01/10/2013 BBC Oxford News

Hello and welcome to South Today from Oxford. In tonight's

programme... The millionairess found dead at her home — Patricia

Goodband's former business partner stands trial, accused of killing

her. Also... University challenge — a

transatlantic legal battle between Harvard and a small business school

in Buckinghamshire. And later on... No grand final for

Swindon — the Robins are robbed by Pirates in a stunning speedway

comeback. Good evening. A Buckinghamshire man

has gone on trial accused of beating his business partner to death and

dumping her in the grounds of her country house. Patricia Goodband's

body was found last January. A jury heard how she had been heard —— how

she had been thrown down a brick shaft and covered in rubbish bags.

Christmas I was denied killing her. —— Christopher Symons denies killing

her. The prosecution said she was hit around the head at least six

times and thrown into a deep brick shaft in the most callous way

imaginable. The jury heard the 76—year—old was highly intelligent

and run a successful company. The man accused of killing her was her

business partner, Christopher Symons. They heard about their

conduct relationship that went back 30 years. Gritter Symons says it was

not a romantic relationship. The prosecution says this may or may not

have been the case at say it was not a healthy relationship. The

prosecution say he attacked her in 2007 but she remained attached. This

was Mrs Goode band's home. Her body was found on the grounds in January

this year, 13 days after she was reported missing. A key part of the

prosecution's evidence were the words of Patricia Goodband herself.

In her diary, she wrote about all aspects of her life, including how

she felt about Christopher Symons. Christopher Symons denies the charge

of murder. The case continues tomorrow.

Dave Lee Travis, the former Radio 1 and BBC Three counties radio

presenter has been charged with two further counts of indecent assault.

He is accused of attacking a woman over the age of 16 bit —— between

1992 and 1993. He denies all of the charges. Harvard, one of the most

famous universities in the world, is suing a little—known business school

Mills and Keynes. The dispute oil is down to a single letter difference

between their names. There could be local mistake about

Harvard's heritage. It has educated no less than eight US presidents.

3000 miles from its compass in New England, it says a college with a

similar name is causing confusion. The Havard School of technology

holds lessons in this church. It is being sued for trademark

infringements. They say it is named after a relative. Our students are

not interested in the name. The name means a lot to us because it is a

legacy that has been left to us as a good name by my grandfather. It may

be based on a street with an American sounding name but there the

similarities stop. It was founded just three years ago. It charges up

to £5,500 for diplomas in IT, law and biblical studies. Harvard was

founded in several centuries ago and charges several thousand pounds for

degrees. The founders say there is a but Madrid there is little grounds

for confusion. We will not give up. Harvard cannot intimidate us. The

couple say they will not give in when the cases heard in spring.

New laws at preventing —— aimed at preventing the use from selling on

metal stolen from church roofs and telephone networks have been coming

into force. Across our region, there is a difference in the price of the

licenses that now must be issued. Checking for stolen metal. Here,

they watch for rogue traders. We have found BT cable. The scrap yard

did not know they were dying BT cable. We have had to phone the

police and filed reports. Not all dealers followed the rules. The

rules have now changed, meaning that dealers need a licence to operate.

Copper is one of the most common metals brought in. It is a favourite

with metal thieves. Selling this sort of stuff on will now become

much tougher. So far this year, there have been more than 140 thefts

across oxygen. Nearly the same number in Milton Keynes and 95 in

Aylesbury. Police say there has been an improvement but there is still a

long way to go. It will let us visit the site, sometimes by appointment

but sometimes we will just turn up. That will give us the power to

search the records. The cost of buying licenses varies wildly. In

oxygen, a scrap yard will have to spend over £1000 was up in West

oxygen, it is less than half of that, £480. In show well, it is £480

will stop although welcomed by most, there is a concern that the cost of

the licenses will be too much for small businesses. After the

deadline, companies will face prosecution and a fine if they are

caught without one. A fire outside Bicester police

station is now being treated as possible arson. The blaze started

when a grip and at a nearby telephone exchange caught light on

Queens Avenue last Friday morning. Nobody was hurt. Police want to

speak to anyone who saw anything suspicious. Motorists in Oxford

could soon face fines of up to £100 for driving above 24 master as Micra

24 mph in a 20 mob hour zone. Officers could give out a fine or

three points or offer a £95 education course if the Thames

Valley adopt the new guidelines. Villagers in Shirburn near Henley

have been on alert for a possible sighting for Brad Pitt. Pinewood

Studios have moved in to film scenes for a new World War II epic called

Fury. Residents knew nothing until they received letters warning they

could hit gunshots and explosions. Our reporter joined in the hunt for

the Hollywood star. He is used to being the centre of attention at

glitzy film premiers. This is Brad Pitt promoting World

War Z earlier this year. He is now getting used to quieter

surroundings, filming in the quite town —— the quiet village of

Shirburn. Below, you can see the film set where it is believed that

the scenes are being filmed. This is not the first time that Brad Pitt

has been to this area. He was spotted a couple of weeks ago in a

hotel are in Buckinghamshire. Locals say have not say they have not seen

him yet. Filming is expected to carry on for a few more weeks. I

have heard gunfire. Although you know it is not real. And loud tanks.

The tags are incredibly noisy. You can see the tanks over the top of

the fence and further down the drive. You cannot see very much,

unfortunately. They have chosen a well hidden spot! This is not the

first time that locals have seen this kind of thing. We are lucky

that we live here. There is or is something on, Sherlock Holmes is

filmed in a local area. We are getting used to it. If they happen

to see Brad Pitt, any messages for the film star? Enjoy the

countryside, enjoy the weather. Make a fabulous movie. If I saw him, I

hope I do not look like a lovestruck teenager! No surprise that there

were no men in that report whatsoever apart from Brad Pitt.

That is it for me. A summary at 8pm and a full report at 10:25pm.

Goodbye. be asked to rate their treatment

using a free text message service. Still to come in this evening's

South Today: A dramatic night at Wimborne Road, as the Pirates

overhaul the Robins to reach Speedway's Elite League Final.

Portsmouth Council says a report into the conduct of Mike Hancock,

the councillor accused of sexual assault, has been given to the

police at their request. The police will decide if it should be referred

to the Crown Prosecution Service. Mr Hancock, who is also the MP for

Portsmouth South, has always denied the assault allegations, saying that

the CPS saw a police report three years ago and decided to take no

action. Yesterday, opposition councillors called for this new

report to be referred to the CPS. Mr Hancock said this was just an

attempt by his opponents to score political points.

A five—day operation across the motorways of Hampshire and the

Thames Valley has resulted in 198 motorists being prosecuted.

Operation Tramline ran for just five days and caught drivers committing a

range of offences. One car driver had a shave while at the wheel,

water bottle in one hand and razor in the other. Another driver was

stopped for brushing his teeth while driving.

Today marks the start of breast cancer awareness month, and tonight,

Frimley Park Hospital launches an appeal to enable it to provide the

latest technology — 3D breast scanning. It can detect 40% more

cancers and is especially effective in younger women. The hospital is

now looking for £1.5 million for a dedicated breast cancer centre and

scanner. This is where breast patients come. This is in an

outpatients' clinic and a hospital once a area for those patients, and

more crucially, it was the latest equipment and here to tell me more

is the owner. What is the new machine you want? It is an

improvement on current technology and creates 3—D images so we can

effectively see inside the breast, which allows much greater accuracy

and greater diagnosis of cancers in younger women. 6000 referrals every

year for suspected breast cancer cases, all of whom have to be seen

within two weeks. That is a 31% increase since 2009, and there has

also been a 25% increase in the number of cases, so what is going

on? The raise a proximal the a 3% increase in breast cancer a year. We

have seen a greater arise. We have an increasing population, but over

and above that, the unit here has a good reputation and that is pulling

more people in. Is this really about the hospital trying to get more

money by attracting more breast—cancer patients here as

opposed to elsewhere? Or appeal is about quality, quality of provision

for patients, and if it brings in more patients then fine, but we're

after quality. Good luck, Fiona. A taxi firm in Dorset with unpaid

fares running into thousands of pounds says it's had enough of

passengers who don't pay up. Weyline in Weymouth is now taking action by

launching a "play fair, pay your fare" campaign. Some passengers will

now be asked to pay for their journey before setting off. Vaughan

Thomas has been a cabbie for four weeks, but already he has fallen

victim to a growing trend, known in the trade as bilking. Passengers not

paying their fair. It was a shock. I had only been working for days, I

had been mourned about potential incidents and when it happens to

you, you are in that situation where you are forced to either approach

and ask for the money, or put it down to experience. His company has

now launched a campaign and passengers may be asked to pay

before they start their journey. We do follow it up. We take it

seriously and we won't give up because if they find it too easy,

they will do it again, and there are serial offenders. Each company is

getting to know them. Other local cab companies are also adopting the

scheme. Passengers seem supportive. Taxi drivers tell us all the time it

happens to them, so when you have teenagers jumping in at night,

sometimes they have no money on them. Most things nowadays you pay

up front, so I wouldn't be offended. Both cab companies and the drivers

who are mostly self—employed lose out from non—payers, and people who

don't pay fares are all ages. The recent fraud act has made it easier

to work out if someone is a non—payer, and police are reminding

those who don't pay fares that it is not only a criminal offence but you

could be arrested. Ron used to CCTV in his cab and the internet to track

down his fare dodger and got him to pay up rather than go to court.

Let's go on to sport now. We will start with a thrilling night. You

were away. Did you see any of the America's Cup? I saw a little and it

was thrilling to watch, and lovely to know Ben Ainslie was at the

centre of that. I couldn't believe what I was seeing. There were

metres, at that. I think it was a penalty to New Zealand, but not

quite on such a global scale but another comeback last night was the

turn of the cool pilots. They turned a nail—biting meeting against the

Swindon Robins at Wimborne Road to their advantage to book a place in

Speedway's Elite League play—off final. The Poole Pirates went into

their home leg of the semifinal. Ten points down — a daunting deficit to

chase. Heat one was a signal of intent, Darcy Ward and Thomas

Jonassen bringing home a maximum 5—1. But the Swindon Robins

retaliated to protect their advantage. They'd led Poole

throughout the season to finish second in the league, two places

above the Pirates. They showed their skills in heat eight, Nick Morris

edging past Josh Grajczonek in a thrilling race. Poole have some of

the best riders in the world, and double world Champion Greg Hancock

went well ahead in heat nine in a race that levelled the score on

aggregate. Swindon's response was a tactical one, Peter Kildemand

bringing home double points in heat ten to once again open up an overall

lead. And for a moment, things looked like they could fall apart

for the Pirates, with Josh Grajczonek crashing out of heat 11.

But he was back on the track for heat 14, when the Pirates continued

a spectacular recovery to get a second 5—1 in a row. After that the

final heat, and hope of reaching the grand final, was all but lost to the

Robins. The night finished 55—38, 97—90 on aggregate. A heartbreaking

result for Swindon, but revenge for Poole for their Grand Final defeat

last year. Poole now host Birmingham in the first leg of this year's

Grand Final on Monday. To football now, and Bournemouth have signed

West Ham midfielder Jack Collison on an emergency one—month loan deal.

The 24—year—old Welsh international, seen here on the right, will help

ease the Cherries' current injury problems in midfield and could make

his Bournemouth debut at Elland Road tonight. In other football news, the

deal to complete a full takeover of Reading has been delayed. Russian

businessman Anton Zingarevich, who came in 16 months ago, was due to

buy the remaining minority share from former owner Sir John Madejski

by the end of September. The club has said both parties are happy with

the situation and couldn't give a new completion date. There's action

tonight. Reading are currently sixth in the table and could make it four

wins in a row at Barnsley. BBC Radio Berkshire's Tim Dellor is there.

Tim, Reading are getting into their stride. Yes, the manager is happy to

admit results have been better than performances, but having won 13 of

the last available 15 points and only conceding one goal that

confidence will be growing. Fans who made the journey North Macy Eve

first appearance from Willie Shah, the striker on loan from

Southampton. Otherwise, there are injury concerns over other

first—team players. Ardsley are bottom of the championship player.

Perhaps the biggest threat to Reading tonight is complacency. The

match kicks off at 7:45pm. Elsewhere tonight, Eddie Howe says the

Cherries are looking to take all three points at Leeds, a club

they've never beaten before, while Brighton host Sheffield Wednesday at

the Amex Stadium. tonight, Eddie Howe says the

Cherries are looking to Coverage of the games on your BBC local radio

station. The Hampshire batsman James Vince has been short listed for a

national award. The right—hander, who's scored almost 2000 runs in all

cricket and helped Hampshire to the semi—finals of both one day and

t—twenty competitions this summer — is among four players nominated for

Young Player of the Year in the Professional Cricketers' Association

Awards. The winner will be announced on Thursday. A little bit of London

2012 magic came to a school in the New Forest today. Hordle Primary is

the proud new owner of the real, genuine, hockey pitch from the

London Olympic Park. It was donated to the school free of charge, and

will be used for sports lessons and play times. I went along to the

opening ceremony earlier. It was last used by the world's best hockey

players, the distinctive blue and pink seen by audiences around the

world. Over the last eight weeks, it's been re—laid in its new home at

Hordle primary school. I'm excited we have a new hockey pitch, so we

can play and be inspired by them. I joined a hockey club here and I

enjoyed, so I was really excited. Although the pitch came for free,

the school had to raise funds for the work, and local businesses gave

their time and efforts to help. And a local paralympian provided

sporting inspiration. The earlier you start, the better. I didn't get

into my sport until I was relatively old as an athlete, but it was all

those years of being out and about and playing things not at a

particularly high level which give you that grounding. A few years back

it was so wet sports they was cancelled, but the all—weather

surface means rain won't cancel play again. It is about so much more than

an Olympic pitch, it has inspired us to go out and be sporting heroes

like those Olympians in 2012. And it was all thanks to a mum who worked

for the Olympic organisers, specialising in recycling some of

the infrastructure. I felt very emotional cutting the ribbon with my

children, and I think it has been brilliant to the school and the

community. Everyone has worked so hard to raise the money, and it is

lovely to have this on our doorstep. Everyday I come in Derry is a little

bit of 2012 on our doorstep. It will be well used, and used well for many

years to come — a true Olympic legacy. Isn't that brilliant? Do

they realise what they are playing on? I think so. It is not the whole

pitch, some of it was damaged, but they got the bit that was

salvageable. A lot of schools would be jealous of that. If you have ever

lost something, you will sympathise with this man, because it may only

cost a few pounds but it is very special to football fans Dave

Coombs. It is his baseball cap which was this do with badgers and became

well known on the terraces of Fratton Park. A month ago, he lost

his cap, so he has now launched a nationwide appeal to get it back. He

has supported Portsmouth through thick and thin, but now he is a man

on a mission. Can I give you a leaflet? It is relating to a hat I

lost innovative and play. —— in the vicinity. It means a huge amount

because of its association with his girlfriend Julie, who died of cancer

in 2011. It is a reminder that she loved football, I loved football,

and we had good times together. It is very touching. I hope he finds

it. It brings a lump to your throat, so I wish him well. It is sad, but I

really hope he gets it. Someone should hand it in. This is Dave and

his cap in happier times in Scunthorpe, Crawley and after a home

match at Hatton Park. The match —— the hat is covered in pin badges of

the various places I have been. They've mislaid his cap at the

Strawberry Fields have an. The walk home is a little bit of a mystery,

but I only realised I had lost it later. His quest is attracting

nationwide attention. It is getting publicised, but unfortunately I have

had no response from anyone who can lead me to it. He says if anyone

does find his cap, he will donate £150 to the charity of their choice.

I hope he finds it. Sailors onboard the helicopter carrier HMS

Illustrious have been helping a little character who's been having

problems taking off. A tiny Eurasian scops owl was found cowering under

the ship's crane on the flight deck while the warship was off the coast

of Yemen. It was given too little and Chris Patrick, a bit of a

twitcher and a member of the Royal Naval bird—watching society. He

cared for the owl and helped regain its strength. The little still await

was eventually well enough for it to be released from the P Breen boat ——

the P Green boat the illustrious. Where was the pussycat? I won't

answer that. Onto the weather. It is not looking good. I call it midweek

madness, Thursday in particular. Hilary Davison took this photo of

the autumn colours at Sir Harold Hillier Gardens in Hampshire.

Heather Brooks captured a spoonbill fishing at West Wittering in West

Sussex. And a tranquil scene of Christchurch was captured by

said Haas. —— said hearth. The rain will edit way in, around doing

around ten o'clock this evening in two parts of doorstep and working

its way north and east. Some heavy bursts in there, drier periods as

well, and temperatures will rain between 16 Celsius on the south

coast to 13 Celsius in parts of Oxfordshire. A map might and it will

be wet to start the day, heavy bursts without rain reinvigorating

many places. The M4 could be a tricky drive to work tomorrow

morning, and also the M 40 with temperatures reaching 18 to 19

Celsius, so a slight improved picture in the afternoon, some sunny

spells and one or two showers, but it will be a breezy day. Tomorrow

evening, the showers will fade. Still quite breezy, with one or two

clear spells, some holes in the cloud but it should stay dry with

lows of 14 to 16 Celsius. It may be a Birtley start on Thursday, some

brightness before this next weather system works is way up from the

south. Some heavy torrential downpours without rain, even some

thunderstorms. You can see the squeeze on the ice bars means winds

will be brisk, so strong winds and heavy rain fall through the course

of Thursday. There is a Met Office yellow warning. We could see

potentially one to two inches of rainfall on Thursday which may give

localised flooding in places. There will be rain tomorrow, heavy in

particular for cherries north and east of the M4, some heavy rainfall

on Thursday, with that yellow warning, winds breast, sunshine and

showers on Friday, and Saturday looks good. Get your weather

pictures into worse as soon as you can. That's it from us this evening.

We are back tomorrow.