Madeleine police to pursue re-enactment

A police reconstruction of the night that Madeleine McCann disappeared is to go ahead this month, even though the child's parents are unlikely to attend (David Brown writes).

Speaker’s wife did not breach the rules

The parliamentary sleaze watchdog has dismissed a complaint about taxpayer-funded taxis taken by the wife of Michael Martin, the Commons Speaker. John Lyon, the Standards Commissioner, said that the more than £4,000 spent by Mary Martin was reasonable and within the rules.

The House of Commons Standards and Privileges Committee backed the decision to disregard the concerns of the TaxPayers’ Alliance. Mr Lyon said the money, spent over four years, was mainly for shopping trips. “The journeys taken met the necessary requirements of Mr Speaker to assist him in carrying out his official duties,” he said in a memorandum.

The Times disclosed recently that detectives had requested that Kate and Gerry McCann and other key witnesses return to Praia da Luz to take part, but the plans were said to have been shelved after the couple and seven friends indicated they would not return to Portugal while the couple remained official suspects. Rogério Alves, their Portuguese lawyer, said yesterday there were strong indications that the reconstruction would proceed.

Oxford Street murder charge

Anthony Costa, 18, of Walthamstow, East London, will appear in court today charged with murdering Steven Bigby, 22, on London’s Oxford Street. A 19-year old man arrested in connection with the attack has been released on police bail.

Police 'watched as man drowned'

A homeless man police had moved on from a public house leapt into the River Exe and drowned. The incident, witnessed by scores of people on Exeter Quay, is to be investigated by the Independent Police Complaints Commission. One woman said she would make a formal complaint about police inaction. The police said: “We would advise all members of the public not to enter the water if they have been drinking.”

No charges over 'drug footage'

Amy Winehouse will not face charges after video footage appeared to show her inhaling fumes from a crack pipe. The singer, 24, was questioned for nine hours last week by the Metropolitan Police after images from the film were published by The Sun.

Bishops warned

Almost half of women priests in the Church of England are prepared to forgo the chance of becoming bishops rather than accept the creation of separate dioceses to placate opponents of women's ordination. They warned bishops in a letter that the integrity and mission of the Church was at stake.

Couple burnt in barbecue blast

A man who used petrol to light his barbecue is critically ill after it exploded at his home in Plymouth. Kevin Williams, 44, suffered 46 per cent burns. His wife Lisa, 42, was also severely burnt as she tried to save him from the flames.

Flu drug warning

Ministers are considering stockpiling a second drug to defend against a flu pandemic after scientists identified a genetic mutation of the flu virus that is resistant to Tamiflu. “Stockpiling any one drug to prepare for a potential H5N1 pandemic is unlikely to provide adequate cover,” said Steven Gamblin, of the National Institute for Medical Research in London, who led the research.

Wife murderer

Andre Genestin, 48, of Brighton, was found guilty of murdering his wife, Catherine, in their sitting room a year ago by crushing her skull with a mallet. He then stored her body in a car roof box that their daughter used as a slide in the garden, Lewes Crown Court was told. He will be sentenced today.

Bridge player verdict

One of Europe's top-thirty bridge players shot himself after his lover refused his offer of £25,000 to leave him, Westminster Coroner's Court was told. Peter Hecht-Johanssen, 48, from Denmark, had been drinking whisky before asking Monica Vrana to leave his West London home. He then sent her upstairs and shot himself. A verdict of death while the balance of his mind was disturbed was recorded.

Army veteran dies after attack

A former soldier who was attacked and robbed in his Tyneside home on April 16 has died. Harry Lindley, 89, a widower, was found by his carer the morning after the assault. Michael Stephenson, 20, is being held in connection with the incident.

Hotel blaze arrest

Two people arrested in connection with a fire at a hotel in which three people died were named as its manager, Andy Woollam, 42, and his wife, Sarah, 36. Police believe that the fire at the Penhallow Hotel in Newquay, Cornwall, last August, was started deliberately. Two other men were released on bail.

Grand Theft virus

The popularity of the computer game Grand Theft Auto IV has been exploited to spread “Trojan” viruses that can access personal data such as bank details and pass them to cyber criminals, security experts have said. Users who click on links offering bogus free downloads of the game could spread destructive viruses across the net. The genuine game sold six million copies in its first week.

Lamplugh inquiry

Steve Wright, the man convicted of murdering five prostitutes in Ipswich in 2006, is unlikely to have killed the missing estate agent Suzy Lamplugh, detectives said. The Metropolitan Police looked into Wright's possible involvement with her death but said that it was “not a strong line of inquiry”. Miss Lamplugh, who was 25 when she vanished in 1986, worked on the QE2 at the same time as Wright.

Top QC's Euro-battle

One of the highest paid QCs has been hired to stop a referendum on the EU's Lisbon Treaty. Jonathan Sumption will act for the Government against a High Court action brought by the businessman Stuart Wheeler, who wants a judicial review on the Government's decision not to hold a referendum on the treaty.

PC avoids car ban

A police firearms officer who invented a high-speed chase to escape prosecution for speeding at 89mph in a 70mph zone has been spared a driving ban. PC Richard Holding, 45, of Liskeard, Cornwall, was fined £450 with £500 costs after magistrates in Plymouth were told that he was suffering post-traumatic stress disorder after serving with the Territorial Army in Iraq, which had left him “irrational”.

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