25/11/2013 Look East - West

Surviving the typhoon. Are you connected? The long wait for

superfast broadband. Good evening. First to Northampton

and a final day of evidence in the trial of Anxiang Du. The businessman

is accused of killing all four members of the Ding family in April

2011. The trial ` lasting two weeks ` has heard harrowing details.

Today, lawyers for the prosecution and the defence gave their closing

speeches. Neil Bradford has been following this story from the very

start and joins us live from Northampton Crown Court. In the

modest trial, Anxiang Du had spent much of the time with his head in

his hands. Just a few feet away listening to proceedings were

members of the Ding family. They travelled here from China. At times,

the evidence has been distressing. As this case draws to a close it has

been no different. The prosecution say Anxiang Du travelled to

Northampton with a plan. A plan they say, to systematically

exterminate those he had a grievance with. The targets were his former

business partners ` Helen and Jeff Ding. Two years ago, on the day of

the Royal Wedding, he stabbed them to death in their home before

killing their two daughters ` 18`year`old Xing and 12`year`old

Alice. The prosecution told the jury it was ludicrous to suggest that

this was anything other than a clear case of murder. Delivering his

closing speech, William Harbage QC told them: 'Anxiang Du is a killer.

He killed, he killed again and he went upstairs to kill some more He

killed not once, not twice, not three times but four times'.

54`year`old Anxiang Du from Coventry has admitted killing the Ding family

but denies four counts of murder. Closing the case for defence,

Rebecca Trowler QC told the jury that this was clearly a case of loss

of control. She told them that reaching a manslaughter verdict 'can

not be taken as an indication that you believe this is anything other

than the most terrible crime'. Anxiang Du was suffering from a

depressive illness at the time, which she says would have impaired

his judgement and self`control. A case the defence say is supported by

one of the country's leading forensic psychiatrists. The judge

has directed the jury on points of law. He will continue his summing up

tomorrow. He is expected to spend much of the day recapping the

psychiatric evidence. There is no doubt who killed the Ding family.

Anxiang Du has admitted that. The jury have to consider his state of

mind at the time. Was it a premeditated murder, or was it a

boss of control which Mark `` loss of control?

Nearly ?3 million has been raised here in the East to help those hit

by Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines. One of those helping on

the front is Richard Villar, a surgeon from Cambridge, who's been

in Tacloban operating in terrible conditions. We'll be speaking to him

in just a moment. But first, Mike Cartwright looks at how this region

has helped so far. It's two weeks since the typhoon did this. Total

devastation that triggered fundraising across the globe. From

this region, vital aid. In Wellingborough this weekend, two

container trucks were loaded by volunteers. Food, medical supplies,

even toys... I think it's everybody's duty to help in a

situation like this. Those people have been left with nothing. They're

living in nothing. I think it's our responsibility to give them some

hope. People have lost everything. Utter despair. We're trying to let

them know that there are people who are helping. We're doing something

practical ` getting the stuff up and moving. If everybody does their bit

then things get done. We've seen what's happened on the news. I

thought it would be a good idea to come out and lend a hand. In this

region alone, it's estimated the public have donated more than ? .7

million ` helping charities like the Red Cross. Within days of the

disaster, they were at Stansted loading this jumbo jet with Land

Rovers, tractors and other equipment for British aid teams in the

Philippines. In Milton Keynes, this is World Vision's UK headquarters.

An international aid agency, their focus is getting more aid to the

Philippines. But they say for months, even years, this country

will need help to rebuild itself. Well joining me now is Richard

Villar, the consultant orthopaedic surgeon who's just returned from the

Philippines working for Save The Children. You've had lots of

experience in warzones and disaster zones as you used to be in the SAS,

but does anything prepare you for what you saw in Tacloban? Sadly not.

The overriding feature was the number of children. I was not

expecting that. The severity of the injuries was quite exceptional. We

have some pictures of one little boy that you help. `` helped. He

sustained a clash injury to his leg. It was totally unsalvageable. It

required amputation. It was difficult for everybody. You realise

what you are committing that child to for the rest of his life. The

reason you amputate is because the wind has a strong chance of being

infected. `` wound. As he OK now? On the road to recovery. How do you

survive being a Sergeant out there? You have to survive in order to

treat the patients. We were cooking for ourselves and washing for

ourselves. You have a team. If you happen to be on a downer? `` it can

be difficult. Thank you. The old site of Peterborough

District Hospital has been sold for more than ?7.5 million. The 23 acre

site has been vacant for three years since the hospital moved to its new

building. The land will be used to create more than 300 homes and a new

primary school ` but the money won't pay off any of the hospital's ? 8

million annual debt. I'd like to be able to say that it will make a

measurable difference. But we've known for some time what we were

likely to get. We've already planned it into our assumptions. It doesn't

change our long`term financial plans. The story remains the same.

We have to continue making a lot of efficiency savings ` the same as

every hospital in the country. Next ` the long wait for superfast

broadband. Today, ten villages in Cambridgeshire were officially

connected up to a new and quicker internet service. It's part of a ?40

million pound project which should see all homes in the county up to

speed by 2015. But in other areas broadband coverage remains patchy,

and in some nonexistent. Louise Hubball reports. There's just one

blip in this happy family set`up. Broadband. Mum and dad both run

online`based businesses from home and have a four`month`old baby.

Little Amy loves watching CBeebies ` causing broadband overload, stalling

videos and downloads that never happen. It's very frustrating. If my

husband's working from home, which he is most days, I basically can't

use the internet during the day When you're feeding the baby, or

trying to find some down time, it's actually quite crippling not to be

able to use the internet. But in this Cambridgeshire village, high

speed help is at hand to solve their slow connection. Fibre broadband is

now live! Very simply, that means equipment once in the telephone

exchange is now in the street ` delivered to the box by fast, fibre

optic cables. It was officially launched by the local MP and the man

from BT. It's been two years of intense planning. Quite a lot of big

commitments. But we've got here We're ahead of time and everybody

else in the country. They may be ahead, but the picture is far less

perfect elsewhere. The red spot showed the areas without fast

broadband. The yellow sports show where people cannot get broadband at

all. BT have the contract to deliver fast broadband and they remain

upbeat. Once we get going we are going to go very fast. But not as

fast as some people hope? I think that is fair. But at the end of the

day you can't do anything until you sign a contract. It was very

disappointing that it took so long for Brussels to approve and accept

the contract. This company thought they would be getting high`speed

broadband 18 months ago. We do not seem to be getting any sense at all

from BT about when we will receive fast speed broadband. We need at

guaranteed. Even back there, villagers must wait until next they

and now they can access the superfast service.

One of Britain's most wanted criminals who fled to Spain was

finally jailed today in Cambridge. 78`year`old Michael McCartney, from

Letchworth in Hertfordshire, was convicted of 11 sexual offences in

March and jailed for eight years ` despite still being on the run. He

was arrested in Spain earlier this month and appeared at Cambridge

Crown Court today. A man who was in a car which crashed

into a pub at the weekend is now in a stable condition at Addenbrooke's

Hospital in Cambridge. Two men were killed when the Citroen careered off

the A12 at Blythburgh on Saturday night. Three other men remain in

hospital. Later, Julie has the weather but

new homes, but also new jobs and a ?40 million Eastern relief road. ``

?14 million. Coming up next: Vince Cable with a

big announcement. And what really annoys you on the train? We have a

report on a new guide to train etiquette.

The Business Secretary Vince Cable has been in the region today trying

to encourage local business, but also answering questions about the

latest banking scandal. It was a busy day. A trip in a helicopter to

see our growing energy sector, and this afternoon he was at the car

makers Lotus to announce a government grant of ?10 million.

Let's go to Lotus now, and our business correspondent Richard Bond.

Some advanced engineering on display here. Lotus is a bit of a

standard`bearer of advanced engineering in the East, but there

has been a lot of uncertainty surrounding the company, and talk at

one point of a possible closure, but the Cable was here with news of a

new investment. If you are the Business Secretary and you want to

give the impression of our dynamic economy, it is a good idea to get

into a sports car, especially if it is a British one. Vince Cable had a

spin at Lotus today, after the government agreed to give the

company ?10 million. The money comes from the regional growth fund. We

have to be satisfied that if we the taxpayer put money in, we get new

investment from the money and additional jobs from the company,

and we are satisfied that they are making ASIC begins Hunderby should

`` a significant contribution. But lately, as macro has been on a rocky

road. Three years ago, there was an announcement of five new models at a

Paris motor show, with a plan to create thousands of new jobs. It was

at this time that the first offer of government cash was made. But when a

new owner took over, the expansion plans were scrapped. When huge

financial lasses were `` losses were revealed, people wondered whether

Lotus would be closed. But the new owner has stood behind Lotus. There

are no public plans for new models, but a promise of new jobs. This

money will go towards investment and research and development for Lotus

and it will be part of a wider strategy to ensure that we expect to

create more than 300 more staff over the next few years. 300 new jobs

would increase the Lotus workforce by one third. Workers here, who have

lived through the volatility of recent years, hope the current

management can lead them to better times.

It is significant that that ?10 million for Lotus has come from the

regional growth fund. This region has not got much money from that

fund to date. It has mostly gone to money to regions that were deemed to

be economically needy. But just a small amount of money have come to

secure the future hopefully of Lotus.

The Business Secretary has spent much of the day answering questions

about Royal Bank of Scotland and claims that it was "unscrupulous" in

its dealings with small businesses. But he did find time to take a

bird's eye view of our growing energy sector. I'll be speaking to

Dr Cable after this from Alex Dunlop.

When you have a schedule as tight as a Vince Cable's, it pays to have an

overview, quite literally, of the region's energy sector. First up, a

gas terminal. Just down the coast, a module being built for offshore

workers. He also saw some of the 153 gas platforms off the East Coast.

Then there are the turbines. There are around 76 proposed wind farms in

this region alone. Pro`nuclear power into the mix, and it is ideal fodder

for the energy sector. We want as much help and investment as we can,

in terms of infrastructure and ports and roads to muddy whole lot,

really. That is a big shopping list. It is, but we deserve a special

status. Many local firms are pinning their flags to new and old energy,

which has a potential worth of Alianz of pounds in the coming

years. 70% of components made here are going to offshore gas projects,

but there is one major gripe. Schools are not encouraging

youngsters to go into energy. The training that is available has

deteriorated so badly over the years that what they are actually being

taught is too much Willie subjects and not enough core skills. Wherever

I go is `` it is a cry I hear, we really need to make engineering sexy

again for young people. Local firms have just two weeks to bid for a

share of a pot of cash call the regional growth fund. Its aim is to

promote road and create jobs. Those welcoming Vince Cable there today

stayed the East cannot afford to miss out. `` said the East cannot

afford. So, a busy day for Dr Cable, but at

Lotus he did have time to sit down and talk to me about everything from

cars to RBS and the energy industry. What is really in Portland now is

that we do not just get the energy, but we get the perdition

manufacturers `` the British manufacturers in the supply chain.

Great Yarmouth are in excellent position to do more of that. Be

disappointed that we do not produce more of the structures for the wind

and offshore industry watcher Mark I was horrified when I ``? I was

horrified when I found how much was being ignored. I said this was not

good enough. You are producing in Britain, why do you not use more

British companies? I think they got the message. They would argue that

if British companies are not producing what they want come a day

will not buy from them. We cannot employ protectionism. We don't want

to. There is a kind of laziness sometimes. They are brought `` but

overseas as to why bother with a British company? We want to build up

the technical competence here. Are you committed to a size 12 feet? We

are connected to nuclear power. There will now be a chain of nuclear

power stations. They have all got to be negotiated, but the basic policy

of commitment has been made. If I could paraphrase what has been

reported by David Cameron, he has had enough of this green levy

rubbish, he would call it. Do you agree with him? Has he said that to

you? No, not in as many words, but there is an argument here. The point

is, in the short run, new renewable energy, particularly late ``

particularly offshore, is as expensive as gas. Someone has to pay

for that. I believe and my party believes that we have got to take a

long`term view with the next generation. We will need to

understand that supplies will run out and we have got to replace them

so we have to invest in those technologies. Talking about Lotus,

there was ?10 million on the table some time ago, and that would mean

expansion of production here and 1000 new jobs. Now it is 300 new

jobs. Does that disappoint you? I am delighted that Lotus has now got a

good long`term future. When I came here just over two years ago, there

were wonderful cars, but there was uncertainty about the future of the

company. Some people were even forecasting it would not survive,

but it has survived. The owners have committed themselves to large

amounts of investment and the government is putting in some

investment, as they are concentrating on basics. Making sure

that the engineering is world`class. It is now on a sound

footing and there will be additional engineering staff coming. Can I ask

you about the RBS rumours which have been going about this weekend,

particularly involving small and medium`sized businesses? We have a

lot of those in this region and there will be some people who feel

that the banks have mistreated them and they went under when they should

not have? I was horrified, but I always have to proceed on the basis

of fact rather than rumour. We wanted the author of the reports to

give the facts and give evidence, and it is the evidence that has to

be properly studied. What I want to see is that this semi`nationalized

bank actually supports the British economy, it will start putting money

into British business, not taking it out. Thank you very much.

OK, let's do some Mr Angry stuff. If you travel by train, what makes you

mad? Perhaps it's people shouting into their mobile phone or that

tinny sound that comes from very loud headphones, or maybe a smelly

tray of fast food. Any of those yours? I hate people speaking loudly

saying that they are on a train. If it does, it seems you are not alone.

One rail company has even come up with its own modern day Guide to

train etiquette. Seasoned traveller Mike Liggins has the story.

Is there anything worse on a train than seeing some fool staggering

towards you with smelly food? You hope he will not sit next to you,

but he does. A wonderful aroma of a burger, or if you are really lucky,

a pot of curried noodles. Then the same for weapons a can of beer that

goes everywhere, just the sort of thing you hate when travelling on

trains. `` than the same full opens a can of beer. People making a load

of telephone conversations. On the train! People being loud and trains.

Can you eat loudly? Yes. I hate seeing people getting drunk on

trains. They really your take me. They tend to get loud. `` they

really your take me. They tend to get loud and shouts. Now, First

Capital Connect, which runs services all over the country, has produced

some humourous cartoons in a little booklet to remind people of their

responsibilities to fellow passengers. We are looking to help

our passengers be a little bit more considerate when they are travelling

with us. Things like making sure that people do not eat smelly food,

making sure that people are considerate with their music and

that they dispose of their litter, all of which is to ensure that

people have a more pleasant experience when travelling with us.

One man on Twitter said that he did not like when people refuse to move

their bags. Another man said, stop the mobile phones with loud music. A

woman adds, wear deodorant so that your body odour does not knock out

the unfortunate commuters squashed next to you.

It is a light`hearted campaign, but First Capital Connect also want

passengers to think carefully about litter and safety around trains and

railway stations. It will also remind us of that rule that is

useful in any aspect of life. Treat others as you would like to be

treated. Where did he find all of this great

actors? They were very patient in putting up with him! Wearing

deodorant seems like a good rule generally. A good rule for life.

Let's get the weather. We start off with a photograph of a

rainbow and was captured yesterday around sunrise. I personally think

there is nothing more magical than a full rainbow. I saw one on my way

into work. Thank you to Tom for sending in this picture of a line of

Cal 's new Colchester earlier today. It really cheered me up on what has

been a largely cloudy day. There were some breaks in the cloud

allowing some rainbows to form, and some showers as well, but the

showers have not been for everybody, and they have really been few and

far between, and they will continue that way overnight, mainly affecting

this northeastern corner. Elsewhere, largely dry, but we are

likely to get some breaks in the clouds. They could've her anywhere,

but where we get them, that is where we will see the lowest temperatures.

That is where we will get some patchy frost, and where we will also

most likely see some patchy mist and fog forming, especially as the winds

would be like an northwesterly. `` will be. High pressure is in charge,

keeping largely fine and dry. We are going to have very little wind, so

it might take a little while for some of the fog to clear. Then we

are looking at a largely dried day. Their amount of cloud, but hopefully

some brightness coming through at times. Despite the fact that we will

have this light northwesterly winds, it is going to feel really very

cold. Temperatures at best will be six degrees, but I think many of us

will struggle to get that type. If we get any stubborn patches of fog,

temperatures might only get to two or three degrees above freezing. We

finished the day largely fine and dry, give or take an isolated

shower. High pressure stays with us into the middle part of the week.

Wednesday and Thursday are looking largely fine and dry, because the

biggest cloud on both days could largely `` could produce some

patches of drizzle. Thursday, slightly higher, eight Celsius, but

by Friday, there will be a colder field to think again because the

winds will be picking up. Quite a blustery day on Friday. We are

expecting quite a lot of cloud. By the end of the day, we could see

some patchy rain pushing down from the North West. Before I go, tonight

is pretty chilly, as is Tuesday and Friday night. On both nights, we

could also see frost. That is it. Thank you for joining us

this evening. We will see you tomorrow night.