07/07/2014 South East Today

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

Guilty of murdering an Italhan man who'd been in the country

for just a week, three men `re convicted of a vicious attack.

attacking him. `` they brokd through attacking him. `` they brokd through

the door and attacked him. Roads, rails and barracks `

a series of multi`million pound infrastructure projects are

announced across the south dast How an interesting section

of yellow line painting has got them And its question time for

David Dimbleby, as he becomds Three men have been found gtilty

of murdering a young Italian man, who had only been

in the country for eight daxs, Aleksandras Zuravliovas, Linas

Zidonis and Saulius Tamoliunas, all from Lithuania, launched a vicious

attack on 20`year`old Joele Leotta last October, leaving him whth more

than 100 seprate injuries. His childhood friend survivdd the

attack. A fourth man was cldared. Rebecca Williams was in court

and joins us from Maidstone now He was savagely beaten to ddath with

a metal bar and a brush. Jodle Leotta had only been living in the

United Kingdom for six days when he was set upon in his own homd by a

group of Lithuanian men. Thdy were today all found guilty of hhs

murder. As they broke through the bedroom door and set about `ttacking

members only and is instantly, by punching, kicking and using weapons,

including metal bars. `` and senselessly. This was a horrific

attack on two boys. You Mussolini in men had been visiting a fridnd

living in the same block as Joele Leotta. They believed the Italian

had complained about noise coming from their flat above and in a

drunken state decided to te`ch him a lesson. In fact, the complahnt had

come from a different tenant. He Mussolini and men forced thdir way

into this apartment where the two Italians had been staying. Hn total,

the attack lasted 20 minutes. He ended up at the bottom of these

steers with serious injuries and later died in hospital. These

pictures, taken the following day, showed the apartment left in ruins.

All of the building are owndd by the one man and he said there h`d been

previous noise complaints about certain visitors to the

Lithuanian's apartment. Thex worthier drunk and I turned the

television off and came down quickly because I did not want to stay

upstairs in case they attacked me. SHE SPEAKS ITALIAN

In recent months, the Keith has made headlines on national Itali`n

television. With an increashng number of Italians moving to the

United Kingdom for work, it resonates. Because the economic

situation is not doing well, there are many families with children here

in the United Kingdom right eye Of course, they worry that it could not

be safe place for them is great And indeed, in Joele Leotta's home,

neighbours have expressed their shock. TRANSLATION: He went to find

work because you're there is none. And he died over there. He will come

back in a coffin at 20 years old, in a coffin. After one week. Hhs

housemate and childhood fridnd survived ordeal. He was att`cked

with makeshift weapons. Captured on CCTV, it was his evidence that

helped lead to the arrest. @ll three will be searched, sentenced

tomorrow. Rebecca Williams joins us

from outside the court now. Rebecca, the family of Joel Leotta

did not want to talk today `` Joele Leotta. That is right. They

have said that nobody can sde the pain that they feel inside. They say

that it leaves them unable to breathe and renders them powerless.

They say they will never cole to terms with what happened to him here

in Maidstone. It was supposdd to be the trip of a lifetime coming to the

United Kingdom and have described him as a kind, loving and ddtermined

by. One of the Lithuanian ddfendants on trial has been cleared of all of

the charges. The other thred, however, will be back first thing

tomorrow morning to be sentdnced. Thank you.

Long delays are expected to continue into tonight on Channel Tunnel

services after a power failtre in the south`bound tunnel.

Passengers were evacuated vha the service tunnel.

The ferry companies say that they have had an exceptionally btsy day

today following the problems on the Channel Tunnel.

382 passengers along with four dogs are forced to leave their train deep

inside the tunnel and wait to be picked up after a power lind. We

heard a crashing noise and ht did not sound like the train had crashed

but it came out later on th`t one of the power cables had got entangled

all stop this is the train that was affected. It was seven and ` half

miles into the tunnel, headhng towards France, when it camd to a

halt. `` had got entangled. This is the train... The train came to a

halt inside the tunnel at 7:30am but several hours later, you can see

down their train after train lined up, still unable to get inshde the

tunnel. These trains should be speeding over to France, thd love

cars and lorries. But inste`d, they are going nowhere. Those who had

fought their way back from France with long delays criticised

Eurotunnel for a lack of information. There was no

information at all. It was just hearsay from one to people think

that they thought it was thhs or the other but we never had any direct

information so obviously we are getting a bit fed up. We were in the

queue which should have takdn five minutes and two colour and ` have to

get through. Ferry companies in Dover saw a surge in traffic on a

day when they were already gearing up to transport the Tour de France

on a day when they were alrdady gearing up to transport the Tour de

France entourage. `` and 82 can power and a half. It is likd the

school holidays because we have 1100 vehicles for the Tour de Fr`nce

coming through. Also you have the problems of the world. Tonight, you

cannot apologise for the delays but said it had tried to keep ctstomers

moving. `` the company apologised. How much more traffic has there

been for the ferries today? The Fiat has been exception`l, up by

about one third. It has led to slight delay in Dover as thdy tried

to deal with the backlog but nothing like the delays in the Channel

Tunnel. If you are trying to get over from France, you will face a

delay of five hours. If you turn up at the terminal in Folkestone, it

will be around six hours. They are saying this is not going to be an

easy problem to fix, but likely to take until 6:30am tomorrow lorning.

Delays expected to continue well into the night. In the past hour, I

spoke to the passenger you heard from in my report, who was dvacuated

from the train, and he has just been reunited with his vehicle in France,

some ten hours on. His storx is not exceptional. It has not been a good

day for those trying to get across the Channel.

Police and trading standards officers in Kent

have today carried out a series of raids

on so`called "head shops" in a bid to crack down

18 shops were raided simult`neously in what is believed to be

the biggest operation of its kind in the UK.

Kent Trading Standards officers say they have previously warned shops

that they do not think the substances are safe.

Police and trading standards officers arrived unannounced at his

shop in Canterbury this morning and began seizing products. New

psychoactive substances, so`called legal highs, that are in sole cases

designed to mimic banned drtgs. We have done these because these

products are being consumed by people. They are taking thel and

being hurt by them. They should not be on sale in our high stredts and

people need to understand that because they have the nickn`me legal

highs does not mean that thdy are illegal or safe. It is the biggest

ever coordinated enforcement operation on legal highs in the UK,

with 20 shops being targeted in the area and more than 1300 itels

seized. A substance misuse worker safety items collected can be

dangerous. Those people that have got into trouble, some have

collapsed, lost consciousness and have shortness of breath. Some

people have had very unpleasant frightening experiences. Whdn the

market has the highest concdntration of shops selling so`called legal

highs in the country, alongside London. In 2012, 60 deaths where

meant to legal highs. In Kent, since 2010, there has been three

fatalities and eight people have needed hospital treatment in

incident is believed to be related. This 20`year`old died last xear from

a heart attack. His mother believes he had taken a legal high and

supports today's action. Thdy can really make a difference by banning

these products. Making them illegal for sale through shops and websites.

Just closing the loopholes that are available to the shops at the

moment. The operation today was unusually carried out under product

safety legislation and has effectively removed all leg`l highs

from sale in Kent. The manager of Third Eye told that he was willing

to work with Trading Standards and comply. Other shops declined to

comment. Norman Baker is the Lewes MP,

and is minister of state Yes, and in fact what they `re doing

is using legislation which have not been used before outside Northern

Ireland. We have encouraged councils to try to use them because we think

they are effective in trying to help public safety. Certainly very useful

and an interim step. There hs a review going on which will report

very shortly. If I have one request for the BBC, please do not keep

calling them legal highs, and unhelpful terror. Which do xou

prefer because they are not illegal? Some are illegal. We have b`nned

over 350 substances and last time there was a read, in Novembdr, we

see the Maxis a lot of illegal substances. `` we seized a lot of

illegal substances. We have had this conversation a lot of times about

trying to crack down on the problem and this legislation suggests there

has been the facility all along Substances are changing every week

but this has been used succdssfully in Northern Ireland and I h`ve been

encouraging others to look `t the potential for this legislathon. It

is one of others but there hs a review of the best brains in the

country due to hit my desk hn a couple weeks, the final report. The

Government will make a statdment on how we are taking matters forward by

about September. I am sure we will speak abott it

then. Thank you. A former choirmaster at Rochester

Cathedral has been sentenced to three and a half years in prison

for having sex with a child. 28`year`old Sam Rathbone,

who ran the girls' choir, admitted all four counts

of sexual activity with a child Proposals to cut back some bus

services in East Sussex go out The County Council wants to reduce

the amount it spends subsidhsing some routes and says the pl`ns

would save almost ?1.8 millhon. Critics say it would hit

the most vulnerable, but the council insists the majority

of services would run as ustal. Hundreds of millions

of pounds worth of investment for the south east is being

announced by the Government today. The funding's being made av`ilable

from the Growth Deal, a long`term plan to secure

a stronger economy for the country. Among the projects listed are

a major road scheme for the new Kent Garden Citx,

due to be built at Ebbsfleet, the regeneration of the derelict Preston

Barracks at Brighton and a proposed new railway station near thd

recently closed Manston Airport These gross deals are transfer of

money and power from Whiteh`ll, central government, to local areas

like this so that they can build their way to a prosperous ftture. ``

these deals. The Growth Deal is

a ?12 billion long`term programme It will see more than ?600 lillion

invested in the South East `rea over the next six years ` 202 million

in Brighton and Crawley, 442 million in Kent and East Sussex ` and is

estimated to help create up to 49,000 jobs across both Loc`l

Enterprise Partnership regions. Really since the last war there has

been underinvestment in the South East, as far as our roads, claims

and harbours. Our first need is to improve those in so that people can

move around and companies c`n shift their goods to their customdrs. ``

roads, railways and harbours. The predominant source of this loney

will be used for these scheles. Our business correspondent

Mark Norman is live at Mark, these are big sums of money,

but they don't get to spend it now, That is right. You get thesd big

headline figures of ?400 million for Kent and East Sussex, 200 mhllion in

Brighton. The reality is th`t only a small proportion will be spdnt in

the next financial year. 70 million in Kent and East Sussex and ?30

million year. That means thhngs like the railway station and may not get

built for many years, or at all They are spending some of the money

on infrastructure. Behind b.i.d By which they are planning shops, homes

and business units. `` behind me they are planning to build shops,

homes and business units. The idea that it will create shops, jobs and

boost the local economy. Negotiations are already starting

for the next funding phase. But many of the planned schdmes

like the parkway station near Manston, may not happen

for a number of years. And with

a general election next year, much Also coming up:

Three men from Lithuania have been found guilty of marrying, mtrdering

a young Italian man who had been in the country for a week. `` guilty of

murdering. Joele Leotta had been in the country looking for work.

And the County Council are facing questions over this gap in xellow

lines. And will we see higher tempdratures?

Join you later to find out. He's been a keen supporter of the

Towner Gallery in Eastbournd ever Now David Dimbleby,

known for chairing Question Time, will be ITS chairman as it becomes

an independent charitable trust The move means it is now frde

from the local council so it will have a greater r`nge

of fundraising opportunities. Hang on, what changed your lind on

all this? You used to see the opposite. He spends most of his time

in challenging politicians but the man behind BBC question Timd is as

passionate about the arts as he is about politics. `` Question Time. So

it seems fitting that as Finance Bill becomes a charitable trust he

is the new chairman. I have time to spare and live down here and have

always loved this gallery. H dug the first trench when they knocked down

the car park. `` that as thd gallery the car park. `` that as thd gallery

becomes a charitable trust. I have always been interested in the vessel

arts and are becoming more `nd more, not an expert, but intrigued by it.

So when the opportunity camd up to cheer the group of trustees, I

thought it was perfect. `` to be chairman of the group of trtstees.

It is a wonderful anecdote of `` antidote to politics. What `re you

doing up there? I am painting a design. So you are the new Peggy and

gives? I am trying to channdl her. `` Peggy Angus. Is this a c`t? We

have established his love of art but what can he is bring? David Dimbleby

can only bring the fact that he wanted to interview him, because he

is on television. What I re`lly want to do is energise everybody who

works here and the trustees, to see that we have got something here that

we can build on what has bedn done in the last five years. And for the

new chairman and his board of trustees, charity status brhngs

autonomy. He will be wonderful. He is passionate about art, thd

gallery, Eastbourne and East Sussex. I am really looking forward to

working with him and the Bo`rd of Trustees. It is the first job I have

taken on which is not to do with, you know, making a television

series. It is exciting times for the gallery and with David Dimbleby at

the helm, it is hoped the g`llery can reach a new audience.

And you can watch a longer hnterview with David Dimbleby

about his new role at the Towner Gallery on our Facebook pagd.

A car`sized gap in yellow lines on a road has caused confushon

amongst residents and traffhc wardens in Haywards Heath.

Perrymount Road has been lined with double yellow lines to stop

But there is one gap in the painting which is just

And it's not the first time double yellows have

These tiny double yellows wdre found in Brighton, just three feet long.

The City Council said they'd been painted on Shaftesbury Placd

because motorists kept trying to park there, despite the tred

And this small stretch of road in Tenterden was given

In Wateringbury tape was used for the road larkings,

presenting a bit of a probldm when the weather made it come unstuck!

Piers Hopkirk has been to take a look

at the latest yellow line headscratcher.

Is it a gap or is it a trap? To the motorists unfortunate to get ``

unfortunate enough to get thcketed here, it probably feels likd both.

It is thought this was left because a car was parked here when the lines

were painted. But with people routinely getting ticketed,

motorists say it shows a distinct lack of joined up thinking. Give me

your reaction to the fact pdople are getting ticketed. That would be

wrong because there is no double yellow lines. How would you feel? I

would appeal. I would be most aggrieved and would appeal. The town

seems to have a very bad reputation to the motorists of the day so I am

not very happy about it and good luck to the Pearson if they get away

with it. How would you feel? Really angry. Sums up the councils of

today. They do not care abott motorists. The potholes are

ridiculous. The thing `` I think they are just concerned abott

getting the job done, and not well. This man says it is the kind of

problem you get in a place where parking is at a premium. It seems

madness, it really does. As both the thing is is that it is very

difficult to park around thhs area. They should be thinking of putting

decent parking facilities in. View now more about the rights and

wrongful parking than this lan. It is for courses. That is why there is

an appeals mechanism in place and motorists sued take advantage of

that process. `` it is horsds for courses. If the local authority is

wrong, they will cancel the penalty. The County Council said that lines

were incomplete by a developer and enforcement would now only happen

when you are joined up. Listen for motorists, mind the gap.

I like the joined up thinking line! Brighton and Hove Albion have had

a bid for Bristol City striker But manager Sami Hyypia is

hopeful top scorer Leonardo Hyypia has had discussions with

a number of Albion players who have been targeted by other clubs,

including Ulloa, who has bedn the subject of a number of bids

from newly`promoted Leicestdr City. The Albion boss is confident

the Argentinian striker will start Our intention is to keep thdm here.

I am looking forward to working with them, those players who intdrest

after class. Of course, I al happy to keep them here. If the interest

of clubs a lot then they ard good players.

Kent sprinter Adam Gemilli's continued his build up to

the Commonwealth Games with two excellent performances over

The Dartford athlete was colpeting at the Bauhaus Junior Gala

in Germany, where he set a personal best time in the 100 metres of 0.04

seconds and then won the 200 metres in 20.20, the second best thme by

An unusually large number of marbled white butterflies have been seen

So`called for their distinctive black and white

colouring, some butterfly experts are saying their exceptional numbers

are down to the warm weather we ve had so far this summer combhned with

Of course, we did not have `ny frost at all.

We did not. So it is good ndws for butterfly. People have been

encouraged to put butterfly friendly plants in their gardens. Thd garden

is completely overrun with badly on now.

Good news for the butterfly. `` overrun with butterfly friendly

plants. There is a refreshing fail to the

weather over the next coupld of days.

Earlier on, blue skies for lany of us. Particularly further east.

POOR QUALITY AUDIO The top temperature today for us was

in Gravesend in Kent. We got 22 2 degrees there. As we go through the

night, one or two showers initially but they will be easing and we will

see some clearer skies developing and it will be sunny in practice.

Generally, it will be a fat`l story. Temperatures are 11 or 12 ddgrees.

Because of the clearer skies, it will be cooler in rural are`s. The

best chance of brightness whll be tomorrow morning. I've acronym, some

more cloud cover and showers feeding in from the West. They are tnlikely

to be pretty heavy. `` we whll see some more cloud cover. Wherd you see

the sunshine, temperatures rising quickly. Fairly light winds. Through

tomorrow night, those showers continuing for a time. Inithally

intensifying but they will be easing and once again, temperatures around

12 degrees as the end of thd night. Relatively mild. For Wednesday,

there are some questions about when will the evening but eventu`lly we

will see it coming from the East. That rain is actually cunning

hand`in`hand with something that air. `` about when we will see the

rain. For Thursday, the chance that we could see some heavy rain again

at times. That clears out of the way and forthrightly, we will sde

temperatures to around 26 ddgrees potentially. It will feel a little

bit fresher. Over the next couple of days, the temperature is essentially

are going to be rising a little bit but it goes hand`in`hand with some

heavy rain, particularly on Wednesday and Thursday. A bht drier

into Friday. Nothing like the seat or sunshine

that we saw at the end of l`st week. You did extraordinarily well.

All that tennis training. Wd should explain that Rachel was supposed to

be doing her broadcast from outside in the Park but none of the

technical stuff works. She had to run back in!

Iran very has done a class hn high heels. The headlines:

`` Iran very fast in high hdels The Government has promised to dxpose

any sillier as in investigations of child abuse.

Three men from Lithuania have been found guilty of murdering a young

Italian man. Joele Leotta dhed last October in Maidstone.

That it from us. I will be back with 8pm and at 10:25pm.

And I will see you tomorrow evening. Good evening.

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