31/03/2014 North West Tonight

That's all from the BBC News at Six - on BBC One we now

Good evening. Welcome to North West Tonight with Annabel Tiffin and

Roger Johnson. A quarter of a century after 96 football stpporters

died at Hillsborough ` their families reached another milestone

today. I'm Andy Gill in Warrington ` where the new inquests into what

happened on that fateful afternoon started this morning. The hdarings

could last a year. Also tonhght An absolute hell. MP Nigel Dvans

tells a court of his embarr`ssment after being accused of sexu`l

assault. I'll be explaining how a preacher spreading the word found

himself locked up in a prison cell. And looking for love. The pdnsioner

searching for his long`lost sweetheart ` so he can leavd her all

he's got. The jury who'll hear the evhdence in

the new Hillsborough inquests has been chosen today. The hearhngs into

the deaths of 96 Liverpool fans who died in the disaster in 1988 got

under way in Warrington this morning. The original acciddntal

death verdicts were quashed 15 months ago after the Hillsborough

Independent Panel revealed new evidence about events beford and

after the fatal overcrowding. Our Merseyside Reporter, Andy Ghll, has

been in court and joins us from Warrington now. The first of many

times we will say that. It has been a big day for the families? It has.

The families came here from Merseyside and well beyond today.

They came knowing that they face a hearing new evidence which could

prove distressing about thehr relatives. They will know these

inquest could last one year or more. A significant day for the

families, but also want follow hope and trepidation.

Really, really nervous, but it has been a long, long fight as dverybody

knows. Hopefully this is thd beginning of the end. We have been

here before and it is still a very nervous day for us all. I think

today, although there is sthll a lot of legal to and froing, is the start

of what will be the last pidce of the puzzle for us.

The first day of many ahead. What happened in court? The coroner began

the process of getting a jury to hear the inquest. 11 people, six men

and five women, plus ten reserves in case anybody drops out overnight.

They were told they couldn't serve on the jury if they were fans of

Sheffield Wednesday, Liverpool or Nottingham Forest, or it if they had

a connection to the emergency services. They were given a warning

about judging on what they hear as evidence here. It is fundamdntal

paper from the mind anything you have read or heard about

Hillsborough before. What's coming expect in the days and weeks to

come? `` what can we expect. Will get portraits of all the 96 who died

from their families. As part of the BBC's coverage, the online team have

produced a website called the 9 who died. That has photographs of all

the 96 victims, and if you click on them you will see a biography of all

those people. They will be tpdated as we get more details about what

happened to them from the ndw inquest here in Warrington. Thank

you. The first of many times we will talk to you.

Greater Manchester Police h`ve apologised and paid compens`tion to

a street preacher who was arrested and kept in a cell for 19 hours for

quoting the bible. It happened after two young men asked John Cr`ven

about the book's view on homosexuality. They then told a

police officer they'd been offended by his explanation. GMP admhts

mistakes were made. Our Chidf Reporter, Dave Guest, is in

Manchester City Centre now. Tell us more about what happened, D`ve. John

Craven was here spreading the gospel in September 2011 when thesd two

young gay men approached hil and asked what he thought about gay

people. He said to them it didn t matter what he thought, it lattered

what got bored and he quoted various passages from the Bible. `` it

mattered what he thought. Hd was arrested after they criticise what

he said. He was held in a cdll for 15 hours, he said without food and

medication. He was released without charge but when a lingering sense of

injustice. The people we spoke to felt he had been harshly trdated.

It depends on how he explained it. Did he say it in an offensive way?

He should have been questioned and interviewed before he was locked up.

What do you think about the fact he was held without food? I thought it

was terrible. He hadn't comlitted a crime. As a gay man, I think it is

heavy`handed. Religion brainwashes people to believe that. It hs a

difficult one. It is all perception of the person they are saying too.

It is what they believe in. He did have some help in his challdnge to

the police, didn't he? A Christian Institute helped him to takd action

against Greater Manchester Police, saying his human rights had been

breached. Before it came to court, they paid him ?30,000 in

compensation. Greater Manchdster Police are also paying legal costs.

The institute said there is a more worrying underlying theme.

It was very worrying that this officer thought that the right way

to deal with this street prdacher was to arrest him without asking any

questions and to lock him in a cell for 19 hours. That is very worrying.

That ought to worry anyone who cares a jot for freedom of speech, and I

hope that Greater Manchester Police are looking at this case very

carefully, and making sure their officers are trained so this kind of

thing does not happen again. Today, Greater Manchester Police

didn't put anyone up for interview but admitted mistakes had bden made.

A gang who trafficked Hungarian women into the country to t`ke part

in sham marriages has been jailed for more than 13 years. Sandor Orsos

and Shahbaz Khan from Bury were the ringleaders in a gang that

trafficked three women. Amj`d Khan, was found guilty of assisting

unlawful immigration at tri`l. The future of the Conservathve MP

for Fylde ` Mark Menzies ` hs in question after lurid headlines about

his private life were published in two Sunday tabloids. They c`rried

claims from a Brazilian mald prostitute ` that Mr Menzies paid

him for sex ` and asked him to buy an illegal drug. The MP has resigned

his role as a Ministerial advisor ` but says a number of the allegations

are untrue. The trial of a Sri Lankan politician

charged with murdering a Brhtish aid worker from Rochdale has he`rd from

the Hotel Manager. Khuram Shaikh was 32 and was attacked during `

disturbance at a Christmas Party in Southern Sri Lanka. The hotdl

manager saw Mr Shaikh trying to stop a fight between a group of len and

another man. When Mr Shaikh got involved the gang beat him tp. All

the men deny the charges. A coroner's found that a mother and

daughter discovered after a house fire in Bolton were unlawfully

killed. Mahnaz Rafiei had bden stabbed to death. Her mother died

after breathing in smoke. Today an inquest heard claims that Mrs

Rafiei's husband ` who also died in the blaze ` had threatened to kill

her if she left him. Naomi Cornwell reports.

Neighbours raised alarm when they heard an explosion at this home in

the early hours of the night of December. Firefighters found husband

and wife lying dead side by side on the kitchen floor. Her mothdr, 4

older woman, died later in hospital from the effects of breathing in

smoke. Today, an inquest he`rd her daughter had died of stab wounds

before the fire was started deliberately by someone who had

poured petrol in the kitchen and tampered with the pipe caushng a gas

leak. Police say they believe no one was involved. Friends of Mahnaz

Rafiei said she had told thdm she wanted a divorce, and said her

husband had threatened her. But the couple's son pointed to evidence

from a pathologist that his father had severe but undiagnosed heart

disease. He told the court ht was possible his father had collapsed

after finding his wife had been stabbed and had then succumb to the

smoke. Subsequent media storm, he said, created speculation and buyers

as to what had happened. Thd coroner didn't reach any conclusions as to

who had stabbed Mahnaz Rafidi or who had started the fire. She ddlivered

and open verdict. Turning to their relatives in court, she said, I have

been greatly impressed, mord than impressed by the courage and dignity

shown by yourselves and buy your family.

The Ribble Valley MP Nigel Dvans has said the rape allegation he's facing

will live with him for the rest of his life. Mr Evans has completed

giving evidence in his defence at Preston Crown Court and he repeated

that the sex was consensual. Our Political Editor Arif Ansarh joins

us now from outside the court. What did Mr Evans say in his defdnce

He is facing nine charges. He arrived here the start of wdek four

to give his version of events. Much of the evidence revolved around the

alleged sexual assault at hhs home in 2009. The court heard th`t he had

a special relationship with the man. They have been seen holding

hands on the House of Commons terrace. When Mr Evans made a pass

at him on his sofa, the othdr man pushed him away. He said he felt

like a chasing child. The principal allegation here is the alleged rape

last year at his home. On that, Mr Evans told the court that the other

man was a willing participant, and seemed happy. His barrister asked

him, how did you feel about being called a rapist. Mr Evans rdplied, I

cannot put it into words. It is something I know will live with me

for ever. He continued, you are sexually assaulted other men. It has

a horrific, he replied. He strongly denied every allegation agahnst him.

The cross examination began? It did. We are going through each charge in

turn. The first being an alleged indecent assault at a London bar.

The prosecutor reminded Mr Dvans there was no basis for any false

allegation and asked, did you make a pass at the man. Mr Evans rdplied, I

have no recollection of that incident. He pressed him. Are you

saying you have no recollection or the answer is no? Mr Evans `ppeared

irritated. I have no recolldction of that evening at all.

Cross`examination continues here when the trial continues tolorrow.

Still to come on North West Tonight. Frank is in Hollywood. And once

loved ` never forgotten. Why a Stockport pensioner w`nts to

give everything to the girl he lost a lifetime ago.

Network Rail has announced plans to ease congestion on peak`timd

commuter trains. It's promising an extra 25,000 seats on trains going

to Manchester ` and an extr` 7, 00 on services to Liverpool ` by 2 19.

The improvements announced today are part of a ?38 billion investment

programme in England which hs already under way. Stuart Flinders

reports. The region that gave the world its

first passenger railway lind has fallen behind in recent timds. Now,

there's a five year plan to help bring us up to date. This m`p has

been on the wall for as long as anyone can remember. Some of those

routes are long gone. While nobody is planning bringing them b`ck,

network rail said it is the biggest investment to the railways here

since Victorian times. The Transport Minister was in Manchester to see

how work's progressing on the new Victoria Station. There's money to

improve what's called the northern hub too. Most of this we kndw

already, and work is well under way, but some new details have elerged

today. Electrification of the today. Electrification of the

transpennine route will mean 70 0 extra seats on peak time morning

trains to Liverpool. 25,000 on trains going into Manchester. But it

won't mean the end of the crush on commuter trains. We won't bd able to

give cease to everybody. On shorter distances, there'll be some

standing. He can't it pay. The reality is we have to make ht

efficient. As we reported e`rlier this month, some of the rolling

stock on the Manchester to Hull line is to be transferred to Chiltern

Railways, making congestion on the route even worse. But today, the

minister hinted at a solution. There are several solutions that `re

possible. Negotiations have been going on and I think you will find

every lose vision `` a solution will allow us to ensure that we get that

line. With passenger numbers continuing to grow, congesthon is

likely to remain a challengd. To many people, Frank Sidebottom was

instantly recognisable. He put Timperley in Greater Manchester on

the map. But he never reallx made it big at home ` let alone abroad. Now

that could be about to change. A Hollywood movie. Based on hhs

character. Starring Michael Fassbender. In the surreal story of

Frank's life, it's just the latest bizarre twist. Here's Jayne

McCubbin. How to describe Frank? Frank

Sidebottom? He had Timperlex's biggest head! And giant bug eyes

staring. He was Timperley's favourite son. Now ` he's m`de it

all the way to Hollywood. Frank was written by John. Band mate hn the

80s ` following a typically Frank ` audition. I said I don't know any of

your songs ` he said don't worry can you play He said ` You're in! But

international fame. Even dolestic fame evaded him. Our film ghves your

idea that people who don't lake it our failures. Maybe the people who

make it our failures. You should be famous. Those around him hit the big

time. Frank's tour driver? Big in Radio. The unknown invited to play

Franks neighbour ` Mrs Merton? Big in comedy. But Frank died pdnniless

in 2010. So what would he m`ke of this? What would he make of the

American accent? I can't believe Michael Fassbender is involved. My

dad would have loved the fact. It is loosely based on Frank. My dad

mystique to be taken away. Frank has mystique to be taken away. Frank

not been made into an American. It not been made into an American. It

is out in May. Loosely based on Frank Sidebottom?

It is a man with a big head. Let's move on to sport. A bhg

weekend in the Premier Leagte title. Liverpool are back on top shnce

Boxing Day. They brushed ashde Tottenham Hotspur by four goals

It's a sin to point about Chelsea and four points clear of Manchester

City. `` two points above Chelsea. Liverpool `based Chelsea. Everton

They're having a fantastic season in They're having a fantastic season in

their own right. That in thd table, their own right. That in thd table,

they beautiful. Whoever wins the premiership will happen at the hard

way. Liverpool manager Roy Dvans gave his opinion. Their atthtude has

been right. They start the game right. They put teams under

pressure. What do you make of the job Brendan Rodgers has dond with

the team during the season? I think getting a near`perfect job.

Alongside the stuff you havd to give them a bit of credit. You fdel the

players like playing for hil. They must believe what he says. Do you

think it is down to that gale between Liverpool and Manchdster

City? I think it is about all of games are left. Sometimes it is easy

to beat the big teams because everyone is up for it. You have to

pay attention to every team you play. How much of a challenge will

Manchester City provide? Massive. They have a great squad. Thdy have

got some great players going forward. They have power and pace.

We'll just concentrate on the next game. Is the difference between what

he hears saying to us and the media? Why would he tell the world what he

is thinking? I think he is being honest. He is trying to takd the

pressure off his players. Whll he tell his players that they can do

it? The well. He will say they can win it, but only if they pl`y at the

top of their game. The other teams will have to play well to whn it.

The Tranmere Rovers midfielder Joe Thompson, who is undergoing

chemotherapy, has been tellhng Late Kick Off he's determined to return

to football within a year. The 25`year`old was diagnosed whth a

type of Hodgkins Lymphoma in November. There's a special feature

on Joe's continued recovery from cancer on tonight's programle. Also

on Late Kick Off, the Accrington Stanley players take part in the

quiz, One On One. And it's ` classic. Sale Sharks' superb season

is gathering pace after another win at the weekend. Sharks are now up to

fifth in the table and still in contention for a European trophy.

Stuart Pollitt reports. The Sharks can smell silverware. A strong pack

and Danny Cipriani's boot combined for their latest win at Bath. It is

difficult that any team to beat us away or home at the moment. We are

showing NTU jazz. It has put us to the top of the league. `` wd are

showing spirit. The win movdd Sale within four points of the play`off

places. And moves them closdr to a possible shot at the title they last

won in 2005. Preparations are under way for Sale's first Europe`n cup

quarter final in six seasons against Northampton on Thursday.

Are two trophies realistic? Definitely. We play Northampton on

Tuesday night, then we have the top four to play. If you can get to the

play`offs, then it is different It starts again and anyone can win it.

With their form, they are not many bars to a successful season.

In Super League `Warrington made a spectacular recovery against

Huddersfield. Wolves were 14`4 down at half time, but they came storming

back after the break to score 2 points without reply, winning 3 `14.

Widnes Vikings moved to within four points of St Helens at the top with

a 22`18 win over Bradford Btlls Patrick Ah Van got the try of the

match with this. Some breaking news. The football

association has announced Tranmere Rovers manager Ronnie mower has been

charged over betting. `` Ronny Moore.

They say despite the pain they might have caused, you never forgdt your

first love. That is certainly true for Bert from long`sight in

Manchester. He is desperately seeking the girl who broke his heart

and Reeni went out dancing hn and Reeni went out dancing hn

Stockport five nights a week in the late 1950s. And although shd left

him for another, Bert wants to tell Reeni she is forgiven, and that

everything he owns will be left to her in his will. That's if his

campaign to find her works. Dirt has a keen eye for the horses.

At 83, he watches three TVs at once to try come out on top. He hs

gambling on finding the girl he fell gambling on finding the girl he fell

for at a dance in Stockport in 955, and who broke his heart. Shd was

beautiful and lovely. She h`d a ponytail. She dressed beauthfully.

were you in love with her? He wants were you in love with her? He wants

to leave her everything in his well. Some people might say she r`n off

with a never man? It does not matter to me. I still love her. Shd could

of course be anywhere, but he is convinced she is in this arda, after

seeing her working in a bakdry in the late 1980s. He has paid fairly

fit to be delivered at everx single home. He cycled everywhere `nd hopes

one day he will bump into hdr, and if not idiocy eluded get in touch.

How important will it be to find her? `` if you see a leaflet, get in

touch. It is very important. Please get in touch with me and wrhtes me.

Let me know what you are dohng. Would it not be lovely if she were

watching? Let's get the weather It is mixed news as we head to this

week. Things aren't that straightforward. The air has been

pushed out. We saw temperattres of around 16 degrees. Not everxwhere.

Things cool down towards thd end of the week. Most of the temperatures

will be in the mid teens, btt the weather front is never too far away.

We have want a night and ond on Wednesday. We will see some rain

from time to time. This has been our pleasure throughout the day. It has

not been too bad. We have sden bright skies and those tempdratures

with the mild air moving in how felt good. However, we do have r`in on

the cards as we go through the night, and The Met office h`ve

issued a yellow warning the everywhere bar part of Cumbria and

northern Lancashire. As is rain moves across, it could be hdavy You

can see the intensity. Therd will be heavy birds at time. You get the

green is moving in. It doesn't last for ever. The warning expirds at 4am

in the morning. The words of the weather should have left, btt still

in northern part of Cumbria. Overnight temperatures betwden five

and seven degrees. Tomorrow is similar today. For Cumbria, that

rain could linger, but for the rest of us it is a nice start. As the day

goes on, you will find it to be like today. A small chance of rahn.

Sunshine the premium. It is bright rather than anything else. The winds

are light and temperatures of 1 degrees. It is not bad. It hs light

when we go home.