Latest news with #LucyPowell
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Yahoo
Tragedy of pregnant mum killed by her paranoid boyfriend before taking his own life
A much-loved mum was pregnant with her third child when she was killed by her paranoid boyfriend who ended his own life after their relationship broke down. Mum-of-two Lucy Powell, just 21, was less than 12 weeks pregnant when her 47-year-old partner Gregory Duhamel smothered her to death at their home in Stechford. Police found the "fabulous mum" and Duhamel unresponsive at their home in Swancote Road on January 27, 2022. READ MORE: 'Fabulous' mum was pregnant when boyfriend smothered her to death before taking his own life Officers had forced their way into the property after Lucy's dad, Robert, raised the alarm when his daughter failed to pick up her phone or answer the door. The couple's bodies were found in their bedroom. Lucy had red marks around her neck. A post-mortem examination later confirmed Lucy had died by 'smothering'; Duhamel by hanging. And this week an inquest into Lucy's death confirmed what her family had long feared: her life was ended by Duhamel who had fallen into a jealous rage after he suspected her of being unfaithful. Shortly before his death, paranoid Duhamel had left a note on the couple's staircase which made it clear he was "angry with Lucy". Area coroner Ms Brown said it indicated an intention to end his life and that Lucy, who he believed was cheating on him, was "also going to die". But Det Chief Insp Laura Harrison of West Midlands Police said his claims of infidelity were unfounded. However it was clear the couple's relationship had broken down after speaking to Lucy's colleagues and their children's nursery teachers, she said. Lucy, who leaves behind two children who she "adored", was last seen the day before her body was discovered. CCTV captured her dropping off her children at nursery and later leaving work. Duhamel was last seen on CCTV in the early hours of the 27th when he made a journey in a Volkswagen before later dropping off their children at nursery. Ms Harrison said there was enough evidence, had he survived, to pursue a murder charge against Duhamel after a police probe found no indication of third-party involvement. Area coroner Ms Brown recorded Lucy's death "as a result of an unlawful killing" by smothering. "My view is, given the note, he was extremely angry with her and he did not intend for her to be around to raise his children," she said. "Lucy had told a friend that her relationship was over and Mr Duhamel did not accept this easily." Ms Brown said it was "very clear" Duhamel "intended" the hard-working mum's death. In a touching tribute, her family said: "Lucy was a kind, caring beautiful person inside and out and always put a smile on everyone's face. "She was a brilliant, loving mother to her two young children. "She was taken from us way too soon and nothing will ever fill the heart-breaking hole in our hearts. Rest in peace our special girl. "Loved by all, Lucy will be missed so much."
Glasgow Times
5 days ago
- Business
- Glasgow Times
Do you have to pay council tax if you receive DWP benefits?
Although you can sometimes get a discount automatically on your council tax bill, this is not always the case. If you're unsure whether you're already getting a discount, check your bill or contact the council. You might still be entitled to one if you're not getting a discount. It depends on who lives in the property. If you live in a Labour-run council, your council tax is on average £300 lower. Meanwhile, the Tories are so desperate to out Reform Reform, they've become indistinguishable. Today's Business Questions 👇 — Lucy Powell MP (@LucyMPowell) May 1, 2025 Check if you can apply for Council Tax Reduction (CTR) If you're on a low income you might be able to get your council tax reduced. If you get benefits or have other people living with you, this might affect how much your council tax is reduced. Your local council will ask you for details about your income and your circumstances, so they can work out if you're entitled to Council Tax Reduction (CTR). They will then work out your new bill and tell you how much council tax you need to pay. If you have other people living with you who are aged 18 or over, you might all be responsible for paying council tax. Only one of you needs to apply for CTR. You won't normally get an actual payment if you're awarded CTR. The council will reduce the amount of council tax you have to pay. Recommended reading: Check if you can get a single-person discount If you're the only adult in your home, you'll get a 25% discount on your council tax bill. When working out how many people live in a property, some people aren't counted - they're called 'disregarded people'. If everyone who lives in the property is disregarded, there's still a council tax bill, but it will have a 50% discount. If everyone in your home is a student or severely mentally impaired, you won't pay any council tax. Tell the council if you're entitled to a discount because someone has moved out. You're entitled to the discount from when the person moved out, even if you told the council later. Others might also be disregarded - for example, some live-in care workers. Your local council will tell you if they're disregarded when you apply. If you live with an adult who isn't disregarded You might get another discount called a 'second adult rebate'. The person you live with must be on a low income or getting certain benefits. If you have another home Your local council might give you a discount if you have another home you don't live in - for example, if it's not safe to live in or it's connected to your main home.
Daily Mail
22-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Jealous boyfriend smothered partner to death before killing himself after wrongly accusing her of cheating on him, inquest told
A jealous man smothered his girlfriend to death with a pillow before hanging himself because she ended their relationship, an inquest has heard. Mother-of-two Lucy Powell, 21, was discovered dead lying on a bed at a house in Swancote Road, Stechford, in Birmingham on the evening of January 27, 2022. Officers forced their way into the address after her father raised concerns and they found the bodies of Ms Powell and 47-year-old Gregory Duhamel. Birmingham Coroners Court heard today Duhamel killed Ms Powell after wrongly accusing her of cheating before hanging himself in the bedroom. A note left by Duhamel indicated an intention to take his own life and added how 'Lucy would die as well'. A post mortem examination revealed the 21-year-old died from asphyxia caused by smothering while Duhamel's death was a result of suspension by ligature. Birmingham Area Coroner Emma Brown described Ms Powell, who worked as a carer, as a 'devoted and hard working mum' who still found time to pursue arts and crafts. She had lived at the address with Duhamel, who was the father of her children, but evidence found revealed they were intending to sell the property. Ms Brown said it was clear from those who knew Ms Powell and the note left by Duhamel at the scene that the relationship had come to an end. On January 27, Ms Powell's father had gone to Stechford police station to report his daughter was missing after she failed to collect her children from nursery. Police then went to the address and forced their way inside after getting no response. Officers found Duhamel hanging while Ms Powell was discovered lying in the bedroom. Ms Brown said: 'There was no sign that entry had been forced to the property and there was no sign of significant disorder in the bedroom. 'Ms Powell was a fit and strong young woman. 'A police investigation has confirmed that Lucy had ended the relationship and that Duhamel did not accept this. 'It is clear from the investigation that Duhamel killed Lucy and then himself. 'I find that Lucy was smothered by her partner.' She added Duhamel had believed Lucy had cheated on him but there was no evidence to support that. The coroner recorded she had been unlawfully killed. Following her death In a heartbreaking tribute, Ms Powell's family said: 'Lucy was a kind, caring beautiful person inside and out and always put a smile on everyone's face. 'She was a brilliant, loving mother to her two young children. 'She was taken from us way too soon and nothing will ever fill the heart-breaking hole in our hearts.
BBC News
21-07-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Northumbria Police to probe Orgreave miner strike files disposal
A police force is investigating itself over the destruction of documents related to the miners' about the so-called Battle of Orgreave was said to be among two boxes disposed of by Northumbria Police in April 2024, with the force saying in June 2025 that it was acting in line with data protection leader of the House of Commons Lucy Powell had called the disposal of the files "deeply worrying".The Orgreave Truth and Justice Campaign said Northumbria Police's investigation into its destruction of the files needed to be "swift and transparent". The violent clash in June 1984 outside a coking plant in Orgreave, South Yorkshire, led to many miners being injured and arrested, although their trials later of miners were bussed to the coking works on 18 June 1984 by the National Union of Mineworkers, where they were met by an estimated 6,000 police officers from across the least 120 miners and police officers were injured in the violence and 95 picketers were arrested. A national inquiry into the day's events has now been announced by Home Secretary Yvette said the inquiry had been put "in our Labour manifesto last year and that's what we're now delivering".Northumbria Police said it was "carrying out an investigation into the circumstances around the disposal" of the two boxes."We very much recognise the strength of feeling and concern within our communities at the disposal of information relating to the miners' strike," a spokesperson said. Follow BBC North East on X, Facebook, Nextdoor and Instagram.
The Independent
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Fine witnesses who mislead select committees, MP urges
Fines for contempt of Parliament need a 'statutory footing' to stop witnesses from misleading select committees, an MP has said. Mark Pritchard warned that witnesses 'get away with it' if they provide inaccurate evidence and statements. According Parliament's rulebook Erskine May, the Commons has not imposed a fine in 359 years, since 1666, the year the Great Fire of London broke out. 'Of course, there is the ministerial code, there are the Nolan Principles, and there is the contempt of Parliament procedures, but there hasn't been a fine since that time,' Mr Pritchard told the Commons. 'And for members and non-members alike, what is the deterrent? What is the incentive, even, for telling the truth to this place? 'Ministers of course can be brought back to the House, correct the record, but people giving evidence to select committees? There really is a gap at the moment. 'Isn't it time we put fines on a statutory basis for members and non-members alike so that we can always be assured that people are incentivised to tell the truth, and have a deterrent should they be tempted not to tell the truth?' Commons Leader Lucy Powell said Mr Pritchard had raised a 'very, very serious issue'. She added that there are 'many, many ways for members to hold ministers account', including by raising points of order, asking questions, and making complaints through a standards procedure. Conservative MP Mr Pritchard later told the PA news agency: 'The current sanctions for ministers and MPs work quite well, but for non-member witnesses giving evidence to Parliament, the sanctions are weak to non-existent. 'Fines for contempt before a select committee, for example, need to be put on a statutory footing. 'This will act as both a deterrent and incentive for all public officials and external witnesses who might be tempted, on the rarest of occasions, to mislead Parliament whilst giving evidence before any of Parliament's committees.' The Wrekin MP added: 'Currently, anyone apart from members and ministers can lie to Parliament, if they were so tempted, and get away with it. 'That is a significant gap in Parliament's powers to scrutinise. 'Other Parliaments have considerably more powers than Westminster to sanction anyone who lies to the legislature.' New Zealand's House of Representatives is one such Parliament, where its members can agree to fine people up to 1,000 US dollars for contempt.
