01/07/2011 Look East - East

On Look East tonight. School friends in mourning as a girl of 13

is killed by a falling branch in a park. Her school was closed because

of strike action. Witnesses describe what happened.

I heard a crack and saw a branch for and I went over there and a

jungle was lying on the floor and she didn't look good at all. Hello

from David and me. Also tonight. The peer of the realm in disgrace

and, now,in jail. Lord Hanningfield begins a prison sentence of nine

months for fiddling his expenses. A warning from the Samaritans

tonight after a coroner hears of a suicide pact hatched on the

internet. And wouldn't Mum be proud as this brother and sister from

Essex aim for glory in the Olympics Hello. Witnesses have today been

describing the moment a girl of 13 was killed when a branch fell from

a tree at a park near Peterborough. She had been playing there because

her school was closed by yesterday's strike action. All day,

friends of Sophie Howard have been laying floral tributes at the scene

of the incident. Her school observed a minute's silence as the

community around Yaxley took in the terrible news. Tonight, it was

announced that the Health and Safety Executive would carry out an

investigation. Let's get the details now from our reporter Mike

Cartwright. Tonight we have seen her community

come together in grief, a spontaneous Gavin, a vigil for

Sophie. There are few people left here but only are they have won

many more, of all ages. They stood, some cried, they came together to

say goodbye to one of their own. Sophie, aged 13, described by her

family as beautiful. A typical girlie girl who loved socialising,

make-up and fashion. Sleep peacefully with the angels, rest in

peace. Tributes and flowers today placed by the tree where the branch

fell. Many more on the internet - and questions too. Sophie and her

friends were only here because of strikes at school. A cruel twist of

fate, which people here are trying to make sense of. Just upset that

something like that could happen, someone so young could be heard. I

saw a branch falling down, heard the crack, and I went over there.

And a young girl was lying on the floor and she wasn't good at all,

really. But tragedy, and of the teachers went on strike she would

have been at school and still be here. Sophie's school in Sawtry

said she was bright and cheerful and held in high regard, someone

who appeared to have bright future in front of her. A teenager who

leaves behind a twin brother who the family say is suffering greatly.

Neighbours spoke of their sadness. Shocked, dumbfounded. It takes a

lot to believe in. We were to go to school in the morning and come home

at night. They are twins, a boy and a girl. You feel it probably a

little bit more because of them being the family. To hear it, it

took some believing. The bench where Sophie sat has been removed

along with the branch that fell there. Police are not treating her

death as suspicious. But why the branch broke is the question many

is this community are asking. People sat save the's school today

were given counselling. They also erected a tribute board. Earlier, I

spoke to a friend of hers and he said it has been very difficult for

everyone. I have known her for a year before secondary school

because I used to go and talk to her here all the time. Then we

started getting more from to a secondary school. How long have you

know her? About three years. When you heard about this awful news,

headed detected? Was in shock to start with. And I started to cry

because I have heard bad news, but one of my friends... It was a shock.

I couldn't cry to start with, and then I just started crying because

I was so sad. One type of girl was she? He was a very happy, cheery

girl. I have never seen her cry or getting a bad mood. Always seen her

smile, laugh. We have learned tonight that the Health and Safety

Executive will be helping police with their investigation. What they

will be looking at that some of the branches here. Earlier branches had

been taken earlier and they will be looking to see the other branches

higher up. The disgraced Lord Hanningfield was

sent to prison today, after being convicted of fiddling his

parliamentary expenses. The former leader of Essex County Council is

the latest high profile politician to go to jail over fraudulent

expense claims. Today's court appearance comes two years after

the police first interviewed Lord Hanningfield about his expenses. In

February last year he was charged and forced to stand down as leader

of the county council. In November, he launched a legal action to evade

prosecution. That failed. In May this year, his trial got under way

at Chelmsford Crown Court. Ten days later he was found guilty. Today,

at just after 2 o'clock, he was jailed for nine months. Let's get

the full story now from our home affairs correspondent, Sally

Chidzoy. Good evening from outside Maidstone

Crown Court in Kent. Write to the end, Lord Hanningfield had hoped

that his poor health would save him from prison but tonight he is

behind bars. Renowned for his love of good restaurants he must now

face a prison menu, the price he must pay for cheating the tax payer.

At 6:50am, Lord Hanningfield left his bungalow as usual to walk his

job and been his rubbish but it was no ordinary day for the expenses

fiddling peer and former leader of Essex County Council. It was the

day he was to go to jail. He arrived at Maidstone Crown Court

for sentencing. The man who claimed almost �14,000 for overnight stays

and travelling to his work in the House of Lords was reduced to this.

Sitting in the dock of Court Number seven. The defence did all that it

could to try to keep Lord Hanningfield out of jail. It called

upon a psychiatrist who told report that she felt that Lord

Hanningfield was currently depressed. She told the judge that

he had told her the anything he could do was to plunge a knife into

his dog and then in himself. She said he had been talking today

about jumping off a high building. But the judge was intent on jailing

him, telling Lord Hanningfield he was important to bear in mind the

sentences imposed on others who have been convicted of similar

offences. He said greater trust was placed in pierced be honest in

their claims for expenses. The public expects no less of them.

Lord Hanningfield and others have broken that trust. As he was

sentenced to nine months' imprisonment, Lord Hanningfield

looked stunned. He seemed almost glued to his chair in the dock. He

paused to take a sip of water before standing up and walking

towards his guard. What do wide to now, he said. Just go down, came

the reply. The dramatic downfall of Lord Hanningfield mark the end of

an era at Essex County Council where he was the all-powerful

leader, a Tory whose jailing follows an investigation dribble by

that Liberal Democrat MP. There is now we a second claim by police. --

second inquiry. In a statement tonight, Essex County Council said

it was awaiting the outcome of Lord Hanningfield's appeal against his

conviction. Until that time he remains a councillor. The council

said it was continued co-operate with police on the second

investigation and then it was inappropriate for them to comment

until the inquiry was complete. Later on Look East, a warning from

the Samaritans after two people meet through the internet to commit

suicide. We meet the brother and sister from Essex hoping to make

Mum proud by competing in next summer's Paralympics. In the

weather, I've got your weekend forecast, plus a look back to the

soggy June, the summer month which provided more rain than the whole

A coroner said today that drugs were to blame for the death of a

16-year-old girl and her father. The girl, who had complained of

feeling unwell, stabbed her father and then herself. The father was

heard to murmur, "Please stop, I love you, I love you." The incident

happened in the family home at Sible Hedingham in Essex.

Bernadette Bass - seen here with the blonde hair - prepared to hear

details of the last moments of her husband and daughter as she arrived

at the inquest this morning. It was at the family home on the 11th

September last year that 16-year- old Margaret Pierides and her

father Costas were found fatally injured. Post mortem examinations

revealed both had died from stab wounds. Godfrey O'Toole, the senior

investigating officer, said it was difficult to be sure what had

happened but it appears that Margaret had had some sort of

catastrophic breakdown. The coroner heard how Margaret's behaviour had

changed. She'd had problems with drugs, episodes where she'd felt

confused and dreams about killing her parents. Her mother said that

the night before the stabbings Margaret had felt depressed and

they'd spoken about seeing a psycologist. The next morning she

said she found Margaret and Costas in the kitchen. She heard him

saying "Stop it, I love you, stop it." She realised Margaret had a

knife in her hand. She said Margaret didn't speak, just grabbed

her hand. She said Margaret would never intentionally hurt her father

Margaret Pierides was described as a lovely teenager, not aggressive

and part of a close family unit. In her summing up, the coroner

Caroline Beasley Murray said: "The tragic events of an ordinary

Saturday morning highlight the dreadful risks young people take

when they use drugs." She recorded a verdict of accidental death for

Organisers of the Royal Norfolk Show have promised an investigation

into traffic chaos which plagued the event yesterday. Up to 1,000

people were stuck in queues surrounding the showground for up

to four hours. Some visitors gave up and turned around because of the

long wait to get into the site. An announcement on the future of

the Chief Executive of Suffolk County Council, Ondrea Hill, is

expected on Monday. She's been on paid leave for the past eight weeks

so that whistleblowing allegations against her can be investigated. A

special panel met yesterday and will meet again on Monday.

A court heard today how a businessman drove his Aston Martin

sports car at more than 140 miles an hour. Tobias Baker was chased

after he shot past a police patrol car at Higham on the A14 in Suffolk

last October. He escaped jail but was banned from the road for 18

months. Tobias Baker leaving the crown

court in Ipswich this afternoon, having admitted dangerous driving.

The offence happened at Highham last year, just after 9 pm on

Saturday 16th October. A stationary marked police car - by co-incidence

there was one at the spot again today - saw Baker pass at speed,

estimated at around 110-120 miles an hour. It went after him, but

despite touching 140 miles an hour couldn't catch the defendant's car,

which was accelerating further away. After six miles, Baker was

eventually pulled over. When the defendant was asked why he was

driving so fast, he told the police officer, I have no excuses, I was

breaking the speed limit, stupid and irresponsible. His solicitor

said his client had one simple appeal to make to the court.

Anything but custody. The judge told Baker, who is 34 and had no

previous convictions, that while it was a highly excessive speed, it

didn't justify a prison term. He was told to do 180 hours of unpaid

work, banned from the road for 18 months, and told to pay �1,200 in

costs. He will also have to sit a driving retest before he gets his

licence back. My road policing officers either all across the

county to make sure the roads are safe. We have a really good road-

safety record here in Suffolk and we want to keep it that way. Baker,

who didn't want to comment after the case, no longer owns the Aston

Martin. The court was told he's sold it since getting caught.

Norwich City and Ipswich Town have confirmed new signings today.

Midfielder Bradley Johnson joins the Canaries from Leeds United on a

free transfer. Ipswich Town have snapped up 21-year-old defender

Aaron Cresswell from Tranmere. Ipswich Hospital has been

criticised by the Information Commissioner for losing

confidential patient records. It follows an incident in February

when a member of staff took home the records of 29 patients but then

lost them. Ipswich Hospital is one of five NHS organisations which

have recently breached the Data Protection Act.

Drivers are to be charged more to use the Dartford crossing. The

short journey over the Thames from Essex to Kent currently costs �1.50.

But it could be �2.50 by the end of the year.

When the Dartford Crossing was completed in the early '90s,

motorists were told they would only have to pay tolls until the

building costs had been paid off. That debt was paid eight years ago.

Still the charges remain. In fact, they're due to go up. I use the

crossing quite a lot and �2.50 is far too much. It is a recession and

people are struggling to pay for things anyway. It is ridiculous.

From the end of next year car drivers will pay an extra pound.

Lorries, even more. With the crossing making a �45 million

profit each year, some believe the price hikes are unnecessary and

unfair. It is ridiculous that the government should be taking this

line and we are appalled. The minister needs to wake up and smell

the coffee. If the government wants to support small businesses, which

they have said, they need to put words into action and do something.

This is one area where they could do it very easily. In a statement,

A public consultation is now under way. Drivers who use the crossing

can have their say on the You're watching Look East from the

BBC. Coming up. The story which had people fuming.

Two strangers, who met through an internet forum on suicide, were

found dead just days later. Today, the Samaritans warned against the

darker side of the worldwide web. Joanne Lee from Essex and Stephen

Lumb from West Yorkshire met up in a car park in Braintree. They took

their own lives using a mixture of toxic chemicals. Both the coroner

at today's inquest and the Samaritans expressed concern at the

nature of the suicide forums. Kim Riley was at today's hearing in

Chelmsford. Every inquest is a sombre affair,

today's at County Hall particularly so. In the words of the coroner,

these were the most tragic of deaths. The court heard how a 35-

year-old Stephen Lumb from West Yorkshire, have met to Joanne Lee

he lived alone in Great Notley mate on an internet site. She said she

did not have the strength to do it on her own. This was the car found

by police on an industrial estate in nine Puddy last September. He

had driven from Yorkshire to meet Joe and face-to-face for the first

and only time. Notices have been placed on the windows, warning of

toxic chemicals inside. Fire fighters had to wear special

protection suits to remove the bodies. Post mortem showed they

died from chemical poisoning and two buckets of chemicals were found

inside the car. The police concluded both were willing

participants, there was no third party. The coroner said it was

clear that the internet could be a force for good but the existence of

these website showed how could be just the opposite. It was a very

worrying trend. A warming trend as well for the Samaritans. For some

people who were chatting to other distressed people online they can

get help from that. By what it can do is it can reinforce two

distressed people's negative feelings about life. It spirals out

of control so they end up encouraging each other to do

something, take their own lives, something they might not have done

alone. After recording verdicts of suicide, the coroner told the

families that these for two young people clearly much loved. She

hoped they could well on the happy, positive memories. And if you are

experiencing feelings of distress, despair or depression - and would

like to talk to someone - you can call the Samaritans anonymously on

08457 909090, or get more help On Look East last night we reported

on the market town near Milton Keynes which is thinking about

banning people from smoking in the streets. The idea left many of you

fuming and spluttering. Some viewers welcomed the idea, saying

they are fed up with breathing in cigarette smoke in the street. But

others wondered where it would all end. Josef Hall reports now on the

subject which has lit up Stony Stratford.

I don't even Speight, it's not real pipe. But with the these Maicon not,

using to have an opinion on whether Stony Stratford should be allowed

to smoke or not. We had all sorts of e-mails Inc, including one who

said, I think the smoking ban is ridiculous. Smokers pay most of the

country's taxes. Another in Clacton on Sea says, I think it is a good

thing that people are challenging people smoking in the streets. I

think it is disgusting and unfair on those of us who want clean lungs.

And ex-smokers says, with local shops closing all over the UK,

Stony Stratford like everywhere else needs to attract customers on

tried them somewhere else. I am joined by a fairly heavy weight

guest to when assuming is a smoker. I am a smoker, but is not about

that. It is about freedom of choice, about liberty, about the kind of

country want to live in. What is Again to ban next, fish and chips,

don't us, alcohol? Can we please get these awful people off our

backs? The Smoking man has gone too far already. The pubs, cafes should

be allowed to have separate smoking room. The last, and was the right

one, the smoking ban has closed down clubs and cafes all over this

country. We are grown-up, this is about liberty, it is about as

making our own grown-up choices. I hope at a meeting on 19th July here

in Stony Stratford, people tell them where to go. Thanks to you at

home for the wealth of e-mails, text and phone calls.

We are not going to smoke on the programme but a thing we should

wear smoking jackets! You don't see them these days. Think of sporting

siblings and straight away the likes of Jack and Bobby Charlton

come to mind, or the Williams sisters. Well, there's another set

of siblings on the block. James and Emma Hollis from Essex both have

brittle bone disease, and this weekend they'll be swimming for

Britain at the European Championships in Berlin.

James and Emma Hollis can't remember a time when they have not

been in plaster. They've broken their arms and legs several times.

James has also smashed his ribs and his spine is fused with metal rods.

Their x-rays are x-rated, like those of a stuntman. They are

buying for Berlin. A went to the Europeans last time and I went on

my own. Mum and dad went out but James didn't manage to come. It'll

be nice to have been there this time. They have a conditon caled

osteogenesis imperfecta. Brittle bone disease. Because of their

brittle bones, swimming is the perfect sport and they are the

perfect combination. We both live in west Essex, so just down the

road. It would be amazing. It would be a first Paralympic Games for

both of us. If we were both there, I reckon mum would be proud! Emma

is a couple of years older. Emma is studying geography at university,

but James is at home in Essex with Mum, Dad and dogs. It is it is

really good to get them both at the same time. She was quicker than me

when I was younger question is that bit older. I did like the day that

I beat had the first time and enjoyed the case and that there

where I beat her again! There was always rivalry. They live as the

crow flies 20 minutes from the Olympic Park. First they'll take

Berlin, but if they can stay out of That is one seriously proud mum.

And we will be following their progress. Good luck to them this

weekend. We had a very wet month and it was

much needed rain for much of the reason. We can see some statistics

sample the month of June, the regional average was 60 mm. But is

a little bit above average for the month of June. But comparing that

back to the springtime, we only had 10 mm in March, five in April and

15 in made, which equals 30 mm. So we had twice the amount of rainfall

in the month of June we head for the entire spring. So really a very

wet period. If we go forward to the month of June, a few more

statistics. A massive range of temperatures. That is about double

the amount of rainfall for the average in the highest place. We

have a settled spell of weather over the next few days. Looking

pretty good for this weekend. Quite a bit of cloud earlier today but as

we go into the evening that is melting away. Generally clear skies

through the course of tonight. The lowest temperature overnight

dropping to six or seven Celsius. It could be quite a chilly night in

the rest of the region. But as a bit below average for the time of

year. Knobbly wins mean you will stay a little bit milder on the

coast -- more than the winds. Sunny spells, just a bit of patchy cloud.

The best of the sunshine will be in the morning and in the afternoon

the best of the sunshine will be around the coast. Top temperatures

demurrer reaching up to 21 or 22 Celsius in the West. It will be a

bit cooler with the north easterly winds. Saturday evening, fine and

dry wit long clear spells. Looking forward into the rest of the

weekend, a lot of sunshine on Sunday, particularly in the morning.

The cloud will increase in the afternoon for a little while. The

temperatures even higher on Monday, getting back into the very warm

range. Our next chance of rain in the region coming either on Tuesday

night or into Wednesday. A fine, dry spell of weather for the next

few days. Light wind backs over the Can I just say sorry. I nearly

forgot to introduce the weather! It is past my bedtime! I was upset

because, as our main news, Britain's Andy Murray is out of

Wimbledon. He took the first set but Rafael Nadal made a strong

reply. Afterwards, Rafael Nadal said he felt sorry for the Scot and

described him as a friend. Our reporter has been keeping an

analytical eye on it. A fantastic game between two of the best

players in the world at the moment. Big serves met by even bigger

returns. These were the scenes in Norwich today, the big screen were

lots of people stopped to watch the game. Some people went to watch it,

others just enticed by the shopping as they wandered past. It started

well fought Murray but then Rafael Nadal coming in to win the next

three in a row. But before the defeat, these tennis fans told me

exactly why they chose to watch the game outside. It is brilliant, the

fact that Murray has got that far. Just to come here and be with

everybody else, rooting for the same person. What has the

atmosphere been like amongst the crowd? It has been fairly good.

Everyone is behind him. Do you think it is good to give people an

opportunity to come out here and get together and see someone from

Britain. An unfair question, what about the final, can you make a

prediction? Why don't we just toss a coin! It is the two best players

in the world, and the BBC will have full coverage put on the internet