02/04/2012 North West Tonight

Good evening. Welcome to NorthWest Tonight with Roger Johnson and

Annabel Tiffin. Our top story... Forgiven by his victim, but not the

law - a man is jailed indefinitely for an unprovoked knife attack on a

pensioner. I said it and I meant it, I forgive

him. I won't forget. David Walters stabbed Maria

Morrison six times in a frenzied attack after rowing with his

girlfriend. Also tonight... 3D theatre - the country's first

operation using new visual technology was done in Manchester

today. A wide Adi travelling at high speed

along Chester Road, he has moved across the road.

Deadly roads - police plan a crack down after traffic deaths rise

sharply in Greater Manchester. And may the financial force be with

you - the sci-fi film makers raising funds to finish their

latest feature. Also tonight, Stuart Flinders has

all the sports news live from Ewood Park ahead of a big night in the

Premier League. Yes, it's all about pressure

tonight. There is pressure on Manchester United, pressure on

Blackburn. 10 Lee Byrne -- is Kenny Dalglish under pressure at

Liverpool? Join me later. Maria Morrison was simply waiting

for a bus when she became the victim of a frenzied knife attack.

The 75-year-old was stabbed six times by David Walters who screamed

at her, "Die, die!" A judge today praised the bravery and indomitable

spirit of the pensioner as he jailed her attacker indefinitely.

But for Maria, the terror of the attack just won't go away. Stuart

Politt reports. Maria Morrison went out to catch

her normal bus. Minutes later, she was fighting for her life. I was

sitting at the. -- at the bus stop. He smashed and my face and I

covered my face with my hand. needed plastic surgery after

injuries to her lip, hand, shoulder, elbow and abdomen. The attacker

David Walters later told his girlfriend on Facebook that he had

committed a murder. He hadn't, thanks mainly to Mrs Morrison's

bravery, but she's still paying the price for what happened.

independence is gone. I can't open a tin, anything. I can be given to

joke, I can't do washing up or anything. I can't even have a bath

on my own. What it never it -- what has never explained why he attacked

Mrs Morrison. It was this CCTV footage taken moments before the

attack which caught Walters. An officer watching the camera noticed

Walters spat on the ground just before he attacked Mrs Morrison

beyond the view of the cameras. The officer radioed colleagues who came

here and retrieved a sample of the spit. Police matched it to Walters'

DNA and he was arrested. Today, the 23-year-old was sentenced to a

minimum of seven years in jail, but will only be released when he is no

longer considered a danger to the public. Walters' family left court

with their heads covered and bowed. In contrast the judge, Andrew

Gilbart, said he had the highest admiration for how Mrs Morrison had

acted. A devout Catholic, she has forgiven her attacker. It is hard

to say. I forgive him, I said did and I made that. I will not forget

what has gone on. Although the physical scars are beginning to

fade, Mrs Morrison knows the mental ones will take much longer.

The country's first fully 3D keyhole surgery has taken place at

a North West hospital. Using special glasses and state-of-the-

art cameras, surgeons at the Manchester Royal Infirmary carried

out the operation for prostate cancer. They say the new techniques

give them more control. Other hospitals are said to be watching

the results with interest. The surgical team here are for the

first time using 3D technology and robotics to carry out keyhole

surgery. The operation is performed as normal, but the 3D cameras and

glasses give the surgeons and other staff here a clearer way of seeing

inside the body. With the rotation of the instrument and depth

perception, they enhance each other to make surgery more precise and

that is what we are looking at today. The technology works using

two small cameras to get the 3D image in the same way that you get

a 3D picture for TV. It is really helping us with the depth, the

rotation of the instruments is really helping us in the right

position. The operation is being trialed in Manchester and if

successful could be rolled out across the country. It allows us

more accurately to preserve nerves, to preserve the muscles, to

hopefully get a better result with a better engine -- with a better

cancelled -- cancer result. It has to be affordable to the NHS. John

Green is the first to have this type of surgery for treatment for

cancer, which he was diagnosed with earlier this year. Something that

actually gives the surgeon more opportunities, because that of the

3D camera, a-quiver with salt, then definitely. -- quicker as well,

then definitely. The hospital hopes to carry out more of these trial

procedures and the technology being used could help shape the future of

all different types of keyhole surgery.

A 12-year-old boy's been left trapped in his home after thieves

stole his wheelchair. Jake Wynne's specially adapted wheelchair was

taken from his front garden in Northwich on Saturday and it's not

been seen since. He has cerebral palsy and epilepsy and can only

walk a few yards unaided. His mother says his Easter holidays

have been ruined and is appealing to those who stole it to return it.

It is disgusting for a disabled child. He does not look disabled

but he has cerebral palsy and epilepsy. Just leave it in the

garden, we just want his chair back. A 17-year-old who drowned off the

Blackpool coast on Friday has been named as David Sagar. He was swept

into the sea off the lower walk near Gynn Square at high tide. The

inshore lifeboat was launched, but the teenager was dead when he was

recovered from the water. Four men from Bolton, Rais Atcha,

Fahim Kola, Mohammed Asif Khan and Barber Khan, have been jailed for a

total of 42 years. The men pleaded guilty to their part in conspiring

to commit a series of armed robberies. This incredible CCTV

footage shows the moment the gang were caught robbing a jewellers in

Burnley during which �30,000 of traditional Asian jewellery was

stolen. An agreement has been reached to

finally transform Buxton's historic Crescent into a spa hotel. The

town's natural baths will form part of the �35 million revamp, creating

the first original spa in nearly a century. The Crescent and nearby

Pump Room will be refurbished to create a five star hotel.

It looks like it will be great. You will probably need a big wallets to

go there! If you're a regular motorist you'll

have seen examples of bad driving almost anywhere. Speeding, drivers

using mobile phones, not wearing seat belts etc. Well, the police

believe that's all contributing to an increase in the number of fatal

accidents on our roads. In Greater Manchester, they've just launched a

new campaign to target the drivers putting others at risk. Our Chief

Reporter Dave Guest has been out on patrol with the traffic police.

John Williams is on the lookout for speeding drivers and it is not long

before he spots one. A white Audi is travelling on long if the

Chester Road at half speed -- high speed. He has just moved across the

road. You were a bit quick. The need to be mindful. This driver

gets off with a warning. John can only hope in future he thinks more

carefully. John and his colleagues are currently mounting a major

campaign to try and cut the number of accidents and deaths in the

roads. The number of deaths on Greater Manchester's roads would up

work -- 42%. 75 people lost their lives in 2011, compared to 53 the

previous year. The police are at a loss to explain why, but they said

they are determined to make it -- make sure it does not happen again.

They campaign is to remind people of the dangers of speeding, using

mobiles and not win a seat belt. John has just spotted a driver not

wearing a seatbelt. He has made no attempt to put it on. We will have

a word with him. He was not happy. He did not understand why he had to

wear a seatbelt. I pointed out we are trying to reduce the people

injured on the roads. He was given a fixed penalty.

Camera cars like this aim to cash drivers wearing seatbelts or using

mobile phones while striving. -- catch drivers not wearing seatbelts.

The police said this is not about hassling innocent motorists but

educating them and maybe even saving their lives.

A Lymm rugby union player who broke his neck during a match at the end

of February says he hopes his ordeal won't put others off the

sport. Alex Bennett, a former England and Saracens player,

underwent eight hours of surgery after clashing heads during the

game against Sandal. He's still receiving treatment and says he's

determined to walk again. Any movement, however small, is a

sign of the progress that Alex Bennett is making. He was left with

an injured spine after a clash of heads in a game at the end of

February. I knew I was going to get het just as I got the ball, and I

did. I think my head went down and back and then I was lying on the

floor, physically not being able to feel anything below my neck.

former rugby player had eight hours of emergency surgery. According to

the RFU, last season, there were 746 injuries that Premiership clubs,

a 16% increase on the previous year. That, he said, should not put

anyone off, including his rugby- playing son. It is his choice and I

hope he wants to stay in the game. His family say the support of the

club and the sport has given them stride. They're so much out of his

control but the way he approaches everything just inspires us all.

genuinely believe I will walk again and I will take the advice of

everybody here and work as hard as I can.

It goes without saying that we wish Alex all the best.

Still to come on North West Tonight...

Remembering Titanic - a survivor's descendents prepare to visit the

spot where she sank. And Kenny's crisis - Liverpool lose

yet again and their keeper gets banned for the FA Cup semi-final.

Sport coming up in a moment. The Cheshire descendents of a man

who survived the sinking of the Titainic are retracing the voyage

to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the disaster.

William Wright was one of the 705 survivors. Now, three of his great-

granddaughters are sailing to the exact spot for a memorial service.

Kate Simms went to meet them. A log book and the Telegraph,

William Wright's great granddaughters know little about

him save for his role on what was the most infamous of ships. As far

as we know, he was the wish you would to the stewards. We thought

he was the toilet cleaner but we don't know. What happened on the

night of April 1519 12 has been reinterpreted many times. -- kibble

15, 1912. William Wright's testimony has been recorded. It was,

he said, the blackest of nights. said it was a very cold night, like

being in an iceberg. He also described here -- hearing the cries

of the other passengers in the seat and that he never wished to go

through that again. Now armed with the two scraps they have of their

great-grandfather's life, the sisters will embark on their own

voyage aboard a modern day cruise liner with other descendants of the

Titanic's crew and passengers. will lay everything arrests.

will be a complete circle for us, won't it? It will finish her

journey. The sisters have no picture of their great-grandfather.

They are hoping to meet someone who may have them put a face to the

name they know so well. Loads more about the Titanic earned its

anniversary on North West Tonight in the coming weeks. If you want is

the more, you can go to the BBC News side.

There is loads of interesting stuff on there.

Now, sport, and Manchester City are in danger of throwing away their

chance of winning the Premier League title. Manchester United

could take advantage tonight. They play Blackburn at Ewood park.

Stuart Flinders is there. A big night for both teams?

Blackburn are under pressure with Bolton, Wigan and QPR winning at

the bottom of the league. But talk about pressure, what about

Manchester City? 3-1 down at home to Sunderland, they win a free kick

and Mario Balotelli and Aleksander Kolarov have a very public argument

over who should take it. Balotelli made up for it by scoring two goals

in a three-three draw. But Roberto Mancini told the BBC afterwards he

can't trust Balotelli. I wonder if he will still be there next season.

Advantage Manchester United, but Alex Ferguson's expecting a tough

game here tonight. The game with Blackburn over the years has always

been a difficult match for the local derby feeling at times it's a

bit feisty. -- get a bit feisty. Last season we were lucky enough to

come back and when. We expect a very difficult game.

Here's a sobering thought - if the Premier League season had started

on January 1st, Liverpool would be in the bottom three. Yesterday's

defeat at Newcastle was the Reds' 6th in seven Premier League matches,

with the glory of last months Carling Cup win a fast fading

memory. Where now for Liverpool? Another defeat to confirm the

club's worst league run since 1954. All in all, a day to forget for

Kenny Dalglish on Tyneside. Not surprisingly, today's newspapers

wouldn't have made the most pleasant reading for the club or

its fans. Rarely has a managerial appointment seemed to fit the bill

as much as Kenny Dalglish's return last year did. Unpopular manager

Roy Hodgson out, club legend in, feel-good factor back. Or at least

it was. The optimism is starting to wane. They started well enough

yesterday but against his old club, Andy Carroll blew the chance to

make it 1-0, and was booked for diving. He could have put us in

front but he made a stupid mistake. Instead it was Papis Cisse who

opened the scoring, and then made it two in the second half, before

Carroll made clear to his Manager just how he felt about being

substituted. He has disappeared straight down the tunnel... That

was totally disrespectful. To make things even worse, Liverpool will

be without Goalkeeper Pepe Reina for the all Merseyside FA Cup semi

final against Everton, after reacting to Newcastle's James Perch.

For the moment at least, King Kenny's third coming isn't going to

plan. There is no point in feeling sorry for ourselves. We have got to

stick together. We trust that we have won to get it right and we

have got a better chance. Just wait for Kenny and he would get it right.

I think they are trying to get rid of him. One thing's certain, though

- his side needs to rediscover the winning feeling quickly.

Worrying times for Liverpool. We've talked about what tonight's

game here means to United, but the last time these two teams met,

Blackburn were the winners and it definitely gave them a lift.

They've lost just four of their last ten Premier League games and

now sit just above the relegation zone. With the exception of the

Bolton game and the Sunderland game, we are positive and we are playing

good stuff and we have to give back a matter of a form. -- on that type

of form. Results elsewhere at the weekend

could hardly have been worse for Blackburn. Wins for both Bolton and

Wigan, but both teams made heavy Wigan, but both teams made heavy

weather of it. What a save! Three wins on the trot

for the trotters but for an hour, the other Wanderers were well on

top. Alton Road this storm and came back from one Doran with three

goals in a frenetic final half-hour to win. -- Bolton stormed back.

Wigan have scored fewer goals at home than any other Premier League

side and you could see why against Stoke. They got it right eventually,

winning 2-0. They are a point behind Bolton. One place you will

not find sympathy for Liverpool's problems is Goodison Park. Just two

defeats in their last 19 and this win over West Brom puts them in 7th

above Liverpool. Eddie Howe reckons his team have the best strikers in

the Championship and who is arguing after a day put five past

Portsmouth? There was still time for a hat-trick at 53 minutes. The

Preston chairman Peter Ridsdale has confirmed his team's miner and

tactics were leaked to the opposition by his own players

before the match in Sheffield -- against Sheffield Wednesday and he

says it came without Mannus. It is no way to call forward.

Very secured a win against Tranmere. Berry and I have points -- five

points above the relegation zone. Well done to Blackpool as well - 3-

0 winners away to Championship leaders, Southampton. More on that

in Late Kick Off tonight. And the show also celebrates Sir Tom

Finney's 90th birthday this week. David Moyes and Jimmy Armfield join

Tony to talk about their friendship with the Preston legend.

When I got the job, he used to come in on a Friday. He would comment

and talk about it and we would say, and talk about it and we would say,

I do not know what we are going to do today. Everything was really

basic. We would say, we think the full-back is going to shove a line-

up today. He say -- he'd say, take him inside were on the outside if

he shows you too much on the inside. It was all incredibly simple.

Talking about Tom Finney. St Helens temporary coach and staff dark --

Super League and St Helens' temporary coaching staff maintained

their 100% record with a 28-16 win at Warrington. Saints scored three

times in the opening 15 minutes to knock Wolves off top spot.

Elsewhere Wigan beat Salford and Widnes suffered a heavy defeat

against the Catalan Dragons. And you can see highlights from all

of those matches on tonight's Super League Show at 11:35. The match

here restored the Iliad clock. It is going to be a cracker. -- the

match here start at 8 o'clock. Ever fancied seeing your name up in

lights at the cinema? Star of the latest science fiction blockbuster

perhaps? We can't promise that. No, we can't. But we can tell you how

you could see your name listed in movie credits. And for not much

more than the price of a few cinema tickets..

Over there it's a $10 billion industry. So over here, how do

Jamie and Alan tap into a tiny slice of it? Here's the big idea.

We are to friends find to get tickets to see a one-off showing of

Star Wars movies. Miller's Teggart, find Teggart, by Mark Teggart.

Attack by the suburban Mafia for their tickets. Chaos ensues.

they have a problem. We don't have any money. The answer? They are not

as foolish as they live. We are running a fund-raising campaign for

30 days. If you donate $10 or more you get a credit on the film,

special thanks at the end. They have raised �300 to fund his

trailer. They need just �9,000 more to make the movie. Every donation

they get goes straight into the film making pop. Everyone taking

part is doing so for free. Cinema- goers might not have heard of fraud

funding but they will soon. It is an American export making waves

here. Be it is growing in popularity and in America we have

seen raging thirst greater success. You are an unpaid cast member?

Unpaid, overworked and stressed out. I am very proud that they have got

off their backsides and gone out and done something and not just

waited around for somebody to come to them. The appeal funds -- for

funds starts this Friday. They have 30 days. Two boys with a dream to

make a movie but the clock is ticking... They have 30 days to

make it happen. You get the idea! I know he will not be getting the

job as a voice-over artist! In order to be in the film, you

need good weather. Is there snow Yes, there is some snow coming. It

is every parent's worst nightmare. Your kids will have heard there is

still in the forecast but it is not enough to make a difference. You

will have no fun out of this wintry weather. The forecast ahead, we

will seek much-needed rain at rather unwelcome wintry weather

moves through. The Met Office have issued a yellow warning that there

will be snow, mainly for the tops of the Pennines. I say mainly,

probably exclusively. The weather front opens the door for a much

colder air coming from the north- east. It eventually swings back to

a north-westerly, so that temperatures will start to rise

again into Thursday and Friday. The next couple of days you will not

enjoy, because this time last week we were seeing temperatures of 21,

tomorrow, about seven. Tonight, all about the cloud cover and showery

rain starts to head through. Over Cumbria and the Isle of Man, rain

bringing snow as we head through tomorrow. It only makes its

presence felt and the Isle of Man and parts of Cumbria towards dawn.

Bristly rain from time to time. Temperatures will that be a problem

tonight, six are a disgrace but tomorrow night and the night after,

we are back down to zero. The frost will return. Keep track of the rain

as it goes across the region. There could be a couple of centimetres of

snow and it could stick on a grand but for the rest of us, you can

clearly see it is just rain. Pulling away through the afternoon.

There could be one or two problems but it will not be widespread

enough for anyone to enjoy. The wind is strong and writing in cold

air. It is not a good day. Tomorrow night, that will be cold. Of the

next couple of days, wintry weather and by Thursday and Friday the

settled down again. That was my April Fool's joke on my

kids, I told them it was snowing. You can get a bit of everything in