11/06/2013 Midlands Today

with Nick Owen and Mary Rhodes. The headlines tonight: ?FORCEDWHITE No

one's above the law - the Health Secretary's warning, as police

investigate hundreds of deaths at Stafford Hospital which may have

been caused by criminal neglect. hope that it will lead to the truth.

Coming out. ?FORCEDWHITE Police will be considering charges of individual

and corporate manslaughter. Also tonight: ?FORCEDWHITE Olive branch

for Coventry City, as they're offered the Ricoh Arena rent-free

during administration. ?FORCEDWHITE Calls to lower the age limit for

cervical cancer screening as a 25-year-old teacher dies six months

after her first test. Bollywood actors on their way to star in a new

British thriller to be filmed in Birmingham. And the weather ips not

looking very exciting. Is there light at the end of the tunnel? I'll

tell you later. Good evening. "No one is above the law." That's the

warning from the Health Secretary today, as a police review has

identified up to 300 deaths at Stafford Hospital which may have

been caused by criminal neglect. The investigation, which will last

several months, will be assessing each patient's treatment for gross

negligence. Corporate manslaughter charges will also be considered, but

only for patients who died after April, 2008. Our Health

Correspondent Michele Paduano reports. Gillian Astbury's death in

2007 is the only one so far to have been fully investigated. In 2010,

her full time carer was told by the Crown Prosecution that no one person

could be prosecuted because so many staff had failed her. Gillian was

diabetic but hadn't been given insulin. He welcomed the fresh

investigation into neglect Following the public inquiry, Staffordshire

police headed a multi-agency investigation into 4,300 deaths at

the hospital between 2005 and 2009. I hope it leads to many of these

other families who do not know the truth of their loved ones' death, I

hope that it will lead to the truth coming out. They are now focusing on

up to 300 cases where neglect may have played a part. They're

examining whether there is any new information which has come to light

which could lead to a previous criminal investigation being

re-opened, or to a new investigation. If we get to this

stage, our next step will be to establish if there is a potential

for criminal charges. manslaughter charges, the police

have to prove their has been a gross failure in care which led to the

death. The police are examining the possibility of manslaughter after

after April 2000le, corporate manslaughter. But they have to look

at individual deaths and that makes it difficult to get a prosecution.

There's pressure from Government. Today, the Health Secretary added

his voice to the Prime Minister's that people should be accountable.

They're talking to relatives, but no one is above the law and it is

important that justice is done. solicitors firms representing the

families, its been a long time coming. Why people at the top

weren't recognising why things were going wrong and that Igs what many

of the families want to be investigated. Ron Street knows the

Health and Safety Executive are currently investigating Gillian's

death. He still hopes that some form of justice will prevail. Coming up

later in the programme: A U-turn on the railways, Virgin are told they

can't run a direct service between Shrewsbury and London. Coventry City

Football Club will be able to play rent-free at the Ricoh Arena next

season. The offer comes from the stadium owners, ACL, who are also

believed to be making a bid themselves to buy the club from the

administrators. CCFC Limited has been in administration since March,

with debts of �60 million. Potential buyers have until Thursday to submit

their final bid, this deadline has been extended twice. But the actual

team comes under the control of Coventry City Holdings which is not

in administration. It owns the contracts of the manager Steven

Pressley and his squad. So who will be playing at the RICOH at the start

of the new football season? Ian Winter reports. This time last year

they were getting ready to host Olympic football and the pitch was

perfect. But last month the groundsman left to work instead for

the stadium owners, ACL. Same job, different gaffer. Today, we couldn't

film the pitch, because next week Bruce Springsteen is playing here.

ACL don't want to be seen to be forcing Coventry from the city.

is not about us being the good or bad guys. It is the home of

Coventry. We want to to take the pressure off and give comfort to the

league and the administrator. arena is owned by ACL who are part

owned by the council. The council contracts. The owner has bought into

a long-term vision which creates value and they will realise that

value and will sell at some staining. This would be the worst

time to sell. As the boss will tell you here next week, this complicated

Coventry soap opera was born to run and run and run! And we can join Ian

in Coventry now, this does seem to give some hope that football will be

staying in the city. This does seem to suggest that football will be

staying in the city? You would like to think so. ACL have informed the

league and so Coventry should be able to play here in August. Let's

talk to the Secretary of the Sky Blue Trust. What is your reaction?

It is positive news, if we're in administration, we will be playing

here. We would prefer not to be in administration come the start of the

season and we hope we are out of it. The deadline for bids is close, what

qualities should the administrators look for? Someone that will bring us

success, stability, something we haven't had for a long time.

Somebody that owled give us a winning -- would give us a winning

team would be nice and would marry up the two sides, the arena and the

club and develop the local area. With supporter in put as well?

that is very important. We need some supporter in put on the board.

have attended a couple of fans' forums, have you been impressed

have been a pointless exercise, we haven't learned anything new. And I

just think... It wasted a lot of fans' time. Are you more confident

about the future? No really, no. More confident about the start of

season if we are still in administration and we will have

10,000 here rather than a thousand. But hopefully we don't get that far.

Thank you. The Tedline for bids is midday on Thursday. -- dead line.

court's heard claims that a young mother from Wolverhampton tried to

kill her newborn baby by throwing her down the rubbish chute of a

tower block. Last September, the baby girl, who can't be named for

legal reasons, fell from the fifth floor and suffered severe head and

brain injuries. Her mother, 24-year-old Jaymin Abdulrahman,

originally from Iraq, denies attempted murder. Sarah Falkland was

in court today. Sarah, some harrowing details on the opening day

of this trial. Yes a tragic picture of how the child was found swaddled

in pink material, as if she were a doll on this rubbish chute. The jury

were shown 3-D imagery of how the baby could have fallen down the

chute. It was 44 foot drop and the test dummy was slammed down the

walls of chute. The prosecution said this was like being in a car crash

at 30mph without a seat belt. do the prosecution allege? They have

spent most of the day tearing apart Jaymin Abdulrahman's witness

statement. She said she was, and the child were the victim of a

kidnapping and somebody grabbed her and taken the child. The prosecution

say that is a work of fiction and she put the child down the chute

with the intention of killing her. What will happen now? Well briefly

let's get the charges down, she is denying a charge not only of

attempted murder, but grievous bodily harm and grievous bodily harm

with intent. The prosecution alleged the case will probably hinge on

psychiatric evidence. The trial will last until next week. Thank you. The

health regulator Monitor is investigating the South Warwickshire

NHS Foundation Trust over a persistent breach of its A&E

targets. The Trust, which runs Warwick Hospital, is investigating

failures to meet the A&E four-hour waiting time target. The regulator

will assess what's being done to shorten the waiting time. Eight

green spaces in Stoke-on-Trent could soon be turned into wildflower

meadows. The City Council and Staffordshire Wildlife Trust want to

create the areas to help the survival of bees and butterflies.

The proposed sites include Meir Park and Westport Lake. But some

residents are against the plans as they believe it'll encourage

fly-tipping and anti-social behaviour. Network Rail has turned

down Virgin Trains' proposal to run a direct service between Shrewsbury

and London. The company was hoping that the service would be able to

start in December. Holly Lewis is at Shrewsbury railway station tonight,

what has been the reaction to this? Well there has been disappointment,

anger and perhaps a sense of resignation. It has been two and a

half years since you could catch a train directly from Shrewsbury to

London. Now Virgin have put in a bid to run two services a day from

December. But today Network Rail said that the west West Coast

Mainline is too busy and that adding extra services would made a trade

off with punctuality. Local MPs said they were surprised at that and the

local MP said it is not just about getting to London. If you do not

have a direct service with the capital city, there is, there are

huge numbers of visitors that you lose out, that simply won't come up

and of course we have more difficulty in attracting inward

investment from overseas. If we are not on that direct rail network to

our capital city. What is next? Well, Virgin say they will appeal

through the office of real regulation regulation and they still

want the run the service. The transport sectsry said he wants the

rail industry to work together on this to try and restore this

service. But it seems it will still be at some time before you can catch

a train from here all the way to London. Thank you. A year after the

death of a 93-year-old woman who was brutally attacked in her own home,

her family have made an appeal for information. Police launched a

murder investigation following the death of Emma Winnall, who'd

suffered a fractured skull and a broken arm and wrist. Liz Copper

reports. It's a heart-rending image, this picture of Emma Winnall in

intensive care was released by her family in the hope that someone

would come forward with information. A year on, and the family still have

no answers. We just don't know why. You can get used to someone dying of

natural causes when you have got someone of 93 and frail and she

can't fight back, it... You just can't comprehend it. To me, it's

unbelievable. Part of me's accepted it and the other half, I can't just

believe it happened. It was in April last year that Emma Winnall was

attacked in her home in Mosley. Despite appeals for witnesses, the

police still haven't identified the motive. I'd appeal 12 months for

anyone with information, anyone who may be hiding or concealing

information or know who the offender is to please come forward on behalf

of the family to put their mind at rest. The sense of outrage now is

undiminished. To beat up an old lady just for the fun, or a thrill, I

can't comprehend. It is terrible. I think it is a tragedy that nobody's

been caught yet. It is disgusting what happened. I think it shook

even. I feel sorry for the daughter really, you know, she must be going

through... A hell of a time now. And it's been a year. Time flies, but it

feels like it happened yesterday. It's hoped this latest appeal will

prompt someone to contact police - and help bring whoever attacked Emma

Winnall to justice. Our top story tonight: The Health Secretary warns

no-one is above the law as patient deaths at Stafford Hospital are

reviewed for gross negligence. ?FORCEDWHITE Your detailed weather

forecast to come shortly from Rebecca. Also in tonight's

programme: They don't have to be bloodhounds, but it may help! Calls

for dogs to become blood donors. And Bollywood actors head for Birmingham

to star in a British thriller. The family of a 25-year-old primary

school teacher who died from cervical cancer are calling for the

age limit for screening to be lowered. Gemma Marsh was diagnosed

within days of having her first smear test and died just six months

later. Her funeral has been taking place in Wolverhampton today. Joanne

Writtle reports. Laid to rest aged just 25. Family and friends pay

their respects to Gemma Marsh - who died just six months after her first

routine test for cervical cancer proved positive. Her family now

wants regulations changed so that women under the age of 25 are

offered smear tests. There should be no age limit and they should be able

to -- available to all young women if requested. Gemma walked into the

clinic a healthy person, no symptoms whatsoever. No symptoms. That is why

you think the test should be here? That is why I'm angry, because...

You think you're healthy but it's a killer just waiting to pounce.

home in Wolverhampton Gemma's parents look through messages sent

to her by pupils. She was a teacher at Great Bridge Primary in Tipton,

which closed today and yesterday as a mark of respect. Despite her

family's view, medical opinion is that lowering the smear test age

could be counter productive and produce false results. Gemma did

everything she was supposed to do, attending her test. Experts say it

is important to do that. One in three women ignore letters asking to

make a appointment. There will be people reading this story and

watching this and probably think, should I go, shouldn't I go, if I go

will there be something wrong. I would say go, because if you have

got it you can catch it early and give yourself a chance. Gemma never

had that chance. If it had been caught earlier, maybe Gemma would

have had more of a chance. We will never know. Gemma died from a rare

and aggressive form of cervical cancer. So many people attended her

funeral they could barely close the doors. Joining us now from London is

Adeola Olaitan, a Consultant Gynaecologist, specialising in

cancer, Good evening to you. Can you explain why there is this lower

limit? Can I correct a misconception the screening is not a Canter test,

it is a -- cancer test, it is a test to prevent cancer and picks up cells

which if untreated can lead to cancer several years down the line.

It is not a test for cancer. It is important to emphasise that. So

perfectly healthy women go and they have themselves screened if there

are abnormalities they can be treated and the risk of developing

cancer can be reduced. Talking about younger women, women aged 20 to 25

have an im immature cervix and changes can look like abnormalities

and that can lead to unnecessary intervention and unnecessary

treatment. So one in three women under 25 convenienced will have

abnormality, compared with one in 14 in the general pob layings and these

things -- things clear up on their own. A vaccine is now being offered

to 12-year-olds, what sort of take up have you had of that and is it

making a difference. It is, the up take is up to 80%. We need to

encourage 100%, because we know HPV is the virus that causes cancer.

What about women under 25 who may be listening to you, they will be

concerned having heard what happened to Gemma, wah would your advice be

to -- what would youred a Veits be to them? I understand their concern.

The important thing is not to ignore symptoms that may suggest cancer,

things like bleeding after sexual intercourse or in between periods

must be reported to your doctor. Most women will have an infection or

something minor wrong with them. But it is important that the cancer is

not missed. If it is picked up in its earl early stages, it is

treatable. Thank you. The wreck of the only surviving World War Two

German Bomber of its kind has been recovered from a sand bank at the

bottom of the English Channel. The Dornier aircraft was shot down at

the height of the Battle of Britain. Earlier today it was taken to

Ramsgate to get it ready for travelling by road to Shropshire.

It's expected to arrive at the RAF Museum at Cosford tomorrow where

it'll be restored. You have got to remember two people died in that

plane. So it is a mark of respect. But it is interesting. It is a once

in a lifetime thing. You won't see another one. We're constantly being

asked to be blood donors, especially during the holidays, a time when

supplies run low. But it's not only humans that need blood transfusions

and have to keep the blood bank stocked up, as Kevin Reide's been

finding out. Five year old Labrador Jasper is a regular at the Broad

Lane Veterinary Surgery in Coventry. But there's nothing wrong with him,

he's here to give blood. I think it's a very good idea. We are happy

to help other dogs. The surgery is holding a collection day as part of

a campaign to drive up dog blood stock levels. They're now collected

by a national charity, Pet Blood Bank UK. Was set up in 2007 and

before that vets had to rely on owners bringing their dogs down as

and when was needed or using their own dog. Now nine times out of ten

the blood is there. Blood donated here today is likely to save the

lives of other dogs. 11-year-old Labrador Purdy is a living example.

Last year she underwent life saving surgery to remove her spleen and

without a transfusion she wouldn't have survived. It is difficult after

having a dog, a friend for so long to face having to lose her. And if

it hadn't been for the transfusion, she would certainly have gone.

constant short supply, because we are giving transfusions more often

now and we maybe did it once or twice a year. Now we are doing it

every month or two now. And doggy donors are rewarded similar to

humans, but instead of tea and a biscuit, it's lots of fuss and a few

treats. That expression said where is my biscuit. Bollywood actors will

be heading to the region next year for a feature film being put

together by Birmingham film makers. Today, the main star has been

looking at shooting locations with the directors and producer. Abhay

Deol is here to take part in the 100 years of Bollywood-in-Birmingham

Festival. Here's our arts reporter Satnam Rana. Location scouting

canalside behind Birmingham City hospital. You can see the city. But

is one of the places they are using for their next film a British

thriller called called Bounty Hunter, starring Abhay Deol. I love

the location, I mean I love it also because it goes so well with what I

have read of the scene that it's going to be in and the scene is dark

and depressing and almost demonic. I don't mean the city is like that,

but I'm glad it has parts that lend themselves well to the story.

the directors, filming in their home city was a priority. How important

is to it keep the the film industry alive in our city? It's crucial,

because it's tough wherever you are, but all the work seems to be

siphoned to London and our struggle has been let's try and do as much

stuff as we can regionally. But this isn't the first time Birmingham and

Bollywood have united. Last year the Gatecrasher nightclub was used for

another film. But how popular is the city for film makers. Economically,

last year it brought in over �11 million and we have a rich base here

to employ local crews and for people to to see people filming, it is

exciting and it is a feel good factor. Filming starts next spring,

but �2 million production will create around 30 jobs for local

crew. This latest film is one of many that are being shot here in the

region. Last year alone there were over 900 days of filming that took

place, making Birmingham and its surroundings a destination for film

makers. There will be a special programme looking at 100 years of

Bollywood films on Friday 28th June. Bollywood films on Friday 28th June.

Now the weather. 'S the sunshine? It does feel like it has been stuck

behind the clouds. But it is going to change and we will see more

patchy rain. It is feeling milder. Last night temperatures were down to

five Celsius. It will be higher tonight. At the moment we have some

brightness, but the cloud is starting to build and fill in and as

we make our way through night, we will see the band of rain moving up

from the south. Temperatures though are around 14 Celsius tonight. It is

feeling much milder. A muggy night to come. That means we will see a

murky start to our Wednesday. So it will be a murky start with the

showers through the morning. And they will die out for a time and we

will see some bright spells. But then we have got more rain making

its way up. So it is going to feel mild, faechlts around 18 Celsius,

but winds are picking up and it could affect play at Edgbaston

tomorrow between Australia and New Zealand. That rain is going to

continue through the afternoon and it will be heavier than we have seen

today. So that will carry on through the night into Thursday morning.

Becoming more patchy as we make our way through to the morning. But a

mild night, temperatures around 12 Celsius. So Thursday is looking like

a windy day with gusts up to 40 or 50mph through morning. What it does

mean it will push that rain out of the way so it will be a brightening

picture in the afternoon. As we make our way through to Friday, it is

staying changeable, sunshine and showers. Thank you Let's recap

tonight's top stories: The South African president has issued a

statement wishing Nelson Mandela well. He is being treated in

hospital. T And the Health Secretary warns no-one is above the law as

patient deaths at Stafford Hospital are reviewed for gross negligence.