is playing catch up with many competitors in this booming

parcel business. Quite often, changes can be met with

resistance from trade unions, but today the union says they support

this change. Overnight, these various things will be filled up

with parcels. If you live in Highgate, Finsbury Park, your parcel

will be delivered to these various places tomorrow morning. It is a big

day tomorrow for the Royal Mail because it was privatised and we

find out tomorrow its results as a public company and parcels are

crucial to its success. An interesting day ahead.

It's a firm fixture in London's summer calendar and it's becoming

more and more popular. Regent's Park Open Air Theatre has even installed

new seating in readiness for the new season. Our Arts Correspondent,

Brenda Emmanus, reports on the renaissance of Britain's oldest

permanent outdoor theatre. Are you going to cut it out. Arthur

Miller's 20th century classic, All Of My Sons. It has seen several

theatre successes which this director hopes is set to continue

here. It is incredibly dramatic. It is domestic in what it is about, but

the way it is presented, it is things that could happen in many

families. Under his leadership, the theatre has seen an increase in

audiences of over 20%. They one ten awards. To kill a Mockingbird will

embark on a national tour. But their priority is to preserve this unique

space. It is frustrating that you do this work and it is awful but nobody

hears about you for the whole of the winter. We need to make work for

this space. As part of their multi`million pounds redevelopment,

weather resistant seats have been installed. The element is always

played their parts in experience for the audience and the cast. It is

challenging. You have two Dodge the pigeons who dive bomb you at an

emotional moment. There are distractions. I find this place as

beautiful as the audience will do, so it is easy to get distracted by

nature. Following All My Sons will be Hobson 's Choice.

Now there will be plenty of heavy

downpours. Just before we go, a reminder of the

headlines. The Home Secretary has made an uncompromising speech at the

Police Federation conference. Theresa May announced an end to

public funding for the union and said the government will impose

change if the Federation fails to reform.

Prince Charles is at the centre of a row after he appeared to compare

some Nazi actions in Europe to those of Russia's President Putin. Royal

officials say they won't comment on a private conversation.

An RAF plane is on the way to help look for four British sailors

missing in the Atlantic. The US coastguard resumed its search

yesterday and relatives are still hopeful they'll be found.

A man's been found guilty at the Old Bailey of murdering his

ex`girlfriend. Linah Keza was stabbed in front of her young

daughter, days after telling police she was petrified of him. The IPCC

is investigating the incident. More on the day's news on our

website and Sonja Jessup will be back with our late news. From all of

us on the team here, thanks for watching and have a lovely evening.

that is to find that one item that's going to change their life.

Flames are beautiful. Made nice money, that did. Nice money.

?200,000? HE LAUGHS

I mean, nobody, really and truly, can sell rubbish like I can.

Meet the real-life Del Boys And Dealers...