Saturday, May 18, 2013
Man set fire to neighbour's house over unmown lawn
A Bartow County man accused of burning down a neighbour's house on Wednesday morning has been captured.
Phillip Roger Bennett, 58, was taken into custody on Thursday by US Marshals in Murphy, North Carolina He has since been returned to Georgia, and booked into the Bartow County jail.
Cartersville Police Capt. Mark Camp said the suspect faces nearly a dozen charges, including arson, aggravated assault, criminal property damage, cruelty to children, second-degree burglary, reckless conduct, criminal trespass and terroristic threats.
Police are also talking with the Bartow County District Attorney about whether Bennett can be charged with attempted murder. They insist Bennett knew Corbitt and his three year old daughter were inside the home when he allegedly set it on fire, frustrated the family had failed to mow their lawn. "He kicks my door, tells me I've got five seconds to come outside. I turn around and call 911. And while I'm on the phone he comes back with two gas cans in his hand. He walks up to my kitchen door again, takes a gas can, smashes it against the glass, breaks the first pane," Corbitt said.
He continued, "Then he turns around and grabs a brick, throws it through the window. And then he grabs a gas can and starts pouring it into the kitchen. And as he's pouring he takes his lighter and lights it. And flames were everywhere. I ran back to my little girl's room, grabbed her, ran out the back door over to my neighbor's and watched the house burn," Corbitt said. "The mean man burned my house," said 3-year-old Kylie as Marty held her in his arms outside their burned shell of a house.
YouTube link.
Court and prison records show Bennett has had a history of violence. He served time for voluntary manslaughter, after killing someone in Cobb County. While in prison, Bennett was convicted of aggravated assault for attacking an inmate with a shovel, ripping off the man's nose. Corbitt says he and his family have lived in the house, which belongs to his grandmother, for about four years. Bennett moved into the neighbourhood after his release from prison in 2010. Corbitt says he helped him move in and was aware of his criminal background. The Corbitts are staying with relatives.
With updated news video.
Police are also talking with the Bartow County District Attorney about whether Bennett can be charged with attempted murder. They insist Bennett knew Corbitt and his three year old daughter were inside the home when he allegedly set it on fire, frustrated the family had failed to mow their lawn. "He kicks my door, tells me I've got five seconds to come outside. I turn around and call 911. And while I'm on the phone he comes back with two gas cans in his hand. He walks up to my kitchen door again, takes a gas can, smashes it against the glass, breaks the first pane," Corbitt said.
He continued, "Then he turns around and grabs a brick, throws it through the window. And then he grabs a gas can and starts pouring it into the kitchen. And as he's pouring he takes his lighter and lights it. And flames were everywhere. I ran back to my little girl's room, grabbed her, ran out the back door over to my neighbor's and watched the house burn," Corbitt said. "The mean man burned my house," said 3-year-old Kylie as Marty held her in his arms outside their burned shell of a house.
YouTube link.
Court and prison records show Bennett has had a history of violence. He served time for voluntary manslaughter, after killing someone in Cobb County. While in prison, Bennett was convicted of aggravated assault for attacking an inmate with a shovel, ripping off the man's nose. Corbitt says he and his family have lived in the house, which belongs to his grandmother, for about four years. Bennett moved into the neighbourhood after his release from prison in 2010. Corbitt says he helped him move in and was aware of his criminal background. The Corbitts are staying with relatives.
With updated news video.
Mechanic threatened by man wielding large black dildo over 'lost' Mercedes-Benz
Aaron Sabbah tried to extort money from a mechanic in Sydney, Australia, he blamed for losing his Mercedes-Benz by threatening him with a large black sex toy, a court has been told. Sabbah was armed during an attempt to demand money from Michael Monajed, Sydney's Central Local Court was told during a bail application on Friday. "What is the alleged arm?" Magistrate Eve Wynhausen asked. "It's a black dildo, your honour," prosecutor Christian Hearn said. According to court documents Sabbah arrived at Mr Monajed's workshop on April 22.
"Sabbah ... entered the workshop in an intimidating manner with a large black dildo in his right hand, which he was smacking into his left hand continually in an aggressive and threatening manner," the documents state. The 39-year-old's $167,000 Mercedes-Benz had been repossessed in January after he defaulted on a loan. A week later Sabbah drove the repossessed vehicle away from the car yard where it was being held and took it to Mr Monajed's Botany workshop to have the brakes replaced. The next day police spotted Mr Monajed driving the stolen car. They took back the car and released the mechanic without charge.
In the meantime, Sabbah, who was overseas, rang the mechanic and demanded $10,000 that he estimated was the outstanding loan amount, which turned out to be $112,000. "You are responsible for losing my car," court documents allege Sabbah said. Over the next few weeks Sabbah upped his demand to $30,000 and made threats of violence. The mechanic bought Sabbah a used Honda for $800, but Sabbah demanded something better. "Get me a better car, this is a piece of s***," Sabbah allegedly told Mr Monajed. During February and March, Sabbah allegedly made more threats of violence and the mechanic paid him cash totalling $4500.
After being threatened with the dildo on April 22, Mr Monajed fled the premises and contacted police. Meanwhile, Sabbah allegedly stole $400 from his desk. Sabbah was arrested that evening and charged with robbery in company, demanding money with menaces and stealing two vehicles from the mechanic. He has not been charged with any offences relating to his Mercedes. His lawyer Peter Givorshner and instructing solicitor Martin Ricci told the court that the police statement of facts indicated Mr Monajed had accepted responsibility for losing the Mercedes and agreed to pay Sabbah. The magistrate denied Sabbah bail and adjourned the matter to July 18.
"Sabbah ... entered the workshop in an intimidating manner with a large black dildo in his right hand, which he was smacking into his left hand continually in an aggressive and threatening manner," the documents state. The 39-year-old's $167,000 Mercedes-Benz had been repossessed in January after he defaulted on a loan. A week later Sabbah drove the repossessed vehicle away from the car yard where it was being held and took it to Mr Monajed's Botany workshop to have the brakes replaced. The next day police spotted Mr Monajed driving the stolen car. They took back the car and released the mechanic without charge.
In the meantime, Sabbah, who was overseas, rang the mechanic and demanded $10,000 that he estimated was the outstanding loan amount, which turned out to be $112,000. "You are responsible for losing my car," court documents allege Sabbah said. Over the next few weeks Sabbah upped his demand to $30,000 and made threats of violence. The mechanic bought Sabbah a used Honda for $800, but Sabbah demanded something better. "Get me a better car, this is a piece of s***," Sabbah allegedly told Mr Monajed. During February and March, Sabbah allegedly made more threats of violence and the mechanic paid him cash totalling $4500.
After being threatened with the dildo on April 22, Mr Monajed fled the premises and contacted police. Meanwhile, Sabbah allegedly stole $400 from his desk. Sabbah was arrested that evening and charged with robbery in company, demanding money with menaces and stealing two vehicles from the mechanic. He has not been charged with any offences relating to his Mercedes. His lawyer Peter Givorshner and instructing solicitor Martin Ricci told the court that the police statement of facts indicated Mr Monajed had accepted responsibility for losing the Mercedes and agreed to pay Sabbah. The magistrate denied Sabbah bail and adjourned the matter to July 18.
Giant Barbie doll house opens in Germany amid protests
A life-size Barbie dream house attraction opened to protests in Berlin on Thursday. Barbie, the world's most famous blonde, has a new home in the German capital. Offering an “interactive experience” for visitors, the life-size pink mansion is hard to miss stretching over 2,500 square metres nestled between eastern Berlin's communist-era tower blocks.
For €22, visitors can peruse Barbie's walk-in wardrobes, learn how to be a model, do their make up and have their photos taken. Almost the entire place is pink – a colour that has sparked a heated debate about gender stereotyping among critics. Though its opening had been keenly awaited by some of the city's younger residents, the house has garnered massive criticism from German feminists, anti-capitalists, and average members of the public – some of whom were present in Barbie outfits.
Proud male feminist and protest organizer Michael Koshitzki told onlookers that the house represented an obsession with female beauty that needed to be stamped out. “This protest is not against the parents who chose to take their children, nor the children themselves, but against the unhealthy beauty obsession it breeds,” he said. He added that one of the most popular parts of the house seemed to be the dressing room, where girls are encouraged to “make themselves look like Barbie”. Also present was campaign group Pink Stinks, the founder of which Stevie Schmiedel said she was particularly upset about the house promoting “pressure to look perfect.”
YouTube link.
This was unacceptable “in a society where only 47 percent of young women say they feel comfortable in their own skin,” she added. “This isn't about stopping fun, but more calling for Barbie's makers to think about maybe changing the way she looks.” The problem lay, Schmiedel said, in the toy industry. Philipp Lengsfeld, a conservative Christian Democratic politician in the city's central Mitte district where the Barbie house is located, said that he was disappointed in the protesters. “Berlin is a free city and Barbie is welcome,” he said. “It's just one of several interesting attractions in the city and it is not anyone's place to say what people should or should not buy.”
For €22, visitors can peruse Barbie's walk-in wardrobes, learn how to be a model, do their make up and have their photos taken. Almost the entire place is pink – a colour that has sparked a heated debate about gender stereotyping among critics. Though its opening had been keenly awaited by some of the city's younger residents, the house has garnered massive criticism from German feminists, anti-capitalists, and average members of the public – some of whom were present in Barbie outfits.
Proud male feminist and protest organizer Michael Koshitzki told onlookers that the house represented an obsession with female beauty that needed to be stamped out. “This protest is not against the parents who chose to take their children, nor the children themselves, but against the unhealthy beauty obsession it breeds,” he said. He added that one of the most popular parts of the house seemed to be the dressing room, where girls are encouraged to “make themselves look like Barbie”. Also present was campaign group Pink Stinks, the founder of which Stevie Schmiedel said she was particularly upset about the house promoting “pressure to look perfect.”
YouTube link.
This was unacceptable “in a society where only 47 percent of young women say they feel comfortable in their own skin,” she added. “This isn't about stopping fun, but more calling for Barbie's makers to think about maybe changing the way she looks.” The problem lay, Schmiedel said, in the toy industry. Philipp Lengsfeld, a conservative Christian Democratic politician in the city's central Mitte district where the Barbie house is located, said that he was disappointed in the protesters. “Berlin is a free city and Barbie is welcome,” he said. “It's just one of several interesting attractions in the city and it is not anyone's place to say what people should or should not buy.”
Man jailed for rubbing pepperoni on his penis
A Potsdam man was charged with public lewdness and jailed on Wednesday night after he allegedly got a little too friendly with a stick of pepperoni inside the Hannaford store at the St. Lawrence Plaza in Massena, New York.
John R. Allison, 41, rubbed the pepperoni on his exposed penis and then put the food back on the shelf inside the store, state police said. He is also charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief for the actions that made the food unfit for the store to sell.
He was arraigned by Massena Town Justice Gerald P. Sharlow and sent to the St. Lawrence County jail, where he is being held on $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 bond. A loss prevention officer at Hannford’s told police he was monitoring video surveillance at the store when he saw Mr. Allison’s actions.
“I watched him go to the back of the store near the beer and the bakery sections. The guy was standing in a corner ... I thought he was going to steal some merchandise. Instead, he undid what I thought might be his belt. I then saw him unzip his pants,” the unidentified store worker told police.
John R. Allison, 41, rubbed the pepperoni on his exposed penis and then put the food back on the shelf inside the store, state police said. He is also charged with fourth-degree criminal mischief for the actions that made the food unfit for the store to sell.
He was arraigned by Massena Town Justice Gerald P. Sharlow and sent to the St. Lawrence County jail, where he is being held on $1,000 cash bail or $2,000 bond. A loss prevention officer at Hannford’s told police he was monitoring video surveillance at the store when he saw Mr. Allison’s actions.
“I watched him go to the back of the store near the beer and the bakery sections. The guy was standing in a corner ... I thought he was going to steal some merchandise. Instead, he undid what I thought might be his belt. I then saw him unzip his pants,” the unidentified store worker told police.
Three-week-old lamb's ears cut off in sadistic attack
An animal welfare charity has
condemned a "sadistic" mutilation of a three-week-old lamb which was found with
his ears cut off. The lamb was discovered in a field at Highthorn Farm in East Leake,
Nottinghamshire, on Monday. The RSPCA, which is investigating the attack, believes it was carried out by
somebody using a knife or a pair of scissors.
The lamb has been named Nelson and is being bottle-fed by the farmer. Farmers Kenneth and Val Gunn found the mutilated animal while they were shepherding their flock. "We were appalled at what we saw," said Mrs Gunn. "We couldn't believe anybody could do such a thing to a defenceless little animal. It's so clear-cut where the ears have been taken, it's got to have been done by a human."
She said following the attack, Nelson was abandoned by his mother. Mrs Gunn is bottle-feeding him four times a day and has found another sheep to act as a foster mother to him. Although the attack appears to have left Nelson deaf, Mrs Gunn said he seems to be starting to recover. "He's certainly a fighter," she said.
YouTube link.
Simon Parker, RSPCA chief inspector for Nottinghamshire, said he was horrified by the sadistic attack. "The pain and suffering that lamb must have gone through shortly after birth beggars belief," he said. "Clearly the ewe was caused distress as well because she abandoned the lamb shortly afterwards. I certainly hope we will find the people responsible. I'm sure somebody knows what happened."
The lamb has been named Nelson and is being bottle-fed by the farmer. Farmers Kenneth and Val Gunn found the mutilated animal while they were shepherding their flock. "We were appalled at what we saw," said Mrs Gunn. "We couldn't believe anybody could do such a thing to a defenceless little animal. It's so clear-cut where the ears have been taken, it's got to have been done by a human."
She said following the attack, Nelson was abandoned by his mother. Mrs Gunn is bottle-feeding him four times a day and has found another sheep to act as a foster mother to him. Although the attack appears to have left Nelson deaf, Mrs Gunn said he seems to be starting to recover. "He's certainly a fighter," she said.
YouTube link.
Simon Parker, RSPCA chief inspector for Nottinghamshire, said he was horrified by the sadistic attack. "The pain and suffering that lamb must have gone through shortly after birth beggars belief," he said. "Clearly the ewe was caused distress as well because she abandoned the lamb shortly afterwards. I certainly hope we will find the people responsible. I'm sure somebody knows what happened."
CCTV catches ghostly figure pushing over pile of heavy boxes at indoor market
Employees at Wellington Indoor Market in Telford, Shropshire, were shocked when footage showed what appeared to be a shadowy figure pushing over a stack of heavy boxes. Kay Boakye, manager of the market said: “Basically, we came into the market in the morning and the boxes were all over the place, on the floor and over the stairs. We thought there had been an intruder so we obviously went straight to the CCTV. We couldn’t believe what we saw. The first person who watched it was the caretaker David Chapman.
“I came in two minutes later and he said: ‘Boss you need to see this.’ All the hair stood up on the back of my neck. There was nobody there when the boxes fell off. We watched it again and we could see the shadow walking up the stairs then chucking the boxes over.” The market, which dates back to 1244, is held inside a Victorian building. And Mr Boakye said the May 4 phenomena isn’t the first spooky sighting at the market as staff often see or hear unexplainable things when they’re on their own.
YouTube link.
He said: “Sometimes there are strange things that go on when people are alone, some people say they have seen a shadow go past them. Once there were two people alone in the market, they were talking when they heard coughing coming from the other side of the building. They thought there must be someone else there but when they looked around it was totally empty. We also have times where the hand-dryer starts on its own or doors slam.”
PJ Godsell, from investigators Mercia Paranormal said: “The video is quite interesting, we don’t often see a lot of CCTV footage as it’s often not regularly checked which means that we can miss out on a lot of evidence. One of the problems is that because people watching the video know what they are looking for, because of the force of suggestion it is more than likely that they will see something. My initial reactions from watching the video is that this is probably explainable, but we would never say 100 per cent that it is not paranormal.”
“I came in two minutes later and he said: ‘Boss you need to see this.’ All the hair stood up on the back of my neck. There was nobody there when the boxes fell off. We watched it again and we could see the shadow walking up the stairs then chucking the boxes over.” The market, which dates back to 1244, is held inside a Victorian building. And Mr Boakye said the May 4 phenomena isn’t the first spooky sighting at the market as staff often see or hear unexplainable things when they’re on their own.
YouTube link.
He said: “Sometimes there are strange things that go on when people are alone, some people say they have seen a shadow go past them. Once there were two people alone in the market, they were talking when they heard coughing coming from the other side of the building. They thought there must be someone else there but when they looked around it was totally empty. We also have times where the hand-dryer starts on its own or doors slam.”
PJ Godsell, from investigators Mercia Paranormal said: “The video is quite interesting, we don’t often see a lot of CCTV footage as it’s often not regularly checked which means that we can miss out on a lot of evidence. One of the problems is that because people watching the video know what they are looking for, because of the force of suggestion it is more than likely that they will see something. My initial reactions from watching the video is that this is probably explainable, but we would never say 100 per cent that it is not paranormal.”
Driver annoyed after being fined for using bus lane to let fire engines pass
A motorist was fined for driving in a bus lane – after he moved into it to let two fire engines on an emergency call go past. Ian Pemble, of St Anne's, Bristol, was sent pictures of himself driving in the bus lane on Bristol Hill in April by the city council. He paid the £30 fine but also requested further evidence as he could not remember using the bus lane. Mr Pemble was sent a video by traffic services showing a fire engine passing him, seconds after he moved into the lane.
Music journalist Mr Pemble, 67, said he was at first suspicious about the fine as he believed that, at worst, he might have entered the A4 bus lane metres from where it finishes at the bottom of Bristol Hill. He said: "I knew I was in the area but I wasn't sure whether I had just nipped in at the last moment. The pictures got me thinking about where they put the cameras and whether they are at the end purposefully to catch people out."
Mr Pemble said there was no dispute that the images clearly showed his car in the bus lane. He said: "I paid my fine. But I was so annoyed with them, and I know my rights, so I asked for more evidence. And it was lucky I did because when they sent through the video, it clearly shows me moving out of the way of two fire engines." He said he was shocked when he saw the video for the first time. "It came as quite a surprise - I nearly fell off my chair," he said.
YouTube link.
"I was absolutely delighted to find I was squeaky clean and a good boy. You can't have a better excuse than that." The city council has since reviewed the video and admitted officers made an error issuing the penalty. Council spokeswoman Kate Hartas said: "The council is to refund Mr Pemble's penalty charge. The team have reviewed the footage, and it is clear that he had moved into the bus lane for a fire engine."
Music journalist Mr Pemble, 67, said he was at first suspicious about the fine as he believed that, at worst, he might have entered the A4 bus lane metres from where it finishes at the bottom of Bristol Hill. He said: "I knew I was in the area but I wasn't sure whether I had just nipped in at the last moment. The pictures got me thinking about where they put the cameras and whether they are at the end purposefully to catch people out."
Mr Pemble said there was no dispute that the images clearly showed his car in the bus lane. He said: "I paid my fine. But I was so annoyed with them, and I know my rights, so I asked for more evidence. And it was lucky I did because when they sent through the video, it clearly shows me moving out of the way of two fire engines." He said he was shocked when he saw the video for the first time. "It came as quite a surprise - I nearly fell off my chair," he said.
YouTube link.
"I was absolutely delighted to find I was squeaky clean and a good boy. You can't have a better excuse than that." The city council has since reviewed the video and admitted officers made an error issuing the penalty. Council spokeswoman Kate Hartas said: "The council is to refund Mr Pemble's penalty charge. The team have reviewed the footage, and it is clear that he had moved into the bus lane for a fire engine."
Bridge crash bus loses whole roof
A double-decker bus had its roof completely shorn off when
it hit a railway bridge in Essex.
Photos by Stuart Axe.
The Regal Busways bus struck the bridge in Duke Street, Chelmsford, at 4:30pm on Thursday.
Essex Police said officers attended, along with an ambulance which took three people to Broomfield Hospital with minor injuries.
YouTube link. Eye witness interview.
Essex Fire and Rescue said its firefighters attended the scene but took no action.
Photos by Stuart Axe.
The Regal Busways bus struck the bridge in Duke Street, Chelmsford, at 4:30pm on Thursday.
Essex Police said officers attended, along with an ambulance which took three people to Broomfield Hospital with minor injuries.
YouTube link. Eye witness interview.
Essex Fire and Rescue said its firefighters attended the scene but took no action.
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