Actor son of 'murder-suicide' victim issues stepdad funeral plea
The statement, issued on Kerr's Instagram account on behalf of the actor and his sister Amanda, comes more than six months after the couple were found dead.It is unclear why it has taken so long for Mr Searle's body to be released or when his funeral is scheduled to take place.
Mr Kerr, who is also a country singer in the US, and his sister said that while the investigation into the deaths was ongoing they "cannot ignore the circumstances as they stand".The statement continued: "For this reason, we must respectfully but firmly request that our mother not be included in any way in the funeral arrangements being made for Andrew."They urged friends of their mother's not to attend the ceremony and asked people not to share photographs of Mr and Mrs Searle together.The statement concluded: "It would be inappropriate for her memory to be associated with a service honouring the man who, based on all available evidence, may have been responsible for her death. "We ask for understanding, privacy and respect as we continue to grieve and seek justice for our mum."
Mrs Searle's body was found in the garden of the couple's property in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès, with severe wounds to her head.Mr Searle's body was found inside their home, about an hour north of Toulouse.Police were alerted to the incident by a neighbour who had gone to check on them when they failed to turn up for a planned dog walk.Post-mortem examinations confirmed Mrs Searle suffered "multiple blows to the head with a blunt and sharp-edged object" while Mr Searle died from hanging.Mrs Searle, 56, grew up in Eyemouth in the Scottish Borders, and Mr Searle, 62, was originally from England.They previously lived in Musselburgh, near Edinburgh, and married in France in 2023.Prosecutors said they had lived in the Aveyron region for five years.According to his LinkedIn page, Mr Searle previously worked in financial crime prevention at companies including Standard Life and Barclays Bank.
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Reuters
18 minutes ago
- Reuters
Focus: Deutsche Bank chief faces scrutiny about role in risky trades over a decade ago
FRANKFURT, Aug 20 (Reuters) - In 2013, Deutsche Bank ( opens new tab handed Christian Sewing, a rising star, the sensitive assignment of investigating derivatives trades under scrutiny in Italy. More than a decade later, Sewing, now CEO, faces criticism in a lawsuit by a former Deutsche employee over his handling of the task. The suit has prompted Deutsche to review how the bank and Sewing, chief auditor at the time, managed the situation, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. Dario Schiraldi, a former banker at Deutsche who was involved in the trades, claims in a 152-million-euro ($178 million) lawsuit seeking damages from the bank that the lender's actions, including the audit overseen by Sewing more than a decade ago, harmed Schiraldi's reputation and earnings, according to court documents seen by Reuters. Deutsche Bank in its review in recent months of its investigation into the trades found no wrongdoing, the person familiar with the matter said. Nonetheless, the lawsuit - due to be heard in a Frankfurt court in December - puts Sewing, CEO since 2018 and credited with cleaning up Deutsche Bank's image, in the spotlight by publicly examining his role at the height of the global financial crisis. Schiraldi, five other former bankers of the German lender, and the bank were acquitted in 2022, after initially being convicted by an Italian court in 2019 for colluding with Italian bank Monte dei Paschi (MPS) to hide losses at MPS by using complex derivatives trades. In Germany, Deutsche's accounting of the transactions was also the focus of regulators. Schiraldi's lawsuit claims the bankers were made to take the blame for trades while Deutsche Bank management - including Sewing as chief auditor - sought to conceal their tacit approval for risky and lucrative deals. Deutsche Bank disclosed Schiraldi's lawsuit in its 2024 annual report released earlier this year, in a list of potentially significant civil litigation and regulatory matters. "The facts of this long-standing matter are well known and have been discussed in detail over the past decade. The Supervisory Board supports the Management Board in defending the bank against this litigation," Chairman Alexander Wynaendts said in a statement earlier this month. Sewing declined to comment for this story via a spokesperson. As CEO, he has slimmed down and returned Deutsche Bank to profit and restored its image after years of management churn, legal turmoil, losses and fines that threatened to topple the bank. He was reappointed in March for a third term as head of Deutsche, which is playing a key role in German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's "Made For Germany" initiative to pump the sagging economy. For this report, Reuters reviewed documents - including previously unreported details from the initial lawsuit, a March filing and email correspondence - and spoke to four people with direct knowledge of the matter on condition of anonymity. Reuters is reporting for the first time fresh details of the case, having reviewed Schiraldi's claim, and how Germany's largest bank is responding. Schiraldi, since leaving the bank, has held other jobs in finance, including leading a Swiss-family investment company, according to his LinkedIn profile. A central plank of Schiraldi's lawyers' argument is that Sewing and the bank scapegoated Schiraldi and a handful of colleagues and later failed to set the record straight. In 2014, Deutsche Bank took the findings of the bank's audit into the MPS trades to its local regulator, the Italian central bank, blaming the "Deal Team" - which included Schiraldi - for "insufficient and selective disclosure" on the trades. The information that was allegedly withheld – how the bank was fetching billions of dollars of bonds that underpinned the deals - allowed Deutsche to book the trades as loans rather than derivatives, the findings from the bank's audit showed. That helped reduce the amount of capital it had to hold to cover risks, making it more profitable. "An appropriate handling ... would have resulted in the transactions either being declined or escalated," Deutsche told the Bank of Italy in 2014, according to slides seen by Reuters. Schiraldi disputes that there was any such cover up of information and that the deals were widely understood. Reuters could not ascertain management's role in signing off on the deals. Deutsche Bank confirmed to Reuters that the "audit identified material failings" but declined to comment on communication with regulators. Schiraldi's lawyers claim Deutsche Bank's audit of the trades had a predetermined outcome and drew on only a fraction of the available documents. In the course of their dispute with the bank, they have successfully obtained the release of several million emails and documents, which they say, in a March 2025 court document seen by Reuters, show flaws in the way the bank handled the case. Reuters could only review a small fraction of the documents. As the bank seeks to quash Schiraldi's claims, one of its management board members has reviewed the case, sifting through emails and documents from the time, according to the person with direct knowledge of the review. Deutsche Bank, in a lengthy response to questions from Reuters, said the allegations were "false", that the audit had been thorough and independent, and that executives involved "discharged their responsibilities appropriately". Sewing had been a credit officer before the audit and approved parts of some other similar deals. "We stand by the audit's core findings," a Deutsche Bank spokesperson said. While the case is due to come before a German court later this year, such disputes may also be settled out of court. In its statement to Reuters, the bank said the claims made in the lawsuit are "based on incorrect allegations", and "an attempt to generate publicity by seeking to cause serious harm to the good reputation of executives.' ($1 = 0.8529 euros)
BBC News
18 minutes ago
- BBC News
Use organised crime cash to fight crime, watchdog says
Money raised from seized criminal assets should be directly reinvested in efforts to fight organised crime, a police watchdog has said. HM Chief Inspector of Constabulary in Scotland (HMICS), Craig Naylor, called for the change following a wave of gangland disorder. He praised Police Scotland's response, and said the centralisation of the force had helped to tackle organised crime. However, Mr Naylor said further action was needed at a time of "increasing demand" on officers. In an annual report, HMICS said the Scottish government should consider an "asset recovery incentivisation scheme" that would allow Police Scotland – and other agencies – to use money raised from criminals' assets to combat crime.A similar scheme is already in operation across the rest of the UK. Mr Naylor's report found that more than £10m was recovered in Scotland using Proceeds of Crime legislation in 2023-24. While this money is not directly funnelled back to the police, it can be used for the government's CashBack for Communities programme, which provides free activities and programmes for young people – including those at risk of offending or reoffending. Mr Naylor said: "In England, Northern Ireland and Wales, Proceeds of Crime Act reporting agencies can and do receive money from the proceeds recovered from crime under the Asset Recovery Incentivisation Scheme (Aris)."The Home Office encourages agencies to invest Aris funds into areas that will increase asset recovery or, where appropriate, to fund local crime fighting priorities."This process is not applicable in Scotland."At a time of increasing demand, I would be encouraged to see conversations to consider if some funding could be released from seized assets to bolster the fight against organised crime – and maintain Scotland's position as a top performer in this area." In other parts of the UK, criminal assets worth £243.3m were seized in 2023-24. Of that total, £98.1m was distributed to agencies, including police forces, to fund crime to tackle organised crime in Scotland have been ramped up in recent months following an outbreak of gangland activity. Assaults, shootings and fire bombings across the central belt have so far led to more than 50 arrests. The Scottish Prison Service said it was having to play "a daily game of chess" in its jails to keep violent rivals apart. Organised crime threat The HMICS report found that the merging of Scotland's eight police forces into one centralised agency - a process that took place in 2013 - had "undoubtedly strengthened its ability to effectively tackle the threat from organised crime groups".Mr Naylor also said a new policing act passed by the Scottish Parliament in March addressed concerns raised by HMICS about vetting officers, granting the chief constable the power to dismiss any officer who cannot meet maintain standards. However, he warned "too little consideration" had been given to the effects of the legislation", including the financial impact. Police Scotland said it was open to discussion on changes to how proceeds of crime can be used.A spokesperson said: "The process in place in other parts of the United Kingdom and further afield where seized assets and money is reinvested can be seen to have significant impact on the efforts to tackle serious and organised crime."Justice Secretary Angela Constance welcomed the report's praise for Police Scotland, and the conclusion that the centralisation of the force had strengthened efforts to tackle organised said money recovered through proceeds of crime legislation was primarily used to fund community projects "aimed at diverting young people away from crime".Constance added that since 2008 more than £156m of "ill-gotten gains" had been distributed through the CashBack for Communities scheme, supporting 1.4m young people.
BBC News
18 minutes ago
- BBC News
Notting Hill Carnival 2025: The line-up and what you need to know
One of the longest-running street parties returns to west London for its 57th year this August bank Hill Carnival is the largest street party in Europe with more than two million people attending each year to follow the three-mile (5km) can expect an eclectic and dazzling parade showcasing the best of masquerade dancing, soca, calypso, steel bands and sound year there will be a 72-second silence for the victims of the Grenfell disaster, as well as new policing methods. When is Notting Hill Carnival 2025? Saturday, 23 August to Monday, 25 August. What is the Notting Hill Carnival 2025 line-up? Saturday 23 AugustPanorama. The UK's biggest steel pan competition at Emslie Horniman Pleasance Park, 16:00-23:00 BST.2025's competing bands are still to be confirmed. Sunday 24 AugustJ'Ouvert, the paint party which begins just before sunrise, is not happening this year, reportedly because of a lack of bands, but the J'Ouvert bands will play later in the day with paint in the main paradeOfficial opening ceremony: Mas (masquerade) Judging Point, Great Western Road. Traditionally carnival is opened by local residents and participants, accompanied by the organisers and friends at 10:00Children's day parade: Expect family-friendly activities and events, with the main event being children's mas"Dutty" fun mas parade: Get down and "dutty". Just like J'Ouvert, this mas is for those who enjoy the mayhem. Spectators are splashed with brightly coloured paints, powder or even melted chocolateSound systems: Street dancing and sound systems, 12:00-19:00At 15:00 on both Sunday and Monday, a 72-second silence will be held to remember the 72 lives tragically lost in the Grenfell Tower fireLive stagesRed Bull Selector, 12:00-19:00, Emslie Horniman's Pleasance ParkPowis Square Stage, 12:00-19:00, Powis Square Monday 25 AugustAdult's Parade: This is the carnival climax. It's the last lap for another year and your best chance to see the brightly hued costumes and eclectic dances and songsSound systems as Saturday, 12:00-19:00Live stagesStrawberries & Creem Stage, 12:00-19:00 at Emslie Horniman's PleasancePowis Square Stage, 12:00-19:00, Powis Square How to get to Notting Hill Carnival 2025 As Notting Hill's roads will be closed off throughout the bank holiday weekend, you will not be able to get a taxi or catch a bus to get to the heart of the Tube stations within walking distance of the main event including Notting Hill Gate will be closed or exit-only for a large part of the day so try to arrive before 11:00 to avoid impromptu closures to manage stations may open after 15:00 or 18:00. To leave the area before these times, you might have to walk for up to 30 minutes to find an open Tube will be no interchange between the Circle and District lines and Central line on both days. Do I need a ticket for Notting Hill Carnival and how safe is it? The carnival is free for everyone but the police crowd-control a lot and you might not be allowed in to certain areas at certain times because streets get sectioned off. If you have mobility issues or get anxious in crowds, it is better to arrive early and leave response to safety concerns, the police have announced the use of live facial recognition technology at this year's carnival. While the Met claims the technology has aided in more than 1,000 arrests for serious crimes, civil rights organisations argue that facial recognition is less accurate for women and people of colour, potentially leading to racial advise to:Go with the flow of the crowd, don't try to walk against just rely on your phone, set a meeting place with family or friends in case you lose one your belongings with you at all your journey in advance - do not drive your car to the area, know your public transport options and routes to and from the carnivalMake travel plans before you leave - Transport for London (TfL) has a dedicated website showing all the best and quickest options.
