24/03/2014 BBC London News

That is all from us. Don't forget, first look

Good evening. A 15`year`old boy has appeared in

court charged with the murder of schoolgirl Shereka Marsh at the

weekend. Shereka, who was also 15, was shot in the neck at a house in

Hackney in East London. Jo Black reports.

Shereka Marsh was a typical teenager. Her friends say she was

bubbly, fun and loved by everyone. But the 15`year`old was killed after

she was shot in the neck at this house in Hackney on Saturday

afternoon. Just before 4pm, the emergency services were called to

this house. The caller said a female had been shot. When medics arrived

they tried to resuscitate Shereka, but she died at the scene. We now

know that caller was a 15`year`old boy, the very person charged with

her murder. After the shooting, detectives recovered a gun and at

court today the boy was remanded into youth detention. He'll appear

before a Crown Court on Wednesday. Today at the school where Shereka

was studying for her GCSEs, prayers were said at an assembly by teachers

and school friends. Shereka was one of our shining stars. She was an

engaging, bubbly personality. She would have done really well in her

GCSEs this year. She was well liked by everyone in the community and

this has just become the most devastating loss for us. Shereka was

such a model pupil, she was even chosen to show guests around her

school, including the Jamaican High Commissioner. A short life full of

promise, tragically cut short. It's emerged the ceiling collapse at

the Apollo Theatre which injured nearly 80 people was caused by the

deterioration of materials. A letter seen by the BBC reveals the ceiling

was held together with 100`year`old hessian sack`cloth and plaster,

which had weakened over time. Westminster Council has now written

to other venues urging inspections. Here's Tarah Welsh.

It was a dramatic scene. But what happened here in December wasn't

part of the show. As a packed audience watched a performance,

parts of the ceiling fell in. Dozens of people were taken to hospital,

even buses were used to take them there. Westminster Council is still

investigating but a letter sent from its health and safety team said it

appears hessian wadding mixed into the plaster in the ceiling became

weak over time and that led to the sudden collapse. Suspended ornate

ceilings it said should be inspected at as a matter of urgency by a

historic plaster specialist and structural engineer. There are a

number of roofs of a similar construction since the late 1800s,

this has been the standard model for constructing decorative plaster

ceilings. But they are all very different, they are all different

sizes spans and numbers of panels numbers are panels and all subject

to an inspection both on the part of the owners but also something we

require every three years. So there is a high level of confidence these

things are being looked at and made sound. And the warning doesn't mean

all old ceilings need to be pulled down. People have to remember this

material has stood up for a very long period of time and there's no

reason to destroy many of our country's heritage assets just

because there is a process that needs to be taking place about

renewal and strengthening. So there's no reason why sometimes with

a limited amount of work, the ceilings can carry on their lives

for many hundreds of years in the future. The owner of the Apollo did

not want to comment on the letter, but the theatre has now been

refurbished and will reopen on Wednesday. The question is will the

cost of all this work be added to the price of our theatre tickets. I

spoke to one theatre critic earlier and he said it absolutely shouldn't

because this is an industry that makes plenty of money. Westminster

Council has said this is a safety precaution and people should

continue going to theatres in the capital.

Thousands of people turned out for the funeral of RMT Union Leader Bob

Crow, who died earlier this month. His coffin was carried by a

horse`drawn carriage through the streets of east London. Our

Transport Correspondent Tom Edwards reports.

Thousands lined the road to the cemetery with their flags and

banners to pay their respects to one of their most well`known leaders,

Bob Crow. They came from all over the country. Bob Crow was many

things. He fought for the people, his own people but a lot of other

people as well. He was a very nice man. His legacy, he built the union

up from 50,000 members to 80,000 plus members and it will carry on

after he has gone. Do you think the RMT will still have a strong voice?

Absolutely. On the London Underground, many posters at the

stations and many workers wore black ties and at 1:30pm there was a

minute's silence. The funeral procession started at midday in

Woodford Green where he lived. One of the most well`known union

leaders, in London his strike tack ticks on the tube were divisive

uncontroversial, but his members benefited and today they paid

tribute. He was passionate about looking after working people and

their families but also about the travelling public. They will miss

him. It is not just his own members and the movement, because he is

irreplaceable as an union leader, but he was a passionate campaigner

for transport, working people and for a decent, safe underground

system. The funeral service was this afternoon private. Tributes will be

paid to Bob Crow on May Day, with a special event planned for the

capital. Just before the weather, quick

reminder that late kick`off has a round`up of the football action at

1125 p.m.. That's it from me, I will wish you a good night and hand you

for the weather. It is spring but it won't always

feel like that. There will be a cold wind whipping to the North Sea to

the Thames Estuary in the second part of this week. At the moment we

have rain edging in. It is just getting onto the M25 at the moment

and will dress onto the rest of us as we go through the night, with

temperatures down to four or five degrees, but not as cold as last

night. As we go through the rush hour tomorrow, there will be

moderate bursts of rain. This weather front will recede to the

West again so there could use some brightness to the east of London in

the second part of the day. Feeling cool with temperatures