Latest news with #Nicols
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Yahoo
Company CEO is 2nd person charged in case involving abuse of corpses at Austin mortuary
Austin police have arrested a second person in connection to a case involving abuse of corpses at a local mortuary. Dr. Aaron Ali, the chief executive officer of Austin-based MedtoMarket, is facing two charges: aggravated perjury, a third-degree felony punishable by up to 10 years in prison, and abuse of a corpse without legal authority, a state jail felony punishable by up to two years in state jail. In an emailed statement that described the charges as "completely unfounded," Ali's lawyer, Eric J.R. Nicols, said his client was arrested on Monday and released later in the day. An arrest affidavit for Ali said his company supplied the arms of human corpses to Capital Mortuary Services, the North Austin mortuary at the center of the case, so staff there could conduct experiments on them. That's according to a statement that mortuary owner Adaline Bui gave to authorities. Bui, who was arrested and charged last week with abuse of a corpse and tampering with a government record, told police that MedtoMarket had requested a study on the arms to see how long they could be preserved for months at a time with or without formaldehyde being injected into them, according to the affidavit. Bui also told police that "up to 15 bodies had been mutilated and subject to experimentation with the permission of MedtoMarket." More: Austin funeral home owner charged with abusing corpses, fabricating death certificates The affidavit said that Ali told police on April 10 that he had asked Capital Mortuary Services to do embalming — not testing — on two arms. He later confirmed the mortuary was embalming arms to see how long they could preserve them. 'To some degree, law enforcement investigators have to rely on information provided by others," Nicols, Ali's lawyer, said in his statement. "In this case, it is clear that law enforcement has been provided with incorrect information." Ali told authorities he never went to the mortuary to observe the testing but inquired about the condition of the arms, according to the affidavit, which said that "Ali provided that he probably would have spoken to Adeline Bui about the tests." The document noted that the executive director of the Texas Funeral Service Commission told police that it was against the law for Capital Mortuary Services to use a dead body for research or education purposes unless defined by a state code. On April 16, the affidavit said Ali testified on proposed legislation during a hearing of the Senate Committee on Health and Human Services. In his testimony, he told the committee that MedtoMarket is a "state approved anatomical facility" that works closely with "physicians, first responders, military personnel, FBI and other healthcare programs to offer essential cadaver-based training," according to the affidavit. He also said he was the chairman of the State Anatomical Advisory Committee under the Texas Funeral Service Commission, the document said. Ali told the Senate committee that all the trainings on cadavers take place at the MedtoMarket facility, according to the affidavit. But police think that Ali was not telling the truth, the document said. "Dr. Ali providing the arms to the unlicensed and unapproved facility for experimental testing, that he asked for, is completely oppositional to his statements made in the Senate about who and where approved anatomical specimen testing is allowed to take place," the affidavit said. Nicols disagreed with police, saying in his statement that 'contrary to some of the information provided to law enforcement, all of the activities by Dr. Ali and the companies he works with were fully authorized by law." "Anatomical facilities work with tissue that is donated by well-meaning donors and their families to serve the interests of medical science and the entire Texas community," Nicol said. He went on to note that Ali has had a long career "distinguished by his dedication to the health and well-being of others." "This has been shown in the area of anatomical bioskills training, education and research, as well as in his work as a board-certified physician," Nicols said. "He is also a responsible and active Travis County citizen and previously served in the United States Army Reserves." According to a biography on MedtoMarket's website, Ali is a board-certified anesthesiologist and served as chief resident during his specialty medical training at Duke University. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Second person charged in corpse abuse case at Austin mortuary
The Independent
31-03-2025
- The Independent
The best holidays to book for May 2025, from boating in France to Greek island relaxation
If May's springtime weather is merely whetting your appetite for the summer, head to southern Europe for higher temperatures without high season's high prices. Greece 's Aegean islands will be fully open for business and promise warm days, as do the exquisite baroque cities of south-eastern Sicily. Take your holiday into your own hands by driving a boat along France 's waterways. But if all you really want are long, hot sultry days by the ocean, then book a stay in a beachfront hotel in the Seychelles. If you want to stay in Britain, get to know the islands of the Outer Hebrides on a slow tour, or relax in Cornwall before the summertime crowds descend – same for the May half-term holiday at the end of the month. Wherever you decide to go in May, take a look at these holiday ideas for inspiration. Greece Lose yourself in the laid-back lifestyle of Lesvos, specifically the friendly, family-run Hotel Votsala, where the beach is right at the bottom of the garden. Join one of the family's guided walks or discover the secrets of Greek cuisine during a cookery class. Sunvil has a week's B&B departing 14 May from £938pp, including flights and transfers. Seychelles Look forward to palm-fringed white sands, ocean views and romantic dinners on the beach when you stay at the sumptuous Kempinski Seychelles Resort. Overlooking Baie Lazare on Mahé island, it's one of the most stylish resorts in the Indian Ocean archipelago, and a place to unwind completely. Tropical Sky has six nights at Kempinski from £1,879pp including flights, transfers and breakfast. Sicily One of Sicily 's most beautiful baroque cities, Noto, becomes even more enchanting from 16-20 May when it hosts the Infiorata di Noto. More than a mere flower festival, this four-day event fills the city with elaborately designed blooms and puts Noto into a party mood. Stay at the Masseria della Volpe outside the city and combine a gourmet stay in the countryside with jaunts into the city. Kirker Holidays has a three-night break in May from £896pp, including flights, breakfast and either private transfers or car hire. Scotland You'll have plenty of time to appreciate the wild beauty of the Outer Hebrides on this self-drive holiday with McKinlay Kidd. Look out for whales and dolphins as you take the ferry from Oban to Barra, your first stop before carrying on to the Uists, Harris and Lewis. Spend the days exploring empty beaches at your own pace and spotting wildlife. Eight nights' B&B on the Outer Hebrides Hopscotch tour in May cost from £1,075pp, including ferry crossings. France Meander slowly through the heart of south-west France past some of the region's most historic cities on your own self-drive boating holiday. Nicols has a week's break along the Canal de Garonne from its base in Buzet-sur-Baïse towards the cities of Agen and Moissac, with plenty of time to make vineyard visits along the way. A week's rental from 10 May costs €1,777 (£1,487), down from €2,221, for a four-cabin boat. Tuition is included, but fuel and mooring fees are extra. Cornwall Get to know the villages and hamlets around the River Fowey when you stay at Magdelene Cottage in Polruan. This cute two-bedroom cottage has bags of character, including a cosy garden and period features. It's also a handy base for taking the little ferry across the river to Fowey and visiting the sandy beach at nearby Lantic Bay. Seven nights' rental with Cornish Horizons from 10 May costs £463, down from £566. Up to two dogs are welcome at extra charge.
