Other News In Brief

£20,000 Award In Shooting Investigation

An award has been offered for information that may lead to the conviction of those responsible for the death of a 24-year-old Suffolk man. Suffolk police announced they were taking the 'unusual step', and offering £20,000 reward as the second anniversary of the killing of Jimoh Plunkett, from south London. He was shot in the chest inside Zest nightclub in Ipswich on 9 December 2006. More than 800 people were in the club when the shooting took place and Det Supt David Cole, who has led the investigation over the past two years, said he hoped the reward would prompt those with information to come forward. Mr Cole said it was believed Mr Plunkett was targeted in a case of mistaken identity. Three other men were also injured in the club, which has now closed in the wake of the shooting.

Menie House To Become Trump Residence

Donald Trump is to convert the 14th Century Menie House on his controversial £1bn Aberdeenshire golf resort site into a personal residence. The property on Menie Estate near Balmedie will be renovated and restored by a number of local companies. George Sorial, the property tycoon's spokesman, said Mr Trump was looking forward to spending a lot of time in Scotland. Trump's contentious plan for two golf courses, as well as hundreds of homes, were the subject of a public local inquiry by the Scottish Government after they were rejected by an Aberdeenshire Council committee.

Japanese Group To Shed London Jobs

A Japanese financial group has announced it will be shedding up to 1,000 staff in London. Nomura announced the first job cuts after it bought parts of the failed US bank Lehman Brothers. In a statement Nomura said the decision followed an internal review after the purchase of Lehman Brothers. It had said it expected to save the jobs of a "significant proportion" of the 2,500 Lehman staff in those businesses. Lehman Brothers had an estimated 5,000 workers in the UK.

Queen's Speech Sparks Reaction From Trade Organisation

Yesterday's Queen's speech to Parliament has already sparked reaction from the boss of a leading trade organisation and raised concerns by the proposed change to Withholding Notice provisions, as the draft Bill now allows the Payment Notice to be reduced for any reason at any time before payment is made. David Pollock, Chief Executive Officer of the Electrical Contractors' Association (ECA), said that there will be no certainty of payment until payment is actually received. However, the ECA has welcomed news that costs of suspending and remobilising work due to late payment will be recoverable by sub-contractors.

Study Into Legal Advice Announced

A study into the funding and provision of local legal advice has been announced by Ministers. The Government is keen to assess how recent legal aid reforms and any wider changes to the way in which local advice agencies are funded, have affected the provision of services. The aim is to identify, bring together and analyse the available evidence across England and Wales. The study will be informed by a steering group consisting of representatives from various stakeholder groups. Lord Bach will chair the group.

(JM)