Families 'Confident' In Thai Murder Inquiry

The families of two young Britons murdered in Thailand say they are "confident" in the work being carried out to solve the "atrocious crimes".

Students David Miller, 24, from Jersey, and 23-year-old Hannah Witheridge, from Great Yarmouth in Norfolk, were found dead on a beach on the holiday island of Ko Tao in September.

Two Burmese bar workers are accused of the murders, but claim they were tortured by the Thai police to secure a confession.

The two Burmese suspects claim their confessions were made under torture

Amnesty International has called for an investigation into the allegations.

The families of Mr Miller and Ms Witheridge have issued statements thanking Metropolitan Police detectives for reviewing the case, and calling for the investigation to be allowed to take its course.

Video: Charges Over Thailand Beach Murders

Ms Witheridge's family said: "We would like to thank the officers who travelled to Thailand to review the case and the Royal Thai Police for facilitating their visit."

They added: "We would like to stress that as a family we are confident in the work that has been carried out into these atrocious crimes and want to remind both press and public that they do not have the full facts to report and make comment on at this stage.

"Our thoughts, as always, are with the Miller family. Together we stand united and focused on seeing a fair and transparent trial process to bring about justice for our beautiful children."

Video: Parents Visit Thai Murder Suspects

Mr Miller's family said: "We would like to express our relief that progress is being made in Thailand and this case is finally coming to court.

"We would like to reiterate our gratitude to the UK Metropolitan Police, who received the co-operation of the Royal Thai Police in undertaking an independent review into the investigation."

And while "support for the Myanmar suspects has been strong and vocal" they urged the public not to "jump to conclusions" and said the "suspects have a difficult case to answer".

Video: Oct 3: Thai Murder Suspects Paraded

They added: "The evidence against them appears to be powerful and convincing. They must respond to these charges, and their arguments must be considered with the same scrutiny as those of the prosecution.

"Please remember that this is above all a story of two wonderful young people, David and Hannah, killed in the prime of their lives in a senseless and brutal way."

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Stag Do Disappearance: Hunt For British Man

By Martin Brunt, Crime Correspondent

The family and friends of a British man who went missing on a stag weekend in Prague have promised to keep searching the streets of the Czech capital until they get news "good or bad".

Builder Karl Law, 35, vanished after getting separated from his friends on a pub crawl three weeks ago.

There have been several potential sightings of him, but none confirmed and he has not contacted anyone who knows him.

His brother Craig Law, 30, said: "No news is good news, so we are thinking positively. We don't want to think of the worst and believe that Karl is alive and out there somewhere.

"Some of us will stay here for as long as it takes to get the answer to what has happened to Karl, good or bad."

A small rotating group of family and friends from Fareham, Hampshire, are taking turns to fly to Prague, travelling around the city and putting up thousands of posters with Karl's photograph and numbers to call for anyone who spots him.

Karl's employer is still paying some of his wages and friends are rallying round to fund the appeal campaign.

Karl Law, far right, with friends

The last person to see Karl was his cousin Steve Stock, wandering near Maxim's bar close to the centre of Prague's lively old town.

"We had split into two groups and I thought he was going off to another club or to get something to eat. Of course, we had all been drinking, but it was our second night and everybody seemed fine."

Sky News joined Karl's family and friends as they travelled the length of one metro line, hopping on and off at each station to stick up posters.

The next day they handed out more appeal notices among tourists in the packed Christmas market.

They also visited several homeless people living in makeshift shelters along the banks of the Vltava River.

Craig said: "It could be he has had an accident or banged his head somewhere and got disorientated. He could be confused and be sleeping rough."

The group has also been making regular checks at hospitals and homeless shelters.

On the night he disappeared Karl did not have his mobile phone or passport with him.

The searchers believe he is still in Prague, a feeling fuelled by possible sightings of him in a cafe, getting off a number 14 tram, or even walking close to Maxim's.

Prague police said they were doing all they could to find him, but released a statement suggesting his family had not disclosed that he had "consumed both alcohol and narcotic drugs and psychotropic substances extensively during the few days before he disappeared".

Anyone who sees Karl Law or knows his whereabouts is urged to call police or his family on +44 7584 035036 or +44 7807 759981.

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Big Tobacco Firms Offer 'Misleading Evidence'

Most studies that show the negative impact plain cigarette packets would have on the economy are funded by "big tobacco" firms, according to a damning report.

Such companies have warned standardised packaging would fuel a black market in cigarettes – citing research that echoes their concerns.

But the University of Bath claims more than 50% of such evidence comes from reports commissioned by the industry itself – or from third parties with financial connections to it.

The Tobacco Control Research Group, funded by Cancer Research UK, also found 66% of the industry's claims were just opinions – and that of the 51 MPs opposed to plain packaging, seven of them had accepted hospitality from the sector.

George Butterworth, from Cancer Research UK, said: "By failing to disclose financial links to misleading evidence, this is lobbying at its worst.

"For years, misinformation has been their currency, but as the success of plain, standardised packaging in Australia becomes clear – now with record low smoking rates – 'big tobacco' is looking spent.

"Independent evidence consistently demonstrates the role that standardised packaging can play in protecting children from a deadly addiction.

"Now, the UK Government must treat the tobacco industry's spin with the contempt it deserves – and introduce regulations without delay."

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Giving Birth At Home 'Safer' For Many Mums

By Rachel Younger, Sky News Correspondent

Giving birth in England and Wales is safer at a midwife-led centre than in hospital - even for first-time mothers - according to new advice.

Health advisory body the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) said the latest evidence shows women with a low risk of complications are better off staying out of the labour ward.

Professor Mark Baker, clinical practice director at NICE, said: "Most women are healthy and have straightforward pregnancies and births.

"Over the years evidence has emerged which shows that, for this group of women, giving birth in a midwife-led unit instead of a traditional labour ward is a safe option.

"Research also shows that a home birth is generally safer than hospital for pregnant women at low risk of complications who have given birth before."

The advice means that 315,000 women a year - almost half of those giving birth - would be judged safe to give birth at a midwife-led unit or, with a midwife's help, at home.

Currently, nine out of 10 babies are delivered in hospital, ultimately under the care of an obstetrician.

The new evidence found that outcomes for all babies were the same across all settings, except for those being born at home to first-time mothers, where the risk of a serious medical problem is higher.

But Rhiannon Davies - whose baby girl Kate died six hours after being born at a Shropshire midwifery unit miles away from the nearest operating theatre - believes the advice is flawed.

An inquest into her daughter's death ruled she could have survived had she had been born in hospital.

Ms Davies told Sky News: "It's a value-for-money policy, it's a dangerous policy and it will put women's lives at risk.

"There's really no such thing as a straightforward pregnancy.

"Even as a second or third-time mother, you have no way of knowing if your baby might be born with a cord around its neck or whether your placenta will break down as you're delivering."

The new advice should save the NHS money as it is more expensive to give birth in hospital than in a specialist birth unit or at home.

Critics say that could force women into giving birth without doctors, against their wishes.

Midwives say its vital women are given the choice of where to deliver so they can make their own informed decisions.

Cathy Warwick, chief executive of the Royal College of Midwives, said: "I think women are reluctant to give birth out of hospital because they believe hospitals are safest.

"In fact for those who don't have problems during pregnancy - we now know, this isn't true.

"It's very safe in midwifery left units or at home. In fact the outcomes for women are better and outcomes for babies just as good."

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New Garden City To Be Built In Bicester

A new garden city will be built in Oxfordshire under Coalition plans to deal with a housing shortage.

The new town, which would have up to 13,000 homes, would be built near Bicester and would include a £44m capital investment from the Government for roads including a new junction on the M40.

The plans will be outlined in the National Infrastructure Plan set to be published on Wednesday ahead of the Autumn Statement, alongside a range of other housing measures.

A Government loan would be provided for the development of amenities including green transport.

Ebbsfleet in Kent was announced earlier this year as the location for the first modern garden city.

Bicester has also expressed an interest and could receive a new railway station as part of the proposals announced by Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg.

Video: The Autumn Statement Explained

Mr Clegg told the Daily Telegraph: "The Liberal Democrats have long argued that garden cities are an idea whose time has come again.

"I am delighted that Bicester can now be confirmed as a pioneer in what I hope will be another wave of garden cities in this country.

"Bicester will get help from the Government with both significant capital investment and in helping developers build the amenities that are required to be a true garden town."

Video: Aug 29: Young Unable To Buy Homes

Under the proposals, a series of new communities with green spaces, sustainable transport and spacious housing will be built.

Mr Clegg has previously promised at least 10 would be created if the Liberal Democrats are part of the next Government.

:: Watch Sky News for the Chancellor's Autumn Statement live on Wednesday, 3 December, on Sky channel 501, Virgin Media channel 602, Freeview channel 132 and Freesat channel 202.

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Heroin Fears For The Trainspotting Generation

By Nick Martin, Sky News Correspondent

The number of adults seeking treatment for heroin and crack cocaine addiction in England has more than doubled in 10 years, new figures have revealed.

While the total number of heroin and crack cocaine addicts has fallen below 300,000 for the first time since estimates began, there is a generation still hooked - the so-called Trainspotting Generation.

The disaffected, heroin-addicted young people immortalised in Irvine Welsh's bestselling novel are getting older.

More than a third of the total population of adults in treatment centres are aged 40 or over, according to Public Health England.

Many started using heroin in the epidemics of the 1980s and 1990s when good-quality, cheap opiate flooded the inner cities.

Video: Heroin Addict Paul Tells His Story

But as they enter old age there are warnings that dwindling health and dependence on heroin could place an increased burden on the National Health Service.

Louise Ford, deputy manager at the Smithfield Detox Centre in Manchester, told Sky News: "For many people of this age group there is a sense of 'now or never' in finally getting the treatment they need.

"For the over-40s it could be redundancy, bereavement or failing health that finally prompts them to come in for help. The treatment is not easy and many relapse."

For those who have not sought treatment, life is a cycle of "scoring" heroin and finding the money to pay for it.

Homeless Paul, 42, has been taking heroin since he was 17 years old.

His partner Jill, 39, was introduced to the drug at the age of 14. They take heroin in the back streets of Manchester's city centre.

Video: Heroin Addict Jill Tells Her Story

He said: "I had a good life, what you'd call an average life, a car, a flat. I got laid off last year. I had never been out of work before.

"Now I wake up, go and score, go and take it, go and find a pitch and start raising money again to score again and that goes on and on.

"If I don't get help now I'll still be doing this into my 50s and 60s and I don't want that. Heroin just makes you feel bad when you don't have it. It doesn't make you feel good anymore."

But there is hope in the form of recovered addicts like Steve Cundell, who first dabbled in heroin so that he could come down from ecstasy fuelled raves in the 1980s.

He went from experimenting to dealing in a matter of weeks.

He said: "I thought it wouldn't grip me but it did and very, very fast.

Video: Sky's Nick Martin: Behind The Story

"I decided the best way to get my supply was to start dealing in it. My every waking hour was consumed by heroin.

"It used to play on my mind so much that I was getting older and older and I had not achieved anything - that I was going to wake up one day 65 or 70 years old still on heroin."

Mr Cundell is now a peer mentor on a rehabilitation course run by Turning Point and tries to help others.

He added: "I like to think I have something to give back and it helps my recovery - because I'm not out of the woods yet."

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Cyber Monday: Retailers Brace For Online Surge

Retailers are preparing for another half-a-billion-pound online shopping surge on Cyber Monday today.

The event is the online-only follow-up to Black Friday, which saw bargain hunters spend £1.6bn across the high street and internet.

Card payment firm Visa said £600m of the £1.6bn raked in was spent on the internet.

Amazon, Currys and Tesco are among the big players lining up new deals and hoping their websites hold up to the virtual stampede.

Electronics retailer ao.com predicts today will be its best ever day of sales, with televisions and small kitchen appliances expected to be the best performing categories, and is offering a host of fresh deals.

Video: Black Friday In The UK

Amazon.co.uk is planning to release hundreds of limited "lightning deals" which offer discounts for a specific period, with new offers coming online every 10 minutes.

Some sites, such as Currys, Argos and Game, crashed under the demand on Friday - the biggest ever online shopping day in the UK, according to Visa.

Visa Europe chief Kevin Jenkins said: "Compared to Black Friday last year online spend on Visa cards increased more than 30% and high street spend by about 20%.

"Heading into Cyber Monday we're likely to see a further £500m spent online, peaking in the early evening as workers return home and log on."

But security experts have warned consumers to be wary of cyber crime and take basic precautions as they shop.

Video: Trouble In Store

Giovanni Ruberto, online security expert at Intel Security, said: "Cyber Monday is set to be the biggest online shopping day this year, and of course the bad guys know this.

"Whilst consumers are logging on from their laptop or smartphone to grab a bargain, you can bet cybercriminals will be doing all they can to trick unwitting consumers to hand over credit card information and personal details."

Recent years have seen online shopping peak on the first Monday in December.

It is thought to be down to many people's last payday before Christmas falling on the previous Friday and a weekend spent browsing the shops before buying online.

However, some retailers have been criticised for whipping people into a shopping frenzy and not having proper security at Black Friday events.

Video: Police Describe 'Mini-riot'

Shoppers were filmed arguing and fighting each other for cut price televisions, with witnesses saying some bargain hunters behaved "like animals".

Former Archbishop of Canterbury Dr George Carey on Sunday called the supermarkets "irresponsible" and said the event "serves no useful purpose".

Black Friday was introduced in America on the day after Thanksgiving and is thought to have been given its name because brisk business was said to have helped retailers back into profit - into the black.

The event was introduced to this country by Amazon in 2010.

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Pair Charged Over Primary School Knife Attack

Two people have been charged with assault after a father-of-six was stabbed outside a busy primary school.

Barry Parkes and Natalie Lawton will appear at Manchester Magistrates' Court today over their alleged attack, which took place as parents waited to pick up their children on Friday afternoon.

Steven Higginson, 33, was knifed in the chest and side. Bloodied, he staggered into North Walkden Primary School in Greater Manchester to seek help.

The victim has since been discharged from hospital. 

Mr Parkes, a 42-year-old from Salford, has been charged with wounding with intent. Ms Lawton, 30, faces a charge of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

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