Murder accused told police: “It is all my fault”

By Paul Thornton

A TEENAGER admitted soaking his girlfriend in petrol from a jerry can before she burned to death because he was “in a huff”, a court has heard.

Stewart Blackburn, 18, confessed to “slapping” the five-litre can at Jessica McCagh during a police interview the day after she died from her horrific burns.

Blackburn said he had soaked her in fuel during an argument because it was “the easiest thing” to throw at her.

In an interview video played to jurors at his murder trial today (Tuesday) Blackburn claimed that following the argument he lit a joint which in turn lit the fire at his Arbroath flat on April 25 this year.

Blind soldier helps start work on new charity facility

 

Ben Shaw holding the model of the new centre

By Cara Sulieman

 

THE SCOTTISH War Blind celebrated the start of work on their multimillion pound facility yesterday (Tues).

The new centre is backed by Iraq hero Ben Shaw, 26, who lost his eyesight in a roadside bombing near Basra in February 2007.

As the charity’s youngest user, it is hoped the new Linburn complex – which replaces the run-down 1940s building – will provide brave war veterans like Ben to get the vital help and support they need.

Costing £3 million, the services in the new centre will focus on teaching the ex-servicemen and women how to cope with modern life without their sight.

Gerry Butler donates teddy lookalike to charity

Gerry lookalike on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross - from eBay.

 

By Cara Sulieman

SCOTTISH hunk Gerard Butler has shown his soft side by donating his teddy bear lookalike to Children in Need.

The big-hearted actor – best known for his testosterone charged role in blockbuster film 300 – has added his autograph to the prize.

The cuddly toy featured on Friday Night with Jonathan Ross, where one was made of each guest on Friday 12 November.

Dressed in a red cape, brown pants and carrying a spear, the bear is styled on the star’s role as King Leonidas in the 2007 film which saw Butler screaming his way through the sword and sandals flick.

Scottish teacher encourages pupils to use “unreliable” Wikipedia

By Cara Sulieman

A SCOTTISH teacher has said that school kids should be encouraged to use Wikipedia for school research, despite doubts over the accuracy of the information on the site.

Ollie Bray, deputy head teacher at Musselburgh Grammar, said that pupils should use it to learn how to evaluate the credibility of information.

But the online encyclopaedia has a reputation for being unreliable as anyone can edit the information it carries, and parent groups say it makes their kids “lazy”.

There have been a number of high profile mistakes on the site – just last week Thierry Henry’s entry had to be locked as angry users vandalised his profile after his handball during the France Ireland football game.

Cheif of BTP thinks “policing across boundaries” in important

By Cara Sulieman

THE CHIEF Constable of the British Transport Police said that public transport in Scotland should always be policed by his force – even if the debate on a single Scottish constabulary results in change.

He spoke of being able to “police across boundaries” when he met Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill in Edinburgh today (Tues) to talk about the ongoing partnership between the BTP and the Scottish Government.

Andy Trotter’s comments come just a week after Met Police Commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson backed calls for radical reform of forces across the country.

And in Scotland there has been a long-running debate on the future of the country’s policing, with ex-Chief Inspector of Constabulary Paddy Tomkins calling for one massive force to be created.

“Brutal” attacker plunges smashed bottle into victim’s stomach

By Michael MacLeod

DETECTIVES are hunting a vicious thug who smashed a bottle over a man’s head then plunged it into his stomach.

The 20 year-old victim was last night recovering at home after getting 11 stitches to sew up extensive stab wounds.

Cops in Edinburgh said the “brutal assault could have ended with the victim suffering even more serious injury.”

The attack was sparked by an argument between two groups of young males in the capital’s Bruntsfield Place around 4am on Monday morning.