10/11/2011 South Today

Hello, I'm Sally Taylor. Welcome to South Today. In tonight's

programme: Six-year-old Dumo died at home in a

fire seven years ago. Tonight the man who started it begins a life

sentence. A father tells an inquest how he

pleaded for doctors to keep his daughter in hospital to protect her

from herself. The pride of a city, crowds honour

the soldiers marching through Salisbury. The regiment haven't

been together for nine years, a really great event.

And it's all smiles now but are the fans happy as Pompey take a risk

with a new manager. I will always be a bit of a dark course, not one

of the favourites, but ultimately I must have done enough to be given

For seven years the family waited for justice. And today the man who

murdered their six-year-old girl in a house fire in Crawley begins a

life sentence. The jury took two hours to find George Sithole guilty

of killing Dumo Sibanda in October 2004. After her death he fled to

South Africa and was only extradited earlier this year.

Natalie Graham reports. They have waited seven years for

justice, await a which they say has left their marriage in threads but

they saw the man who killed their only child convicted of her murder.

George Sithole was selfish enough not to do with the consequences of

his actions at the time. He refused to to come forward when he knew he

was sought for questioning. He also refused the extradition process

which led to the extra the clergy in him coming to the UK for the

trial to take place -- the extra delay. Dumo was six his old when

she died in a fire started deliberately, angry that his former

girlfriend he was staying with family had ended their relationship.

He was filmed buying matches and petrol to start the fire, but

afterwards he fled to South Africa and was interested in her last year.

Sentencing George Sithole the judge told him he didn't think he had

ever heard such a pathetic attempt by somebody to light their way out

of responsibility. He told him you are wicked and criminal behaviour

cost little Dumo her life and you have shown no remorse for your

actions. He will spend a minimum of 17 years in prison. The judge

praised the family with a calm and dignified manner they had conducted

themselves during the trial. The father of a young woman who

fell to her death from a block of flats in Southampton has told an

inquest he pleaded with her medical team not to release her for fear

she would kill herself. Victoria Nye had been a voluntary patient in

the psychiatric unit at the Royal South Hampshire hospital. She had a

history of alcohol and substance abuse and self harm. A psychiatrist

said he had no option but to let her go. Chris Coneybeer reports.

Graham said his daughter and needed help. In hospital she was happy,

relaxed and buoyant. She was looking forward to being a buoyant

stock when she believed she was to be discharged she became greatly

upset. He received a phone call saying she had come out of the

meeting with a consultant psychiatrist he said she should be

discharged but in his opinion she was completely normal. Earlier in

the inquest that psychiatrist, Dr Anders Ekelund, gave evidence

saying he hadn't wanted Victoria to leave until a proper care plan was

in place but she had wanted to go and he had no justification to

detain her. He said the date Victoria left to fend hospital

saying she couldn't -- he couldn't believe she had been discharged. I

stated my fears that if she was to be released there would almost be

an incident. -- almost certainly. I felt she would throw herself off

the balcony as a fitting punishment. Earlier the court had been told of

the incident which led to a going into hospital in the first place.

She had apparently thrown for kittens from the balcony of her

flat. She had no recollection of that action the court heard, but

accepted you must have done it. In court Victoria acknowledged for the

first time in her life as a result of the kid an incident that she

needed help. He said when he sped to hospital he couldn't get them to

listen. I was trying to warn them that any would go. She wouldn't

forgive yourself for what happened to the kittens. You have just given

her a fortnight of building Harrop and giving her head, and when you

let her off the premises she will be dead before -- because she will

kill herself and they let Iraq. The inquest's verdict is expected at

the end of the month. Just over an hour ago. Anti-

capitalist protestors who've been occupying land outside Bournemouth

town hall have lost their legal fight. A judge has refused them

leave to appeal against their eviction. They've been camped for

two weeks and now it's expected the bailiffs will move in. Joe Campbell

is in Bournemouth tonight, what's happening there now? They look

pretty settled behind you, not as they did they are moving anywhere.

-- not ASBO. You can see the picnic tea they are

having. That belies the increased tension where a judge considered

whether or not to give them leave to appeal. Just before 5pm came the

news nobody here wanted to hear. A what is going to happen? That

announcement meant straightaway the bailiffs could move in. They

haven't done so far, the council has been looking to see if they can

get the bailiffs here on site. It hadn't wanted to waste money

keeping them on standby throughout the day. Four protesters, and

uncertain night looks to be on the cards. -- for the protesters.

want to get something done before the memorial service tomorrow. We

will not make any disruptions or interfere with those plans. I

imagine we will be off the side by then. But we want to leave under

hour in terms. At a much pressure on the council to clear the

protesters away? You had one of the protesters

mention the memorial service tomorrow marking the 11th hour on

the 11th day of the 11th month. There would normally end up here,

and we saw council workers cleaning up the war memorial in short area

from here earlier round. That means there is a pressure to get this

site clear in preparation. There is no such pressure down the coast at

Brighton where there has been a similar protest. The two

Conservative MPs have condemned that a demonstration that the Green

council West as the protesters can stay. As long as it meet their

criteria as regards disturbed -- safety, disorder and noise. They

are still here in the heart of Britain, nearly three weeks on

since the occupation started. The encampment has grown to around 30p.

-- 30 tents. It is not the kind of thing you would have done a year or

two ago? I wouldn't have dreamt about it, but it is circumstances.

It is not ideal. Winter coming. Living in a tent eating from a soup

kitchen, but there are people donating food and stuff. At least a

winked starve to death. -- At least I will not. The Green MP for

Brighton Pavilion visited the site last week and spoke to protesters.

The two neighbouring Conservative MPs have condemned the occupation

of victory Gardens. The green led City Council has resisted calls for

the police to move on the Cam. are not the thought police, it is

not up to us to tell people what they should I shouldn't do, it is

up to us to preserve public safety and make sure the people living and

working in the City can go about their business unmolested. If there

is evidence that isn't happening we would like to hear it.

If the council's tests on public safety, disorder and use and

continue to be met by the campers, it appears they will be allowed to

stay. Here the clock is counting down now

to the arrival of the bailiffs. The protesters have made clear when

they do come they will leave but they have already got a list of

other sites they might make to here in Bournemouth. -- move to.

Eight people have appeared before magistrates charged with sexually

abusing children over a 21-year period. 49-year-old Paul Thomas

from Basingstoke, 29-year-old Paul Flynn from Reading and Tim Pittway

who's 48 and from Winnersh are accused of raping a child and

indecent assault. They will now appear at Winchester Crown court on

25th November. Five others face a range of charges including indecent

assault and child neglect. Funding from Dorset County Council

is being withdrawn from nine libraries. Councillors voted this

morning to stop paying for the smaller libraries. They were asked

to reconsider proposals that were passed in July by a single vote but

upheld the decision. Campaigners say libraries will survive and

volunteers have come forward to help.

Still to come in this evening's South Today: We have the sport and

weather. Will this mild November Flynn

continue into the weekend? -- The controversial �20 million bus

route linking Fareham and Gosport will struggle to take just 2% of

traffic off the local roads, that's according to the man who's in

charge. But Hampshire County Council believes it will still ease

congestion, attract new business and improve quality of life for

residents. The route is due to open next April. Here's our Transport

Correspondent Paul Clifton. With six months to go some parts of the

bath suite are almost finished. Wood panels to hide it from houses

behind are in place. Here is what you should look like next April.

The project had a very slow birth. For years it was going to be a

tramp with a tunnel beneath Portsmouth harbour but at �20

million the shorter bus weight is a fraction of the cost. We have got

the last 5th of the surfacing to be done, and then a lot of

infrastructure for all the technical, electrical bits and

pieces, the real time information, CCTV cameras. When the railway line

through the centre of this image closed down Gosport became the

largest town in country without a train station. Now the track but

will be used to take buses off the congested a 32, the only main road

into the area. It will make a big difference. A small percentage of

the cars taken off the road will make a big difference for the

problem area. Most people here want this bus route, though some of its

neighbours do not. Those who protested against it still think

this is a waste of money. It is not from Gosport 2 Fareham. It doesn't

effectively E feet from anywhere to anywhere. I don't think it will

work. How many people will it take off the road? We don't know that.

We cannot be too ambitious. The tram system in Manchester only took

2% of people out of their cars. will open in April. For now this is

where it will end. But in the longer term it could be extended

for another mile into Gosport. The council owns the land, it has got

planning permission. But it doesn't yet have the money. But

Thousands of people turned out in Salisbury today to honour the

service of local troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. 600 members of 32

Regiment Royal Artillery marched through the city. Guest of honour

was England World Cup legend Sir Geoff Hurst who paid tribute to the

soldiers' bravery. Steve Humphrey was there.

They clapped and cheered and waved their flags in Salisbury in

recognition of the service of these local soldiers in Iraq and

Afghanistan. It is quite a strong emotion to show they are

representing our country and fighting for us. Nice we can give

our thanks to them for what they have done. The regiment is based on

Salisbury Plain. They haven't been together for nine years, so they

are all here today, a really great event. Peanut of support shown by

local people for what we have done and what we have been doing is

unbelievable. He has been away five times in the last nine years. To

Iraq and Afghanistan and it is nice to know we are not alone relief,

there are other people grateful of the job they are doing while they

are out there. Members from the regiment are responsible for the

army drains which provide critical pictures of the battlefield. There

After the March the troops took part in a service of sacked --

backs giving at Salisbury Cathedral. They will now enjoy a break from

operations but it will not last long. Around 120 soldiers from the

regiment are due to go to Afghanistan next May.

A medal awarded to the master of Admiral Lord Nelson's flagship, HMS

Victory, has been sold for �9,000 at auction. It had belonged to

Thomas Atkinson, who was at the ship's helm throughout the Battle

of Trafalgar. The medal went under the hammer at a sale in Cheshire.

The new owner got a bargain, it sold for �6,000 less than expected.

Village traders in West Sussex are starting a cooperative in a bid to

attract more shoppers to the area. 17 shop owners in Cuckfield are

paying into a pot for advertising and say they'll market themselves

as a boutique village. Danielle Glavin has more.

Cook field has a lot going for it, including three award-winning close

shops -- Cuckfield. It also has a problem. The nearby towns get the

customers. I have been open for just over two years. I still get

people to come in and say it is a boutique, we never knew you existed,

from Haywards Heath. There are living on our doorstep but don't

know. And so 17 of the shops from cafes to hairdressers are forming a

Co-op to put Cuckfield on the map. Together we have an advertising

budget, and we have branding which means collectively we can talk

about Cuckfield and it is about to retailers being part of a bigger

slice of the cake. The cult members will open on Sundays and stay open

late on Thursdays. Now to Children In Need and how

your generous donations are being spent. Laura Trant has been to the

community radio station Express FM. They received a grant for over

�18,000. The money is helping to run workshops for children in

disadvantaged areas of Portsmouth. We had a chat about EastEnders, her

looks, Coronation Street... These school pupils are planning to write,

produce and star in their own episode of a radio soap. I will

It is a bit of a unique opportunity. When Vicky came to our school

looking to help out about what Children In Need was about a mother

money went and really put her hand off when she said there was radio

soap workshops, and for free. I thought yes, I will have it, bring

it on. So we have just established a drama group and they will tour a

playground and the schools. Children In Need gave us �18,000,

which is wonderful. We have chosen to work with some of the and people

in some of the more challenging wards in the City, almost like a

generational leap of underperforming. We have discovered

over the years if you can give people of all ages and opportunity

to put them in a different environment where they can begin to

perform in a different way, magic We learnt something new today. It

is better than school. It is about literacy, teamwork, understanding

how to speak, communication. It is teamwork, learning through

something that is interesting. We have got a brilliant opportunity to

do that. You are bonkers if you don't take it up, that is my

opinion. You have to be able to talk and deal with these things

going on, and it helps you shop -- stop being shy about it and work at

it. It is overwhelming, to be honest. To be here and doing what

we're doing, it is not many do every day. Children need project --

projects like this are the lifeblood of organisations like

this. Baking come up with a creative idea that Children In Need

support that creates magic. Thank That is how your money is being

spent. Portsmouth Football Club finally appointed in you manager.

We are here to find out who he is and find out a bit about him. The

Wordstar course and risk came up today. Michael Appleton has come

from nowhere to get this job. Portsmouth think they have found a

real gem and a talent for the future.

So what do we know about Michael Appleton? He's one of the game's

younger bosses, aged 35. He started out as a Manchester United academy

player, but the bulk of his playing career was spent with Preston and

West Bromwich Albion. But it was at West Brom that he suffered a career

ending knee injury which set him on the road to coaching at the age of

just 27. Since June 2009 he's been an assistant head Coach at West

Bromwich Albion working under Roy Hodgson. And it's there that his

reputation within football has apparently blossomed, today

Portsmouth put the welcome signs up for him, literally. He has rarely

been up in lights but he has been ready to take the step into

management for a while. I needed a challenge, have been at West Brom

for years. To get an opportunity to be manager of a club that have big

plans, it interested me more than anything. Schooled at Manchester

United he knows Portsmouth are at the beginning of a long process to

bring the whole club from training ground and stadium up to scratch.

He must balance that with the reality of the results driven

business. I can say I want to improve the infrastructure and all

these things but I very well aware of the results on the pitch don't

pan out as we expect a woman -- not get the opportunity to do that.

Portsmouth had a shortlist of 10 for the job. They admit Appleton is

a risk, and he was a dark horse. would like to think it is more

indicative of the that we have done our homework and try to get the

best man for the job he will fit in. If they can they need to get a

situation where they are playing at the highest level of football and

sustain it LEVEL without putting football at risk. The 35 Royal has

a week to settle in before he takes Portsmouth to Watford. -- 35-year-

old. And the full interviews with new

manager Michael Appleton and Chief executive David Lampitt are already

online at the BBC website. The Brighton boss Gus Poyet has

marked two years in the job by admitting standards in English

football need to rise. Gus Poyet led Brighton to the League One

title last season before their move to the new Amex Stadium. It's

Poyet's first full time managerial job but he's passionate about his

belief that English football must develop its players from a young

age. I'm very critical of what has been happening in England. I'm fed

up with people talking about the technical ability of the English

play. I had that for the first time in 1997. -- heard that. 2025, maybe

we have got 100 bear to play his plane in the Premier League. Really

interesting stuff. More on BBC Sussex in the next couple of days.

Meanwhile tonight The Amex Stadium hosts its first international match.

England under 19's will play Denmark. The game is sold out at

the new stadium, and is set to be a record crowd for an under 19

international. Another significant date in the sailing. Some of the

region's top sailors in London for a press conference, one of the

toughest races in the sport, single-handed non-stop around the

world. It is the ultimate test of what people are made of. It is

taking you to some of the most hostile environments in a plaid,

you go down the Atlantic, north and south, around the bottom of

Antarctica. You are further from other human beings than it is

possible to be than in space. hear about the cricket? South

Africa and Australia. The Australia all out for 47. 21 for 9 at one

point. That is just an Hurdle. I feel so sorry for them. The weather

was a much better for them. The weather has been cloudy once

again. It is cloudy, mild, a bit of rain, light spots this evening. It

was a mild and cloudy. Nothing to spectacular. A bit of help fog,

maybe even some fall lower levels. What is quite fascinating is the

lowest temperatures are closer to what our daytime high temperatures

should be. A bit of early drizzle, that eases away fairly quickly. A

lot of cloud through the day. A high of 15 degrees. A bit of a

south-easterly breeze. The temperatures are quite high for

Southampton. Normally you should be around 12 degrees. That is the

scene for much of the day through Friday. The rain is in Dorset for

the second half of the afternoon. For other parts past the evening

rush-hour. Behind it, a lot of cloud. A great across the board.

But things will improve. We will see some sunshine, it will stay dry.

The odd shower creeping into Dorset. Saturday, very mild. Sunday, Kaddy

to begin with, then improving through the day. Certainly dry, a

bit on the breezy site. The same severely air on Monday. -- so that

you wind. Friday, of the cast and breezy. Saturday, mainly dry. A

Sunday, more of the same. No chance Pupils at a school near Southampton

have a new addition to their class. This jackdaw flew into Bursledon

Junior School yesterday. After tapping on the window he decided to

join the students indoors. He's been named Fred and appears to be

fairly tame. It's thought he may be a pet that's escaped. The children,

of course, are hoping he'll become a permanent member of the school.

He flew through our classroom and landed on my friends work. Then

flew across onto my back. We like this both very much. He is friendly