25/10/2011 South East Today

Welcome to South East Today, I'm Polly Evans. And I'm Rob Smith.

Tonight's top stories. Two men pleaded guilty to a Kent

grandmother's murder in India. Now they've been released without

charge. Her family say they just want justice. The could slip road

and it, and that was exactly what has happened. Six of our Tory MPs

defy David Cameron and rebel over Europe. But is it really an issue

for voters in the south east? Also in tonight's programme: High hopes.

Tens of thousands of people back a South East charity by trying to

stop an X-Factor act making Christmas number one. The gateway

to India. 90 years of a memorial to the World War I troops nursed back

to health in Sussex. And flying the flag for his team - Fat Boy Slim

will be the first act to perform at Brighton's new stadium. Good

evening. They'd pleaded guilty to the murder of a Kent pensioner -

but tonight, the case against two men accused of kidnapping and

beheading Surjit Kaur while she was visiting relatives in India appears

to have collapsed. The 67-year-old mother-of-three from Chatham, was

killed during a trip to the Punjab earlier this year. Now her family

fear they'll never get justice. Alex Beard reports. The family of

the murdered woman had hoped the trial would put an end to the

horrifying ordeal, but that has not been the case and that while has

collapsed. Just don't know what to do next, really. We still haven't

got any answers until we get another update. 67-year-old Surjit

Kaur was visiting family in the Punjab earlier this year. Seven

weeks into the trap, she banished. I days later, had beheaded body was

found some 800 miles from where she was staying. Now the two men who

pleaded guilty to a killing have walked free, after the trial

collapsed in India. Absolutely devastated. As my brother said

before, we feared that they could slip through the net, and that is

exactly what has happened. trial was in a very remote part of

the Punjab, which has made finding out the most basic information very

The Indian legal system is on trial internationally to make sure that

when somebody is muddled, their killers are brought to account. We

will put pressure on the Indian authorities to make sure that

justice is done. For the family of Surjit Kaur, the grief is

compounded with frustration that nobody has been held accountable

for her mother. Alex Beard reporting, and she's live from

Baljinder Singh's home town of Gillingham. Alex do we know any

more about why this trial collapsed? As you're in that report,

the location of the trial and the murder and extending it information

difficult. What we know is that the judicial system in in the is

different to the one we have here. Despite the guilty plea, there

needs to be a full trial. They need to hear from the police and

witnesses. We understand that one of the key witnesses has pulled out

so the trial as collapse. So the fight for the family here in Kent

to see justice for their mother continues. Six Conservative MPs

from the south east have given the Prime Minister a political bloody

nose, by taking part in their party's biggest ever rebellion over

Europe. In total, 81 Tories defied a three-line whip last night to

back a motion calling for a referendum on Britain's membership

of the EU. Among them, the Kent MPs Mark Reckless, Gordon Henderson and

Tracey Crouch, and the Crawley MP Henry Smith. Hove's Mike Weatherley

actively abstained, by voting both for and against the motion.

Gravesham MP Adam Holloway resigned his position as a ministerial aide

in order to rebel. He says he did it to keep the respect of his

constituents. Over the last seven years I have wandered around my

constituency saying to the good people there that I think we should

have a referendum and they should have the chance to make their voice

heard, that we should rewire our relationship with the EU, and then,

if we had a vote calling for just those things and I vote against it

in I'll ridiculous to those people. So that is what I have achieved.

The rebels say they're campaigning on behalf of their constituents -

but is membership of Europe an issue that really matters to South

East voters? We asked people in Sittingbourne if they admired their

MP's decision to rebel - or thought he'd taken a stand over the wrong

issue. I admire Hull for standing up against the government, trying

to get the country back on track for the British people. We have got

enough problems in Swale for him to fill up all his diary. I think

everybody should have, you know, have their say. I think he should

concentrate on getting the regeneration in Swalw -- Swale.

That is more important to me at the moment. Well they were talking

about the Sittingbourne and Sheppey MP Gordon Henderson, and he joins

us live from Westminster. Was there really any point in a rebellion you

could never win - almost four times as many MPs opposed the referendum

as backed it. I did not look on it as a rebellion. A sector

constituents before the election that I would always booked their

interests before that of the Government and I would like to feel

that I did that. People in Sittingbourne were split, half and

half. Some said that there are enough problems to pull your by

area, from one day to the next. chap there said about concentrating

on economic regeneration. I am doing that. I have done a lot to

help encourage investment into our area. But we were not discussing

regeneration last night. The debate was on whether we should have a

referendum on Europe. That happens in my political life bus-stop I

cannot turn my back on the debate that is taking place in Parliament.

So this has effectively split the Conservatives down the middle again.

It does not matter, splitting the Conservatives. You have got to bear

in mind what we were the beating last night. What we were talking

about was giving the British people a referendum on whether or not we

should stay in Europe and the were debating it because the Prime

Minister give a commitment that any petition that was received in

Downing Street with over 100 pose and signatures would provoke a

debate in Parliament, and that is why we had a debate, and that is

what democracy is about. But if you go against the party whip, that

damages party unity and makes the Prime Minister look weak. I don't

think it damages the party at all. I am more interested in individual

MPs, who have to look at themselves in the mirror each morning. I can

lick in the manner, because I said long ago that I would push for the

referendum on Europe, and that is what I intend to do. -- to note in

the mirror. This evening the Government is insisting the result

was not a humiliation, with one minister claiming the Conservatives

are "united as never before". But others fear there could be trouble

ahead for David Cameron. And you can find out more on our Political

Editor's blog: Coming up: The autumn weather just gets weirder.

Your pictures of a mini tornado off the Sussex coast. More than 60,000

people have joined an online campaign backing a South East

charity, aiming to prevent any acts on The X-Factor from claiming this

year's Christmas Number One. It follows the decision to name one of

the groups on the reality TV show "Rhythmix", despite there being a

long-established charity based in Brighton and Tunbridge Wells with

the same name. John Young reports. It has the power to create stars,

and one of this year's creations, Rhythmix, is in a position to be in

this year's Christmas number one. But smells Like teen spirit buying

a banner has 60,000 people on Facebook signed up to make any

number one this Christmas, raising money for the Rhythmix, the charity

that has used the name far past 12 years, which help young people,

often be achieved, to learn about music. What has happened is that

the publicity we have had has been a public campaign, there of we get

in behind us, saying that this is morally wrong and that we want to

back this charity because we do not believe in what the X factor is

doing, that it is a good way to represent young people. This sort

of spoil a campaign has worked before. In 2005, the X Factor

winner, 2,000 -- Shane Warne, was Christmas number one. A year later

it was Leon Jackson's pot to do the double, next up was Alexandra burka,

and then in 2009, Joe Michel be was left stranded at number two, as

wage against the machine was propelled to the top spot in his

police because of a campaign against him. But not everyone was

against the X Factor in the town where the charity has its base.

People should treat the X Factor as a competition as a battle fund, and

not take things so personal. They should work together. If that

charity is for helping young children, they our young girls, in

a ban, they should work together. - - a band. It is the listening

public who will have the final say. John Young reporting. John, surely

the charity should be grateful for all the free publicity they're

receiving from this? We have been promised a statement, but it has

not come true. They pointed out that the charity never fully

registered the name. The charity acknowledges they have got some

handy publicity poll this but they just want to carry on,

concentrating on they are charity work. Union leaders say a higher

percentage of women have lost their jobs through local authority budget

cuts here in the South East than anywhere else in the country. New

research by the GMB has found that more than three quarters of

employees axed by our councils were women, between the first quarter of

2010 and the second quarter of 2011. On average, women made up two-

thirds of the total in the rest of the UK. Three men have been jailed

for murdering a homeless man in Sussex. Craig Palmer's body was

found in January in Brighton. John Battams, Mike Zur and Ireneusz

Malesza were given minimum tariffs of 15 years behind bars. But a

fourth suspect was cleared of murder today at Lewes Crown Court.

The future of the struggling cross- Channel ferry company SeaFrance

could be decided tonight. A court hearing is taking place in Paris to

determine whether to sell all or part of the company, or even to

liquidate it. Simon Jones is live in Dover. And Simon, SeaFrance

workers are tonight anxiously awaiting the court ruling.

SeaFrance Employs 1,000 people, and many of them downed tools and went

to protest in Paris today. That means there will be no saint --

ceilings at all between Dover and Calais. Yesterday the European

Commission ruled that the planned restructuring of the company could

not proceed. There are three of Oz on the table. One of them are

values the company for as little as three Euros. But you would be brave

to take to the Channel at all today, anyway with this weather! A new

scheme offering extra help for the long-term unemployed to set up

their own businesses is being promoted in East Sussex. Hastings

has some of the most deprived districts in England - and the

local MP is calling for anyone who has been claiming jobseekers'

allowance for six months to take advantage of the New Enterprise

Allowance. Successful applicants will get an allowance worth almost

�1,300 over six months. They can then can bid for a loan of up to

�1,000 to help with start-up costs. They also get advice from a mentor

to help develop their idea. Our Business Correspondent, Mark Norman,

has more. You roll up the sugar paste very thinly. Did you crumble

it down into layers. This man had always made cakes for friends, and

the JobCentre suggested that the start his own business through the

new Enterprise Allowance. They go through the business plan to make

sure that it is a good idea. They help you out with accounting and

things like that. Almost 200 people have applied to the scheme across

Sussex and Surrey. They have to have been unemployed for six months,

and the scheme is administered through local business

organisations. The first than people want to know is well this

idea work? Is it going to be feasible? They need some help with

the numbers, about whether they are going to sell enough of their

products and services. One of the other things people are interested

in is Abdulaziz bin Nasser al Saud and financed it, because they have

not got much finance themselves. This is one of the projects that I

am setting up. It is a booklet that promotes St Leonards on Sea.

Catherine has started on this scheme and already has her first

paid job. The success for example, she walks, will encourage other

people to apply. It is about people creating their own job rather than

just going out and looking for a job. This gives an opportunity to

go out and try to do things for themselves. Organisers want more

young people to come forward with his this ideas, to help create the

companies and jobs that will get us out of these difficult economic

times. Our top story tonight: The family of a Kent woman murdered in

India say they fear they will never get justice, after learning that

two men who had pleaded guilty to the crime will not now stand trial.

The decapitated body of Surjit Kaur was discovered in the Punjab in

April. Also in tonight's programme: Fat boy sings. Albion fan Norman

Cook's alter-ego will be the first act to perform at the new Amex

Stadium. And there are some interesting weather around at the

moment. Want to find out what it means for you? There will be a full

forecast at the end of the programme. It's a landmark built to

honour Indian soldiers who were wounded in World War One, and

nursed back to health on the Sussex coast. Commemorations have been

taking place at the Indian Gateway, which was built 90 years ago this

week. Millions of people have passed through it since 1921, on

their way to visit the Brighton Royal Pavilion. Robin Gibson has

tonight's Special Report. It was a day of polished pomp and ceremony.

The Maharajah came to Brighton Royal Pavilion, the Hon real gift

on the English nation to the townspeople of Britain's famous

seaside resort. The Indian Gateway has stood solidly overlooking the

gardens, ever since. It was a thank-you from the people of India

to the people Brighton for looking after its wounded soldiers. That is

what it is all about. It is a thank-you present to the people of

Brighton. Today, many people pass by this gateway without much idea

of what it symbolises, of the moving story of the Indian soldiers,

and the gratitude of the Indian people, for their treatment here

and right in. The while pavilion was one of a series of buildings

transformed, to treat Indian army casualties arriving from the Great

War and France. 12,000 were a year for in Brighton, and just 74 died

while being treated here. That was converted into a state of-the-art

hospital in just over one week. Two operating theatres, one in what is

now the banqueting room, and another just off the main

auditorium. Scrupulous detail was given to provisions of Indian men,

to make their religious and cultural requirements. Nine

different kitchens were set up in the grounds, to cater for Hindus,

Muslims, Sikhs, and also for different castes. This to Tory of

national gratitude and deliverance from horror of war. And the gateway

opens many people's eyes to the bravery of those men from the other

side of the world, who came to He's one of the club's most famous

fans. And after campaigning for Brighton and Hove Albion's new Amex

Stadium to be built, Fatboy Slim has announced he'll be the first

music act to play there with two major gigs next summer. Famously,

he's played to tens of thousands of people on Brighton beach in the

past - and last night the DJ - also known as Norman Cook - went public

with the news on the pitch, in front of thousands of Seagulls

supporters. Claudia Sermbezis reports. And it's 10,000 specially

made Fatboy flags, Norman Cook emerged on to the pitch to confirm

the first ever music gigs at the new stadium. This is the day that I

have dreamed about for five years. It is a red boy's dream, to do the

opening gig at this fantastic new stadium, the team now playing in

the championship. And a celebration of my relationship with right in.

That relationship, knitted on the four beach parties Norman Cook has

held, since 2001. To have a proper home, where you do not get rained

on and electrocuted, and all the nonsense that we had on the beach,

so we can build a fantastic production. Norman Cook move to

break in 30 years ago and began supporting his local team. Norman

has been a fantastic supporter, all the way through. He was there

during the difficult times, supported us, campaigned with us,

went to Downing Street with the petitions. In every way, he has

been a true fan, and he has work very hard. Regain it is about House

night, and on Saturday any, Witney Row, it is more police orientated.

And probably the perfect gig, in a perfect venue. I have never played

a football stadium before. Not one where I am used to sitting in the

stands. I am so excited about it. The gigs will be held at the

beginning of June, next year. Sadly the excitement did not last into

the game itself. Meanwhile, the Brighton and Hove Albion boss Gus

Poyet says HE'S the one fans should be blaming after his side lost 1-0

to West Ham at the Amex last night. The defeat, in front of the biggest

home crowd of the season, stretches the Seagulls' winless run to eight

games, as Neil Bell reports. I'll be in and their supporters are

getting used to life in the championship and packed houses at

the Amex Stadium. But they have struggled to dominate games and the

desire to play passing bit of on the back can occasionally backfire,

as it did last night, as Kevin Nolan scored for West Ham. West Ham

are very, very good at what they do and we know that. It is

disappointing to lose possession in that position. Despite that setback,

Brighton battled hard, and leading scorer Craig Mackie will Smith came

close to levelling things just before the break. Brighton had been

-- lots of possession but failed to create many clear cut chances.

Things got worse later in the game when Brighton lost a player to

injury. Brechin were not able to equalise, to the frustration of

their boss. We got punished for one mistake and that is my

responsibility, because I made the team play this way. Sam Allardyce,

the Hammers manager, was impressed by his first trip to the Amex

Stadium. It is a magnificent venue. The public are supporting them by

filling this stadium every week. They have had a great start and I

am sure they will go from strength to strength. It is now six weeks

since Albion last one again, but the mean just two points off the

play-off places. -- won a game. In League One, leaders Charlton travel

to Wycombe tonight. The Addicks were in top form at the weekend

with a 4-0 win over Carlisle and have the best away record in the

division, while Wycombe have only won once at home all season. League

Two leaders Crawley Town look likely to be unchanged tonight, and

will be hoping to make it seven wins in a row with victory over

struggling Dagenham and Redbridge at the Broadfield Stadium. And

Gillingham, who have scored 16 goals away from home this season,

are looking to add to that tally at Swindon this evening. Victory could

lift the Gills into the top three for the first time for almost two

months. Now contuning with the weird October weather theme. First

a heatwave, and now, apparently, a tornado. Many of you have been

sending in your pictures of what is technically a water spout, since it

didn't touch land, off the Sussex coast this afternoon by email,

facebook and twitter. It happened during a fierce thunderstorm just

after 4 o'clock this afternoon. The wind whipping up the sea water and

creating the water spout, which lasted for around five minutes.

Dozens of you cent in photographs. And we have had hill stones as well.

It is witchcraft! It has been a lively day's with a. We still have

more dramatic weather to come over the next few hours. We are set to

see a more thundery showers. Do keep sending in your with the

pictures. We can talk you for exactly what is going on. Quite a

lot of cloud around. We do that of wet weather, with it. Towards

coastal parts, showers a winter be heavier. Throughout today we had

some clear slots, but then lots of cloud. We have seen the results of

that. That is going to be a while before that actually clears.

Overnight, you can see where the wet weather is. The worst of it,

towards the South coast. Those temperatures down on last night, as

well, dropping to around seven Celsius. Tomorrow, more thundery

showers to come, particularly early in the day. Later, they should we

are, and there should be sunshine next in with that wet weather, so a

mixture of sunshine and showers. Temperatures down one degree or did

they. Round about 15 Celsius. -- on today. By evening that wet-weather

should have crept away. Those temperatures dropping to around ten

Celsius at their lowest. A little uncertain at the moment exactly

what does the is going to bring, but it seems that the wet weather

has not far away -- what there is a is going to drink. -- what Thursday

is going to bring. Towards the weekend, more cloud cover, but