22/10/2012 BBC Wales Today

Welcome to Wales Today. Our top story:

Accused of murder following a series of hit and run incidents in

Cardiff, Matthew Tvrdon appears in court. Tonight, flowers for the

We need to ensure that we raise funds. The children have no mother,

no future, nobody. I cannot Our other headlines tonight:

A mother, her son, nephew and niece killed in a Prestatyn fire. A

murder investigation continues. Reshaping services for the one in

four of us who have mental health problems.

Born in Wales, lives in Scotland - why pensioners like Heti Davies

face a different approach to benefits from Labour north of the

And in tonight's sport: All four lost this weekend, but Rob

Howley says the fortunes of Wales will not be affected by the

Good evening. A 31-year-old man has appeared in

court charged with murder and 13 counts of attempted murder

following a series of hit and run incidents in Cardiff on Friday.

Matthew Tvrdon has been remanded in custody. Six people are still in

hospital tonight, including three children. After the chaotic scenes

in the west side of the city, everyone involved is still coming

to terms with what happened. Nick Palit reports. 31-year-old Matthew

Tvrdon was in court this morning to face 19 charges of hit and runs on

Friday afternoon. In court he spoke only to confirm his name and was

remanded in custody. He was charged with one count of murder, 13 of

attempted murder, four of occasioning actual bodily harm and

The community of Ely are still reeling after the events of Friday

afternoon, a tragedy which claimed the life of a young woman and left

13 as a this -- others including seven children in hospital.

Yesterday the committee came together at the spot where Karina

Menzies died. This is not a plea to the community

but Cardiff and the whole of the UK. We need to raise funds. The

children have been left with no mother and no future, nobody. I

can't express... Nearly �2,000 has already been

raised. It was a good send-off. We raised

loads of money, in the thousands already, and it wasn't even a

fundraiser. Police say their investigation is

ongoing and they are keen to gather as much CCTV footage of the ban as

possible. From that they had ticket -- piece together the sequence of

events. They also want information on a black Renault Cleo speeding

along the wrong side of the road along Western Avenue towards Ely a

few minutes before the band began its journey on Friday. Police say

the white van was involved in five separate collisions spread out over

an area of around three miles. They had their first call from a member

of the public from Ely, where two children suffered arm, leg and head

injuries and 29-year-old woman was injured.

I was worried about my own children because my sister was looking after

my son. I was really worried. There were also called to Cowbridge

Road West, where 22-year-old woman suffered leg injuries and to 24-

year-old man and to-year-old goal were also injured.

As a parent, the streets have got to be safe for them. I just want to

pay my respects, that saw. Police believe the incident lasted

around 30 minutes. It was a Ely fire station with 32-year-old

Karina Menzies was killed. Hill also the youngest victim, a toddler,

was heard alongside another goal. On this fire station forecourt

where Karina Menzies was knocked down and killed, there is a scene

of floral tributes. Three days on, the outpouring narrow -- of grief

continues with flowers, candles and soft toys arriving by the minute.

The grey, wet, miserable day matches the sombre mood of this

community in mourning. A 32-year-old man and two girls

were also injured. Over Leckwith retail park, the oldest victim, a

49-year-old woman, who is still in hospital with multiple injuries.

The 27-year-old woman was also injured next to Cardiff City

stadium. At the stadium itself they are raising money at tomorrow's

game against Watford and happen to special T-shirts to remember Karina

Menzies. As a parent it is just hard to

understand what people are going through. Anything that anyone can

do, ourselves included, it is only a small thing we can do that

anything will help. Meanwhile, Matthew Tvrdon is back

in court tomorrow, due to appear via video link before a court --

judge at Newport Crown Court. And our reporter, Sian Lloyd, is in

Ely for us this evening. Sian, what more can you tell us about those

injured? We have the latest condition check

from the University Hospital of Wales. Six people remain in

hospital tonight, three adults and three children, but two adults

described as being in a critical but stable condition over the

weekend, we are told that they are improving tonight. Of course, a

great sense of shock here in Ely. The community that has been struck

by this. Since I have been here, the amount of flowers has been

growing steadily. People have been pausing to read the messages,

candles have been left here at this evening as well, people remembering

particularly Karina Menzies, who was knocked down in this spot. The

chief executive of the Cardiff and vale University Health Board has

spent his staff, saying they work round the clock over the weekend --

thanked his staff, treating those who were injured on Friday evening

at the accident and emergency unit, which had to be shut, such was the

scale of this incident. A number of people have been discharged since

then, but this evening, the thoughts here are very much with

the families of those who have been hurt.

Sian Lloyd in Ely, thank you. Tributes have been paid to the

victims of a fire in Prestatyn which killed a mother, her baby boy,

niece and nephew. The baby's father is still critically ill in hospital.

A man and woman who live in the flat below are still being

questioned on suspicion of murder. As this neighbourhood continues to

ask the question, why, police and fire investigators are still

looking for their own answers. 20- year-old Lee Anna Shiers, described

as friendly and caring, was looking after her nephew, Bailey, a happy,

loud, outdoor-loving four-year-old, his two-year-old sister, Skye, who

loved butterflies and dressing up as a princess, and her 15-month-old

son, Charlie. All four died as a result of the intense fire in this

first floor flat. The two older children went to playgroup and

nursery here. Their parents wanted fellow pupils to know what had

happened. A youth pastor from the local church is on hand to address

their concerns. They have come up and just said, we

don't understand it. We as a church and myself as be used Pastor are

here to serve the community and these young people -- a youth

pastor. I have to be here for them. Charlie's father, Liam Timbrell, is

in a critcial condition in hospital. Until recently, he worked at this

cafe in Prestatyn's Scala Cinema. He was a popular member of staff,

and still visited regularly with his baby boy.

Always so considerate, always used to bring us drinks and things. We

used to call him Harry because he looks like Harry Potter. A nice man.

A fundraising event is being planned for next month to support

his recovery. We will be showing films in the

cafe where he worked, and also have some food, to do something nice for

him and raised some money, we will do raffles, anything we can to

raise money. Prayers have been said at local

church services for the victims. We had 30 teachers and staff

members who came together for special prayers and consolation. It

was a very difficult service. Everybody feels something like this.

For the children involved, it really is a sad thing. Members of

the church here were very concerned. A 45-year-old man and a 42-year-old

woman who lived in the ground floor flat below Lee-Anna Shiers and Liam

Timbrell have been arrested on suspicion of murder. Relatives have

released a statement thanking all those who have sent cards and

messages of condolence and Friday, and thank members of the public who

attempted to rescue the family. They have also given their

gratitude to members of the emergency services and medical

teams who did will they could during this tragic incident. -- all

they could. The author of an independent report

which recommended the merger of three of South East Wales's

universities has denied threatening budget cuts against Cardiff

Metropolitan University unless it agrees to merge. The Chair of

Governors at Cardiff Met, Barbara Wilding, claimed that Professor Sir

Steve Smith had threatened "a thousand cuts" against the

institution. But he denies the claim in a letter to the Education

Minister. One in four of us will suffer some

form of mental illness - more money is spent on it than any other part

of the health service. Today, the Welsh Government launched its 10-

year plan to make sure that everybody with a condition can live

as full a life as possible. Some of the priorities are that people, no

matter what age, get a continuous level of support. Negative

attitudes of some employers to mental illnesses should be tackled,

and patients and their families should have more say about the care

they receive. Our health correspondent, Owain Clarke,

reports. Here in Port Talbot, they are

preparing for Christmas, sanding down wooden reindeer to sell in

local shops. But this isn't a business, it is a support centre

run by a mental health charity. It is somewhere to go rather than

stay in a house. When you are not well it is better to go outside,

and I come here to socialise. This place also gives advice on the

type of care available, and one of the big priorities of the new

strategy will be to give people with mental illnesses more power to

decide what type of treatment is right for them. It was in this room

about this time last year that I received some cognitive behavioural

therapy. That choice was crucial in putting Mark Smith from Talbot

Green on the road to recovery after severe depression and anxiety.

It has been a combination of trying different types of medication and

talking therapies, such as the cognitive behaviour therapy I

received in this room. But you can't get that support without

tackling the problem head-on and talking about it in the first place.

And those choices could make a big difference.

If the policy is put into practice, people would see quite a big change.

What they would see it is that the one in 30 people who gets us as --

serious mental illness needing significant care, instead of them

remaining unproductive and often lonely with damaged lives, those

people would get better, get into education and get back to work and

enjoy a social life, being, as they fully deserved, for members of

society. That is the objective. But others are struggling. Even

though the sun is shining, she won't go out. I met this 37

agemacro look has that anorexia and bulimia since her teens two 37-

year-old. She says she needs specialist treatment which is not

available. She says another thing is stopping her recovery, and it is

the reason she doesn't want to show herself on camera. Stigma.

I have had one woman tell me, you make me feel sick looking at you,

that was when I was extremely anorexics. Another woman said to me,

do you know what, if you swallowed a pickled onion whole, people would

think you were pregnant. You think yourself, I can't get left alone no

matter what I am. According to the health minister,

getting to grips with prejudice is critical.

Service users have had a great input into the consultation we had

over the summer and I am grateful to them. When you hear their

stories about how they have had 100 job applications and not one

interview because they feel they have to put that they have a mental

health problem on their application, you realise it is very much alive

and kicking in Wales and we must do more to overcome that.

Back in Port Talbot, the reindeer are shaping up nicely. The Welsh

Government hopes that its new strategy will not only reshape

services but also changed attitudes. You are watching Wales Today.

Much more to come before 7:00pm, including:

Why pensioners like Heti Davies might enjoy different benefits

under Labour in Scotland and Wales. And the new face in the Wales squad

- Ospreys prop, Aaron Jarvis, is called up by Rob Howley for the

An inquest has heard how a football goal which toppled over and killed

a 12-year-old boy hadn't been designed in accordance with any

guidelines or standards. Casey Breeze died after being struck by

the goalposts on his local playing field in Caersws last July. Cemlyn

Davies reports. Casey Breeze's family arrived at

this morning's inquest to piece together the final moments of their

son's life. The 12-year-old died after being struck by a set of

goalposts whilst playing football with friends on his local

recreation ground in Caersws. His mother wept as the court heard and

number of statements taken from children who were playing with him

at the time. Many of them described how he was playing in goal, and

after diving to make a save, he got his foot caught in the neck which

hadn't been paid back. As he tried to free himself, the goal frame

toppled over and landed on his back. One of the friends said he was

crying out at first, but then he went quiet. In this -- in their

statements, some children also claimed the posts fell the previous

week, but no one was hurt on that occasion. And one of the first

police officers at the scene said there was nothing to hold the goal

frame in place. The jury later heard that the goalposts had not

been designed in accordance with any guidelines or standards. In the

days after Casey Breeze's death, scarves and shirts were left on the

pitch as a tribute to him. What happened he didn't just shock the

people of Caersws, it also had an impact on the wider football

community and prompted the Football Association of Wales to issue new

guidelines relating to the use of goal posts, including one rule that

states that goalposts of any size, including portable ones, must

always be securely anchored to the ground when they are being used. It

seems lessons are being learned from what happened in Caersws last

summer, but exactly how and why Casey Breeze died it is still

becoming clear. The inquest into his death is due to conclude

tomorrow. Free parking should be on offer to

encourage shoppers into Wales's town centres. That's according to

the Conservatives, who were visiting Barry High Street today.

The Welsh Government admits the recession and the changing role of

town centres is a "major challenge" for regeneration policies. Now the

Tories want councils to publish annual reports showing how much

they make from parking charges. They have not provided costings for

the proposals. Parking is an issue. Bringing

vehicles into town is an issue, so we have to bear in mind that

elderly people have to come into town centres, and we have to look

at cycling routes as well, park and ride is also an aspect we are

looking at. A former Welsh Government finance

minister is standing down as Labour's representative on an

inquiry into the future of devolution. Sue Essex is leaving

the Silk Commission as it prepares to publish a report on whether tax-

varying powers should be devolved to Wales.

Free bus passes and free prescriptions - just some of the

benefits that have come to Wales and Scotland since devolution. Not

everyone thinks it's money well spent, and now with budgets tighter

than ever, can we still afford them? The Labour Party here and

north of the border are taking a very different attitude towards the

issue, as Brian Meechan reports. Dr Heti Davies was born and bred in

Wales, but for the last 50 years, she has called Edinburgh home.

Older residents in Scotland enjoy access to benefits including free

prescriptions, bus passes and free personal care.

In some cases I think they are life-saving, and what people don't

realise is the emotional aspect of its and the feeling of well-being

and the independence you get, older people especially.

The Scottish Labour leader has raised the prospect of scrapping

some universal benefits if elected as the Scottish First Minister.

There are debates which will take place across the UK, not just in

Scotland and Wales, about the appropriate level of public

provision in this era of austerity. But I do think it is a difficult

message to sell in particular in Scotland and Wales, that have

traditionally savoured a more social democratic approach.

This is the capital city of a country which has become accustomed

to universal benefits. Scottish Labour is banking on being able to

convince the public that that is a luxury Scotland can no longer

afford. But that could be a gift to the SNP and cause a headache for

Welsh Labour. In government, Welsh Labour's at -- was Labour has

allocated more than �100 million this financial year for

concessionary fares for elderly and disabled people, free school

breakfasts and free prescriptions. The Welsh Conservatives have seized

on the move away from universal benefits in Scotland.

I can't see any just a vocation for millionaires being able to access

paracetamol they could buy for 16p at the supermarket, while denying

cancer patient's life ranging drugs which could prolong and improve

their quality of life. There is no social justice in that and it is

morally wrong to defend free prescriptions on a basis. Free

prescriptions keep people out of hospitals, they are part of social

justice and eradicating proper sit -- poverty, clearly something the

Conservatives don't recognise. When money is tight, politicians

need to prioritise, but as Heti Davies demonstrates, there are

risks to taking away benefits people have grown used to.

Wales rugby coach, Rob Howley, says the fortunes of the international

side will not be affected by the regions' poor form in Europe. All

four teams lost this weekend, and now face a uphill task to qualify.

There's a return to the Wales squad for Ospreys fly-half, Dan Biggar,

and for uncapped prop, Aaron Jarvis. Here is Ashleigh Crowter.

It was a winless Welsh weekend. The pattern was set on Sasa -- on

Friday as the Scarlets lost to Leinster. Then the dragon's were

beaten at home by a French side, Bayonne. On Sunday, the Blues

started well with a try from Leigh Halfpenny, but Toulon had the

answers to close a victory at the Arms Park. Finally, the ospreys

drew with Leicester at 70 minutes and then conceded three tries to

hand Leicester a winning bonus point. Collectively, that is one

win from eight matches. It is no secret that the success of the

national team is a key pillar of the Welsh Rugby Union's business

strategy. They believe Wales can still be a winning side even if the

regions are struggling. On the back of 2012, winning the

Grand Slam, yes we lost in Australia, but the national jersey

is important are the players and their care -- and sure they can

come in with that enthusiasm and play it -- confidence.

The only uncapped player in the 35 his tight-head prop, Aaron Jarvis,

who has been understudy to Aron Jones at the ospreys. The fruits of

success were on display at the WI you AGM in Port Talbot yesterday.

Delegates were told that the idea of central contracts could still be

resurrected after initial proposal was pushed back by the regions.

I think this is something we have to return to because the model does

work well in the Nations, it works well in Ireland, the New Zealand

model works well, and I think we can achieve something unique for

ourselves. Players' minds may be more on

cryotherapy than central contracts. Wales fly out to them out arrears

pre-World Cup based in Poland for attend day training camp on Sunday.

Football. The weekend saw Swansea City return

to winning ways with victory over former manager, Roberto Martinez's

Wigan side. The 2-1 result was the Swans' first win in six league

games, taking them back up to 10th. In the Championship, Cardiff City,

in blue, lost top spot with a 3-1 defeat at Nottingham Forest.

They're at home tomorrow night against Watford. Craig Bellamy is

expected back from injury. Newport County will face Cheltenham in the

first round of the FA Cup should they win their replay against Yate

Town tomorrow. Wrexham's win over Southport means they'll face fellow

Conference side, Alfreton Town. Whether you're Olympic Champion or

the best in bowls at a local club, there's often someone giving up

their own time to help people develop a love for sport. We're

looking for nominations, for this year's BBC Wales Sports Personality

Unsung Hero Award. This year's Ambassador is Olympic champion,

Jade Jones, who's always had her The moment J Jones became Britain's

in this Olympic champion, the 19- year-old winning gold in dramatic

fashion this summer as she threw her helmet in the air. There were

celebrations back home in Flint as well. Her grandad, Martin, has

believed in her censure was a little girl, and Jake says without

him she wouldn't be where she is. Straight after work he would drive

me hours to the best training sessions, take the all over the

country for competitions, then when I changed to Olympic style, he

drove me four times a week to Manchester, once a week to Cardiff,

and I could see in his face he was so tired from his work.

What does he say to in -- to you now Euro Olympic champion. He says

he is the proud has grander than the world and I thank him for have

you got me there. So Jade will be always -- will

always be grateful to her unsung hero. Do you know someone who goes

that extra mile to help others take part in sport? We are looking for

nominations for this week's BBC Wales Sports personality unsung

hero or ward. Last year, Gareth Wyn Hughes won the award for

championing golf in young people. You can find all the details and a

Entries close on 29th October. Get your nominations in! Let's get the

Thermals will come in handy by the end of the week. Over the weekend,

though, we enjoyed some lovely weather. Lots of sunshine in

Snowdonia yesterday. This picture is by Ray Davies in the Ogwen

Valley. Aberporth was the sunniest place in the UK yesterday, and

Eglwyswen in Pembrokeshire the warmest, but of course it was all

change today with a blanket of cloud. This picture was taken in

Newgale by Tracy Hughes. Tonight, the cloud stays with us, thick

enough in places for a little rain or drizzle, but not a cold night,

the lowest temperatures 8 to 13 Celsius, but mist and fog will be a

problem. In fact, there is a Met Office warning in force for fog for

tonight and tomorrow morning. So here's the picture for breakfast

time. Grey in the west with low cloud and mist. The worst of the

fog in the north-east, Powys, the Marches, Monmouthshire and Heads of

the Valleys. Visibility 100 to 200 metres, but as low as 50 metres on

higher ground, so take extra care if you're travelling. During the

day, the fog will slowly lift into low cloud with hill fog in the

afternoon, and like today, a bit damp in places with light rain and

drizzle. Cloudy for most, but it may brighten up in parts of the

west. A little sunshine on the Cardigan Bay coast and the Lleyn

Peninsula. Top temperatures around 16 Celsius with a light north-

easterly breeze. In Flintshire tomorrow, another grey day. Misty

with fog lifting onto the Clwydian hills and Halkyn Mountain.

Temperatures in Buckley 13 Celsius, with hardly a breath of wind.

Tomorrow night generally cloudy, with more mist and hill fog forming.

A little light rain or drizzle in places too. Wednesday and Thursday

not much change - mostly cloudy and grey. Mist, hill fog and a few

spots of drizzle. The best chance of sunshine in the south-west. But

on Friday it's all change - Arctic winds will bring a big drop in

temperature. So a cold and breezy end to the week, but at least it

end to the week, but at least it will become much brighter with

sunshine and frost. The headlines:

The editor of BBC Newsnight, the man who dropped its investigation

into Jimmy Savile, has stepped aside. Peter Rippon will be off

work till the inquiry into the corporation's handling of the

affair is complete. 31-year-old Matthew Tvrdon has

appeared in court charged with murder and 13 counts of attempted

murder following a series of hit and run incidents in Cardiff on

Friday. He's been remanded in custody.

X Ray's on in half an hour - here's Lucy and Rhodri.

Tonight, we meet the family who spent �900 on a pony for their

teenage daughter to ride. So why did she end up in hospital? We are

looking at chewing-gum. Would you pay 5p extra ticket up our streets?

And the victims who lost thousands to a very clever vehicle scum.

us at -- in half an hour. We'll have an update for you here