24/02/2012 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Polly Evans. And I'm Rob Smith.

Tonight's top stories: Three guilty verdicts over the death of

Gagandeep Singh - killed after a revenge attack in Brighton. It is

hard to believe in this day and age use human beings can do such things.

We'll have the latest live from the Old Bailey.

The Sussex taxi company employing Romanian drivers ahead of British

workers, and the MP who wants local workers to be given preference.

Also in tonight's programme: We ask what lies in store for Kent

Businessman Christopher Tappin - extradited to the US on charges of

exporting of missile parts to Iran. Arson is suspected as the cause of

a blaze that destroyed a Kent DIY store and forced families from

their homes. Crocodiles, snakes and giant

lizards - the RSPCA in Sussex says it has seen a big rise in the

Good evening. A Sussex University student did

lure a TV executive to his death in revenge for a sex attack, a jury

has decided. Gagandeep Singh died after being beaten unconscious at

Mundil Mahil's flat in Brighton. She has been convicted of GBH with

intent. The two men who beat him, Harvinder Shoker and Darren Peters,

have been found guilty of murder and manslaughter after they shut

him in the boot of a car and set it on fire. Our reporter Fiona Irving

is live at the Old Bailey. It has taken the jury two weeks to come to

a decision, what was the reaction to their verdicts?

There were very distressing scenes here in court today. Harvinda

Shoker's family members broke down and had to be carried out of court

when he was found guilty of murder. Mundill Mahill, the Brighton

student from Chatham, remained calm and composed. She had set the honey

trap which Gagandip Singh walked into.

Gagandeep Singh just hours before he was murdered. Seen here on his

way to Brighton, he stumped up by a teddy bear to give to medical

student Mundil Mahil he was luring him into an attack. Harvinder

Shoker and Kirat Raj Singh lay in wait at Mundil Mahil's house. They

beat him unconscious and bundled him into the boot of the car.

Harvinder Shoker poured petrol on him and set him alight. In a

statement, Gagandeep Singh's family paid tribute to him. On a day-to-

day basis there is a gap in our lives and a sense of loneliness.

Gagandeep Singh was always a happy person trying to make us laugh. He

was always positive and reassuring. The impact of the trial has been

harder this week as this weekend marks one year's anniversary of his

death. Mundil Mahil was a Brighton medical student. Cleared of his

murder today, she was found guilty of grievous bodily harm with intent.

She had made the phone call that had matured into his death. Have

you got anything to say? Have you got anything to say? Had it not

been for the actions of Mundil Mahil, Gagandeep Singh would not

have been murdered. He thought he was going down there to have a

social evening the third, when she knew that Harvinder Shoker and

Kirat Raj Singh were coming down to attack him. Darren Peters was found

killed to of manslaughter. He had helped Harvinder Shoker carry out

the attack. For the family of Gagandeep Singh, they said life has

ground to a halt and one never be the same again.

Mundil Mahil walked out of court today as she was granted bail.

Today the judge said that a long prison sentence for all three is

virtually inevitable. It was a plot hatched by some of

Gagandip Singh's closest friends that led to his brutal murder.

Katherine Downes on the crime that shocked a community. Gagandeep

Singh reporting from Pakistan on a television channel he had just

launched at the age of 20. Friends say she was a rising star, brutally

killed in the prime of his life. was such an up and coming sort of

guy. He was wise way beyond his years. A real great leader in the

making. I could see him doing a lot of things. Sometimes it feels like

the whole thing is going to carry on, but the reality is she is no

more. Gagandeep Singh was caught in a trap set by two of his closest

friends, Mundil Mahil and Harvinder Shoker. Mundil Mahil tricked him

into a meeting at to a student accommodation in Brighton where she

knew he might be hurt, but once they're Harvinder Shoker and Darren

Peters took it further, beating him unconscious. Afterwards, Gagandeep

Singh was bundled into the boot of the car, wrapped in bed sheets.

Still alive at this point he was driven to Blackheath in south-east

London or petrol was poured on him and the car and then they were both

ignited. Gagandeep Singh died from breeding in perfumes. We sold the

car there. There was nothing left. The tree was on fire as well. Just

trying to even picture that would give anybody nightmares. The

pouring of petrol and putting him in the boot, nobody deserves to go

like that, it doesn't matter who you are. But how did trusted

friends become killers? With Harvinder Shoker, I was under the

impression he was a very good friend of Gagandeep Singh. He

seemed to look up to him. He helped him out on a few occasions. They

seem to know each other from childhood, were very close. But

Mundil Mahil had told Harvinder Shoker a painful secret, that

Gagandeep Singh had tried to rate her at the previous summer.

Gagandeep Singh suspected he was being set up. He centre text

message saying, OK, I have had enough, what do you playing at?

Later he asked, can we talk civil, or do you just want me dead?

Despite his unease, Gagandeep Singh walked into the trap and ultimately

to his death, leaving his friends and family bewildered hands

horrified at the thought of his suffering. It is hard to believe in

this day and age human beings can do such things. I don't like to

think about his final moments. Nobody deserves a death like that.

That was Gagandip Singh's friend Kirat Raj Singh ending our report

from Katherine Downes. In a moment: A family's campaign to

prevent more deaths on our roads after their daughter was killed

cycling in Sussex. It has emerged that a Sussex

employer is actively recruiting workers in Eastern Europe, despite

rising unemployment and record numbers of jobless young people in

the UK. Earlier this week, the Employment Secretary, Chris

Grayling, highlighted his concerns of non-British people being offered

work ahead of UK residents. But one Sussex taxi boss says East

Europeans are critical to his company's success. Our Business

Correspondent, Mark Norman, reports. This man makes another pick up in

Crawley. He is a qualified electrical engineer with the young

family back in Romania. He says he drives taxis here for a way to a

better life for his children. are a lot of jobs you if you want

to work. Cleaner, taxi driver. Something is better than nothing.

His bosses say the 15 Europeans they have employed along more than

30 English drivers have added to the company's professionalism.

seems to be that the Romanian drivers have been quite hard-

working and dedicated to what they do. They seem to spend a lot of

time revising the roads as part of their training from the agency,

that they learn a lot of stuff before they even get here. The

professionalism of the drivers as great. In the 12 months to June

last year there were almost 600,000 long-term immigrants to the UK.

Unemployment rose by 48,000 to reach a peak of 2.6 million, while

in Crawley, more than 2200 people are unemployed or claiming benefit.

Should you cage of the advertised abroad? This is the website of an

online recruitment agency in Romania that shoes within 2400

driving jobs in England, but recruiting staff this way is not

for everyone. Unemployment is going up, so it is better to advertise

here first. The Eastern Europeans work really hard for less money, so

it is economics, isn't it? should be advertised here at the

same time so all the people can apply at the same time, but if they

are the best people for the job, that is fine. There are another --

and number of other areas where taxi drivers can look. I don't

think it is right that they have to look to Romania. Professional,

reliable staff for what people look for, were ever there recruited or

where they're from. Mark Norman reporting, and he joins

us live from Crawley. Mark, it seems there's a divide between what

politicians say should be happening and what firms are actually doing

on the ground. That is right. The Employment Minister yesterday

saying that British companies should give preference to British

unemployed people. Time after time I come across companies that are

not actively recruiting foreign members of staff ahead of British

people, but they are creating an mixed so they get a very strong

work ethic. Maybe ministers are going to have to learn to deal with

We want to know what you think. MPs say jobs that could be done by

local people are being taken by workers from overseas. Are they

right to be concerned? Send us an email or join the debate on our

Facebook site, and we'll hear some of your comments later in the

A man is in hospital with injuries after falling off a cliff path in

Dover. Another walker also fell a shorter distance in the same area

today and was treated by paramedics. A care worker has appeared before

magistrates charged with two counts of assaulting vulnerable pensioners

at a residential home in East Sussex. Michael Deboick, from St

Leonards, is alleged to have injured two men aged 73 and 85 at

the Mount Denys Care Home in Hastings in May last year. One of

the men suffered a broken hip. There are calls for a Thanet

District Councillor to resign tonight after he posted internet

comments that opponents say are deeply offensive. In response to a

story that bus drivers had been told not to refer to female

passengers as "love", Labour councillor Mike Harrison used

offensive language to describe any woman who might complain and added

they were frustrated and should get a life. Opposition councillors say

they will report his comments to the council's Standards Committee.

The retired Kent businessman Christopher Tappin has been

extradited to America to face charges of conspiring to export

batteries for use in Iranian missiles. Mr Tappin was arrested in

2010. He fought extradition through the courts, but last month his

final efforts failed. This morning US Marshals met him at Heathrow and

flew him to Texas to stand trial. If he is found guilty he could

spend up to 35 years in prison. He had this parting shot for the Prime

Minister. I looked to David Cameron and to look after my rights, and he

has failed to do so. I have no rights. Abu Qatada is walking the

streets of London today and we cannot extradite him. He has more

rights than I have. If I was a terrorist, I wouldn't be going to

America. I think it is a shame. It is a disgrace.

Well, joining me now live from Houston, Texas, is Douglas McNabb,

a federal criminal lawyer based there. Mr McNabb, what's waiting

for Christopher Tappin there? will be escorted off the plane,

handcuffed, chains around his waist and ankles. He will then be

transported to the Federal detention centre in downtown

Houston, about three blocks from where I am now. He will spend the

weekend in that detention centre. On Monday he will be taken before a

federal magistrate judge or a bond hearing. He will be able to call

witnesses and his support. The government will be able to call

witnesses and that their conclusion of that hearing the judge will make

a determination as to whether he is either a flight risk or a danger to

the community. If the court determines that he is either of

those, the court will deny bonds and he will be jailed pending trial.

On the other hand, if the court determines he is not those things,

he will be released and some sort of bond. We have heard that he

could face up to 35 years in prison, if found guilty, is that a

realistic sentence? No, it is not. Count one carries five years, count

to 10 years, and in the Third Kind it is a maximum of 20 years. The

media has added the five, plus 10, plus 20 to come up with 35 years,

but that is not likely. We have guidelines on top of that that

would then make a determination as to what potential sentence he might

receive. For example, he has two co-defendants. One was sentenced to

24 months in prison. A second co- defendant was sentenced to 22

months in prison. To be fair, Christopher Tappin is facing a

charge that the other two are not. He is facing money-laundering,

which carries a potential penalty of up to 20 years.

A huge fire that destroyed a Kent DIY store is tonight being treated

as arson. Emergency crews worked through the night to put out the

flames in Gravesend. Neighbouring buildings were evacuated for four

hours and 60 people were led to safety. Bryony MacKenzie has the

details. Stocked with paint, gas canisters and all their equipment

needed to improve your home, the fire made light work of this DIY

store. Holmes had to be evacuated leaving residents outside only able

to watch on. It was really scary. It was just across the road from us

and it was all flying over the road. We could not open the door because

of the heat, so we looked out of the front window and there were

flames everywhere. The shop was completely on fire. The whole front

of the shop had fallen on to a car. We did not know what was going to

happen. We were concerned because of the style of the shop, a paint

shop, and they sell gas there. We were concerned it was going to

explode. In the light of day this morning, investigators are working

to assess what the possible cause could be. It was distinguished at

approximately 4 o'clock this morning and we are now back

carrying out a joint investigation with the police. In close proximity

to residential homes, 60 people had to be evacuated over concerns about

toxic fumes. We were evacuated for three or four hours. We live

opposite. Investigations are under way and that the clean-up process

starts this afternoon and into this evening. It is not yet clear is how

this fire started. Our top story tonight: A Sussex

University student did lure a TV executive to his death in revenge

for a sex attack, a jury has decided. Gagandeep Singh was beaten

unconscious at Mundil Mahil's flat in Brighton. She has been convicted

of GBH with intent. The two men who beat him, Harvinder Shoker and

Darren Peters, have been found guilty of murder and manslaughter

after they shut him in the boot of a car and set it on fire.

Also in tonight's programme: Why crocodiles, snakes and giant

lizards are turning up in increasing numbers at an RSPCA

rescue centre in Sussex. We almost broke records for the

warmest February day, but not quite. Is this exceptionally mild weather

going to last? Join me later for The family of a newly qualified

teacher who was killed while cycling in Brighton say they want

to prevent such a tragedy from ever happening again. Jo Walter died in

2010 on the A270 Lewes Road. Now a trust set up in her name has

produced a master-plan for safer cycling routes in the city. Alex

Beard reports. The family of Jo Walter wants to

make Brighton Sacra for cyclists so we know -- so no one else have to

suffer a similar loss. She was only 28. It was the last thing we

expected to happen. The charity has helped us feel that we're doing

something positive out of this. We would be delighted if we could feel

that the people cycling to and from university were safe and this could

not happen again. Jo Walter was driving on this -- was cycling on

this path when she had to swerve to avoid another cyclist and she was

hit by an ban. This is all part of a master plan to create safer ways

for cyclists to get around the city. We have been heartened by the

response from the City Council who had taken this as a constructive

input. We are very much working with them. It is very probable that

what we are suggesting will happen. Cycle safety is not just a local

issue and yesterday it was debated in Parliament. It is good for their

economy and the environment. We have a responsibility to make it as

safe as possible and encourage it. Two local cyclists feel safe?

Drivers are not that considerate towards cyclists. When you go on a

bike you take your chances. We are not quite Amsterdam yet, are we?

But at Neverland style cycle network is exactly what the family

of Jo Walter want to see in Brighton.

Alex Beard reporting and she joins us from Hove. The city council is

already working to improve safety for cyclists there, isn't it?

this road they have actually close to what they put in this dedicated

cycle path. It is wide and higher than the road, but also totally

separate to the footpath. This is not just a local issue as there has

been of high profile campaign to improved cycle safety. For the

family of Jo Walter, what they want to see his improvements like this

put on the road where she died. Experts at the RSPCA say there has

been a big increase in the number of exotic pets they are caring for

at their specialist centre in Patcham, in East Sussex. They

include poisonous snakes, giant lizards, and two crocodiles

discovered by police in a bedroom. Nationally, it is estimated that

900,000 reptiles were kept as pets last year. There were over 8,500

calls about exotic pets to the charity's emergency cruelty line.

There were 427 incidents involving bearded dragons, a 1,700% increase

compared to 2001. Ian Palmer reports. Meet the Caiman crocodile.

The owner had a affection for it until RSPCA officers found he did

not have a licence. You have to spend thousands and thousands of

Pounds on a correct set-up. If someone does that to the licensing,

you need almost as soon exhibit. This RSPCA centre it is the only

reptile rescue centre in the country. So, what are these exotic

pets like to keep? This fibre has the potential to kill so needs

expert care. The Caiman crocodile quality of feet in length. If

disturbed it will give you a nasty bite. The bearded dragon will only

attack that it is hungry. It is particularly aggressive during the

mating season. What do I need to know before buying an exotic pet?

Don't buy it on a whim. Go away and do your research. Many of these

animals had been imported where there are no war fewer restrictions.

This man is a debt research and he has 40 animals at home. He says

people just don't understand what they are taking on. We are keeping

them completely out of there, Britain and owners have to play God

and that they have to provide the right temperature, the sunshine.

Britain has nothing that they know. The temptation to adopt unusual

animals seems to be increasing. No- one knows why more relationships

between man and beast are breaking down. The colt the wild is too

strong for some people and it is the RSPCA that is forced to pick up

the pieces. Brighton and Hove Albion hope to

extend their unbeaten run in the Championship when they entertain

Ipswich at the Amex stadium tomorrow. Manager Gus Poyet is

expected to tinker with his line-up following a goalless draw at Hull

on Wednesday night. Will Buckley could return to the starting 11

after coming off the bench at the KC Stadium.

In League One, Chris Solly should return to the Charlton starting

line-up for the visit of Stevenage. An illness caused his late

withdrawal from the side that drew 1-1 with Rochdale on Tuesday night.

In League Two, Andy Hessenthaler may name an unchanged Gillingham

line-up as they host promotion- chasing Torquay. The Gills boss was

encouraged by his side's display in Tuesday's goalless draw against

It has been another lovely day to day, but unlikely to last into the

weekend? Yes and No. It will be a nice weekend, but it will not be as

warm. There will be a little bit of rain first thing tomorrow I'll but

otherwise sunshine. This call from disease and southwards. It is a

weak front, but it has enough power in it to introduce some colder air.

There could even be a touch of frost on Sunday night. Yesterday we

brogues and temperature records. It has been a very different day to

day in some places. The wind switched round and came off the

North Sea and Broxham -- and brought some fog and low cloud. We

started off with broken cloud across Kent and East Sussex, but

the cloud is filled in throughout the day. The eastern part of Kent

held on to it for the longest. With thick cloud, it will be quite a

mild nights with those temperatures around about seven degrees.

Tomorrow, we start off cloudy and damp with a bit of light rain, but

that will move away and gradually from the north it will brighten up.

By the afternoon nearly all of us will be having some sunshine. Still

mild for the time of year, but not as mild were warm as it has been.

It will still be a couple of degrees above average. Tomorrow

evening the skies will become clear so there is the chance of a touch

of frost. Other than that, it looks for the next few days it will not

be too bad. On Sunday itself will be dry with the reasonable amount

of sunshine. There is a chance of some rain for the start of the next

working week. Now back to one of our top stories

tonight: Bosses at a Crawley taxi firm say Romanian drivers are

playing a critical part in the company's success. But MPs in Kent

and Sussex have raised concerns that companies are recruiting

overseas workers to fill posts that could go to local people when UK

unemployment is rising. Earlier in the programme we asked what you

think and thanks for all your comments. Sarah says I think it is

that when there are so many people over here out of work and more are

being made redundant every day. Another person said that a lot of

local people will not do the jobs anyway. Another person said that if

the English people want the jobs, then apply for them! Eastern

Europeans only take the jobs that other people do not want. At the

viewer from Margate said that why is it that it local workforce does

not have the professionalism that the owner of the taxi company

claimed was the reason why he was hiring people from Romania. That is