Sunday, February 10, 2008
Lawyer charged with assault after shaking prosecutors' hand
A lawyer has been charged with assault for shaking a federal prosecutor's hand so hard, authorities said, that it injured her shoulder.
Kathy Brewer Rentas, 49, was arrested Thursday after attending a court hearing for her husband, who was accused of violating the terms of his probation for a cocaine distribution case. The husband, Anthony Rentas, was sentenced to 90 days of house arrest.
After the hearing, Brewer Rentas asked to shake hands with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keene.
A court security officer reported that Brewer Rentas shook Keene's hand so forcefully that the prosecutor's arm was nearly ripped out of its socket.
Brewer Rentas spent a night in jail and was freed Friday on $100,000 bail. She was ordered to stay away from Keene and undergo a psychological evaluation to determine whether she needs counselling.
Brewer Rentas works as a commercial litigation attorney for a law firm in Hollywood, Fla. If convicted, she faces up to a year in prison and could be penalized by the Florida Bar.
Kathy Brewer Rentas, 49, was arrested Thursday after attending a court hearing for her husband, who was accused of violating the terms of his probation for a cocaine distribution case. The husband, Anthony Rentas, was sentenced to 90 days of house arrest.
After the hearing, Brewer Rentas asked to shake hands with Assistant U.S. Attorney Jennifer Keene.
A court security officer reported that Brewer Rentas shook Keene's hand so forcefully that the prosecutor's arm was nearly ripped out of its socket.
Brewer Rentas spent a night in jail and was freed Friday on $100,000 bail. She was ordered to stay away from Keene and undergo a psychological evaluation to determine whether she needs counselling.
Brewer Rentas works as a commercial litigation attorney for a law firm in Hollywood, Fla. If convicted, she faces up to a year in prison and could be penalized by the Florida Bar.
'Yummy mummy' filmed feeding young her skin
One of the strangest meal-times in the animal kingdom has been caught on film by a BBC crew.
The team recorded footage of a female worm-like amphibian, called a caecilian, allowing her young to peel off and eat her skin.
Scientists have only recently discovered this bizarre parental behaviour.
The female caecilian's skin becomes thicker and more nutrient-rich when she bears offspring. And the young have specialised teeth for tearing and removing it.
The crew was able to catch this behaviour on camera by building a set which resembled the shallow, humid underground chambers that the creatures live in.
It took several attempts to capture the footage; the caecilian babies would only eat their mother's skin for about 10 minutes, once every three days, and often at night.
The team recorded footage of a female worm-like amphibian, called a caecilian, allowing her young to peel off and eat her skin.
Scientists have only recently discovered this bizarre parental behaviour.
The female caecilian's skin becomes thicker and more nutrient-rich when she bears offspring. And the young have specialised teeth for tearing and removing it.
The crew was able to catch this behaviour on camera by building a set which resembled the shallow, humid underground chambers that the creatures live in.
It took several attempts to capture the footage; the caecilian babies would only eat their mother's skin for about 10 minutes, once every three days, and often at night.
Naked woman causes stir in Trinidad and Tobago
It took six people to restrain a naked woman on High Street, San Fernando, yesterday. She was seen around midday walking the street and eventually stopped in front of Value Optical where she proceeded to lie outstretched on the pavement.
Manager of Value Optical, Shelly Ann Seecharan, said workers called for a hospital ambulance when they saw the woman, believed to be in her 40s, undressed and lying on the ground. As some people ran past, others seemed unaware of the crowd gathered on both sides of the road. A homeless man who was passing by looked at her and continued on his way.
Someone tried to cover the woman's naked body with a shirt but she flung it away, opened her legs and stuck out her tongue at the gathering.
Police and paramedics, including three women arrived. An off duty officer, attached to the San Fernando Police Station interrupted his shopping with his son to help. He quickly donned a yellow hospital coverall and a pair of gloves from the paramedics.
"Pick her up fast, is a human being," one man in the crowd shouted while two women were amazed at the texture of her skin. "Her skin real smooth," one commented.
As the woman tried to break free, while her hands and feet were tied, all six people involved in getting her into the ambulance had to restrain her. She was placed on her stomach on a stretcher and taken to the San Fernando General Hospital.
Manager of Value Optical, Shelly Ann Seecharan, said workers called for a hospital ambulance when they saw the woman, believed to be in her 40s, undressed and lying on the ground. As some people ran past, others seemed unaware of the crowd gathered on both sides of the road. A homeless man who was passing by looked at her and continued on his way.
Someone tried to cover the woman's naked body with a shirt but she flung it away, opened her legs and stuck out her tongue at the gathering.
Police and paramedics, including three women arrived. An off duty officer, attached to the San Fernando Police Station interrupted his shopping with his son to help. He quickly donned a yellow hospital coverall and a pair of gloves from the paramedics.
"Pick her up fast, is a human being," one man in the crowd shouted while two women were amazed at the texture of her skin. "Her skin real smooth," one commented.
As the woman tried to break free, while her hands and feet were tied, all six people involved in getting her into the ambulance had to restrain her. She was placed on her stomach on a stretcher and taken to the San Fernando General Hospital.
New bride dies in her love's arms during their first dance
Kim Sjostrom wanted a real-life version of the film "My Big Fat Greek Wedding," which played in the background as friends fixed her hair and makeup before her own marriage ceremony.
But less than an hour after she and Teddy Efkarpides were wed, Sjostrom crumpled in her husband's arms during a Greek song that means "Love Me."
At 36, Sjostrom was dead from heart disease.
Sjostrom carried blue and white flowers during the ceremony — the colours of the Greek flag — as she exchanged vows with Efkarpides, a 43-year-old carpenter and Navy veteran. They had met three years to the day before the Jan. 19 wedding.
During the couple's first dance, Sjostrom complained of being lightheaded. Efkarpides thought his wife, a diabetic, needed sugar, but she collapsed.
Wedding guests, paramedics and doctors at a nearby hospital were unable to revive her.
But less than an hour after she and Teddy Efkarpides were wed, Sjostrom crumpled in her husband's arms during a Greek song that means "Love Me."
At 36, Sjostrom was dead from heart disease.
Sjostrom carried blue and white flowers during the ceremony — the colours of the Greek flag — as she exchanged vows with Efkarpides, a 43-year-old carpenter and Navy veteran. They had met three years to the day before the Jan. 19 wedding.
During the couple's first dance, Sjostrom complained of being lightheaded. Efkarpides thought his wife, a diabetic, needed sugar, but she collapsed.
Wedding guests, paramedics and doctors at a nearby hospital were unable to revive her.
Trapped like vermin: the catchers sent to snare island’s phantom menace
It started off as an SOS to save a remote island sanctuary for sea birds from the ravages of a flotilla of shipwrecked Spanish rats.
Two rat-catchers were scrambled on to the isolated Scottish isle with orders to trap every last rat that had managed to sneak ashore from the sinking fishing boat.
But yesterday as the pair were bedding down for their eighth night on the Atlantic outcrop, it became clear that the only creatures trapped on the island were the catchers themselves. During the course of a long, wet week of laying bait and traps, not a single rodent had been spotted, let along trapped.
The fears were raised a week ago when the Spinning Dale foundered on rocks at St Kilda, a remote archipelago 100 miles (160km) from the mainland. Conservationists feared that rats could swim ashore and devastate the huge population of ground-nesting birds on the double World Heritage Site.
Rat-catchers were flown out by helicopter to make rat cakes, a mix of candlewax and chocolate, to see if they could catch any rats. None was found but the catchers themselves ended up embarrassingly trapped.
No birds may have been harmed, and no rats recovered, but human casualties have mounted during the exercise. A BBC news team aborted a boat trip to St Kilda after a cameraman broke his ankle and another fell sick from the crossing. Brian Ashman was taken to hospital after he fell on the way to Hirta, the biggest of the islands. His unnamed fellow cameraman was taken back to Harris to recover from his seasickness.
Two rat-catchers were scrambled on to the isolated Scottish isle with orders to trap every last rat that had managed to sneak ashore from the sinking fishing boat.
But yesterday as the pair were bedding down for their eighth night on the Atlantic outcrop, it became clear that the only creatures trapped on the island were the catchers themselves. During the course of a long, wet week of laying bait and traps, not a single rodent had been spotted, let along trapped.
The fears were raised a week ago when the Spinning Dale foundered on rocks at St Kilda, a remote archipelago 100 miles (160km) from the mainland. Conservationists feared that rats could swim ashore and devastate the huge population of ground-nesting birds on the double World Heritage Site.
Rat-catchers were flown out by helicopter to make rat cakes, a mix of candlewax and chocolate, to see if they could catch any rats. None was found but the catchers themselves ended up embarrassingly trapped.
No birds may have been harmed, and no rats recovered, but human casualties have mounted during the exercise. A BBC news team aborted a boat trip to St Kilda after a cameraman broke his ankle and another fell sick from the crossing. Brian Ashman was taken to hospital after he fell on the way to Hirta, the biggest of the islands. His unnamed fellow cameraman was taken back to Harris to recover from his seasickness.
Ireland debates switch to right-hand driving
Ireland should consider giving up driving on the left to reduce accidents by foreigners accustomed to right side motoring, a senior politician said on Friday.
Donie Cassidy, the leader of Ireland's upper chamber Senate, cited Sweden - which moved to the right in 1967 - as an example of a country that switched decades after most of Europe did.
Ireland's economic growth over the past decade has attracted tens of thousands of workers especially from central and eastern European countries. It is also a popular tourist destination for visitors from the United States.
"We have all of these people coming in from Europe and from America and (because of) the roads that they are used to driving on in their own countries it is a huge difficulty when they start driving here," Cassidy told public broadcaster RTE. "I know when I go to America it takes me five or six days to adjust."
Motoring body the AA said the idea was "completely impractical".
Besides Ireland, many former British colonies such as India and Australia keep to the left as does Japan.
Donie Cassidy, the leader of Ireland's upper chamber Senate, cited Sweden - which moved to the right in 1967 - as an example of a country that switched decades after most of Europe did.
Ireland's economic growth over the past decade has attracted tens of thousands of workers especially from central and eastern European countries. It is also a popular tourist destination for visitors from the United States.
"We have all of these people coming in from Europe and from America and (because of) the roads that they are used to driving on in their own countries it is a huge difficulty when they start driving here," Cassidy told public broadcaster RTE. "I know when I go to America it takes me five or six days to adjust."
Motoring body the AA said the idea was "completely impractical".
Besides Ireland, many former British colonies such as India and Australia keep to the left as does Japan.
Indonesia to spray train roof riders
Indonesian commuters riding on the roofs of trains in Jakarta will be sprayed with coloured liquid so that security officers can identify and arrest them.
Electric trains linking the Indonesian capital and its neighbouring towns are packed with passengers during rush hours, with many sitting on the roofs due to a lack of space inside or to avoid paying.
After several failed attempts to discourage roof riders over years, the state owned railway company PT Kereta Api will from next week douse them with a coloured liquid that officers can identify them when they get off the train.
Although illegal, roof riding is rampant due to a lack of efficient and affordable means of transport for commuters in the greater Jakarta area. At least 53 roof riders have been killed in the past two years.
Electric trains linking the Indonesian capital and its neighbouring towns are packed with passengers during rush hours, with many sitting on the roofs due to a lack of space inside or to avoid paying.
After several failed attempts to discourage roof riders over years, the state owned railway company PT Kereta Api will from next week douse them with a coloured liquid that officers can identify them when they get off the train.
Although illegal, roof riding is rampant due to a lack of efficient and affordable means of transport for commuters in the greater Jakarta area. At least 53 roof riders have been killed in the past two years.
Police called to couple's pillow fight
Police were called to a pillow fight between a husband and wife in Franklin, south of Auckland, New Zealand, last night.
Senior sergeant Shawn Rutene, of Manukau police, said a distressed female called police at about 9pm saying her husband was hitting her with a pillow, and when their daughter, 14, tried to intervene she was pushed aside.
No physical injuries were sustained in the attack, which has been classified as domestic violence.
Police say investigations are continuing.
Senior sergeant Shawn Rutene, of Manukau police, said a distressed female called police at about 9pm saying her husband was hitting her with a pillow, and when their daughter, 14, tried to intervene she was pushed aside.
No physical injuries were sustained in the attack, which has been classified as domestic violence.
Police say investigations are continuing.
Armed police called to teen water fight
Armed officers stormed a village following reports of a firearms incident - only to discover children playing with a water pistol.
Gloucestershire Police received a call from a member of public who reported seeing three youths with a firearm in Churchdown, near Gloucester.
However, when they arrived on the scene it became evident that the "gun" was a water pistol.
Police said one 17-year-old boy from the village "apologised for his actions" and was advised by officers in relation to his future conduct. A second 17-year-old boy, also from the village, was spoken to in relation to the incident, which took place on Wednesday afternoon.
Chief Superintendent Ann Green, of Gloucestershire Police, said: "In the end this incident was resolved with just a few words of advice to the lads involved.
"It's often impossible to distinguish between real and replica guns, and members of the public who get a glimpse of a weapon will naturally call police with their concerns."
Gloucestershire Police received a call from a member of public who reported seeing three youths with a firearm in Churchdown, near Gloucester.
However, when they arrived on the scene it became evident that the "gun" was a water pistol.
Police said one 17-year-old boy from the village "apologised for his actions" and was advised by officers in relation to his future conduct. A second 17-year-old boy, also from the village, was spoken to in relation to the incident, which took place on Wednesday afternoon.
Chief Superintendent Ann Green, of Gloucestershire Police, said: "In the end this incident was resolved with just a few words of advice to the lads involved.
"It's often impossible to distinguish between real and replica guns, and members of the public who get a glimpse of a weapon will naturally call police with their concerns."
Milk lorry sheds its load but driver doesn't notice for 20 miles
A milkman caused chaos after leaving a 20-mile trail of spilt milk and smashed bottles. The door of the driver's lorry had flown open, spilling his load.
But the unsuspecting driver, from Dairy Farmers of Britain based in Drayton, Portsmouth, continued to plough on, leaving the massive trail of the white stuff on country roads.
He was eventually flagged down two hours later by police who followed the milky path.
Inspector Andy Earley, of Dorset Police, said: 'There was milk over roundabouts, under flyovers on a dual carriageway and on town centre roads. 'A police officer eventually tracked the driver down and he was unaware that he had lost his load.
'The back door of his articulated lorry had come open and the cages, which the milk had been stacked in, had fallen out. It would have been dark and noisy in his lorry so he may not have noticed.'
Council cleaners were called in to sweep the roads and soak up the mess with grit and sand.
But the unsuspecting driver, from Dairy Farmers of Britain based in Drayton, Portsmouth, continued to plough on, leaving the massive trail of the white stuff on country roads.
He was eventually flagged down two hours later by police who followed the milky path.
Inspector Andy Earley, of Dorset Police, said: 'There was milk over roundabouts, under flyovers on a dual carriageway and on town centre roads. 'A police officer eventually tracked the driver down and he was unaware that he had lost his load.
'The back door of his articulated lorry had come open and the cages, which the milk had been stacked in, had fallen out. It would have been dark and noisy in his lorry so he may not have noticed.'
Council cleaners were called in to sweep the roads and soak up the mess with grit and sand.
The teenage girl who can only eat Tic Tacs
They are normally the thing people eat at that point in a restaurant when you’ve ploughed through a pile of garlic bread, spaghetti and cheesecake and are too full-up to face anything else.
But for 17-year-old Natalie Cooper, the mints alone are the meal.
For as long as she can remember Natalie, from Oxford Road, Shepway, Maidstone, has been afflicted with a mystery illness that makes her sick every time she eats anything.
Anything that is, except that smallest of mints: the Tic tac.
For reasons that doctors are unable to explain, Tic tacs are the only thing she can stomach, meaning she has to get the rest of her sustenance from a specially formulated feed through a tube.
But as she explained, she certainly doesn’t have an aversion to food. “I like eating everything you’d expect” says Natalie, “I enjoy eating, it just comes back up. It happens pretty much immediately and it’s no effort. I went from Trebor Extra Strong Mints to Polos and ended up with Tic Tacs. They give me a bit of energy but I eat them mostly to get rid of hunger; it’s a psychological effect.”
But for 17-year-old Natalie Cooper, the mints alone are the meal.
For as long as she can remember Natalie, from Oxford Road, Shepway, Maidstone, has been afflicted with a mystery illness that makes her sick every time she eats anything.
Anything that is, except that smallest of mints: the Tic tac.
For reasons that doctors are unable to explain, Tic tacs are the only thing she can stomach, meaning she has to get the rest of her sustenance from a specially formulated feed through a tube.
But as she explained, she certainly doesn’t have an aversion to food. “I like eating everything you’d expect” says Natalie, “I enjoy eating, it just comes back up. It happens pretty much immediately and it’s no effort. I went from Trebor Extra Strong Mints to Polos and ended up with Tic Tacs. They give me a bit of energy but I eat them mostly to get rid of hunger; it’s a psychological effect.”
Sisters, aged 100 and 106, robbed by 'despicable' bogus officials
Police have condemned as “heinous and despicable” thieves who stole the savings of two sisters with a combined age of 206.
Annie Horsman, 106, and her sister Alice, 100, were targeted at their bungalow in Rochdale, Lancashire, by three people pretending to be officials from the water board. Alice had answered the door to two Asian men and a woman, but after one of the men barged in under the pretext of checking her water supply, another member of the gang stole a large amount of cash from under the sofa.
Alice tried to give chase when the offenders fled but fell and hit her head, suffering minor injuries.
The sisters’ niece, Margaret Wild, said: “They’ve had a bad shock but they’re all right. Alice is not well so I don’t think she could feel much worse than she does.”
PC Mark Challender of Greater Manchester police said: “Words cannot describe how heinous and despicable this crime was. To steal cash from such an elderly and vulnerable woman is an unforgivable, disgusting offence.
“I cannot understand the mentality of anyone who would do that. I can only hope they have enough of a conscience that they feel utterly ashamed and hand themselves in.”
Annie Horsman, 106, and her sister Alice, 100, were targeted at their bungalow in Rochdale, Lancashire, by three people pretending to be officials from the water board. Alice had answered the door to two Asian men and a woman, but after one of the men barged in under the pretext of checking her water supply, another member of the gang stole a large amount of cash from under the sofa.
Alice tried to give chase when the offenders fled but fell and hit her head, suffering minor injuries.
The sisters’ niece, Margaret Wild, said: “They’ve had a bad shock but they’re all right. Alice is not well so I don’t think she could feel much worse than she does.”
PC Mark Challender of Greater Manchester police said: “Words cannot describe how heinous and despicable this crime was. To steal cash from such an elderly and vulnerable woman is an unforgivable, disgusting offence.
“I cannot understand the mentality of anyone who would do that. I can only hope they have enough of a conscience that they feel utterly ashamed and hand themselves in.”
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