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The Independent
2 minutes ago
- The Independent
Notting Hill Carnival zombie knife attacker jailed for 18 years
A man who used a zombie knife to slash a teenager at Notting Hill Carnival has been jailed for 18 years. Rumarni Tuitt, 19, used a 12-inch knife to slice open the stomach of 18-year-old Kamani Spooner on August 26, 2024. The defendant, from Walthamstow, east London, was found guilty of attempted murder having admitted possession of a knife. Tuitt was caught carrying a Rambo knife which he swung out at Notting Hill Carnival in 2023, although no-one was injured on that occasion, the Old Bailey heard. He was serving a community order for that offence when he attacked Mr Spooner in front of a crowd of revellers at last year's event. Jailing him for 18 years on Friday, Judge Judy Khan KC said: 'It is not the first time you have travelled to the carnival armed with a fearsome weapon. 'On this occasion, you used it to devastating effect. It is fortunate Mr Spooner escaped with his life. 'There can be no excuse for committing an offence of this gravity.' The attack was in front of a 'substantial number' of people and lunging out with a knife in a crowded public place put others at risk of being injured, she said. Previously, prosecutor Mark Paltenghi had said the two young men did not know each other before their paths crossed in Canal Way, west London, just before 8pm. During the attack, Tuitt had 'sliced open Mr Spooner's stomach with a 12-inch zombie knife' and then stabbed him four more times in the side and back and cut his right forearm. Mr Spooner told police he spent much of the day at the carnival drinking with his friends. Towards the end of the day, a fight broke out around him with three people close by throwing punches, according to his account. Mr Paltenghi had said: 'He then recalls being hit in the back and upon looking at his arm, saw it had been cut, then looked down and saw that his intestines were hanging out. 'He put his hand over them and just ran. 'He cannot cast any light on why it was he would have been attacked.' Tuitt claimed that he was acting in self defence and jurors were told there was no evidence he harboured a grievance against Mr Spooner. In mitigation, Sheryl Nwosu said the defendant's young age, immaturity and neurodivergence had affected his actions. He had displayed 'impulsive and reckless' decision making by choosing to attend Notting Hill Carnival armed with a weapon out of a 'perceived need for self protection', Ms Nwosu said. As Tuitt was being sentenced at the Old Bailey on Friday, a woman in the public gallery broke down in tears.
The Guardian
3 minutes ago
- The Guardian
TV union and women's group call for this year's MasterChef to be shelved
The BBC is facing mounting pressure to scrap this year's series of MasterChef after the sacking of presenters Gregg Wallace and John Torode. The heads of the broadcast union Bectu and a leading women's rights organisation have joined those calling for the series to be shelved, arguing that it would cause distress to the people who had made complaints about the two men. Last week the BBC said it would broadcast a series of MasterChef featuring Wallace and Torode, which was filmed before the presenters were dropped after allegations about their behaviour were upheld. The corporation said it was not 'an easy decision', but argued that it was the 'right thing to do' for the amateur chefs who had taken part, adding that the show's producers had spoken to contestants about airing the programme. But on Friday the head of the Broadcasting, Entertainment, Communications and Theatre Union, Philippa Childs, said the BBC should reconsider its decision. 'Whilst the BBC claims that it has consulted with contestants there appears to have been no consultation with complainants; freelancers who have taken the very difficult step of speaking out and who will legitimately feel distressed,' she told BBC News. 'If [the BBC] are serious about addressing this industry-wide problem, broadcasters should not reward bad behaviour with primetime coverage.' Penny East, the chief executive of the Fawcett Society, suggested it would be better to edit the presenters out entirely. 'Seeing Gregg Wallace on our screens will be deeply uncomfortable for many people, not least the brave women who have spoken about his appalling behaviour,' she said. 'It can't be right that men who sexually harass women continue to be given a platform and allowed to maintain their profile and power.' Wallace was dropped by the BBC after an independent report substantiated 45 allegations made against him, including claims of inappropriate sexual language and one incident of unwelcome physical contact. He has apologised 'for any distress caused' and said the report cleared him of 'the most serious and sensational accusations'. Torode was dropped as a presenter after he said he was the subject of a substantiated complaint over the use of racist language, which he believes never happened. On Thursday the Guardian revealed that one of the contestants from the latest series of MasterChef has been edited out of the programme, after telling its producers she did not want the show to be broadcast. Sarah Shafi, from Leeds, said she told the show's producers that airing it would send the wrong message about the treatment of women. She said she initially rejected an offer by MasterChef's producers, Banijay, to edit her out of her episode. The 57-year-old agreed to be removed once the BBC announced it had decided to broadcast the series from 6 August. 'I didn't say edit me out,' she said. 'I said: 'Axe the show, don't air the show. I'm asking you not to air the show.' Prominent figures have been abusing their power. What message does that send out to women?' One former MasterChef worker who said she had been groped by Wallace told BBC News the decision to broadcast the series showed 'a blatant disregard for the people who have come forward'. Another person who worked on the show, and who said Wallace pulled his trousers down in front of her, said the decision to air the series was 'profoundly disrespectful' to people who had made complaints. 'It ultimately sends a message that such behaviour can be overlooked,' she said.
BBC News
3 minutes ago
- BBC News
Man brandished 'gun' made of paper bag at police in Telford
A man has been jailed after using an imitation firearm made out of a brown paper bag to intimidate police in Sylvester, 37, of no fixed abode, pleaded guilty to two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, possession of an imitation firearm to cause distress, possession of class A drugs and attempted burglary in Friday, at Shrewsbury Crown Court, he was sentenced to 19 months in incident happened on 22 February, when West Mercia Police officers were called to reports of a man using a trolley to try and break into a shop in Telford town centre. Upon their arrival, Sylvester used a jumper to cover his face and forged the gun by folding the brown paper charged at the officers in the patrol car brandishing the "gun".The car, while trying to move away from him, got stuck behind car park barriers, which was when Sylvester threatened one of the officers through its window and kicked the officers called for back up as it was dark and they believed he had a real opened the car's boot and threatened the officers again when they got out of the car, and a chase was tackled and arrested."Sylvester's actions were calculated, going to great lengths to ensure officers were called to the scene, including threatening members of the public and trying to break into a shop," said Ch Insp Matt Sanders."He covered his face with a jumper to ensure he wasn't recognised by officers, before manipulating an object to look like a small firearm so he could threaten whoever was responding."The bravery and professionalism shown by both police constables that evening was nothing short of extraordinary." Follow BBC Shropshire on BBC Sounds, Facebook, X and Instagram.
