Latest news with #Columbian
NBC News
5 days ago
- NBC News
Roy Black, lawyer who represented William Kennedy Smith and Jeffrey Epstein, dies at 80
Prominent Miami defense lawyer Roy Black, who gained national attention by winning an acquittal in the 1991 William Kennedy Smith rape trial and was involved in scores of other high-profile cases ranging from Justin Bieber to Jeffrey Epstein, has died at age 80, his law partner said. Among Black's other well-known clients were Rush Limbaugh, race car driver Helio Castroneves and Columbian drug lord Fabio Ochoa. 'For more than 30 years, Roy was my teacher, mentor and friend,' said his law partner, Howard Srebnick, in an email. 'The loss(es) I feel personally and professionally are immeasurable.' Smith's 1991 trial became a watershed criminal defense moment when most of it was carried live on national television, famously with a blue dot obscuring the identity of the accuser on the witness stand. Smith is a nephew of former president John F. Kennedy, former Attorney General and U.S. Sen. Robert F. Kennedy and former Sen. Edward M. Kennedy, who was implicated but never charged in the alleged assault of a woman in Palm Beach during a night of heavy drinking. Kennedy Smith is now a physician involved in an organization dedicated to banning land mines and treating victims of them. In Miami, Black was viewed in legal circles as the GOAT — the greatest of all time, said fellow defense attorney David O. Markus, who compared him to NBA Hall of Famer Michael Jordan. 'He worked harder than any lawyer I know. And he outlawyered every prosecutor who he ever went up against. I will miss him. His impact on criminal defense is beyond measure,' Markus said in an email. The Bieber case involved allegations of driving a Lamborghini under the influence and drag racing, though the pop star eventually pleaded guilty to lesser charges of misdemeanor careless driving and resisting arrest. Indianapolis 500 winner Castroneves was acquitted in a case involving alleged tax evasion. Over the years, Black's clients included Rush Limbaugh; 'Varsity Blues' defendant Amid Khoury, who was found not guilty of rigging college admissions; and Miami police officer William Lozano, who was acquitted in the shooting death of Black motorcyclist Clement Lloyd. The latter acquittal sparked riots in Miami in 1989. Black was part of a group of prominent lawyers who handled Epstein's case, including Harvard law professor Alan Dershowitz and former Whitewater prosecutor Kenneth Star. Epstein sexually abused children hundreds of times over more than a decade, exploiting vulnerable girls as young as 14, authorities say. In 2019, after Epstein died in a New York jail cell following his arrest on federal sex trafficking and conspiracy charges, Black sought to stop Epstein's victims from reopening a non-prosecution agreement that allowed Epstein to plead guilty to lesser state charges a decade earlier. Another of Black's law partners, Jackie Perczek, said she learned from him that it was a lawyer's duty to 'fiercely battle the oppressors and support the underdog.' 'This generation and many to come stand on his shoulders,' she said. Black frequently wrote articles about the law for national publications and was regularly on national television shows. He is survived by his wife, Lea, whom he met when she was a juror in the Kennedy Smith trial and who once starred in TV's 'Real Housewives of Miami.' They have a son, RJ, and his daughter, Nora. Funeral arrangements were not immediately announced.
Daily Mirror
22-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Police give update on Clifton Suspension Bridge yob Yostin Mosquera after murders
Yostin Andres Mosquera was found guilty of murdering civil partners Albert Alfonso and Paul Longworth before dumping their remains in suitcases near Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol Police have as yet found no evidence a double murderer committed any further crimes, officers said today. Yostin Andres Mosquera, 35, decapitated his victims and dumped their bodies in a suitcase on Clifton Suspension Bridge in Bristol. He was yesterday found guilty of the murders of civil partners Albert Alfonso and Paul Longworth. Metropolitan Police had initially believed Mosquera was linked to other crimes prior to the killings, but the force has now confirmed no evidence has been discovered connecting the man to anything, including drug offences. Detective Chief Inspector Ollie Stride said: "Our first thought was that this is not your first crime so we have done quite a lot of work looking at previous offending either here, or there or anywhere. We have not come across anything. We have got no evidence that he was involved in drug gangs but that was something that we thought about and looked at." Mosquera, who will be sentenced at Woolwich Crown Court in October, had claimed Mr Alfonso, 62, had killed his long-term partner Mr Longworth, 72, but was convicted of two murder charges after a trial. READ MORE: Bradley John Murdoch dead: Police give bleak update after killer of Brit backpacker's lies The court heard Mosquera, a dad, had planned to hurl two suitcases containing his victims' dismembered bodies over the bridge into the Avon Gorge 245ft below. He had taken the suitcases from Shepherd's Bush, west London, to Bristol following the harrowing murders on Monday July 8, 2024. Scotland Yard investigated these and while they had enough evidence for charges, officers were unable to link Mosquera, a Columbian national, with any further offences in the UK or abroad. "These crimes were truly horrific and our thoughts are with the families and friends of Albert and Paul. Yostin Mosquera's actions have had a significant impact on our communities in Avon and Somerset and I'm very grateful for the support we received at the time of the incident and have received since," Detective Inspector Neil Meade, of Avon and Somerset Police's Major Crime Investigation Team, said. "It was an extremely fast-moving and complex investigation and their understanding, particularly in those early days, was hugely appreciated. Mosquera had no connection to Bristol and during the trial we've heard he chose to travel here in an attempt to dispose of Albert and Paul's remains and hide his despicable crimes. "A large number of police officers and members of staff were involved in our investigation and they deserve massive credit, along with colleagues at the Metropolitan Police, in helping ensure he could be brought to justice. "I know how concerning this incident was - and still is - for our LGBT communities and that some of the details we've heard over the course of the trial will have been deeply distressing. We remain in close contact with community leaders and our partners and are ready to provide any support we can." Mosquera, who lived in Shepherd's Bush, knew his victims for some time. The murders - two of the most harrowing Det Chief Insp Stride's team have ever seen - happened in the couple's own flat. The officer continued: "Our thoughts and prayers remain with Paul and Albert's family and loved ones and all who knew them, as they continue to process the trauma of what happened."
Vancouver Sun
19-07-2025
- Entertainment
- Vancouver Sun
This Day in History, 1973: Somebody drops LSD into Robert Plant's drink at a Led Zeppelin concert
One of the great rock 'n' roll photos in The Vancouver Sun archives is Vlad Keremidschieff's shot of Led Zeppelin's Robert Plant performing at the Pacific Coliseum on July 18, 1973. It shows Plant in full rock god mode, extending his right arm and ending with a fist, his long flowing locks looking more like a mane than hair, his tiny vest ripped open to reveal his bare chest. An unknown editor has outlined his figure in whiteout, so that the background could be cropped out in the paper. In case the graphic artists who laid the paper out didn't understand, the editor has written three X's in the background. Get top headlines and gossip from the world of celebrity and entertainment. By signing up you consent to receive the above newsletter from Postmedia Network Inc. A welcome email is on its way. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. The next issue of Sun Spots will soon be in your inbox. Please try again Interested in more newsletters? Browse here. But the serious look on his face is a bit puzzling. Is he brooding? Is he angry? Is he dazed and confused? Probably the latter. Led Zeppelin cut their concert short that night. 'It was explained to an almost surly Coliseum audience that lead singer Robert Plant was being taken to the hospital and would we please leave in an orderly manner,' reported the Sun's reviewer Don Stanley. It wasn't in the papers at the time, but somebody apparently had slipped some LSD into Plant's drink, which had a negative impact on his performance. Not knowing this, Stanley ripped them. 'Their concert was terrible, unbelievably inept for the top draw in contemporary rock,' he wrote. Jeani Read of The Province was kinder, writing Plant 'fronted the group admirably for the better than two-hour set,' but said the concert 'was hardly an unmitigated triumph.' Read noted 'much of their original amazing adrenalin drive' had dissipated into 'long, slowly evolving extended versions of their blockbuster early material.' Stanley was not big on a 20-minute drum solo by John Bonham. 'Most drum solos are boring,' he wrote, 'this one was wretched.' Led Zeppelin had a long history in Vancouver, dating to the band's first appearance opening for Vanilla Fudge at the Agrodome on Dec. 28, 1968. Reviewer Jim Allan of the Columbian wasn't impressed, writing 'Led Zeppelin went over like a Led balloon.' But Brian McLeod of The Province loved the quartet he mistakenly called 'Mad Zeppelin,' noting guitarist Jimmy Page 'performs like Carlos Montoya in a 10-gallon hat' and Plant 'sings Joan Baez with affliction and affection, using the cry of a thousand banshees to punctuate his feelings.' It may seem odd to link Robert Plant with Joan Baez, but she recorded the Led Zeppelin standard Babe I'm Going to Leave You years before they did. Zeppelin soon exploded in popularity, playing two Vancouver shows in 1969 as well as single dates in 1970, 1971, 1973 and 1975. As their audience grew, so did the wildness of their audience. At a March 22, 1970 Coliseum show, the Express (a union paper during a newspaper strike) reported 'about 50 senseless fans' vaulted onto the stage 'during the fever pitch of Whole Lotta Love.' On Aug. 19, 1971, the band sold out the Coliseum (17,141 tickets), leaving 3,000 fans outside. The ticketless fans tried to force their way in, resulting in a battle with police and security that left 35 fans and two police officers injured. Rather than risk a larger riot, the police let the 3,000 fans into the Coliseum. Zeppelin was supposed to play Vancouver again on June 18, 1972. But after Rolling Stones fans rioted when they couldn't get into a Coliseum concert on June 3, 1972, the city cancelled the Zeppelin show. The promoter had already printed up posters for the show, but almost all of them were destroyed before being put up. This has made it something of a Holy Grail among Led Zeppelin collectors: the poster's designer Kerry Waghorn says copies have sold for $17,000. Waghorn was given 150 of the posters by the promoter, but threw them out because he didn't like his illustration. Oddly, Keremidschieff's great 1973 photo of Robert Plant wasn't used with Don Stanley's review — the Sun used another Keremidschieff shot of Plant. The one with whiteout must have been used at another time. There is also a marvellous Keremidschieff print of guitarist Jimmy Page from the 1973 show playing a double neck guitar, but it wasn't used with the review, either. It's included in the online version of this story. jmackie@ Love concerts, but can't make it to the venue? Stream live shows and events from your couch with VEEPS, a music-first streaming service now operating in Canada. Click here for an introductory offer of 30% off. Explore upcoming concerts and the extensive archive of past performances.
Daily Mail
16-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Columbia porn actor accused of Clifton Suspension Bridge murders tells jury how he cut up victim's body
A Columbia porn actor accused of murdering a couple and dumping their dismembered bodies in suitcases at Clifton Suspension Bridge told a court how he 'cut' the body of one of the victims. Yostin Andres Mosquera, 35, knifed Albert Alfonso, 62, repeatedly during sex after he had allegedly bludgeoned his partner Paul Longworth, 71, with a hammer. He then put the dismembered heads in a chest freezer, Woolwich Crown Court heard. Other parts of their bodies were found in two suitcases on Bristol's Clifton Suspension Bridge on July 10, last year. Mosquera had been staying at the couple's home on Scotts Road, Shepherd's Bush, west London. He had met Mr Alfonso online where the Columbian used the names 'iamblackmaster and 'mrd-k20cm', the court heard. He came to the UK to study English and participate in sex acts and he dominated and degraded Mr Alfonso which the older man made films of which he posted online. Mosquera denies murdering retired handyman Mr Longworth, who he claims was killed by Mr Alfonso. He also denies murdering Mr Alfonso, a swimming instructor, but admits manslaughter. Earlier in his evidence, Mosquera claimed Mr Alfonso cut up Mr Longworth's body after killing him. He said he stabbed Mr Alfonso because he was 'afraid that he would do the same to me that he had done to Paul'. Continuing her cross-examination prosecutor Deanna Heer, KC, asked Mosquera why he stabbed Mr Alfonso in the neck. She said: 'You could have stabbed him in the back.' Mosquera replied: 'I don't know.' Ms Heer said: 'You could have stabbed him in the buttock, couldn't you? Mr Alfonso's back was completely unprotected. 'You're an adult, you know that if you stab someone in the neck it is likely to be very dangerous, do you agree?' Mosquera replied: 'Yes.' Ms Heer asked him: 'And if you keep stabbing someone in the neck you are likely to kill them?' 'Yes,' he agreed. 'The only reason why you would stab someone in the neck in that way is because you wanted to kill them, do you agree?', asked Ms Heer. 'I don't know, I don't remember anything,' said Mosquera. 'I can't be certain of anything.' Mosquera said after seeing Mr Longworth's dismembered body, he decided to do the same to Mr Alfonso's corpse. 'Yes I saw Paul's body and I cut Albert's. I don't know the exact moment but I cut it having seen Paul's body'. Ms Heer told Mosquera: 'You lied to people about what was in the suitcases. You told them the suitcases contained mechanical parts or car parts. And you lied to Mr Cunningham, the cyclist, and the bridge staff'. Mosquera replied: 'Ok.' Ms Heer said: 'You've lied to the jury, haven't you Mr Mosquera, throughout your evidence?' 'No', he replied. Ms Heer said Mosquera had replied no comment when he was interviewed by the police. 'You made no comment so that you could wait and make up a story later, knowing that you had murdered both Paul Longworth and Albert Alfonso.' Mosquera insisted that he had been advised by his lawyer to make no comment. 'They just told me to reply no comment,' he said. The trial continues.
India.com
16-07-2025
- India.com
Meet Top 10 Countries With Most Beautiful Women In The World: Russia, USA, Greece But Does India Rank On The List? Number 1 Is...
photoDetails english 2932082 Updated:Jul 16, 2025, 07:00 AM IST Meet Top Countries With Most Beautiful Women In The World 1 / 11 Meet Top Countries With Most Beautiful Women In The World: Beauty lies in the eyes of the beholder! This stands true when people talk about measuring or analysing beauty standards based on several parameters. One such survey was conducted a few months back this year and we found it online. According to Insider Monkey report, based on a survey through Reddit, a list was compiled of countries with the most beautiful women in the world. It was solely based on Redditors opinion and is not an exhaustive one. Let's take a look at what the Reddit users have voted for: Colombia 2 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 345 Colombia is a country primarily located in South America with insular regions in North America. Columbian beauties are recognised world over. Actresses such as Sofia Vergara and Catalina Sandino Moreno among others are appreciated for their impressive personalities. Poland 3 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 324 Poland is a country in Central Europe. It extends from the Baltic Sea in the north to the Sudetes and Carpathian Mountains in the south, bordered by Lithuania and Russia[f] to the northeast, Belarus and Ukraine to the east, Slovakia and the Czech Republic to the south, and Germany to the west. Polish women are attractive and appreciated for their 'high cheekbones' and 'fuller lips', says the survey. Greece 4 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 311 Greece is a country in southeastern Europe with thousands of islands throughout the Aegean and Ionian seas. It is often called the cradle of Western civilization. Reddit users considerered its female population more beautiful than many other countries. Russia 5 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 308 Russia is a country spanning Eastern Europe and North Asia. It is the largest country in the world, and extends across eleven time zones, sharing land borders with fourteen countries. With over 140 million people, Russia is the most populous country in Europe and the ninth-most populous in the world. Czech Republic 6 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 301 The Czech Republic, also known as Czechia and historically known as Bohemia, is a landlocked country in Central Europe. According to Reddit users, women in the country are considered strikingly beautiful for their diverse looks. Sweden 7 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 296 Sweden is a Scandinavian nation with thousands of coastal islands and inland lakes, along with vast boreal forests and glaciated mountains. Iceland 8 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 284 Iceland, a Nordic island nation, is defined by its dramatic landscape with volcanoes, geysers, hot springs and lava fields. USA 9 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 281 The United States of America (USA) or America, is primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. US is home to diverse population and hence Reddir users found 'many beautiful women' coming in from this country. Brazil 10 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 276 Brazil is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth-largest country by area and the seventh-largest by population, with over 212 million people. Japan 11 / 11 Number of Reddit Upvotes: 269 Japan is an island country in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean off the northeast coast of the Asian mainland. The Japanese women are considered to be beautiful and the country is ranked at 10th spot in this list.
