Latest news with #DavidRichards
CBC
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- CBC
Giller Prize-winning author and senator David Richards joins Conservative caucus
The formerly non-affiliated New Brunswick Sen. David Richards has joined the Conservative Senate Caucus. Richards, a bestselling author and one of only a handful of writers who has received a Governor General's award in both the non-fiction and fiction categories, was appointed to the Senate in 2018 by former prime minister Justin Trudeau. "I'm proud to join the Conservative caucus and be part of a strong team that stands up for Canadians," he said in a statement released by the Leader of the Opposition in the Senate, Sen. Leo Housakos. The party said that since his appointment, Richards has "demonstrated a consistent commitment to core conservative values," including "respect for freedom of expression" and "individual responsibility." "We are proud to welcome Senator Richards to a growing Conservative Senate Caucus — one that is home to diverse opinions and healthy debate," Housakos said in a statement. As third-party leader, Trudeau removed all Liberal senators from the national caucus at the height of the Senate expenses scandal in 2014. With this appointment, the Conservative caucus in the Senate stands at 12. The current standings in the Senate now sit at 45 senators in the Independent Senators Group; 21 in the Canadian Senators Group; 18 in the Progressive Senate Group; and eight non-affiliated senators, with one vacant seat left to fill. At the time of his appointment, Richards said he was "sitting as an independent man," and that he would "make my own decisions to the best of my ability when I'm in the chamber." Richards, who was a co-winner of the 2000 Giller Prize for his novel Mercy Among the Children and has received a number of other prestigious awards, including two Geminis for script writing, will continue to represent New Brunswick.
The Sun
17-05-2025
- The Sun
Tourist, 27, jailed after killing Brit dad, 31, with vodka bottle on Prague stag do in horror ‘blind attack'
A GERMAN man has been jailed for seven years after killing a Welsh dad on a stag do in the Czech Republic. Joel Hoppe, 27, was sentenced this week at a Prague court for the murder of David 'Dai' Richards in September last year. 2 2 David was a 31-year-old father-of-three from Mountain Ash in Rhondda Cynon Taf. Czech Police spokesman Jan Daněk said: "At first, everything was calm and the tourists were chatting normally. "Then there was a rift between them and one of them hit the other in the head with a vodka bottle. "The blow was so strong that the injured person immediately fell to the ground and unfortunately died in hospital."
Daily Mail
17-05-2025
- Daily Mail
German tourist who fatally injured British father-of-three in vodka bottle attack on Prague stag do is jailed for seven years and told to pay £150,000
A German tourist who fatally injured a British father-of-three in a vodka bottle attack has been jailed for 7 years and told to pay his family £150,000. David 'Dai' Richards, 31, died from head injuries after being hit with the object while on a stag trip with his friends in Prague. Mr Richards was described as an 'absolutely amazing father, partner, son, brother, and friend' who was the 'glue of the family'. A court heard he travelled from Mountain Ash, South Wales, to Prague for the celebration in September last year - but never returned home to his relatives. Joel Hoppe, 27, has been jailed for seven years for the bottle attack - and ordered to pay more than £150,000 to his family. The court heard Mr Richards and his friends began chatting with other tourists before the assault. 'At first, everything was calm and the tourists were chatting normally,' said Czech Police spokesman Jan Daněk. 'Then there was a rift between them and one of them hit the other in the head with a vodka bottle. The blow was so strong that the injured person immediately fell to the ground and unfortunately died in hospital.' Hoppe pleaded guilty to the fatal GBH and disorderly conduct, admitting he acted in a fit of rage and under the influence of alcohol and drugs. The German reportedly told the court: 'Not a day goes by that I don't think about the late David and his children. I will accept whatever sentence you give me.' He also mentioned Mr Richards' relatives, who attended the hearing. 'It breaks my heart to see these people here today,' he said. Judge Daniella Sarah Sotolářová imposed a sentence of seven years after taking into account Hoppe's remorse and his otherwise orderly life. 'We also believed that you did not want to cause the death of the victim,' she said. Hoppe was sentenced to seven years behind bars and was ordered to pay 4.7 million crowns (£158,758) to Mr Richards' family and banned him from the Czech Republic for 10 years. A post-mortem examination by a doctor in Prague gave a provisional cause of death as brain trauma, swelling, and haemorrhaging. Pontypridd coroner Patricia Morgan opened an inquest last October and adjourned it for a 'full investigation' to take place. In a statement last September, his sister-in-law Tammy Sheehan, cousin Gemma Thomas, and partner Miss Simms said: 'It wasn't a fight like what I think some people are thinking - it was a blind attack. 'From the attack he actually passed away from blunt force trauma. David was talking to locals in the street when he took a blow to the back of the head.' Mr Richards was partner to Jola Simms and father to Aurora, aged four, Bear, two, and one-year-old Vienna. CCTV footage revealed the moment Mr Richards was killed. The distressing video appeared to show a group of men talking in the street at night before a sudden and brief fight breaks out and a man begins to fall to the ground His heartbroken family described the father-of-three as an 'absolutely amazing father, partner, son, brother, and friend.' They said he was the 'glue of the family'. 'We would describe David as having the heart of a lion. 'He was an extremely family-orientated person. He was the fun one - he always brought the energy. 'He was an absolutely amazing father, partner, son, brother, and friend. There isn't a bad word to be said about him.' Mr Richards had returned from a family holiday on Thursday before he then jetted to Prague on Friday for his pal's stag do. By 10pm that night, Jola and Gemma both received a horror call from Mr Richards' friend Nathan, who informed them he was in a critical condition. Mr Richards' family members flew into Prague, hoping he would regain consciousness. But by Saturday afternoon the heartbreaking decision was made to switch off life support machines. AFC Abercynon, where David played football, issued their own heart-wrenching statement. It said: 'The world has lost a good man - a father, a son, and a brother. 'This is a loss for all of us but the grief and sorrow that you as a family must feel are the deepest and most poignant and personal. 'Dai touched the lives of many involved at our club and we are devastated at this terrible loss. 'As a club we are here for any support you need and we are all thinking of you at this sad time. Rest in peace Dai.' CCTV footage revealed the moment Mr Richards was killed. The distressing video appeared to show a group of men talking in the street at night before a sudden and brief fight breaks out and a man begins to fall to the ground.
South Wales Argus
09-05-2025
- Sport
- South Wales Argus
Newport aim to repeat Arms Park win at Cardiff in SRC semis
There was a win apiece in December and the Black and Ambers would dearly love a repeat of their regular season triumph in the capital. They held on for a 27-20 success but the Blue and Blacks got their revenge when they clung on for a 36-30 success at Spytty Park just days later. The teams will know the other team in the inaugural SRC final when they get under way after the Bristol versus Bath fixture at Principality Stadium led to a Sunday semi-final. Newport make the short trip to Cardiff in fine form after finishing the regular season with four straight wins to pip Llandovery to third – potentially important should the Drovers beat Ebbw Vale – and they followed that up with a 40-25 quarter-final victory against Aberavon. Newport will hunt another win at Cardiff Arms Park (Image: Kian Abdullah/Huw Evans Agency) Head coach Ty Morris makes two changes with stalwart Jon Morris coming in at outside centre for David Richards, who is a replacement, while up front Ollie Drake is in for Garin Harris at tighthead. Club legend Rhys Jenkins gets the nod to be cover in the back row while there is a boost alongside him on the bench with the return from injury of hooker Wade Langley. Cardiff feature strong-running Mackenzie Martin at number eight - his duel with Newport talisman Ben Roach will be fascinating - but are without Wales Under-20s backs Steff Emanuel and Tom Bowen. Cardiff: Joe Goodchild; Elijah Evans, Osian Darwin-Lewis, Jason Harries, Dewi Cross; Lloyd Lucas, Ethan Lloyd; Marc Thomas, Alun Rees, Tom Harper, Craig Hudd, Sean Moore (captain), Aled Ward, Nathan Hudd, Mackenzie Martin. Replacements: Gavin Parry, Cam Tyler-Grocott, Christian Brooke, Evan Rees, Benji Williams, Ethan Phillips, Joe Williams, Luke Pollock. Newport: Carwyn Penny; Lloyd Lewis, Jon Morris, Chay Foster-Smith, Iestyn Galton; Jac Lloyd, Dafydd Buckland; Tom Devine, Tyler Olding, Ollie Drake, Max Williams, Josh Skinner, George Young, Kyle Tayler, Ben Roach. Replacements: Wade Langley, Tom Workman, Nathan Evans, Rhys Jenkins, Josh Reid, Luke Crane, David Richards, Elliot Frewen.
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Local high school coach leaving for the college ranks
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. (WKBN) – Craig Hannon is stepping down as the boys head basketball coach at Girard High School. Sources confirm to Sports Team 27 that he is moving on to become an assistant coach in the college ranks at his alma mater Westminster College. Hannon spent the past 13 seasons at Girard, leading the Indians to an overall record of 163-139. Under his watch, Girard advanced to back-to-back trips to the district championship game in 2014 and 2015. He joins the staff of David Richards, who was recently hired as the Titans' new men's basketball head coach. Richards and Hannon were teammates at Westminster during their playing days. Hannon, who graduated from Westminster in 2008, was inducted into the Westminster Titan Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. As a player at Westminster, Hannon was a four-time All-PAC selection (second team: 2006, 2007, 2008; honorable mention: 2005). He is Westminster's all-time leading scorer with 1,717 points. He also holds the school records for the most three-point field goals made in a single season (114) and career (355). In addition, Hannon helped the Titans qualify for the 2007 NCAA tournament for the first time in school history. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. For the latest news, weather, sports, and streaming video, head to
