Latest news with #MsHall
Daily Mirror
07-08-2025
- Daily Mirror
Teen wakes up to 'body she doesn't recognise' after crash kills her best friend
Grace Robinson, 20, and Macie Hall, 18, were riding in a Jaguar XKR sports car when the driver, Thomas Peggs, 32, ploughed into a tree and it caught fire in Gorefield, Cambridgeshire A young woman whose life was "destroyed" in a horrific car crash has been left with survivor's guilt after her friend died in the collision, her family have said. The families of the two victims of the crash, which tragically killed young mother Grace Robinson, 20, and forever changed the life of Macie Hall, 18, are speaking out for the first time. The two friends were trapped in a Jaguar XKR sports car which crashed into a tree and caught fire after the driver lost control in Gorefield, Cambs. It comes after a mum was left 'traumatised' after a dog walker pushes her in canal as she cycles to work. READ MORE: 'My husband seemed confused on Christmas holiday - then he died in front of me' Mum-of-one Ms Robinson, from Wisbech, Cambs., sadly died as a result of her injuries, whilst Ms Hall suffered a traumatic brain injury that resulted in the loss of her independence. Ms Hall's stepmother says the "torturous" period that followed the February 2023 crash "consumed" the family's lives. The driver of the crashed Jaguar, Thomas Peggs, 32, was jailed for more than three years after admitting to causing both death and serious injury by careless driving. The families of both young women have instructed serious injury lawyers at Irwin Mitchell to support them and help Ms Hall access the specialist rehab she now requires. Prior to the crash, Ms Hall worked as a carer, but is now cared for at home herself by dad Mathew Hall and stepmum Laura Byrne. Ms Byrne said: "Friday 3rd February will forever be a date engraved in our memories. "The horrors of that date, and the torturous days, weeks and months that followed, consume our lives. "For the four weeks that we endured at the hospital's critical care unit, we watched Macie's lifeless body sleep, unaware if she would ever wake up again." Due to the nature of her injuries, Ms Hall has lost her independence and now relies heavily on others to meet her everyday personal needs. She has poor mobility and is forced to use crutches and a wheelchair for long distances, and is at an increased risk of suffering seizures as a result of the traumatic brain injury she suffered. Ms Hall's family say her injuries have not only impacted her physically but have also had a profound effect on her cognitively and emotionally. "When she was woken, it was to a brain and body she did not recognise," Ms Byrne continued. "Macie spent the longest of her hospital duration in a specialist neurology rehabilitation ward where she had to learn to adapt to her new body and its now limited abilities. "We are incredibly proud of how far she has come in her recovery. Psychologically, this has also had a detrimental effect on Macie. "Left with survivor's guilt, grieving a dear friend who was a mummy as well as grieving for her own loss of life - Macie will never be the same again. "Every driver should be held accountable for their own actions. This senseless act changed many paths forever. "This could have and should have been prevented. The consequential impact on us as a family is colossal. "Lives have been destroyed and futures taken from this devastation." The devastated family of young mum Ms Robinson, also a care home worker who lived with mum Karen Robinson, 58, and stepfather Mark Jennings, 60, paid tribute to the care home worker. Her mum said her three-year-old son Tommy frequently talks about how much he misses his mum. "When I was told Grace had been in an accident, I could tell just from the tone that she was in a really bad way. "My stomach sank when I saw her in the hospital, and to be told she was brain-dead was nothing short of traumatic. "We told Tommy a few days later, on the advice of the hospital, which completely broke my heart. "Although I'm not sure he fully understands what happened, he tells people he wants to be a doctor when he grows up so he can make his mummy better. "He talks about how he misses Grace and we make sure that he knows how much she loved him. "To this day, I still can't quite comprehend that we'll never see her again. She had her whole life ahead of her and it was cut short in the cruellest way possible. "I'd give anything to have Grace back, but I know that's not possible. I just hope that by speaking out, I can make others think twice when they're out on the roads. "I wouldn't want another family suffering the pain and grief we have." Kelly Lingard, one of the Irwin Mitchell serious injury experts representing the families, said the 'tragic' case highlighted the devastating consequences of a lack of road safety. "This is a truly tragic case where a young mum has lost her life and her friend has been left with life-changing injuries," she said. "The past two years have been incredibly difficult for both Macie and Grace's families as they attempt to come to terms with what happened and how their lives have changed following the crash. "While we can't change what they've been through, Macie is making progress with her recovery and we're determined to ensure that she has access to the ongoing specialist support and treatment she continues to need. "We'll also continue to support Grace's loved ones as best we can. "This case acts as a stark reminder of the need for road users to stay safe at all times and highlights the devastating consequences innocent people can be left to face due to the careless actions of others." The driver of the car, Thomas Peggs, was also disqualified from driving for four years and ordered to undergo an extended retest.
NDTV
23-05-2025
- NDTV
On Camera, New York Influencer Punched In The Head By Stranger
A New York-based influencer was "randomly" punched by a stranger in the head in New York's Upper East Side. Kindra Hall, 44, posted security footage on Instagram and detailed the entire incident and how she struggled to get him apprehended. In her social media post, Ms Hall said the incident took place at around 10:30 AM (local time) on May 14. Although she was not planning to post the video, Ms Hall, who is also an author, noted there were a "few pieces of the story" she did not share and believed these were important for her "UES community" and fellow New York residents to know. In the viral footage, Ms Hall is seen walking on the road when a man came from the opposite direction and suddenly attacked her. Soon after being punched, she fell near the road. She was not on her phone when the incident took place and was not "distracted," the influencer added. View this post on Instagram A post shared by kindrahall (@kindrahall) After the incident, Ms Hall started filming the person who tried to walk away. At one point, he turned around and asked her to "follow" him to his residence. Ms Hall said officials from the New York Police Department (NYPD) took approximately 30 minutes to arrive at the spot. She added that they "acted like it wasn't a big deal" even when she showed them the video with the accused person shouting threats. Ms Hall said she "refused to back down" and agreed to visit the address the accused person shouted in the video after she told them she had a "headache". She added, "I can't describe how terrifying that was. Maybe they were hoping I'd refuse and give up?" In the latter part of the video, the accused can be seen getting handcuffed by police officials at the address he mentioned. He has been identified as Yao Reed, 43. Ms Hall claimed she sourced the security footage and not the cops. They walked into the nail salon only when she pointed out the CCTV, but she was told that only the owner had access to the footage. Later, her husband visited the salon and they "happily" got him in touch with the owner, who handed over the footage in "five minutes." According to The New York Post, Reed has been charged with third-degree assault. Police officials said they were responding to several "high-priority" calls in the area at the time of the incident, which included shots being fired. Ms Hall felt "grateful" that things did not turn worse. "I'm grateful it was me and not someone who couldn't take the hit or the fall," she said. She hoped the accused would get the help and services "he clearly needs."
Sky News AU
22-05-2025
- Business
- Sky News AU
'Malty richness': Tasmania's first ever bourbon 'whiskey' released, as well as sought-after Kentucky tipple
An American investment banker who was raised in a winemaking family in California has released Tasmania's first bourbon-style whiskey at Rosevears in the Tamar Valley. Justin Turner had planned to build his whiskey distillery in the US, but all that changed when he fell head over heels in love with Taswegian Sarah-Jayne Hall. Ms Hall was working as a corporate lawyer in New York when their paths crossed on St Patrick's Day in 2012. Mr Turner, a financier and German language scholar, was working at the big end of town valuing multi, multimillion dollar assets like ports, water utilities and transport infrastructure when he proposed. He said he had his 'epiphany' when visiting Ms Hall's parents in Tasmania. Overcome by its raw beauty of the southern state he decided to exit the hurly-burly of high finance where he spent 14 years. A quieter life newlyweds made their headquarters, Turner Stillhouse, in a disused barrel room beside Tamar Ridge winery, 18km northwest of Launceston, in 2018. They installed a 3,000-litre copper hybrid still they imported from Oregon and began making gin under the Rosevears label to pay the Mr Turner says his first love remains whiskey. He spells it with the 'e'. Here is a good time to point out that whiskey in America and Ireland is spelt with an 'e' and while Australia, Scotland, Canada, and Japan spell whisky without the 'e'. 'Whiskey is my passion. That is why I started the distillery,' he said. He has just released Rosevears Tasmanian Three Grain Whiskey and Rosevears Tasmanian Single Malt Whisky (each $179). The Three Grains is made from corn, rye and barley, all grown in Tassie. The corn delivers the sweetness, the rye the spice and the barley the malty richness. Mr Turner said the firm's Three Cuts Gin ($80) remained the distillery's flagship brand. More than 15,600 km away in Kentucky, another special bourbon was released. Wild Turkey Jimmy Russell's 70th Anniversary eight-year-old bourbon ($135) pays homage to the man they call the 'Buddha of Bourbon', said to be the longest-tenured and active master distiller in the world. Jimmy Russell is 91 and still turns up at the distillery at Lawrenceburg Kentucky (population 12,112) to offer advice and welcome tourists. 'He still comes out to our visitors centre at least two or three days a week to talk to our visitors, swirl and sip, and sign bottles," said his son Eddie Russell, 65, also a master distiller. 'He doesn't get around too good anymore, but you cannot keep him away from the distillery. 'All up, one and a half million tourists visit Kentucky each year to taste bourbon. We do over 100,000 tourists at our distillery.' There are 35 distilleries producing hundreds of bourbons on the Kentucky Bourbon Trail. The Buddha of Bourbon said in a statement he has not lost his passion for bourbon. 'I've never worked a day in my life,' he said. 'The day I do, I'll retire. Until then, I'll keep making the bourbon I love.' Australia has overtaken Japan as Wild Turkey's biggest export market, Eddie Russell said in a phone interview. He is a regular Down Under, hosting bourbon dinners in Brisbane, Sydney, Melbourne and Adalaide. They invariably sell out. 'There is an Aussie Wild Turkey Collectors' Club, and they are a great bunch of people,' Mr Russell said. I found the new Wild Turkey release one of the best bourbons I have tasted and I'm sure bourbon aficionados will swoon over it. It is a fandango of aromas and flavours. It begins with fragrances of honey, oak, cinnamon, and tobacco and is followed by flavours of vanilla, butterscotch, sweet cream, cherries, spice and rich chocolate. Don't drink it, sip it, says Jimmy. Slowly.
The Independent
06-04-2025
- Politics
- The Independent
Son of British couple detained by Taliban call on US to help secure their release
The son of a British couple detained by the Taliban has asked US officials to help facilitate their release from a prison in Afghanistan. Peter Reynolds, 79, and his wife Barbie Reynolds, 75, were arrested by Taliban officials on 1 February when they were returning to their home in Afghanistan's Bamyan province. Their friend – American citizen Faye Hall – and an Afghan interpreter were also arrested but Ms Hall was released on 29 March. Jonathan Reynolds, their son, said anyone who can secure the release of his parents, should 'do it now'. "Anybody who has the ability to unlock that key and let them out, whether it be the Taliban, whether it be the British government or whether it be the American government, I would ask – do it now, please,' Mr Reynolds told the BBC. "And if you have the ability to put the pressure on the people who hold that key, do it now, please," he said. The remarks from him come shortly after the US facilitated the release of Ms Hall, who was detained alongside the British couple, and managed to get her out of the Taliban's custody. She was freed last month following a court order and logistical support from Qatar in its role as America's 'protecting power' and diplomatic representative in Afghanistan after the Taliban takeover. The Taliban called her release a 'goodwill gesture' towards president Donald Trump 's administration. However, the British couple continues to remain in Taliban's custody without any formal charges filed against them. The Taliban has said the detention came after a 'misunderstanding' that they had fake Afghan passports. The couple, who married in Kabul in 1970, have been running Rebuild, an organisation that provides education and training programmes for businesses, government agencies and NGOs in Afghanistan for 18 years now. 'They've been in and out of court, which is infuriating for them because there's no charges and they are told every single time: yes, they are innocent, it's just a formality, we've made a mistake,' he said. Mr Reynolds said he is having 'excruciatingly painful' conversations with his parents via a prison payphone. Mr Reynolds said that they have 'been open' about their work in Afghanistan and sought to work with the Taliban. In February, and said: 'A series of considerations is being taken into account, and after evaluation, we will endeavour to release them as soon as possible'. However, there has been no respite for the couple despite appeals of reprieve during the month of Ramadan made by their children to the Taliban. In their previous appeal to the Taliban, the children said: 'We sincerely hope that this request will be embraced as a compassionate gesture during the sacred month of Ramadan, a time when the principles of mercy and compassion are especially valued in Islam.' The couple's condition inside the prison was denounced by their children who said the detention was 'unjust and cruel'. They were moved to a maximum security prison after being separated, their daughter Sarah Entwistles told The Independent. Mr Reynolds is in immense pain after he was beaten and shackled by the Taliban, according to his family members.
Yahoo
13-03-2025
- Yahoo
Murdered girl's mum says dad would 'never harm' her
In January, Simon Vickers was found guilty of murdering his 14-year-old daughter Scarlett after a jury rejected his claim he had killed her in a play-fight. His partner, Scarlett's mother, is adamant it was an accident. It's the question Sarah Hall will hear for the rest of her life - how can she possibly support the man who was convicted of murdering her daughter? "I know he'd never harm Scarlett," she insists. Ms Hall claims 5 July had been a normal Friday night at the family's Darlington home. She says the close-knit trio, who dubbed themselves the Three S's, called them "happy Fridays" as it meant another week of work and school was over. Scarlett ate her dinner and spent the evening in her bedroom, chatting with friends and playing games online. Her parents drank wine and watched the men's European Football Championships on TV in the living room. Vickers also smoked some cannabis, something he regularly did to ease backache caused by his manual job in a factory, Ms Hall says. At about 22:00 BST, the teenager joined her parents in their small kitchen where her mother was putting the finishing touches to the adults' tea, spaghetti bolognese and garlic bread. Ms Hall becomes very emotional when she describes what happened next. She and her daughter were throwing grapes into each other's mouths, she says, having "just a fun fight". Vickers also joined in. As Ms Hall was busy draining off the pasta in the sink, her partner of 27 years and their daughter were "mucking about by the back door". Precisely what happened next is still the source of much confusion for her, but she is certain it was not criminal. During the play-fight, Ms Hall says she accidentally nipped Vickers with the kitchen tongs. He reacted and Scarlett "jokingly" called him a wimp, Ms Hall says. Vickers replied "how would you like it" and swiped the tongs across the worktop towards his daughter, Ms Hall says. A kitchen knife had been placed next to the tongs, ready to cut the garlic bread, and Ms Hall believes the utensil caught the knife and wedged it against a granite chopping board, leaving the blade protruding out from the bench. At that same moment, Scarlett moved towards her dad, perhaps in a bid to grab the tongs, and ran on to the blade, Ms Hall says. During Vickers' trial, he also claimed the injury was inflicted accidentally, but a pathologist said it was "practically impossible" for it to have been caused by anything other than a knife being held firmly in a hand. Vickers initially said he hurled a knife instead of what he thought was a spatula, but also told paramedics and police at the scene Scarlett had "lunged" towards him and the blade "just went in". Sentencing Vickers, judge Mr Justice Cotter said he had "no doubt" Scarlett's father had been holding the knife. What Ms Hall knows for sure is her daughter cried "ow", then blood started to pour from her side. "I just thought 'that's not right, there's something seriously wrong'," Ms Hall says. Ms Hall grabbed a tea towel to try and stem the bleeding, her daughter collapsing to the floor. Vickers took over from her and shouted at Ms Hall to call 999. It took the ambulance what "felt like forever" to come, but paramedics were actually there within minutes and immediately started trying to save Scarlett's life. Their efforts were in vain. Scarlett died from a single 4in-deep (11cm) stab wound to her chest. The blade needed only mild force to pass between her ribs and into her heart, causing catastrophic bleeding, a pathologist would later say. The police arrived and Ms Hall and Vickers were arrested for attempted murder and taken to separate police stations. When Ms Hall was given the news her daughter had died, she cried: "No, no, please no. My little girl." She was given a sedative and put into a cell where she remembers waking up intermittently, crying, before lapsing back into her medicated sleep. Scarlett was the girl who had always made her parents laugh. She was bursting with energy, beautiful, boisterous and sassy, her mother says. "She was an incredible girl and she was becoming an incredible young woman." Both Ms Hall and Vickers were initially charged with murdering their daughter, but the case against her was quickly dropped and Vickers alone stood trial at Teesside Crown Court in January. The strongest evidence against him was from pathologist Dr Jennifer Bolton, who concluded the knife must have been being firmly held in a hand to cause the injuries it did. After a 10-day trial, during which Ms Hall gave evidence in support of Vickers, and about 13 hours of deliberation, jurors found him guilty of murder with a 10 to two majority. Vickers could have pleaded guilty to the lesser charge of manslaughter but Ms Hall says he said he needed "to stand up in court and tell them that he would never, ever harm" Scarlett. Jailing him for life with a minimum prison term of 15 years, Mr Justice Cotter said a "momentary but devastating act of anger" had robbed Scarlett of her life, adding Vickers' account of it being a "freak accident" was "unconvincing and wholly implausible". Ms Hall says that is "absurd", adding her partner "never had a flash of anger". "I was there that night," she says. "There were no arguments. There was no temper, no shouting." She says she was shocked when the verdict was announced, adding: "I thought I'd misheard. "It's just been a never-ending nightmare." Responding to social media speculation in the aftermath of the trial that Vickers must have been a controlling and abusive partner, Ms Hall said: "No, never. "He was understanding, comforting. "[Our relationship] was very supportive, never controlling." Ms Hall says her family was a happy one and they "did everything together". Vickers and Scarlett had a very loving relationship, Ms Hall says, adding they were "as daft as each other". When challenged about how she can stay with Vickers, Ms Hall says she is still resolutely supporting him. "How can I blame him for an accident when I know he's in as much pain as I am?" she says. "If I thought he'd done it deliberately then no, I wouldn't have been here [doing this interview]. "I would have protected her with my life, as would he." At Vickers' sentencing, the court heard Ms Hall's and Vickers' parents remained "resolute in their belief" he "did not intend Scarlett any harm". Ms Hall dreams about her daughter every night, remembering with horror each morning that she's really gone. "I just want her back so much," she says. "I'm not sleeping well, I'm not eating well. I'm just existing." She has only been back to their home on Geneva Road three times since Scarlett's death. The semi-detached house is now just a "shell" because "they're not here", she says. "It was a happy house," she says. "I see the memories everywhere. "Even going back into [Scarlett's] bedroom, she left a blazer there with all her school stuff still in. "Everything was just left how it was." Vickers' sentence is set to be reviewed by the Court of Appeal, after Solicitor General Lucy Rigby KC said she thought it was too lenient. A list of organisations in the UK offering support and information with some of the issues in this story is available at BBC Action Line Follow BBC North East on X and Facebook and BBC Cumbria on X and Facebook and both on Nextdoor and Instagram. Dad guilty of 14-year-old daughter's murder Teenagers pay tribute to stabbed girl Girl's fatal wound 'impossible' from thrown knife
