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Jun 24
Six jailed over murder of innocent mother gunned down on flat doorstep

Joanne Penney, 40, died from a single bullet to the heart in March last year in Talbot Green, South Wales, as part of a dispute over drug dealing. The killing was linked to a clash of rival gangs - Rico OCG, headed by Joshua Gordon, and another headed by Daniel "Jimmy" Joseph. Gordon, 27, Renaldo Baptiste, 39, Marcus Huntley, 21, Kristina Ginova, 21, Melissa Quailey-Dashper, 40, and Jordan Mills-Smith, 33, were all convicted of murder and of gang offences. Judge Mr Justice Fordham said Ms Penney was an "innocent victim of a drugs war... all she did was open her front door," and added the shooting was planned to be "a decisive show of strength" for the organised criminal group. He explained that the doorstep shooting was plotted by the six as retaliation against Joseph, who had humiliated members of Rico when they were in the Talbot Green area. Passing sentence, the judge said: "Joanne Penney was an innocent victim in a drug war. All she did was open a front door at a friend's house. "A future taken away, an entire family shot through the heart when Joanne Penney, the mother, daughter and sister, loved by so many family and friends was so senselessly taken. "No period of imprisonment can reflect the value of the life that was taken away by murdering her." After the shooting, the judge noted that Gordon said Ms Penney's death was "a huge problem" for the Rico gang, and that Huntley tried to bury the firearm used, while Quailey-Dashper deleted messages. "The purpose of the violent attack was to promote your illegal drugs trade, in aid of your criminal enterprise," he told Gordon, and addressing the group, he added: "It was about getting the upper hand." Baptiste used hidden prison phone to supply gun The court was told Rico OCG had been based in Leicester, but later branched out into South Wales. Prosecutors said Huntley and Gordon's plan was to target "someone at the address" and that Ms Penney had not been singled out. The court was told Quailey-Dashper knocked on the door of the flat - which was linked to drug dealing - while Huntley immediately shot the person who opened the door. Jurors also heard Baptiste used a hidden phone while in prison to supply the gun that killed Ms Penney in Talbot Green. Police found Ms Penney in the living room with a single gunshot wound to the chest. She was pronounced dead at the scene. See more from Sky News:NHS maternity scandalFrance's first Ebola case Gordon, the gang leader, was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 32 years, along with a concurrent sentence of three years and 10 months for gang crimes. Baptiste was sentenced to life with a minimum of 42 years for the murder and taking part in organised crime, which the judge noted was exacerbated by his previous convictions and his criminal history in prison. The judge also handed Huntley a sentence of life with a minimum of 30 years and 146 days for the murder, and Mills-Smith was jailed for life with a minimum of 27 years. Quailey-Dashper and Ginova were both given life sentences, with minimum terms of 14 and 12 years respectively. Five other defendants, Sai Raj Manne, 26, Molly Cooper, 33, Callum Kelleher, 37, Laura John, 23, and Donna James, 51, are to be sentenced later for offences connected with the murder.

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Jun 23
Former River City actor Iain Robertson found guilty of rape

The 45-year-old was convicted of a total of five offences against a number of women between 2004 and 2019. The rape occurred some time between 2018 and 2019. During the trial, the woman told the court Robertson had had sex with her despite her making it clear she was not consenting, and described going "limp" when he was on top of her. Giving evidence during the trial, Robertson said he was "no angel" but denied any wrongdoing. He said he was "aware" of when a woman is consenting, and that he is "sensitive" enough to know about non-verbal communication. However, the jury found him guilty of rape, along with four other charges. Robertson is due to be sentenced at the High Court in Edinburgh on 23 July.

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Jun 24
What does Burnham's appointment of ex-Blair minister mean?

Andy Burnham appears to have taken another major step towards power, bringing in a big name from the Tony Blair era - James Purnell - as his chief of staff. What does it say about the Burnham operation and the government he is trying to build? Sam Coates and Anne McElvoy unpack a decades-long relationship, and discuss why it's being welcomed by Labour MPs, business and the City. Starmer ally Darren Jones has ruled himself out of a leadership challenge. Is the path now clear for a Burnham coronation? Plus, Anne has been speaking to Reform UK's Robert Jenrick. How do they deal with a new Labour leader, and do they have a clear narrative on migration?

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Jun 24
World Cup 2026: Ghana draw a reality check for England but we need to trust Thomas Tuchel, says Paul Merson

Having kicked off Group L with a thrilling 4-2 victory against Croatia, England returned to earth with a bump six days later as their second group game ended in a draw for the fourth straight tournament. But the result edges them closer to what is all but certain to be a place in the round of 32 and while Merson thinks there is still plenty to work on for Tuchel's side, he is backing them to deliver the further they go in the tournament. Read the Magic Man's England verdict in full below... England 0-0 Ghana - Match report and reactionWorld Cup day-by-day schedule | Latest: World CupFollow our World Cup coverage in the Sky Sports App'Ghana draw a reality check for England' It's back to reality. You can't score four in every game, but you'd expect to break them down in the end. Ghana defended really well but we made it easier for them to do so. That's something for Tuchel to look at, but you're not winning the World Cup in the second game of the tournament. It's better to have those reality checks earlier in the tournament than later on. 'It was subbuteo football' A lot of these second game draws have been against teams who like to sit back. We just find it difficult to break teams down. It's strange, really, because a lot of our players play for the top teams where everyone sits 10 players behind the ball against you. It was Subbuteo football against Ghana. There wasn't a lot of movement. Jude Bellingham was in the pocket and showing for the ball a lot, and there were so many times they didn't pass him the ball. When you watch Lionel Messi, they just play the ball into him wherever he is on the field. He plays one touch football and that touch takes two or three players out of the game. They have to trust Bellingham more and get him the ball. He's a top player and he's getting into really good positions. There's a lot to work on. 'Lack of creativity a concern' I just don't think we have that guile in midfield. Elliot Anderson and Declan Rice are very similar players. They don't spray the ball around the pitch and we haven't got that passer in the team. The lack of creativity is worrying. To have that much of the play and not use it, that will be a concern for Tuchel. You've got to have movement. You've got to make runs off the ball to drag defenders around. The only thing that beats a defence is movement - but credit where it's due, Ghana defended amazingly. Every time we had a chance of scoring, they had three or four players blocking the ball. However, you're looking at Cole Palmer and Phil Foden after a result like this - and that shouldn't be the case. In Tuchel we trust? We need to have trust in the manager. There are always ups and downs. Croatia took us on and got punished, but Ghana were never going to do that. Panama aren't going to take us on. We've got to have more belief. But we didn't take enough chances, and I thought this team was picked to have no fear. I now don't see him resting too many players against Panama with the group still very much on the line. England have to get going again. They need some continuity now after what was a bit of a bump in the road and that means they won't want to be disrupted by five or six changes. They will not want another sloppy performance and will want to go into the last 32 off the back of a confident performance.

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Jun 24
Murder investigation launched after man's body found following summer solstice event at prehistoric stone circle

Investigators described the man's life as being taken in "the most brutal way" after a body was found at Nine Ladies Stone Circle in Stanton Lees, Derbyshire, at 1.38pm on Monday. Emergency services went to the scene, but a 26-year-old man was pronounced dead. The discovery came after the celebration of the summer solstice, which falls on the longest day of the year, on Sunday. Read more from Sky News:Tips for staying cool in heatTucker Carlson on Iran war Detective Inspector Tony Owen from the East Midlands Special Operations Unit, who is leading the investigation, appealed for any witnesses who were at the solstice celebration between Friday and Tuesday to come forward. He said: "I am urgently appealing for anyone who attended the summer solstice event over the weekend to please speak to officers as soon as they can. "A young man's life has been taken in the most brutal way so it is vital that myself and the team build up a clear picture of the exact circumstances surrounding his death." The stone circle is traditionally believed to depict nine ladies turned to stone as a penalty for dancing on a Sunday. Police said the man has not yet been officially identified and an investigation into the circumstances of his death is ongoing. Det Insp Owen added: "We know that there have been a lot of people in the area of Nine Ladies Stone Circle over the weekend celebrating the summer solstice and this incident will undoubtedly be shocking and distressing to those who were present, as well as the wider community." He also said that there will be increased police numbers at the site over the coming days and urged anyone with information to contact the officers. Nine Ladies Stone Circle is part of a complex of prehistoric circles and standing stones on Stanton Moor. Most of these are thought to date from the Bronze Age, around 3,000 to 4,000 years ago, according to the English Heritage website.

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Jun 23
Note sent to media outlets claims Nancy Guthrie died after 'kidnap'

Some outlets previously said they received ransom notes about the case in the days following the disappearance of Ms Guthrie from her home near Tucson, Arizona. Two notes sent to a TV network in the wake of the 84-year-old's disappearance were believed to be potentially credible by investigators. The first note said Ms Guthrie, the mother of Today host Savannah, was safe and demanded cryptocurrency in exchange for her release, whereas the second did not ask for money and was said to be very different from the first. Now Sky's US partner network NBC News has reported that this second note indicated she had died after her disappearance. However, it did not offer an apology or ask payment for the release of her body, according to NBC. According to the note, those who kidnapped her did not mean to kill her, but she died shortly after being taken. The existence of the note was known, but some details including claims she had died, had not previously been released. Tucson TV station KOLD that received two notes agreed to hold off sharing the contents publicly so any future communications with the kidnapper or kidnappers could be authenticated. Jessica Bobula, news director of KOLD, said the station received several notes after Ms Guthrie disappeared and the station told authorities and shared only what the FBI released about the correspondence. Read more from Sky News:Iran war threat to UK powerEx-Wimbledon champion banned Ms Guthrie was reported missing from her home on 1 February and was last seen at the property at around 9.45pm the previous evening. Police believe she was kidnapped or "otherwise taken against her will" after finding blood near her front doorstep. The FBI released surveillance videos of a masked man outside Guthrie's front door on the night she went missing. It has since described the man as a suspect. Volunteers and search teams scoured the nearby desert terrain filled with cactuses, bushes and boulders in the weeks after she vanished. A volunteer group recently conducted a search for her body near the Arizona-Mexico border but didn't report finding her. Investigators involved in the case examined the two notes following Ms Guthrie's disappearance and believe they could be credible. After the second note was sent, Savannah Guthrie spoke about her mother's possible kidnapping in an Instagram video, and said the family would "pay" for her return. "We received your message and we understand," Savannah Guthrie said, sat beside her brother, Camron, and sister, Annie. "We beg you now to return our mother to us so that we can celebrate with her. This is the only way we will have peace." "This is very valuable to us, and we will pay," Savannah Guthrie added. Her video did not specify the details of the message she received. The Pima County Sheriff's Department said on Tuesday: "The investigation into the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie remains active and ongoing. "The Pima County Sheriff's Department continues to work closely with the FBI as investigators follow up on leads, review information, and pursue the facts surrounding this case." Savannah Guthrie returned to NBC's Today show in April for the first time since her mother's disappearance. The 54-year-old has said she's a changed person since she went missing and that it's difficult to press ahead without knowing what happened to her.

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Jun 23
In pictures: The shopping spree Peter Murrell went on with money embezzled from SNP funds

Murrell was sentenced to five years and three months in prison after admitting to illegally using £400,000 of party cash for personal purchases over a 12-year period. The former SNP chief executive, and ex-husband of Nicola Sturgeon, used the party's funds to buy items ranging from the expensive to the mundane. Here is a sample of the items Murrell spent his party's embezzled money on: All pics: Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service

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Jun 24
Cristiano Ronaldo hits back at critics who 'retired' him and shuts down Lionel Messi question after starring in Portugal win

In his side's World Cup opener against DR Congo, the 41-year-old had extended his barren spell in major international competitions to 10 games and the pressure on manager Roberto Martinez to drop him appeared to be mounting. But Ronaldo responded with a double in his second outing, which saw him become the first player to score at six World Cups. World Cup fixture schedule - your day-by-day guideWorld Cup group tablesLive World Cup 2026 third-place table - who's on course to qualify? "I can tell you it was a very tough week, a difficult week, a week in which public opinion was very harsh on us, all the players, especially the coach," he said after the game in Houston, where he was named man of the match. "Whenever things go well, Cristiano is good; when things go badly, he's retired, he's old. "It will always be like that. But it was a good response for me and my team-mates." Asked about joining Lionel Messi, who has scored five goals so far, Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland in the Golden Boot race, Ronaldo said: "I always get there. Maybe late, but I'm there. "That's why I continue to go to my job, I believe strongly in what I do, I believe strongly that I'm working hard, God helps. "My career has always been like this, and I'm very happy. Everything else that comes from outside, we can't control it. Because when we don't play well, we don't win, we are always attacked, especially me, but I'm used to it, and I keep going." Asked later by one journalist about Messi's exploits, a disgruntled Ronaldo turned away to answer a question from another. Neville: Ronaldo could play at the next World Cup, aged 45! Gary Neville says it would not surprise him if Ronaldo plays at the 2030 World Cup in Spain, Portugal and Morocco following his double in the 5-0 win against Uzbekistan. "I would not put it past him [Ronaldo] to be there at the next World Cup," said Neville on ITV after Ronaldo's performance. Ronaldo would be 45 when the next World Cup takes place. Roy Keane added: "He was never gone, he is the man! What is up with everybody? His two goals were excellent. "That sharpness, he has joined the party. You have to admire the hunger and desire, he was desperate to get more in the second half." Ronaldo's World Cup records at a glance Ronaldo's World Cup scoring streak started in his debut tournament in 2006 and he also netted goals in 2010, 2014, 2018 and 2022. While he shares the record for most tournaments with Messi, he stands alone in scoring a goal in each edition after Messi failed to score a goal at the 2010 World Cup in South Africa. Ronaldo's goals on Tuesday gave him 10 career goals in the tournament. Messi has 18 after a hat-trick in Argentina's opener against Algeria and two more goals on Monday against Austria that made him the all-time leading scorer in tournament history. Ronaldo's performance extended his record by giving him 145 international goals, and his 10 career goals in the World Cup moved him past Eusebio's nine to make him Portugal's all-time scoring leader at the tournament. Tuesday's game was the 230th of Ronaldo's international career, which is the most in history.

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