28/02/2012 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top story:

She lied about innocent men in the Lynette White murder trial 20 years

ago - now she wants her perjury conviction quashed.

She's worried she'll have to sell her house after benefits are

reformed, but does the UK Government have a choice?

Llandudno's Victorian splendour. But will they be happy to take out

their UPVC windows? Craig Bellamy is confirmed as Wales

captain for tomorrow's tribute match to Gary Speed.

And the Olympic torch, but not as we know it - the spirit of the

Games arrives in schools in Carmarthenshire.

Good evening. It's one of the most notorious miscarriages of justice,

now three witnesses in the Lynette White murder trial whose lies

helped convict innocent men want their perjury convictions quashed.

It follows the collapse of Britain's biggest police corruption

trial in a murder case that's lasted more than 24 years. But in

tonight's Week In Week Out programme, Penny Roberts reveals

how it's far from over. Cardiff's docklands and the

discovery of prostitute Lynette White's body on St Valentine's Day

1988 sparked one of South Wales Police's most notorious and high

profile murder investigations. Five men were charged with killing her.

Two were cleared, three were jailed for life but later released on

appeal. And three vulnerable witnesses whose lies helped convict

them were jailed for perjury four years ago after the real killer,

Jeffrey Gafoor, was caught. But the judge at their trial said they'd

been seriously bullied and abused by police The witnesses who gave

false evidence now want their convictions quashed claiming their

had no option but to lie. I felt bad about what was happening but,

at the end of the day, it is totally out of my hands. There was

nothing I could do. Nothing. This is the amount of pressure they were

putting on people. You could not do anything. Lynette's murder has led

to a series of legal actions that are far from over.. South Wales

Police are facing damages claims from a number of former colleagues

as a result of the collapsed trial. Eight former officers accused of

conspiracy to pervert the course of justice were found not guilty after

the judge was told files of evidence had been destroyed.

Investigations are underway after the documents were later found.

Calls are growing for a public inquiry. I believe very strongly

that the only way of laying this to rest in a constructive and positive

way is by having a full inquiry, an uninhibited inquiry into all

aspects so that South Wales Police will be able to move on without

this around their neck. South Wales Police Chief Constable, Peter

Vaughan, says he can't discuss the case because of the ongoing

inquiries which he backs. Legal experts now estimate by the time

Lynette's case is finally over, it could cost the taxpayer well in

excess of �100 million. Fresh claims for damages are also planned

by the men wrongly accused of murder, including Lynette's

boyfriend at the time Stephen Miller. In tonight's programme he

talks for the first time. Everybody knows that she was on the game but

you don't keep saying it twentyfour seven. It gets old, it is

disgraceful, they should be a strained of themselves. She was a

very quiet person, kept herself to herself at. She liked videos, she

likes the occasional drink. She light stroking cigarettes and to

ordinary 20-year-old things. And as the legal arguments continue no-one

could have imagined that 24 years on, the murder of a young woman

would still be making headlines. Andrew Taylor is a barrister who

has been following the case closely. What strikes you reading about this

is the huge number of people who still feel justice has not been

done here. Nobody but nobody seems to be satisfied with what has gone

on and this has taken 24 years. It has cost almost �100 million. There

are an awful lot of questions that still have not been answered.

People are asking, why is it that there has been mistake after

mistake with no natural obvious outcome up. People have said, we

will move on to the next stage which will cost more money but

nobody seems to claim at the end of the day that justice has been done.

I think they are absolutely right in saying we must have a public

inquiry. The Welsh public must be outraged. What about this 100

million pound cost for the taxpayer? It is mind-boggling and

the reason why people will be outraged is because this money

should have been spent in other ways. Police officers have taken

thousands and thousands of man- hours investing this case when they

could have been investigating other cases. In the future we may see

less bodies on the beat or less resources poured into everyday

policing as a result of the damages they may have to pay out all the

money that has been thrown away. It is a disgrace, a scandal and

something must be done. You can see more on this, including

revelations of fresh legal action in the Lynette White case, in

tonight's Week in Week out at 10:35pm here on BBC One Wales.

Child poverty cases in Wales could increase by 6,000 cases in the next

two years if the proposed welfare reforms go ahead. That's the claim

made by the Welsh Government following its assessment of the

changes. The UK Government says the current system isn't working and

needs to be changed. Jenny Hambridge from Llandrindod

Wells is one of 250,000 people in Wales who receive Disability Living

Allowance. It's a non-means tested benefit, which helps towards extra

costs which may arise from an impairment or health condition.

Under it's welfare reforms, the UK Government expects a 20% reduction

in the number of claiming this benefit. Jenny Hambridge says she's

now worried she may have to sell her home. It is a very worrying

situation and a very tense and a frightening time to be in, to be

faced with the cuts we are expecting. I could lose my house

which has been adapted for me and it is a nightmare situation.

Blaenau Gwent has one of the highest claimant counts in Wales.

Half the people at this cafe in Ebbw Vale this afternoon are on

benefits. We have got to have benefits for living on like

electricity, gas, food, financial problems. Today it is not so easy

for people to get jobs. According to Cuts Watch Wales, one in five of

the Welsh population receive some form of benefit. Of the 180,000

claiming Employment Support Allowance or Incapacity Benefit,

only about 5% are expected to be eligible for support once they are

re assessed and 1.2 million older people have lost between �50 and

�100 in Winter Fuel Payments. The UK Coalition Government wants to

ensure that only people who need benefit get it. Only this week,

Mair Lelliott from Swansea was given a suspended jail sentence for

benefit fraud. The �18 billion of welfare savings have been met with

strong opposition but the Government says the reforms will

restore fairness to a system that isn't working. We will make sure

that anybody taking a job will be financially better off. Under the

previous system, it is possible that people could take a job and

still be worth -- worse-off. We want to make sure that we look

after the poorest in society, the weakest in society. The people who

can work will be expected to work and they will be better off if they

do work. It's not how the Welsh Government sees it. Today, it

reported on its internal assessment of the impact of the cuts.

Welsh Government provisionally estimates that there reforms could

increase child poverty cases in Wales by 6,000. It would also have

an impact on the Welsh economy. Cuts watch Cymru says the sheer

numbers affected could increase the burden on the Welsh Government,

local authorities and other public services. We are concerned that the

people on benefit are not fully aware of the impact it is going to

have and that is why we wanted to issue this call today. One in four

people in Wales is going to be affected directly but the indirect

effects, the ripple effect, is very significant as well. Jenny

Hambridge has already seen some of her benefits reduced already. But

nearly 90% of reforms are yet to happen. The Welfare Reform Bill is

slowly making its way through Parliament and the UK Government

hopes to have one universal benefit in place by April next year, but

those who oppose the changes are still voicing concerns.

A senior detective said he is more optimistic than ever that Thai

police will catch the killer of a backpacker from Powys. 23-year-old

Kirsty Jones, from Tredomen near Brecon, was raped and strangled in

2000. The head of CID at Dyfed- Powys Police said investigations

are now focused on a DNA profile recovered from the scene. One of

the lines of inquiry we discussed was the testing of individuals who

were repeat offenders in the area with the murder took place. I find

it difficult that person has not come to the notice of the piece

before. -- Police. South Wales Police say they're

investigating allegations of dishonesty by personnel at the race

equality charity AWEMA. The charity is being wound up after an inquiry

found there was financial mismanagement. Its chief executive

Naz Malik and finance director Saquib Zia have both been dismissed.

Work is continuing to determine the extent and impact of the

Schmallenberg virus in Wales. It can cause miscarriages and birth

deformities in lambs and has already been affecting livestock in

England. John Griffiths, the Minister for Environment, told AMs

that the Welsh Government is working on a UK and EU-wide basis

to share expertise and resources. Some tests in Wales have been

carried out but there are no confirmed cases.

The Foreign Secretary William Hague has said the British Embassy in

Tripoli is doing everything it can to help a Welsh cameraman arrested

in Libya. Gareth Montgomery-Johnson, from Carmarthen, is being held

along with another British reporter. They were working for Iranian owned

news channel Press TV. His local MP Jonathan Edwards raised his plight

in the House of Commons. We are aware of this. The embassy

in Tripoli is doing everything it can to assist. It is important that

access is given to his constituent and one other person involved and

so we are, while we have not achieved everything we want, we are

still working on it. Much more to come before 7 o'clock:

Craig Bellamy is confirmed as Wales captain for tomorrow's friendly.

And from school to school - the Olympic spirit arrives in

Some hoteliers in Llandudno say they face bills running to tens of

thousands of pounds if the local council forces them to remove

modern windows from their properties. Only traditional wooden

sash windows are allowed in parts of the resort to preserve its

Victorian character. Conwy Council has started to contact property

owners following concerns that some have changed their windows without

finding out if they needed permission. Roger Pinney reports.

It is an architectural gem, the great Victorian sweep of

Llandudno's promenade. According to Connacht cancer officials it has

been damaged, blighted by the installation of modern windows,

some without planning permission. - - Conwy council. We have been here

for a little over five years and we bought the building with the UPVC

windows that you can see. They have not been contacted about the

council here better the Co owner says he would be loath to to put

traditional windows back in. That would be an end necessary expense.

Modern double-glazed PVC windows have their benefits. We have had

guests who have stayed at other properties that did not have the

advantage of UPVC windows, they have come to us because they have

seen we have, they have enjoyed the experience with us more. Pygmies

the rooms are warmer, it is quieter, no rattling windows. We look at it

as a plus point and the selling point. But is the view of these

people, babies at the Hotel four or five times a year. It is a

fantastic for us because the rooms are quiet. We can enjoy the view.

There is no traffic noise. It is just comfortable. Comfortable but

out of keeping is the official view and on one estimate around one and

a seafront properties here have at least one modern window. A number

of the hotelier's point out that this building has more modern

windows than any of on the seafront. It is the theatre, and it is his

council owned. It has planning permission. A council has the

backing of conservation groups although the authority is being

urged not to be too heavy handed. It is a conservation AV, we have

listed buildings and they think we're entitled to keep them as

original as possible. The style of the building is everything here.

That style has been jealously guarded for more than 100 years.

Everyone agrees Llandudno's character has to be protected.

The opera star Bryn Terfel has been presented with an honorary

doctorate by Bangor University for services to music. It's only the

second time the awards have been presented by the institution. The

singer also announced he'll perform at a concert featuring young

musicians at the university later this year. I was rather lazy where

music was concerned in school. With music you can still strive to

achieve something and still work hard. I think I have got up backing

behind me. This is an added incentive to carry on, not only in

the wrong profession better to work with youngsters.

Bryn Terfel will also be performing tomorrow night at the memorial game

for Gary Speed. It promises to be an emotional evening. Today it was

confirmed that Craig Bellamy will captain the side against Costa Rica

tomorrow. Jordan Davies has more. It may not have the pressure of a

normal international match but it'll certainly have poignancy.

Tomorrow's game against Costa Rica will celebrate Gary Speed as a

player, manager and man. An occasion tinged with sadness

because of past events, but also optimism over what may lie ahead.

Craig Bellamy, a close friend and long time team mate of Gary Speed,

has been handed the captain's armband. Speculation still remains

that this may be his last game in the red of Wales. Me personally, I

wanted him to stay. I will do my best to keep him. We are a better

team and a better squad with Craig Bellamy about. It will be his

decision. Wales will be without Wolverhampton

Wanderers keeper Wayne Hennessey. Wales's new manager Chris Coleman

will be there but it'll be Speed's assistant coach, Osian Roberts,

calling the shots on the night. Roberts was due to lead the team

with Speed's other number two, Dutchman Raymond Verheijen until he

resigned last week. He will though be there on the night. It was a

major part in our success that we had under Gary Speed. I don't know

the ins and outs of everything. We are here to concentrate on the game.

Gary Speed won his first cap against Costa Rica, tomorrow the

thousands of Welsh fans he inspired will be able to celebrate his life

Rugby - Former Scottish international, Dan Parks is set to

leave the Cardiff Blues after two seasons to join Irish club,

Connacht. The Welsh region confirmed earlier this month that

prop Gethin Jenkins will be moving to France next season and Martyn

Williams won't be offered a new contract.

The Olympic torch has arrived in Wales. Well, not the official torch

but a Welsh-designed version touring 19 schools in

Carmarthenshire. Relay teams of pupils will run the torch from

school to school. In May the real thing will spend six days here.

Kate Scott-Williams has more. Welcome to the leisure centre in

the Gwendraeth Valley. As you can tell it is netball practice tonight.

These 11 and 12 year-olds have been working hard for about an hour. For

those of you who aren't quite getting in the Olympic fiber, let

me turn you that there are many people here in Carmarthenshire

County who are making every effort possible to ensure we get into the

The Olympics maybe 150 days a way of more than two London miles down

the road. But today there was a warm welcome for a distinctly Welsh

Olympic torch. No fears of it being blown out, the daffodil has been

relayed around schools in Carmarthenshire. It started this

morning and they ran it to Dyffryn Taf in Whitland. Here it was Stuart

White who took the lead. He has been nominated to run in the

official Olympics relay in May. Welcome to Dyffryn Taf. It is mind-

blowing to think that I could be actually running it. Running it

event of my own school today, it means a lot to me. I hope a one-day

in March I am able to do is for the country. It is a far cry from the

millions being spent in London. Today the Olympic rings were being

transported down the Thames. The organisers here hope it will bring

spirit of one of the greatest sporting events to this corner of

Wales. The Olympics and the values of courage and equality, friendship

and excellence, they are run excellent vehicle to transport are

those values and that message of the Olympics to pupils. For some

pupils today the Olympic hype has left them aiming high. Idea spread

some long-distance. It helps us get fit and all that. It may be too

late for this relay team to compete in London, but they have the taste

of Olympic excitement. A man who is the brains behind this

scheme is Karl Daniels. Where did the idea come from. At half-past

six is Monnet asked myself the same question! Basically, with the

Olympics just around the corner wanted to try to find a way to

inspire people with something that is happening -- happening locally.

That was the idea behind it. A lot of people will say they are so far

away from the hope of events here in West Wales, people want embrace

it, they would get a sense of connection with the Olympics.

is what we sensed. I think that was country wide. We are trying to get

rid of that impression fraught people and put something on that

was going to go from door to door and from school to school. We want

to help them get involved and feel inspired by what is going on.

Pupils that they are embracing it but are you confident this will

spread out? Definitely. Carmarthenshire County Council

sport department want to get people more active, more often. We are

providing this to get people involved in activity. I am joined

by two players. Are you really embracing the Olympics? Yes, I am

looking forward to it better netball isn't in it this year but

hopefully it will be in future. isn't putting you off? I will be

concentrating on athletics. about you? Is excitement building?

I am quite excited for the Olympics but there are still a few months to

go. A lot of our friends are family, have any of them mentioned it to

you? They are quite excited about it. Devised it seems in

Carmarthenshire certainly building. We have got a few miles to go

before the real event but people here will be geared up for it.

Getting in early for St David's Day on Thursday, the Welsh Secretary

Cheryl Gillan was armed with daffodils for Downing Street this

morning. They came from the National Botanic Garden in

Carmarthenshire and were destined for someone a little further afield

than Number 10. These were picked yesterday a in

the National Garden and they're going to David's mother.

The Prime Minister will host a reception for 150 Welsh guests

tomorrow. Daffodils mean spring has sprung

Officially it is still winter but it feels more like spring.

Spring is around the corner. There's a festival of daffodils at

Green Street methodist church this week starting on Thursday. Now most

of Wales has been covered in cloud today but a few places saw the sun

including Bangor. Usk was one of the warmest places. Mumbles Head on

Gower one of the coolest being next to the sea. Over the next few days,

it's going to stay on the mild side. Often cloudy but some of us will

see the sun tomorrow. As you know, it's a Leap Year and tomorrow some

of you will be celebrating your actual birthday for the first time

in four years. I've been inundated with your emails and Tweets. Thanks

for getting in touch and as promised I've put a selection of

place names on my maps where some of you will be celebrating

including Barry where my dad is 80. Happy birthday Dad. I'll try and

put some more places on tomorrow, but please, no more suggestions, my

map just isn't big enough. Tonight cloudy and dry for most. Just the

odd spot of drizzle. A few breaks in the cloud. Some mist and mild.

Lowest temperatures six to eight Celsius. Tomorrow's chart shows

high pressure over France keeping our weather fairly quiet and

settled. So tomorrow a cloudy start for most of the country. Some low

cloud, mist and hill fog. I wouldn't rule out a little drizzle

but most places dry and quite mild. Temperatures in Brecon eight

Celsius with a light breeze. So generally dry tomorrow. A good deal

of cloud but more of the country should brighten-up during the

afternoon. The best of the sunshine in the south and east. Powys and

the north. Western parts including Pembrokeshire may stay cloudy. Top

temperatures 12 to 14 Celsius. Cooler on some coasts and where it

stays cloudy. In Merthyr Tydfil tomorrow, dry, cloudy in the

morning. Brighter in the afternoon. Temperatures in Treharris rising to

So a mild end to February and March will start mild as well. Plenty of

cloud. A few spots of light rain or drizzle. Otherwise dry. And then

over the weekend, signs of change. Some rain on the way. The wind

picking-up as well. Our picture tonight taken as Porthcawl harbour.

Tomorrow will be dry and Porthcawl and it should brighten up with some

Tonight's headlines. A British photographer wounded in Syria has

been smuggled out of the country to neighbouring Lebanon. Paul Conroy

was injured last week in the same attack they killed his colleague

Marie Colvin. Officials are St Paul's Cathedral say they regret

the clearing of a protest camp by bailiffs overnight. More than one

under tents were taken down after Occupy London protesters lost their

legal battle with the city of London to remain on the site. Three

witnesses in the let White murder trial whose allies helped convict

innocent men want their perjury convictions quashed. -- Lynett

White. You can see more on this story in Week In Week Out at

10:35pm. And a reminder, if you've got a