22/10/2013 East Midlands Today

pretty soggy. Thank you. That is all from the BBC. We

This is East Midlands Today with Anne Davies and me, Dominic Heale.

Tonight ` tough questions for Derbyshire Police over the killing

of a pregnant woman and her two`year`old son. Why was Rachael

Slack not warned that her mentally ill ex`partner posed a lethal

threat. We have spent six weeks in the coroner 's court hearing of the

failings of Derbyshire Police after they assessed both Rachael and Auden

as being at high risk of homicide. On the day care and stabbed

Rachael, Auden and himself, friends told as he could have been stopped.

He was arrested for making threats that he was going to kill her, and

he has been let out to do exactly that. I hope someone somewhere is

accountable for what has happened, because we have lost a dear friend.

Also glad, an exclusive interview with the man who blew the whistle on

problems at the Al`Madinah School. There is hope for the future, but I

think it needs a radical shake up. And dredging the Trent in the hope

that commercial barges could soon be back in operation.

Good evening. Welcome to the programme. First tonight, the

long`awaited outcome of a seven`week inquest aimed at finding out how a

mentally ill man was able to kill his former partner and their child `

before killing himself. Here's Anne with the details.

Unlawfully killed. A mother, Rachael Slack ` and her two`year`old son

Auden. Unlawfully killed by the little boy's father ` this man,

Andrew Cairns. Who then, in the grip of mental illness, killed himself.

An inquest jury returned those verdicts today after weeks

considering the killings in Derbyshire three years ago. But they

also said something else. The jury decided the deaths of Rachael and

Auden were "more than minimally contributed to by a failure to

impress on her that she was in danger/at high risk of homicide from

her ex`partner." In other words, his illness made Cairns a lethal threat.

But Rachael and Auden didn't get the warning they needed. This is what

Rachael's family solicitor said today after the inquest concluded:

we have spent the last six weeks in the coroner's court hearing of the

failings of Derbyshire Police after they assessed both Rachael and Auden

as being at high risk of homicide. We have also heard concerning

evidence about the failure of the police and mental health to share

information. We are very grateful to the coroner and the jury for their

work in ensuring that these failings have been brought to light.

In a moment we'll be looking at what went wrong. First, James Roberson

reports on those shocking events in the village of Holbrook.

In the village of Holbrook, a bench under a shady tree reveals this is a

memorial. By mid`morning on second June 2010,

the whole of the centre of Holbrook was cordoned off. Eventually the

horrific news emerged that inside this House, two adults and a child

had been found. The man who led the inquiry believes Cairns stabbed

Auden, Rachael and then himself. It would appear that Rachael probably

let him in. There was no forced entry. He has got both sets of keys,

he has got Rachael's phone, and then at some point he has picked up a

knife. At the time Rachael's friends were

appalled. This has happened because this person is mentally unstable. He

was arrested for making threats that he was going to kill her, and he has

been let out of to do exactly that. Rachael had met Andrew Cairns in

Spain, but they both returned to her native Derbyshire. Rachael had Auden

in 2008, but Cairns put `` Cairns' mental health deteriorated and the

couple split up. Rachael and Auden moved into the Holbrook cottage.

Neighbours were suspicious of Cairns when he visited. He looked sideways

out of his eyes and I thought he was a very peculiar person. But

Andrew's neighbour at his bungalow thought highly of him. Our family

knew her view of Cairns and wanted us to bear it. I always found it

quite urgent `` found him quite a gentleman. He was one of the noticed

gentleman I knew. `` nicest gentlemen. Late in 2010,

Rachael taught Cairns that she had a new relationship. Things escalated

when Cairns was arrested for making threats to kill Rachael and Auden,

then released on condition he kept away from them both. He was there

when he was distressed, after he was told that he must not go or ring or

anything to do with the boy. That is what upset him. Because that is all

the words he said, I am having my little boy.

Worried at how angry and `` Andrew was, Phyllis phoned the police. That

then made Auden at high risk of being abducted. His risk then

changed. While assessing Rachael at the time

to be at high risk of homicide, the police were later unsure if they

actually told her she was. Knowing Rachael was at high risk of

homicide, we needed to adjust our lives. I think it would have made a

difference. Derbyshire Police admitted in the

inquest that a cocoon of police putting neighbours under alert would

have helped as well. Especially since Rachael's neighbours spotted

Andrew Cairns by the Holbrook cottage a few days before the

killings. On June two, 2010, this woman heard Rachael screaming next

door. She saw a shadowy figure through a window behind Rachael. By

the time police and paramedics arrived it was too late. Cairns had

killed Auden, a pregnant Rachael and himself. I do not think he had

planned it for very long. He had been to see the doctor that morning,

he had gone to the premises are unarmed. So he armed himself at the

premises. He may not have gone prepared. When his attention to

kill? Was it before, was it inside? I don't think anybody can say for

certain. I think he was at the end of his tether, but I did not expect

him to do what he did do. Rachael and Auden's death will be in

absolute vain if people who are living with people with mental

health problems could end up going down a similar horrific power. So it

has got to change by change in procedures. Making sure things are

done tighter. Making sure people have the support they deserve and

they require. Why then was Rachael not warned of

the danger Andrew Cairns had become? There WERE warning signs in that

late spring of 2010. On the 26th of May, Cairns was detained under the

Mental Health Act, assessed by a psychiatrist and released. The next

day, he was arrested after threatening to kill Rachael and take

Auden. However, on the 28th, he was released so further inquiries could

take place ` on condition he did not contact Rachael. On June the 2nd,

the killings. James Roberson was at the inquest's ending today for the

reaction of both families. The results of a serious case review

and an inquiry by the IP CC, best `` both yet to be published, limited

Derbyshire Police's response today. I would like to express my deepest

sympathy to the family of Rachael and Auden.

He believes Derbyshire Police's actions in June 2010 did meet the

national guidelines of the time. From the evidence it is clear that

Rachael's report of Andrew Cairns' verbal threat to kill was taken

seriously by the police. We were actively investigating that threat

with a view to charging him, and we took steps to ensure that Rachael

and Auden's home were secure. The family of Andrew Cairns has

expressed their extreme disappointment that more was not

done by the mental health trust to provide the proper level of care for

him. Derbyshire health care trust say

they will assess the jury's findings and the coroner's comments. Robert

Barlow summed up what everyone had lost. Somebody that was so kind and

so on condition with their love, and respect for life, and that is what

we all lost, not just me. The family, friends, everybody. She was

a very, very inwardly beautiful woman.

James joins us now from the coroner's court. The coroner has

three recommendations for the authorities, James. Yes, the coroner

said he hoped that this would bring some closure to the families

affected by the tragedy, and he has those three recommendations. He is

asking the Home Secretary to look at bail conditions as the Powys police

have to detain people before charges, and a possible change in

the law on violent and sexual offences. Also, with two women a

week being killed in the UK, better training for the police on domestic

violence. Secondly he is writing to Derbyshire's Chief Constable, the

Home Secretary about ensuring `` improvements police forces can make

in record keeping doing domestic incidents. Finally, a joint report

the mental health trust and the police to ensure `` exchange more

information in the future about such incidents. Did anybody except the

bigger picture, did anybody join up the dots?

Next tonight, the inside story of how a headmaster turned into a

whistle`blower and initiated a crisis at the controversial Islamic

free school in Derby. Andrew Cutts`McKay was the Principal of the

Al`Madinah School in Derby. Speaking for the first time he says

his last term at the school became very difficult. And he eventually

quit after receiving an anonymous threat that his children would be

harmed unless he left. He's been speaking exclusively to our

reporter, Simon Hare. Until now he has declined to

comment, but now Andrew Cutts`McKay feels he can have his say about what

happened at the Al`Madinah School in Derby. He helped to set it up and

open it in September last year, but by the end of the last time he had

become concerned at how the school was being managed, particularly its

finances. There were fairly major concerns, and what I suggested what

`` was that a meeting take place to raise our concerns, and it was then

given to them to investigate. You were the whistle`blower that brought

in the outside bodies to investigate the Al`Madinah School. How do how

difficult was that for you? Very challenging indeed. It has been

challenging for my family and my children. He handed in his

resignation after an anonymous threat was made towards his family.

The threat that was made was against my children, and I don't know who

made it. I made this clear, I gave evidence to the Department for

Education. I don't know if it was racially motivated, I don't know if

it was faith motivated. I knew that I had received this, there was never

any reference to faith in it, it was just very specific. Unless you do

this, this will happen. What did you have to do? Unless you leave the

school, this will happen. But he still hopes the school survives and

can be turned around. I am hopeful that it will be `` stay open, there

are wonderful staff there. The children I miss every single day,

they are wonderful children. I do believe that actually there is hope

for the future of the school, but it does need to change, and I think it

needs a radical shake up. He himself is due to resume his career as the

head of a new free school at Newark in Nottinghamshire.

A Nottingham man and his mother arrested on suspicion of kidnap and

attempted child abduction are still being questioned by the police.

Two`year`old Na'ilah Khan and her ten`month`old brother Sulaimon were

taken from a hotel room in Stoke on Trent on Friday. Their father Saleem

Tahir and his mother Denise Smith`Sellers were arrested last

night at a guesthouse in Derby. The children are safe and well. In a

statement their mother said it was like a part of her had been missing.

It's emerged that Government inspectors forced the closure of a

care home in Nottingham. It was announced yesterday that St

Andrews Lodge in Basford would shut following a number of serious

concerns about the care and safety of its residents ` many of whom have

dementia. The Care Quality Commission says taking action to

force a closure is only ever done as a last resort.

Another 1,500 school places are expected to be created in Leicester.

The City Council has put forward plans to invest ?16 million in

primary schools in the city. The money is likely to be used to expand

schools across the city. It's the second phase of improvements aimed

at meeting a growing demand for places.

Care homes across Nottinghamshire will get more money if they can

demonstrate a higher standard of care for people with dementia.

Social services are giving the extra payments to those awarded their new

quality mark ` that's 32 so far. The awards have been brought in to

try to improve the care surrounding one of the biggest health challenges

of our age. This report from our Health correspondent Rob Sissons.

Myra recalls looking after prisoners of war in the 1940s. Her friend has

dementia. Like many relatives, her daughter felt guilty when she went

into a whole, but says it has worked out. I have had such a life of

moving around over the place, you just adapt when you are at that

particular position. You don't feel institutionalised at all.

Some of the homes are quite scruffy, and they don't really have

enough staff. Dementia is now one of the biggest health challenges of our

age. The latest Government estimates suggest 58,000 people living with

dementia in the East Midlands, and that will go up by 25% by the year

2021 if National projected trends are reflected here. We are looking

for a style of care that encourages people with dementia to be involved,

and to communicate, and to be stimulated with a range of

activities and good conversation. This home in West Bridgeford is one

home awarded the Care Quality Commission quality mark. They have a

background, history, and they have interests we want to continue

supporting them to do. Getting residents out and about is valued as

part of the quality mark, and today it is something to raise a glass to.

A trip to the local wine bar. It's hoped that commercial freight

barges could soon return to ferry cargo along the River Trent. The

remaining half a dozen barge operators stopped working there in

the summer after a quarry company said it would no longer use the

river to transport materials. Well, now a million pounds is being

spent on clearing the Trent's navigation routes to keep them clear

enough for cargo vessels. Mike O'Sullivan has this report.

On the River Trent near Cromwell in Nottinghamshire.

A huge dredging operation is under way, from a floating platform

supported by legs that stand on the river bed. A digger plunges beneath

the water, reaching deep down 12 feet or so, taking away the material

that can block the navigation routes along the river. This target takes

away the full hopper. It is captained by a man who was made

redundant during the summer, when the last commercial barges stopped

work on the Trent. A big quarry company ended its operations. I got

made redundant, so we are finding other ways `` means of work. How do

you feel that there is no barge work now on the Trent? I think it is very

sad. It was cheap, it was efficient, it was friendly. This

dredging operation is costing around ?1 million. They are targeting

pressure points along the 45 Bal stretch of the River Trent.

Back in the heyday of water cargo, millions of tonnes a year were

transported. Today it is less than half a % nationally. The dredging

operation is being funded by the canal and River and Canal Trust,

which has to maintain navigational standards. The work will help

leisure craft, but it could help to bring back the barges. Should the

freight operators be looking for ways to transport the materials,

they can be sure that the river will be able to provide that function for

them. The dredging operation should soon be over, but when will the

barges be back in business? From the razzmatazz of Broadway to

Shakespearean tragedies, theatre director Paul Kerryson has brought

an eclectic mix of shows to Leicester.

Along the way he's discovered a few stars and switched from one

theatrical venue to another. In the latest of our Made in Leicester

series, our arts reporter Geeta Pendse found out why Paul's plan to

stay for a year in the city turned into two decades.

Auditions for the latest production of Chicago coming next month, and it

has special meaning for the `` artistic director who started out

his career in Leicester 21 years ago with a then little`known show.

What was it like starting out opening with Chicago? It was a show

that nobody knew, but for me it was very important that I started well

at Leicester, because I was only here on a year's contract, so I had

to make my first choice a good one, and Chicago of course went down a

bomb, because a lot of the critics and audiences had never seen it

before, so they discovered it. It is the world of musicals that

earned him critical praise, from the Haymarket days to the run of big

number shows. The joy of the singing, dancing, visuals,

everything coming together, it is like so many talents coming

together. If it works, you cannot beat it.

Along the way Paul has also spotted some future stars, like Eddie

Izzard. Pas Minder started off tearing

tickets, then she was in the youth theatre, then she just sort of went

on and look at her now so after 21 years, what keeps him excited?

I love the theatre here. I love the atmosphere here. And I am always

trying to bring the best in Leicester, getting the best out of

Leicester, just basically entertaining people.

It is a great theatre. Another crowd`pleaser, Colin with

the sport. First tonight, we understand

Nottingham Forest striker Dexter Blackstock is leaving on a

three`month loan deal to Leeds United. He's struggled to break into

the Forest line`up this season but has attracted plenty of interest `

Brighton were also interested. We understand that Blackstock chose to

go to West Yorkshire. The deal doesn't allow the forward to play

against Forest. And final confirmation from Derby

County of the arrival of highly rated Liverpool defender Andre

Wisdom. He's coming in on a season`long youth loan.

There is action tonight. League One strugglers Notts County go to

Gillingham ` who've had some well publicised troubles of their own.

While in League Two Mansfield Town go to Bury. All very tight at the

top of League Two ` the Stags are in eight, but just three points off the

top spot. On to rugby, and starting with the

code most familiar to us here ` union. But the World Cup gets under

way this weekend and just like they did with the Olympics, Loughborough

University's playing a huge role. Kirsty Edwards reports.

The next few weeks will be huge for these players. The countdown is on

for the rugby week `` rugby league World Cup, and the England team are

preparing right here at Loughborough.

And this is the prize they are about to do battle for. 14 teams are

competing. England are third favourites behind the holders New

Zealand, and the overwhelming front runners Australia, who England face

in Saturday's opening match. We have no time to build into it, we are

straight in against the best in the world. But I think that is good, we

can test ourselves in week one. We have been working up to this for

such a long time but we are ready to play. Hopefully we can make an

impact in that first game. England may be based at Loughborough, but

there is no getting away from the fact that it is generally ``

genuinely all about rugby union here in the West Midlands. Leicester

Tigers are just down the road after all.

So, should anyone in these parts be interested in this rugby league

World Cup? This is only the eighth ever World Cup staged in this `` on

the shores of any sport. I think on the back of the Olympics, people

went to some events that they would never have dreamt of before. Rugby I

think should be on your agenda this year. This can spread the world for

`` spread the word for our sport this year.

Rugby league is a bit faster paced, a little bit more entertaining. I

would just urge people to have a go and watch a game and see what you

think. So the battle is on for the biggest

prize of all, and they hope, some new fans as well.

My code is still soaking this morning `` after this morning's dog

walk. `` my coat.

We will continue overnight to see some squally winds and further

heavy, possibly thundery downpours. It has been quite wet on and off

today. We have seen a few showers through this part of the us back

through the afternoon, but they `` more are coming in across the West.

The winds will start to increase, with `` we could see gusts of 45 to

50 miles per hour. Some torrential rain expected into the early hours,

so difficult driving conditions. Gradually through the morning, mild

start again. We will start to see the show is diminishing, and into

the afternoon some decent weather, some sunshine and still feeling

quite mild, but it will be quite a windy day. We see the showers across

parts of Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire, but better

conditions than how the day starts. 16 Celsius the maximum daytime

temperature. Overnight tomorrow night the wind falls a lot lighter,

and temperatures will go down to two Celsius. There is a chance of a

grass frost, so we will see a decent day on Thursday. The cloud

increasing gradually, and then this next area of rain on the way up from

the South West. That is linked to this area of low pressure, which

will put that weather front across most of the country through Friday.

It is also going to give as strong winds as well. The ground is already

pretty statute `` saturated, and there will be a chance for quite a

few branches and the occasional treat to come down.

Quite a spell of weather on Saturday, more rain to come after

that. There was some good news in there somewhere!

The thing that worried me was that two.

More weather at 10:30pm.