Transcripts For BBCNEWS BBC News 20180127

Welcome to bbc news. Three teenage boys were killed when a car hit them near a bus stop in west london on friday evening in what police have called a horrific crash. Two of the boys, who had been heading to a birthday party, have been named locally as George Wilkinson and harry louis rice. A man aged 28 who was in the vehicle is under arrest in hospital. Our correspondent ben ando reports. Friends, classmates, mourners. Three, two, one. Grieving together an improvised memorial for a tragedy as shocking as it was unexpected, to mark the deaths of three teenagers struck by a speeding car in hayes, middlesex, yesterday evening. The teenage boys have not been formally identified, but have been named locally as george, harry and josh. Two were 16, the other 17. Earlier their families had visited the bus stop where the boys had lost their lives. Jake webb was one of the first on the scene immediately after it happened. I could see the incident in front of me. I had called them at that point. There was a bus driver in front of us. He came over and said, theres someone dead in the road. At that point i relayed that to 999. Within five minutes, an ambulance arrived. Friends of the boys say they were walking on the pavement in this direction, going to a party, when a car struck the pavement about here. Seconds later, it hit them. The car, a black audi, smashed into a lamp post before coming to a halt in the road. This image shows the force of the impact. Eyewitnesses said that afterwards a man who had been in the car was attacked on a garage forecourt nearby. Some locals say speeding cars on this road are nothing new. Its a 60mph road. Cars and vehicles drive up and down here sometimes like it is a speed trap. This road is busy 24 7. If im totally honest, im surprised there hasnt been more accidents along it. Police believe two men were in the crash car. And with many people heading to the same party, they want any witnesses to contact them. A bomb in the Afghan Capital kabul has left 95 people dead and more than 150 injured. The taliban say they carried out the attack. An Emergency Vehicle, packed with explosives, was blown up at a checkpoint. Homes and businesses in paris are on high alert as the river seine threatens to overflow its banks. Weeks of rain have pushed the water level up and its thought the river will peak six metres above normal. Museums including the louvre have been shut. In smaller towns along the seine, people are having to use boats to get around flooded streets. All current rape and serious Sexual Assault cases in england and wales are to be reviewed, following the collapse of several recent trials. The director of Public Prosecutions Alison Saunders said it was a matter of urgency to make sure evidence has been properly disclosed. But the governments chief Legal Adviser says theres no evidence of widespread malpractice or dishonesty in the prosecution system. Clive coleman reports. Disclosure of evidence in some recent highly publicised rape cases has gone badly wrong. But how widespread is the problem . In december liam allans trial for rape and Sexual Assault collapsed. When it emerged evidence on a computer disk, which police had examined, showed messages from the alleged victim pestering him for casual sex. And the number of prosecutions in england and wales that collapsed because of a failure by police or prosecutors to disclose evidence has increased by 70 in the last two years. Now the director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, has ordered an urgent review of all rape and serious Sexual Assault cases, and conceded its likely a number will be dropped. One of the major problems is the amount of digital evidence on phones and social media. Its very apparent that in some cases mistakes have been made that simply shouldnt have been. It is important that when you look at that kind of case that the prosecutors and investigators look at social media traffic, look at Text Messages that have passed between the two individuals, because they can put whats happened in a very significant, different light. A National Disclosure Improvement Plan has been published. It includes a review of disclosure training, developing a group of specialists in every police force, and all multimedia evidence to be provided to the defence digitally. Yesterday, here, a people trafficking case not a rape or Sexual Assault trial collapsed because prosecutors failed to disclose Critical Evidence to the defence. Thejudge has demanded an urgent explanation in a case made even more shocking by the fact that one of the young female defendants was held in prison for 13 months, during which time she gave birth. This problem is systemic and endemic throughout the criminaljustice system. Its been known about for many years and its a result of chronic underfunding of the police, the Prosecution Service and particularly defence lawyers who have suffered years of cuts to legal aid. If Public Confidence in our fair trial system is to be maintained, fixing disclosure is now the criminal justice systems biggest challenge. Clive coleman, bbc news. Earlier i spoke to former cps chief prosecutor nazir afzal and asked him how concerned people should be about these developments. Public confidence has been shaken by a series of cases where very basic things such as disclosure. The most basic thing is providing the defence with a case against them and also the evidence you have that may assist them. The fact it has not been happening in these very high profile cases, and the one that clive mentioned yesterday, suggests to me that something is amiss and it needs to be remedied. We have heard the dpp say she wants every single case in the system to be looked at afresh by a more senior lawyer. The question clive asked, that i asked, as well, is what about other cases . It doesnt have to be just rape and sexual offences. Disclosure impacts on all serious cases, everything. There is no current proposal to look at all such matters. We have got a situation where juries hear the evidence. They dont know now whether it is all the evidence. They dont know whats happening. And i think, as one of your contributors said, the issue is resources. Its not just money. Its experience. A substantial number of Serious Police officers have left the service, experienced Police Officers have left, and there is less supervision now. And so cases are being prepared not as well as they could be. It meansjustice is not being done all the time. When we hear the phrase failed to disclose, are they saying that teams were aware that the evidence was there and theyjust didnt bring it forward, or they hadnt got to it yet . There is a lot of confusion, here. A bit of both. The disclosure regime is more than 20 years old but social media and the internet isnt. So they are trying to catch up with where the technology is. In some cases you have to remember that prosecutors dont find the evidence themselves. It comes from the police. If the police have not provided them. They dont know what is out there, they dont know whats available. There is a significant issue with policing and the need for specialist officers to take responsibility for disclosure in the same way they do for the investigation itself. Secondly, the prosecutor should be asking questions. The examples we have recently, was there anything on her phone, or online . Was it answered 7 clearly it wasnt answered. That evidence turned up very late. We cant have a situation where a team doesnt work as a team and the experience doesnt seem to be there. As a result, justice isnt being done. And what about other cases . Those cases that have been dealt with. What about the rape finalised last week, for example . Are you going to look at the evidence in relation to that . This opens a can of worms when you say you want to look at all current cases. Because lawyers and defendants will be asking, what about my case a year ago . What about the case you have not prepared . You Say Something is amiss and it needs to be remedied. Are the police, who are in charge of collecting evidence like this, are they equipped to do it . We know there is a problem with resources. Are they equipped to do this . You have special cyber teams within the police and they know how to deal with that, but what about when it comes to Police Officers dealing with Sexual Assaults . Technically, only specialist officers should be dealing with sexual offences. But some are relatively new. Some may not necessarily have the contacts within the Telecommunications Industry or the internet industry which enables them to get this information. But these are basic questions which have to be asked by them. Again, prosecutors need to ask the same questions. Technology is there. The expertise is there. But the supervision is poor. The experience levels are poor. As a result we are not getting the service from them, the prosecutors are not getting the service they deserve. Prosecutors, as diligent as they are, they dont know what they have got and they dont know what they havent got. Into them as they waited near a bus stop. Tributes to the boys two of whom have been named tonight as harry rice and George Wilkinson. The car involved in the crash a 28 year old man who was in it was detained by passers by and has been arrested. Police have appealed to anyone who saw what happened to get in touch. Also on tonights programme. At least 95 people have been killed and 160 injured in a taliban bomb attack in the Afghan Capital, kabul. All current rape and serious Sexual Assault cases in england and wales are to be reviewed after the collapse of several recent trials. And denmarks Caroline Wozniacki waits no more she wins her first grand slam title in melbourne at her 43rd attempt. Good evening. Police say a car involved in a fatal crash which killed three teenagers at a bus stop in west london last night is believed to have been travelling at high speed. Two of the boys have been named tonight as harry rice and 16 year old George Wilkinson. A 28 year old man who was in the vehicle has been arrested. Theyre searching for a second man who is also thought to have been in the car. Lets go now to our correspondent, ben ando, whos at the scene. Little more than 2a hours since three teenage boys died at this bus stop after being hit by a car driving on a stretch of road here in west london that is notorious among locals for speeding drivers. One man in the car is under arrest in hospital and police say another man they think was in the car is still at large, clearly finding him is a priority. Friends, classmates, mourners. Three, two, one. Grieving together and improvised memorial for a tragedy as shocking as it was unexpected to mark the deaths of three teenagers struck by a speeding car in hayes in middlesex yesterday evening. Two of those who died have been identified as harry rice and George Wilkinson. The identity of the third teenager, known locally as josh, wilkinson. The identity of the third teenager, known locally asjosh, has not been confirmed. Two were 16 years old, the other 17. Jake webb was one of the first on the scene immediately after it happened. I seen it happen in front of me. There was a bus driver in front of us and he came over and said, yes, theres someone dead in the road and at that point i relayed that to 999 and within five minutes an ambulance arrived. The boys were walking on the other side of the road to a party less than half a mile away and the car mounted the curb and had them. Other friends with them were unhurt but saw the whole thing. The car, a black audi, then came to a halt in the road, this image showing the force of the impact. Eyewitnesses say afterwards a man who was in the car was attacked from a nearby garage forecourt. Some locals say speeding cars on this stretch of road is nothing new. Its a 60mph road and cars, vehicles drive up here sometimes like its a speed track. This roads busy 24 7 and if im honest, im surprised there hasnt been more accidents along it. Police believe two men were in the crashed car, and with many other teenagers heading to the same party, they re appealing for any witnesses to contact them. Ben ando, bbc news, hayes. All current rape and serious Sexual Assault cases in england and wales are to be reviewed following the collapse of several recent trials. The director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, said it was a matter of urgency to make sure evidence has been properly disclosed. But the governments chief Legal Adviser says theres no evidence of widespread malpractice or dishonesty in the prosecution system. Clive coleman reports. Disclosure of evidence in some recent highly publicised rape cases has gone badly wrong, but how widespread is the problem . In december, liam allens trial for rape and Sexual Assault collapsed when it emerged evidence on a computer disc which police examined showed messages from the alleged victim pestering him for casual sex. And the number of prosecutions in england and wales that collapsed because of a failure by police or prosecutors to disclose evidence has increased by 70 in the last two years. Now, the director of Public Prosecutions, Alison Saunders, has ordered an urgent review of all rape and Sexual Assault cases and conceded its likely a number will be dropped. One of the major problems is the amount of digital evidence on phones and social media. Its very apparent that in some cases, mistakes have been made that simply shouldnt have been. Its important that when you look at that kind of case, that the prosecutors and the investigators look at social media traffic, look at Text Messages that have past between the two individuals, because they can put whats happened in a very significant different light. A National Disclosure Improvement Plan has been published. It includes a review of disclosure training, developing a group of specialists in every police force and all multi media evidence to be provided to the defence digitally. Yesterday here, a people trafficking case, not a rape or Sexual Assault trial, collapsed because prosecutors failed to disclose Critical Evidence to the defence. Thejudge has demanded an urgent explanation in a case made even more shocking by the fact that one of the young female defendants was held in prison for 13 months during which time she gave birth. This problem is systemic and endemic throughout the criminaljustice system. Its been known about for many years and its as a result of chronic underfunding of the police, the Prosecution Service and particularly the defence lawyers, whove suffered years of cuts of legal aid. If Public Confidence in our fair trial system is to be maintained, fixing disclosure is now the criminal justice systems biggest challenge. A bombing in the Afghan Capital, kabul, has left 95 people dead and 160 people injured. The taliban say they carried out the attack. An Emergency Vehicle packed with explosives was blown up at a checkpoint. From kabul, Zia Shahreyar reports. An ambulance packed with explosives driven into crowds on their way to work. The force of the blast shook the windows off buildings at least a mile away. Some lower rising structures collapse. A plume of smoke visible across the city. The attacker had driven his vehicle past the police checkpoint, claiming to have a patient inside. When guards at a second checkpoint became suspicious, he detonated the bomb. Translation i was in an armoured plated vehicle when suddenly there was an explosion. I was in the back seat, my driver was blown out on to the ground and injured. The area of the attack is home to foreign embassies and the citys police headquarters. The road had been closed to public transport. The taliban claimed responsibility. This is their second deadly assault on the city in the space of a week. 20 people were killed in an attack on the Intercontinental Hotel last week. This evening, work was continuing to clear the scene of the latest bombing. This is a very secure area and security is very tight here usually and the question will be how they got through this far. The afghan military, backed by us air power, has intensified its campaign to drive out the taliban from its rural strongholds. But, as todays strike proves, theyre still able to mount deadly attacks against civilian targets in the heart of the countrys major cities. Homes and businesses in paris are on high alert as the river seine threatens to overflow its banks. Weeks of rain have pushed the water level up and its thought the river will peak six metres above normal. Museums including the louvre have been shut. In smaller towns along the seine, people are having to use boats to get around flooded streets. One of the worlds richest men, prince alwaleed bin talal, has become the latest high profile figure to be released in saudi arabia after a major anti corru ption drive was launched in november. A saudi official has said that the prince was released after a settlement was approved by the state prosecutor. But the prince said no charges were brought against him and no deals had been done. Our arab affairs editor, sebastian usher, reports. Just hours before his release, prince alwaleed gave his first interview from the gilded cage of the ritz carlton hotel. In hard cash terms, he has been the biggest catch of the saudi purge. The idea of a man worth 17 billion being reduced to sleeping on a mattress while bargaining for his freedom has been a powerful one, and an image he was keen to dispel as he gave a tour of the suite where he was held in recent weeks. I have been all the time here at this hotel. It has been fine. I have exercised, i stretch, i swim, i walk. I have my old iphone, so its like home. I call my family every day. Im in touch with the office every day. Everything is functioning. The saudi attorney general has said that 90 detainees have been released so far after charges were dropped against them while others have reached financial settlements to win theirfreedom. Around 90 are believed to still be in detention. Some will go to prison and face trial. The man behind the Anti Corruption drive is the crown prince, mohammad bin salman. Its part of his ambitious plan to transform the country, economically and socially. Finally weaning it from its twin dependance on religious austerities, as well as granting women basic new rights such as full permission to drive. His vision 2030 project needs massive funding, and the Authorities Say the purge should deliver at least 100 billion to state coffers. Those who cooperate could be somewhat like in cash, but they should be able to continue with their businesses and their lives. But its still a risky move which could consolidate the crown princes power or build up resentment against his dominance. With all the sport, heres olly foster at the bbc sport centre. Its the final weekend at the Australian Open and Caroline Wozniacki has won her first grand slam title. It was a thriller as the dane beat simona halep in three sets in melbourne. The victory also sees her return to the top of the World Rankings ahead of the romanian. Adam wild reports. There are few stages in the game more spectacular than melbourne and the welcome could scarcely have been more fitting. The winner takes it all. The worlds top two toe to toe down under, the final already had all the sparkle it needed, a match worth the wait, the wait is something with which was was and halep are all too familiar with. Neither had won a grand slam before, this was wozniackis 43rd attempt. She started like a player not prepared to wait any longer. Halep too is battle hardened, forcing a tie break before finally seeing it slip away. A moment for her to stay calm, keep her cool, not easy in the blistering evening heat. Still, somehow she managed, fighting back to level the match. The temperatures now becoming the battle with both having to leave court to cool off. It was heating up, the final set befitting such an occasion, going one way then the other, this taking wozniacki to the brink. The best point of the match one more point and her long wait was finally over. Shes done it and you will not see a more popular winner. Ive dreamt of this moment for so many years and to be here today is a dream come true and my voice is shaking, im going to cry but today is a very emotional moment. Wozniacky at last a grand slam champion, she becomes world number one, a winner who today took it all. There are 12 fa cup fourth round ties today, one of them is still being played. There have been goals in every game and they are all coming up later on match of the day. But ive a got a couple of the surprise results for you now, if you want them. League one Wigan Athletic knocked out premier league west ham. The 2013 cup winners won 2 0. Will grigg with both goals. The hammers had a man sent off for spitting. Tottenham were ten minutes away from going out of the cup. They were trailing 1 0 at league 2 newport county, but a harry kane equaliser means they will have a replay at wembley. These are all of todays fourth round results. Therell be at least one League Two Side in the last 16. Coventry Beating League one mk dons. Notts county can look forward to a replay aginst premier League Strugglers swansea. The video assistant referee is being well used at anfield, with the on field official using the pitchside monitor. Goals have been disallowed, a penalty awarded. West brom are leading liverpool 3 2. Celtic are still 11 points clear in the scottish premiership. Leigh griffiths scored the winner against his former club hibernian. Aberdeen beat kilmarnock and are now second after jumping above rangers, who play tomorrow. There were away wins for dundee and partick and it was 1 1 between hearts and motherwell. The Indian Premier League auction has seen ben stokes join Rajasthan Royals for £1. 11 million the biggest price for an overseas player this year. The england all rounder has a Court Appearance next month facing a charge of affray. The 2020 tournament starts in april. The long established practice of walk on girls accompanying players to the oche is being abandoned by the professional darts corporation. The players had to make their own way to the stage at tonights masters event in milton keynes. The pdc say they have made the move following feedback from broadcasters. One of their former champions, raymond van barneveld, is supporting a petition to reinstate them. Lots more on the bbc sport website including Rory Mcilroys challenge at the dubai desert classic, but thats all from me. You can see more on all of todays stories on the bbc news channel. Thats all from me. Goodnight. Mild conditions will return on sunday. The mild air is coming from the atlantic. These guys have cleared little bit but further north we have windy conditions the skies. By the end, more cloud comes m, skies. By the end, more cloud comes in, meaning more hill fog in wales and more rain in Northern Ireland and more rain in Northern Ireland and sneaking into scotlands so the temperatures rising at the end of the night. Cloudy for most of scotla nd the night. Cloudy for most of scotland on sunday morning although the far north is not as windy and they might have some sunshine. Central and southern scotland, it is wet, with a damp start for Northern Ireland. Elsewhere, probably dry, probably cloudy and very mild, temperatures about 10 degrees. So sunday, is days wet across central and southern scotland, the weather improving it stays wet. Down andreolli around the hills and western england, and a generally cloudy scene damp and cloudy. Mild, typically, 12 13. Temperatures could be even higher. Colderfurther north, north of the weather front which is producing the rain in scotla nd which is producing the rain in scotland and the weather front will move south overnight into england and wales on monday, and brings about a change as we change our wind direction. The mild air will be swept away to the new continent and something colder will follow. I head of the rain, we have gusty winds, the higher times in southern england where it is wettest in the afternoon, eventually we have sunshine for Northern England and Northern Ireland and scotland where there might also be a few wintry showers as the egg gets colder. On tuesday the colder start in the north of the uk the air gets colder. Ryan brierley but increasing amounts of cloud, rain eventually dry and bright