Month: September 2019

Residents raised fears over killer McIntosh, months before attack on Dundee woman Linda

Dundee Evening Telegraph | 23rd August 2019 |

 “People were very worried – McIntosh was behaving in a very strange way that was drawing attention – including smoking cannabis in the garden at 4am.”

Residents in the tiny village where murderer Robbie McIntosh was released on home leave have revealed they warned authorities he would strike again – three months before his brutal attack on Linda McDonald.

Locals in Bridgefoot aired their fears at a meeting of Strathmartine Community Council in May 2017.

They also spoke to two local councillors, Craig Fotheringham and Beth Whiteside, asking the elected officials to intervene on their behalf and prevent the killer being released back into their community.

Some residents even admitted to being so worried at the time of McIntosh’s release that they stopped going for solitary walks and some women even began taking self-defence classes.

McIntosh was on day release from prison at the time of the violent attack on Ms McDonald, as he served a life sentence for stabbing dog walker Anne Nicoll to death on the Law in 2002 when he was just 15.

He was allowed out of prison on home leave and stayed with his mum in her flat in Bridgefoot in May 2017.

During that time his presence was closely monitored by concerned locals.

Now the community council has broken its silence on McIntosh’s presence in Bridgefoot at the time of his attack on Mrs McDonald, following news the victim’s wait for a significant case review has been extended even further.

Mrs McDonald has been told she could face another Christmas without answers over why McIntosh was released.

And a spokesman for the council revealed: “People were very worried – McIntosh was behaving in a very strange way that was drawing attention – including smoking cannabis in the garden at 4am.

“His presence was discussed at the meeting and we asked if anything could be done to monitor his activities and behaviour. The community police officer present advised us there was nothing the police could do as McIntosh ‘hadn’t done anything’.

“People were very worried and we were being told the police had no powers to do anything.”

The spokesman added: “Our fears were justified. When we heard about the attack on Mrs McDonald there was widespread horror.Locals were left horrified when McIntosh carried out his attack on Mrs McDonald.

“We had flagged up our concerns about him three months previously but no action was taken and he was able to strike again.”

Residents had also brought the issue up with Councillors Whiteside and Fotheringham before McIntosh’s second attack took place.

Ms Whiteside said: “I was approached by a few constituents over their concerns that McIntosh was being left free to roam locally.

“I raised the matter with Angus Council and received an assurance he would be closely monitored.

“I had to accept that. Unfortunately, as we now know, he was not being monitored and was able to carry out his horrendous attack.”

Police Scotland declined to comment until after the SRI is published.Mr Fotheringham, who was also at the community council meeting in May 2017, added: “I’m aware Councillor Whiteside raised the matter and received assurances.”

https://www.eveningtelegraph.co.uk/fp/residents-raised-fears-over-killer-mcintosh-months-before-attack-on-dundee-woman-linda/

Vincent Fuller: White supremacist car park stabbing ‘terrorist act’

BBC News | 10 Sep 2019 |

After the attack he tested positive for cannabis and alcohol and told detectives he had drunk a large bottle of cider and three cans of strong Special Brew lager.

A white supremacist who stabbed a teenager in what a judge described as a “terrorist act” has been jailed for more than 18 years.

Vincent Fuller, 50, attacked Bulgarian Dimitar Mihaylov in Stanwell, Surrey, a day after a gunman attacked mosques in Christchurch, New Zealand.

Kingston Crown Court heard Fuller, who admitted attempted murder, had set out to kill Muslims.

Fuller denied a terrorist motive but Judge Peter Lodder QC rejected this.

On the night of 16 March, Fuller “roamed the streets” in a violent rage “looking for a target”, the court heard.

He initially armed himself with a Chelsea FC-branded baseball bat and went on the rampage.

During the spree he tried to force his way into a house, swung the bat at cars and was heard shouting racist abuse.

‘You’re going to die’

After the bat broke in half, Fuller returned home and armed himself with a knife.

He then approached 19-year-old Mr Mihaylov, who was parked outside a branch of Tesco with his friend, and stabbed him through the open window.

The court heard Fuller had twice shouted “You’re going to die” and plunged a large kitchen knife towards his victim’s neck.

Mr Mihaylov suffered defensive wounds to his hands, and the knife clipped his neck, the court heard.

“It was only by chance he was not killed,” said Judge Lodder.

Several witnesses heard Fuller screaming abuse during his “rampage”, including one who reported him saying: “All Muslims should die. White supremacists rule. I’m going to murder a Muslim.”

In a Facebook post just before the spree, Fuller praised alleged Christchurch gunman Brenton Tarrant, adding: “I am English, no matter what the government say kill all the non-English and get them all out of our of England.”

Judge Lodder told Fuller he was “motivated by the cause of white supremacy, and his personal anti-Muslim sentiments”, adding: “This was a terrorist act.”

“I find that it was your purpose to strike fear into the heart of people you described as non-English, in particular Muslims,” he said.

The judge added: “It is immaterial that there is no evidence that you were a member of, or subscribed to, to any particular group or organization.

“In my judgement a terrorist-related offence may be committed by a person acting alone, on his own initiative, and without any significant planning.”

In a police interview, Fuller, who has a British bulldog tattoo, denied being racist and said he could not remember what he had done.

After the attack he tested positive for cannabis and alcohol and told detectives he had drunk a large bottle of cider and three cans of strong Special Brew lager.

But the judge said a blood sample taken after the attack showed that Fuller – a regular drinker – was not intoxicated to a high degree.

Fuller, of Viola Avenue, carried out his attack the day after the murder of 51 Muslim worshippers in New Zealand by a white supremacist, who livestreamed most of the shootings online.

A video excerpt of the Christchurch massacre was found on Fuller’s mobile phone, the court heard.

‘Extreme right-wing view’

Fuller had previously admitted further charges of carrying a weapon, affray and racially aggravated harassment, alarm or distress.

He was jailed for 18 years and nine months on Tuesday, with an additional five-year extended sentence.

Outside court, Supt Andy Rundle, from Surrey Police, said it was clear Fuller had become radicalised and developed “an extreme right-wing view”.

Det Ch Supt Kath Barnes, head of counter-terrorism at Policing South East, said Fuller was “clearly an incredibly angry and dangerous individual who went out of his way looking for someone of non-white appearance to attack”.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-surrey-49652977

Luis Temple inquest: Chantry School pupil did not intend suicide, says dad

Worcester News | 28 June 2018 |

He admitted his son had been smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol with friends on weekends, often in Worcester, since he was 13, but that this was almost never excessive.

THE dad of a teenager who hanged himself believes his son was “messing about” and did not intend to kill himself.

Luis Temple, 15, was discovered in his bedroom on the evening of Sunday, February 11, unconscious and not breathing before dad Wayne Temple began CPR before police and paramedics arrived.

During an inquest on Wednesday, coroner David Reid said while it appeared to be a deliberate act, “it’s not possible to reach a conclusion as to his intentions”.

However, Mr Temple told the court his son, a pupil at The Chantry School, was “always searching for the next thrill and the next thing that would give him a buzz”.

He admitted his son had been smoking cannabis and drinking alcohol with friends on weekends, often in Worcester, since he was 13, but that this was almost never excessive.

On the day of his death, Luis had spent the afternoon in Worcester with friends and admitted he had drank some alcohol when his dad picked him up at around 6.30pm.

A post mortem examination revealed he had a small amount of alcohol in his blood but no non-prescription drugs, said Mr Reid.

Speaking to the Worcester News after the hearing, Mr Temple, of Stourport-on-Severn, said: “It was not deliberate suicide. It was him being stupid and messing about.”

Sergeant Jemma Greenow, who was involved in the investigation into Luis’ death, said there were no suspicious circumstance surrounding the incident or any third-party involvement.

However, on examining his laptop and iPhone, officers found search “items that suggest Luis was looking at suicide videos” and information about depression medication.

She said these searches had been ongoing for a year with the latest as recent as three days before his death.

Luis was found unconscious by brother Rommi, 12, sometime after 8pm on February 11, before his dad and then two police officers performed CPR. He was pronounced dead at the scene by paramedics at 9.40pm.

Mr Temple said Luis had fallen out with his main group of friends prior to starting at The Chantry and teachers told his parents for the first month he would often be alone at lunchtime.

However, he soon “found his feet” and built up a strong friendship group, including other teenagers in Worcester, where he spent most weekends.

Regarding his smoking cannabis, his dad told the court: “We talked about it quite often. We didn’t want to stop him outright and make him see it as the forbidden fruit.”

“People might disagree, but I am convinced our attitude stopped him moving onto other harder drugs.

“Some of his friends were taking ecstasy and various other drugs but Luis didn’t do any of that.”

Mr Temple said there was “no change to any mood or anything to cause concern”.

The court heard how Luis struggled to concentrate at school until in Year 10 he was diagnosed with convergence insufficiency, a condition in which the eyes are unable to work together when looking at nearby objects.

He was prescribed with special glasses and Mr Temple said his son’s school work improved, with the condition having caused him some distress before it was identified.

He said Luis was looking forward to life after his GCSEs, having just taken his mock exams, and was researching a catering course at the University of Worcester.

Mr Temple said while his son was a “happy chap” and could “talk the hind legs off a donkey” he and Luis’ mum Alison “didn’t have a clue” how popular their son was until after his death.

“The stories and things other kids were saying about the things he got up to in support of others, things off his own back to make other people feel better, were absolutely unreal,” he said.

“One lad at school had been scared to walk around on his own due to bullying and Luis would carry him around in a piggy-back, which meant he was late for his own classes. He then smoothed things over with the bullies.”

“Hearing all this made it easier because it was like we were still getting to know him, it was like he was still living,” added Mr Temple.

If something’s troubling you, Samaritans can be contacted 24 hours a day throughout the year for free on 116 123, or 020 8368 6789 at local call charge rates.

Alternatively, email jo@samaritans.org or visit www.samaritans.org/branches/worcester-samaritans

https://www.worcesternews.co.uk/news/16318428.luis-temple-inquest-chantry-school-pupil-did-not-intend-suicide-says-dad/