Killer: Emma Wilson is serving life for killing
her baby son Callum
Medics missed several chances to intervene
before an evil mum battered her baby son to
death - taking a selfie during the act.
Tragic Callum Wilson died aged just 11-
months-old from serious brain injuries in 2011
inflicted by his mum Emma.
The twisted 25-year-old even snapped a
picture of herself with the screaming tot in the
background.
A report published today revealed how care
professionals ignored injuries he suffered in
violent beatings.
GPs, health workers and children's centre staff
shrugged off bruising and scratches on tragic
Callum Wilson seven times in the weeks before
his death.
Their catalogue of failures meant fractures
inflicted on the tot by his mum Emma Wilson
during months of abuse went unnoticed and
chances to save him were missed.
Instead, they believed her repeated lies that
innocent Callum's "spiteful" two-year-old
brother was to blame for his wounds.
A serious case review published yesterday
concluded professionals would "probably have
prevented" the 11-month-old's death if they
read the signs of physical abuse.
It noted there were "significant lessons" to be
learned and issued 79 recommendations to
local NHS organisations and children's
services at the Royal Borough of Windsor and
Maidenhead.
Donald McPhail, chairman of the local
safeguarding children board, yesterday
apologised for failing to prevent Callum's
death.
He said: "I would like to repeat our regret this
tragic outcome hasn't been avoided."
Wilson, of Windsor, Berks., is serving life
behind bars with a minimum sentence of 14
years after being found guilty of his murder at
the Old Bailey.
The 25-year-old had concealed his birth from
her parents and claimed she had not known
she was pregnant. Callum was placed into
foster care shortly after in April 2010.
The tot came close to being adopted a few
months later however eventually Wilson
decided "her heart was saying" she wanted to
bring him home.
Callum moved in with his mum and her older
son, who was then two and cannot be named
for legal reasons, in November 2010.
Despite the strange circumstances surrounding
his birth and fostering, no "child in need" plan
was put in place by social workers.
Over the following weeks Wilson unleashed a
series of vicious beatings on her defenceless
son that caused his death.
The final attack was so violent neighbours to
Wilson's flat recalled the ceiling shook with the
force.
Little Callum suffered a catastrophic brain
injury and was left blind by the force of the
blows. He died in hospital two days later in
March 2011.
Doctors found Callum had old fractures to his
ribs, arm and leg that had happened two
weeks before the baby's death.
In a further sick twist, Wilson took a selfie of
herself with a screaming Callum after one of
the beatings.
She had her child buried in an unmarked
communal grave. The serious case review
states the first signs that should have caused
concerns came months before in December
2010.
A social worker and several other care
professionals noted scratches on the tot.
The first sign of physical abuse were spotted
by a GP in January 2011, who found faded
bruises on Callum's forehead and scratches to
his face.
In his notes from the examination, the GP
wrote the cause was Callum's older brother,
noting: "Two-year-old brother - spiteful."
Following this there were six further incidents
where children's centre staff and health visitors
- who were struggling with work loads - noted
bruising.
The serious case review notes the injuries were
"highly suspicious", adding: "The professionals
involved should have responded differently and
they should have been reported to the local
authority so that child protection enquiries
could be undertaken."
The day before he was beaten to death, a
health visitor had quizzed Wilson on Callum's
health.
Despite multiple bruises to the boy's head and
a lack of weight gain, the health visitor did not
inform social workers.
Her advice to Wilson was "not to leave the two
children alone together".
Alison Alexander, strategic director of
children's services in Windsor and
Maidenhead, said: "The review does raise
concerns at all levels, it doesn't just point
fingers at the social workers.
"It clearly identifies there were missed
opportunities at all levels."
The borough has introduced new policies on
bruising and concealed pregnancies to prevent
future mistakes.
However Ms Alexander admitted the council
"cannot guarantee" a similar tragedy will not
happen again in future due to the complexity of
these types of cases.
Monday, March 31, 2014
Wicked
Killer: Emma Wilson is serving life for killing
her baby son Callum
Medics missed several chances to intervene
before an evil mum battered her baby son to
death - taking a selfie during the act.
Tragic Callum Wilson died aged just 11-
months-old from serious brain injuries in 2011
inflicted by his mum Emma.
The twisted 25-year-old even snapped a
picture of herself with the screaming tot in the
background.
A report published today revealed how care
professionals ignored injuries he suffered in
violent beatings.
GPs, health workers and children's centre staff
shrugged off bruising and scratches on tragic
Callum Wilson seven times in the weeks before
his death.
Their catalogue of failures meant fractures
inflicted on the tot by his mum Emma Wilson
during months of abuse went unnoticed and
chances to save him were missed.
Instead, they believed her repeated lies that
innocent Callum's "spiteful" two-year-old
brother was to blame for his wounds.
A serious case review published yesterday
concluded professionals would "probably have
prevented" the 11-month-old's death if they
read the signs of physical abuse.
It noted there were "significant lessons" to be
learned and issued 79 recommendations to
local NHS organisations and children's
services at the Royal Borough of Windsor and
Maidenhead.
Donald McPhail, chairman of the local
safeguarding children board, yesterday
apologised for failing to prevent Callum's
death.
He said: "I would like to repeat our regret this
tragic outcome hasn't been avoided."
Wilson, of Windsor, Berks., is serving life
behind bars with a minimum sentence of 14
years after being found guilty of his murder at
the Old Bailey.
The 25-year-old had concealed his birth from
her parents and claimed she had not known
she was pregnant. Callum was placed into
foster care shortly after in April 2010.
The tot came close to being adopted a few
months later however eventually Wilson
decided "her heart was saying" she wanted to
bring him home.
Callum moved in with his mum and her older
son, who was then two and cannot be named
for legal reasons, in November 2010.
Despite the strange circumstances surrounding
his birth and fostering, no "child in need" plan
was put in place by social workers.
Over the following weeks Wilson unleashed a
series of vicious beatings on her defenceless
son that caused his death.
The final attack was so violent neighbours to
Wilson's flat recalled the ceiling shook with the
force.
Little Callum suffered a catastrophic brain
injury and was left blind by the force of the
blows. He died in hospital two days later in
March 2011.
Doctors found Callum had old fractures to his
ribs, arm and leg that had happened two
weeks before the baby's death.
In a further sick twist, Wilson took a selfie of
herself with a screaming Callum after one of
the beatings.
She had her child buried in an unmarked
communal grave. The serious case review
states the first signs that should have caused
concerns came months before in December
2010.
A social worker and several other care
professionals noted scratches on the tot.
The first sign of physical abuse were spotted
by a GP in January 2011, who found faded
bruises on Callum's forehead and scratches to
his face.
In his notes from the examination, the GP
wrote the cause was Callum's older brother,
noting: "Two-year-old brother - spiteful."
Following this there were six further incidents
where children's centre staff and health visitors
- who were struggling with work loads - noted
bruising.
The serious case review notes the injuries were
"highly suspicious", adding: "The professionals
involved should have responded differently and
they should have been reported to the local
authority so that child protection enquiries
could be undertaken."
The day before he was beaten to death, a
health visitor had quizzed Wilson on Callum's
health.
Despite multiple bruises to the boy's head and
a lack of weight gain, the health visitor did not
inform social workers.
Her advice to Wilson was "not to leave the two
children alone together".
Alison Alexander, strategic director of
children's services in Windsor and
Maidenhead, said: "The review does raise
concerns at all levels, it doesn't just point
fingers at the social workers.
"It clearly identifies there were missed
opportunities at all levels."
The borough has introduced new policies on
bruising and concealed pregnancies to prevent
future mistakes.
However Ms Alexander admitted the council
"cannot guarantee" a similar tragedy will not
happen again in future due to the complexity of
these types of cases.
her baby son Callum
Medics missed several chances to intervene
before an evil mum battered her baby son to
death - taking a selfie during the act.
Tragic Callum Wilson died aged just 11-
months-old from serious brain injuries in 2011
inflicted by his mum Emma.
The twisted 25-year-old even snapped a
picture of herself with the screaming tot in the
background.
A report published today revealed how care
professionals ignored injuries he suffered in
violent beatings.
GPs, health workers and children's centre staff
shrugged off bruising and scratches on tragic
Callum Wilson seven times in the weeks before
his death.
Their catalogue of failures meant fractures
inflicted on the tot by his mum Emma Wilson
during months of abuse went unnoticed and
chances to save him were missed.
Instead, they believed her repeated lies that
innocent Callum's "spiteful" two-year-old
brother was to blame for his wounds.
A serious case review published yesterday
concluded professionals would "probably have
prevented" the 11-month-old's death if they
read the signs of physical abuse.
It noted there were "significant lessons" to be
learned and issued 79 recommendations to
local NHS organisations and children's
services at the Royal Borough of Windsor and
Maidenhead.
Donald McPhail, chairman of the local
safeguarding children board, yesterday
apologised for failing to prevent Callum's
death.
He said: "I would like to repeat our regret this
tragic outcome hasn't been avoided."
Wilson, of Windsor, Berks., is serving life
behind bars with a minimum sentence of 14
years after being found guilty of his murder at
the Old Bailey.
The 25-year-old had concealed his birth from
her parents and claimed she had not known
she was pregnant. Callum was placed into
foster care shortly after in April 2010.
The tot came close to being adopted a few
months later however eventually Wilson
decided "her heart was saying" she wanted to
bring him home.
Callum moved in with his mum and her older
son, who was then two and cannot be named
for legal reasons, in November 2010.
Despite the strange circumstances surrounding
his birth and fostering, no "child in need" plan
was put in place by social workers.
Over the following weeks Wilson unleashed a
series of vicious beatings on her defenceless
son that caused his death.
The final attack was so violent neighbours to
Wilson's flat recalled the ceiling shook with the
force.
Little Callum suffered a catastrophic brain
injury and was left blind by the force of the
blows. He died in hospital two days later in
March 2011.
Doctors found Callum had old fractures to his
ribs, arm and leg that had happened two
weeks before the baby's death.
In a further sick twist, Wilson took a selfie of
herself with a screaming Callum after one of
the beatings.
She had her child buried in an unmarked
communal grave. The serious case review
states the first signs that should have caused
concerns came months before in December
2010.
A social worker and several other care
professionals noted scratches on the tot.
The first sign of physical abuse were spotted
by a GP in January 2011, who found faded
bruises on Callum's forehead and scratches to
his face.
In his notes from the examination, the GP
wrote the cause was Callum's older brother,
noting: "Two-year-old brother - spiteful."
Following this there were six further incidents
where children's centre staff and health visitors
- who were struggling with work loads - noted
bruising.
The serious case review notes the injuries were
"highly suspicious", adding: "The professionals
involved should have responded differently and
they should have been reported to the local
authority so that child protection enquiries
could be undertaken."
The day before he was beaten to death, a
health visitor had quizzed Wilson on Callum's
health.
Despite multiple bruises to the boy's head and
a lack of weight gain, the health visitor did not
inform social workers.
Her advice to Wilson was "not to leave the two
children alone together".
Alison Alexander, strategic director of
children's services in Windsor and
Maidenhead, said: "The review does raise
concerns at all levels, it doesn't just point
fingers at the social workers.
"It clearly identifies there were missed
opportunities at all levels."
The borough has introduced new policies on
bruising and concealed pregnancies to prevent
future mistakes.
However Ms Alexander admitted the council
"cannot guarantee" a similar tragedy will not
happen again in future due to the complexity of
these types of cases.
Wicked
Killer: Emma Wilson is serving life for killing
her baby son Callum
Medics missed several chances to intervene
before an evil mum battered her baby son to
death - taking a selfie during the act.
Tragic Callum Wilson died aged just 11-
months-old from serious brain injuries in 2011
inflicted by his mum Emma.
The twisted 25-year-old even snapped a
picture of herself with the screaming tot in the
background.
A report published today revealed how care
professionals ignored injuries he suffered in
violent beatings.
GPs, health workers and children's centre staff
shrugged off bruising and scratches on tragic
Callum Wilson seven times in the weeks before
his death.
Their catalogue of failures meant fractures
inflicted on the tot by his mum Emma Wilson
during months of abuse went unnoticed and
chances to save him were missed.
Instead, they believed her repeated lies that
innocent Callum's "spiteful" two-year-old
brother was to blame for his wounds.
A serious case review published yesterday
concluded professionals would "probably have
prevented" the 11-month-old's death if they
read the signs of physical abuse.
It noted there were "significant lessons" to be
learned and issued 79 recommendations to
local NHS organisations and children's
services at the Royal Borough of Windsor and
Maidenhead.
Donald McPhail, chairman of the local
safeguarding children board, yesterday
apologised for failing to prevent Callum's
death.
He said: "I would like to repeat our regret this
tragic outcome hasn't been avoided."
Wilson, of Windsor, Berks., is serving life
behind bars with a minimum sentence of 14
years after being found guilty of his murder at
the Old Bailey.
The 25-year-old had concealed his birth from
her parents and claimed she had not known
she was pregnant. Callum was placed into
foster care shortly after in April 2010.
The tot came close to being adopted a few
months later however eventually Wilson
decided "her heart was saying" she wanted to
bring him home.
Callum moved in with his mum and her older
son, who was then two and cannot be named
for legal reasons, in November 2010.
Despite the strange circumstances surrounding
his birth and fostering, no "child in need" plan
was put in place by social workers.
Over the following weeks Wilson unleashed a
series of vicious beatings on her defenceless
son that caused his death.
The final attack was so violent neighbours to
Wilson's flat recalled the ceiling shook with the
force.
Little Callum suffered a catastrophic brain
injury and was left blind by the force of the
blows. He died in hospital two days later in
March 2011.
Doctors found Callum had old fractures to his
ribs, arm and leg that had happened two
weeks before the baby's death.
In a further sick twist, Wilson took a selfie of
herself with a screaming Callum after one of
the beatings.
She had her child buried in an unmarked
communal grave. The serious case review
states the first signs that should have caused
concerns came months before in December
2010.
A social worker and several other care
professionals noted scratches on the tot.
The first sign of physical abuse were spotted
by a GP in January 2011, who found faded
bruises on Callum's forehead and scratches to
his face.
In his notes from the examination, the GP
wrote the cause was Callum's older brother,
noting: "Two-year-old brother - spiteful."
Following this there were six further incidents
where children's centre staff and health visitors
- who were struggling with work loads - noted
bruising.
The serious case review notes the injuries were
"highly suspicious", adding: "The professionals
involved should have responded differently and
they should have been reported to the local
authority so that child protection enquiries
could be undertaken."
The day before he was beaten to death, a
health visitor had quizzed Wilson on Callum's
health.
Despite multiple bruises to the boy's head and
a lack of weight gain, the health visitor did not
inform social workers.
Her advice to Wilson was "not to leave the two
children alone together".
Alison Alexander, strategic director of
children's services in Windsor and
Maidenhead, said: "The review does raise
concerns at all levels, it doesn't just point
fingers at the social workers.
"It clearly identifies there were missed
opportunities at all levels."
The borough has introduced new policies on
bruising and concealed pregnancies to prevent
future mistakes.
However Ms Alexander admitted the council
"cannot guarantee" a similar tragedy will not
happen again in future due to the complexity of
these types of cases.
her baby son Callum
Medics missed several chances to intervene
before an evil mum battered her baby son to
death - taking a selfie during the act.
Tragic Callum Wilson died aged just 11-
months-old from serious brain injuries in 2011
inflicted by his mum Emma.
The twisted 25-year-old even snapped a
picture of herself with the screaming tot in the
background.
A report published today revealed how care
professionals ignored injuries he suffered in
violent beatings.
GPs, health workers and children's centre staff
shrugged off bruising and scratches on tragic
Callum Wilson seven times in the weeks before
his death.
Their catalogue of failures meant fractures
inflicted on the tot by his mum Emma Wilson
during months of abuse went unnoticed and
chances to save him were missed.
Instead, they believed her repeated lies that
innocent Callum's "spiteful" two-year-old
brother was to blame for his wounds.
A serious case review published yesterday
concluded professionals would "probably have
prevented" the 11-month-old's death if they
read the signs of physical abuse.
It noted there were "significant lessons" to be
learned and issued 79 recommendations to
local NHS organisations and children's
services at the Royal Borough of Windsor and
Maidenhead.
Donald McPhail, chairman of the local
safeguarding children board, yesterday
apologised for failing to prevent Callum's
death.
He said: "I would like to repeat our regret this
tragic outcome hasn't been avoided."
Wilson, of Windsor, Berks., is serving life
behind bars with a minimum sentence of 14
years after being found guilty of his murder at
the Old Bailey.
The 25-year-old had concealed his birth from
her parents and claimed she had not known
she was pregnant. Callum was placed into
foster care shortly after in April 2010.
The tot came close to being adopted a few
months later however eventually Wilson
decided "her heart was saying" she wanted to
bring him home.
Callum moved in with his mum and her older
son, who was then two and cannot be named
for legal reasons, in November 2010.
Despite the strange circumstances surrounding
his birth and fostering, no "child in need" plan
was put in place by social workers.
Over the following weeks Wilson unleashed a
series of vicious beatings on her defenceless
son that caused his death.
The final attack was so violent neighbours to
Wilson's flat recalled the ceiling shook with the
force.
Little Callum suffered a catastrophic brain
injury and was left blind by the force of the
blows. He died in hospital two days later in
March 2011.
Doctors found Callum had old fractures to his
ribs, arm and leg that had happened two
weeks before the baby's death.
In a further sick twist, Wilson took a selfie of
herself with a screaming Callum after one of
the beatings.
She had her child buried in an unmarked
communal grave. The serious case review
states the first signs that should have caused
concerns came months before in December
2010.
A social worker and several other care
professionals noted scratches on the tot.
The first sign of physical abuse were spotted
by a GP in January 2011, who found faded
bruises on Callum's forehead and scratches to
his face.
In his notes from the examination, the GP
wrote the cause was Callum's older brother,
noting: "Two-year-old brother - spiteful."
Following this there were six further incidents
where children's centre staff and health visitors
- who were struggling with work loads - noted
bruising.
The serious case review notes the injuries were
"highly suspicious", adding: "The professionals
involved should have responded differently and
they should have been reported to the local
authority so that child protection enquiries
could be undertaken."
The day before he was beaten to death, a
health visitor had quizzed Wilson on Callum's
health.
Despite multiple bruises to the boy's head and
a lack of weight gain, the health visitor did not
inform social workers.
Her advice to Wilson was "not to leave the two
children alone together".
Alison Alexander, strategic director of
children's services in Windsor and
Maidenhead, said: "The review does raise
concerns at all levels, it doesn't just point
fingers at the social workers.
"It clearly identifies there were missed
opportunities at all levels."
The borough has introduced new policies on
bruising and concealed pregnancies to prevent
future mistakes.
However Ms Alexander admitted the council
"cannot guarantee" a similar tragedy will not
happen again in future due to the complexity of
these types of cases.
Wicked
Killer: Emma Wilson is serving life for killing
her baby son Callum
Medics missed several chances to intervene
before an evil mum battered her baby son to
death - taking a selfie during the act.
Tragic Callum Wilson died aged just 11-
months-old from serious brain injuries in 2011
inflicted by his mum Emma.
The twisted 25-year-old even snapped a
picture of herself with the screaming tot in the
background.
A report published today revealed how care
professionals ignored injuries he suffered in
violent beatings.
GPs, health workers and children's centre staff
shrugged off bruising and scratches on tragic
Callum Wilson seven times in the weeks before
his death.
Their catalogue of failures meant fractures
inflicted on the tot by his mum Emma Wilson
during months of abuse went unnoticed and
chances to save him were missed.
Instead, they believed her repeated lies that
innocent Callum's "spiteful" two-year-old
brother was to blame for his wounds.
A serious case review published yesterday
concluded professionals would "probably have
prevented" the 11-month-old's death if they
read the signs of physical abuse.
It noted there were "significant lessons" to be
learned and issued 79 recommendations to
local NHS organisations and children's
services at the Royal Borough of Windsor and
Maidenhead.
Donald McPhail, chairman of the local
safeguarding children board, yesterday
apologised for failing to prevent Callum's
death.
He said: "I would like to repeat our regret this
tragic outcome hasn't been avoided."
Wilson, of Windsor, Berks., is serving life
behind bars with a minimum sentence of 14
years after being found guilty of his murder at
the Old Bailey.
The 25-year-old had concealed his birth from
her parents and claimed she had not known
she was pregnant. Callum was placed into
foster care shortly after in April 2010.
The tot came close to being adopted a few
months later however eventually Wilson
decided "her heart was saying" she wanted to
bring him home.
Callum moved in with his mum and her older
son, who was then two and cannot be named
for legal reasons, in November 2010.
Despite the strange circumstances surrounding
his birth and fostering, no "child in need" plan
was put in place by social workers.
Over the following weeks Wilson unleashed a
series of vicious beatings on her defenceless
son that caused his death.
The final attack was so violent neighbours to
Wilson's flat recalled the ceiling shook with the
force.
Little Callum suffered a catastrophic brain
injury and was left blind by the force of the
blows. He died in hospital two days later in
March 2011.
Doctors found Callum had old fractures to his
ribs, arm and leg that had happened two
weeks before the baby's death.
In a further sick twist, Wilson took a selfie of
herself with a screaming Callum after one of
the beatings.
She had her child buried in an unmarked
communal grave. The serious case review
states the first signs that should have caused
concerns came months before in December
2010.
A social worker and several other care
professionals noted scratches on the tot.
The first sign of physical abuse were spotted
by a GP in January 2011, who found faded
bruises on Callum's forehead and scratches to
his face.
In his notes from the examination, the GP
wrote the cause was Callum's older brother,
noting: "Two-year-old brother - spiteful."
Following this there were six further incidents
where children's centre staff and health visitors
- who were struggling with work loads - noted
bruising.
The serious case review notes the injuries were
"highly suspicious", adding: "The professionals
involved should have responded differently and
they should have been reported to the local
authority so that child protection enquiries
could be undertaken."
The day before he was beaten to death, a
health visitor had quizzed Wilson on Callum's
health.
Despite multiple bruises to the boy's head and
a lack of weight gain, the health visitor did not
inform social workers.
Her advice to Wilson was "not to leave the two
children alone together".
Alison Alexander, strategic director of
children's services in Windsor and
Maidenhead, said: "The review does raise
concerns at all levels, it doesn't just point
fingers at the social workers.
"It clearly identifies there were missed
opportunities at all levels."
The borough has introduced new policies on
bruising and concealed pregnancies to prevent
future mistakes.
However Ms Alexander admitted the council
"cannot guarantee" a similar tragedy will not
happen again in future due to the complexity of
these types of cases.
her baby son Callum
Medics missed several chances to intervene
before an evil mum battered her baby son to
death - taking a selfie during the act.
Tragic Callum Wilson died aged just 11-
months-old from serious brain injuries in 2011
inflicted by his mum Emma.
The twisted 25-year-old even snapped a
picture of herself with the screaming tot in the
background.
A report published today revealed how care
professionals ignored injuries he suffered in
violent beatings.
GPs, health workers and children's centre staff
shrugged off bruising and scratches on tragic
Callum Wilson seven times in the weeks before
his death.
Their catalogue of failures meant fractures
inflicted on the tot by his mum Emma Wilson
during months of abuse went unnoticed and
chances to save him were missed.
Instead, they believed her repeated lies that
innocent Callum's "spiteful" two-year-old
brother was to blame for his wounds.
A serious case review published yesterday
concluded professionals would "probably have
prevented" the 11-month-old's death if they
read the signs of physical abuse.
It noted there were "significant lessons" to be
learned and issued 79 recommendations to
local NHS organisations and children's
services at the Royal Borough of Windsor and
Maidenhead.
Donald McPhail, chairman of the local
safeguarding children board, yesterday
apologised for failing to prevent Callum's
death.
He said: "I would like to repeat our regret this
tragic outcome hasn't been avoided."
Wilson, of Windsor, Berks., is serving life
behind bars with a minimum sentence of 14
years after being found guilty of his murder at
the Old Bailey.
The 25-year-old had concealed his birth from
her parents and claimed she had not known
she was pregnant. Callum was placed into
foster care shortly after in April 2010.
The tot came close to being adopted a few
months later however eventually Wilson
decided "her heart was saying" she wanted to
bring him home.
Callum moved in with his mum and her older
son, who was then two and cannot be named
for legal reasons, in November 2010.
Despite the strange circumstances surrounding
his birth and fostering, no "child in need" plan
was put in place by social workers.
Over the following weeks Wilson unleashed a
series of vicious beatings on her defenceless
son that caused his death.
The final attack was so violent neighbours to
Wilson's flat recalled the ceiling shook with the
force.
Little Callum suffered a catastrophic brain
injury and was left blind by the force of the
blows. He died in hospital two days later in
March 2011.
Doctors found Callum had old fractures to his
ribs, arm and leg that had happened two
weeks before the baby's death.
In a further sick twist, Wilson took a selfie of
herself with a screaming Callum after one of
the beatings.
She had her child buried in an unmarked
communal grave. The serious case review
states the first signs that should have caused
concerns came months before in December
2010.
A social worker and several other care
professionals noted scratches on the tot.
The first sign of physical abuse were spotted
by a GP in January 2011, who found faded
bruises on Callum's forehead and scratches to
his face.
In his notes from the examination, the GP
wrote the cause was Callum's older brother,
noting: "Two-year-old brother - spiteful."
Following this there were six further incidents
where children's centre staff and health visitors
- who were struggling with work loads - noted
bruising.
The serious case review notes the injuries were
"highly suspicious", adding: "The professionals
involved should have responded differently and
they should have been reported to the local
authority so that child protection enquiries
could be undertaken."
The day before he was beaten to death, a
health visitor had quizzed Wilson on Callum's
health.
Despite multiple bruises to the boy's head and
a lack of weight gain, the health visitor did not
inform social workers.
Her advice to Wilson was "not to leave the two
children alone together".
Alison Alexander, strategic director of
children's services in Windsor and
Maidenhead, said: "The review does raise
concerns at all levels, it doesn't just point
fingers at the social workers.
"It clearly identifies there were missed
opportunities at all levels."
The borough has introduced new policies on
bruising and concealed pregnancies to prevent
future mistakes.
However Ms Alexander admitted the council
"cannot guarantee" a similar tragedy will not
happen again in future due to the complexity of
these types of cases.
Wicked
Killer: Emma Wilson is serving life for killing
her baby son Callum
Medics missed several chances to intervene
before an evil mum battered her baby son to
death - taking a selfie during the act.
Tragic Callum Wilson died aged just 11-
months-old from serious brain injuries in 2011
inflicted by his mum Emma.
The twisted 25-year-old even snapped a
picture of herself with the screaming tot in the
background.
A report published today revealed how care
professionals ignored injuries he suffered in
violent beatings.
GPs, health workers and children's centre staff
shrugged off bruising and scratches on tragic
Callum Wilson seven times in the weeks before
his death.
Their catalogue of failures meant fractures
inflicted on the tot by his mum Emma Wilson
during months of abuse went unnoticed and
chances to save him were missed.
Instead, they believed her repeated lies that
innocent Callum's "spiteful" two-year-old
brother was to blame for his wounds.
A serious case review published yesterday
concluded professionals would "probably have
prevented" the 11-month-old's death if they
read the signs of physical abuse.
It noted there were "significant lessons" to be
learned and issued 79 recommendations to
local NHS organisations and children's
services at the Royal Borough of Windsor and
Maidenhead.
Donald McPhail, chairman of the local
safeguarding children board, yesterday
apologised for failing to prevent Callum's
death.
He said: "I would like to repeat our regret this
tragic outcome hasn't been avoided."
Wilson, of Windsor, Berks., is serving life
behind bars with a minimum sentence of 14
years after being found guilty of his murder at
the Old Bailey.
The 25-year-old had concealed his birth from
her parents and claimed she had not known
she was pregnant. Callum was placed into
foster care shortly after in April 2010.
The tot came close to being adopted a few
months later however eventually Wilson
decided "her heart was saying" she wanted to
bring him home.
Callum moved in with his mum and her older
son, who was then two and cannot be named
for legal reasons, in November 2010.
Despite the strange circumstances surrounding
his birth and fostering, no "child in need" plan
was put in place by social workers.
Over the following weeks Wilson unleashed a
series of vicious beatings on her defenceless
son that caused his death.
The final attack was so violent neighbours to
Wilson's flat recalled the ceiling shook with the
force.
Little Callum suffered a catastrophic brain
injury and was left blind by the force of the
blows. He died in hospital two days later in
March 2011.
Doctors found Callum had old fractures to his
ribs, arm and leg that had happened two
weeks before the baby's death.
In a further sick twist, Wilson took a selfie of
herself with a screaming Callum after one of
the beatings.
She had her child buried in an unmarked
communal grave. The serious case review
states the first signs that should have caused
concerns came months before in December
2010.
A social worker and several other care
professionals noted scratches on the tot.
The first sign of physical abuse were spotted
by a GP in January 2011, who found faded
bruises on Callum's forehead and scratches to
his face.
In his notes from the examination, the GP
wrote the cause was Callum's older brother,
noting: "Two-year-old brother - spiteful."
Following this there were six further incidents
where children's centre staff and health visitors
- who were struggling with work loads - noted
bruising.
The serious case review notes the injuries were
"highly suspicious", adding: "The professionals
involved should have responded differently and
they should have been reported to the local
authority so that child protection enquiries
could be undertaken."
The day before he was beaten to death, a
health visitor had quizzed Wilson on Callum's
health.
Despite multiple bruises to the boy's head and
a lack of weight gain, the health visitor did not
inform social workers.
Her advice to Wilson was "not to leave the two
children alone together".
Alison Alexander, strategic director of
children's services in Windsor and
Maidenhead, said: "The review does raise
concerns at all levels, it doesn't just point
fingers at the social workers.
"It clearly identifies there were missed
opportunities at all levels."
The borough has introduced new policies on
bruising and concealed pregnancies to prevent
future mistakes.
However Ms Alexander admitted the council
"cannot guarantee" a similar tragedy will not
happen again in future due to the complexity of
these types of cases.
her baby son Callum
Medics missed several chances to intervene
before an evil mum battered her baby son to
death - taking a selfie during the act.
Tragic Callum Wilson died aged just 11-
months-old from serious brain injuries in 2011
inflicted by his mum Emma.
The twisted 25-year-old even snapped a
picture of herself with the screaming tot in the
background.
A report published today revealed how care
professionals ignored injuries he suffered in
violent beatings.
GPs, health workers and children's centre staff
shrugged off bruising and scratches on tragic
Callum Wilson seven times in the weeks before
his death.
Their catalogue of failures meant fractures
inflicted on the tot by his mum Emma Wilson
during months of abuse went unnoticed and
chances to save him were missed.
Instead, they believed her repeated lies that
innocent Callum's "spiteful" two-year-old
brother was to blame for his wounds.
A serious case review published yesterday
concluded professionals would "probably have
prevented" the 11-month-old's death if they
read the signs of physical abuse.
It noted there were "significant lessons" to be
learned and issued 79 recommendations to
local NHS organisations and children's
services at the Royal Borough of Windsor and
Maidenhead.
Donald McPhail, chairman of the local
safeguarding children board, yesterday
apologised for failing to prevent Callum's
death.
He said: "I would like to repeat our regret this
tragic outcome hasn't been avoided."
Wilson, of Windsor, Berks., is serving life
behind bars with a minimum sentence of 14
years after being found guilty of his murder at
the Old Bailey.
The 25-year-old had concealed his birth from
her parents and claimed she had not known
she was pregnant. Callum was placed into
foster care shortly after in April 2010.
The tot came close to being adopted a few
months later however eventually Wilson
decided "her heart was saying" she wanted to
bring him home.
Callum moved in with his mum and her older
son, who was then two and cannot be named
for legal reasons, in November 2010.
Despite the strange circumstances surrounding
his birth and fostering, no "child in need" plan
was put in place by social workers.
Over the following weeks Wilson unleashed a
series of vicious beatings on her defenceless
son that caused his death.
The final attack was so violent neighbours to
Wilson's flat recalled the ceiling shook with the
force.
Little Callum suffered a catastrophic brain
injury and was left blind by the force of the
blows. He died in hospital two days later in
March 2011.
Doctors found Callum had old fractures to his
ribs, arm and leg that had happened two
weeks before the baby's death.
In a further sick twist, Wilson took a selfie of
herself with a screaming Callum after one of
the beatings.
She had her child buried in an unmarked
communal grave. The serious case review
states the first signs that should have caused
concerns came months before in December
2010.
A social worker and several other care
professionals noted scratches on the tot.
The first sign of physical abuse were spotted
by a GP in January 2011, who found faded
bruises on Callum's forehead and scratches to
his face.
In his notes from the examination, the GP
wrote the cause was Callum's older brother,
noting: "Two-year-old brother - spiteful."
Following this there were six further incidents
where children's centre staff and health visitors
- who were struggling with work loads - noted
bruising.
The serious case review notes the injuries were
"highly suspicious", adding: "The professionals
involved should have responded differently and
they should have been reported to the local
authority so that child protection enquiries
could be undertaken."
The day before he was beaten to death, a
health visitor had quizzed Wilson on Callum's
health.
Despite multiple bruises to the boy's head and
a lack of weight gain, the health visitor did not
inform social workers.
Her advice to Wilson was "not to leave the two
children alone together".
Alison Alexander, strategic director of
children's services in Windsor and
Maidenhead, said: "The review does raise
concerns at all levels, it doesn't just point
fingers at the social workers.
"It clearly identifies there were missed
opportunities at all levels."
The borough has introduced new policies on
bruising and concealed pregnancies to prevent
future mistakes.
However Ms Alexander admitted the council
"cannot guarantee" a similar tragedy will not
happen again in future due to the complexity of
these types of cases.
Friday, March 28, 2014
House help beheads chief magistrate
A twenty five-year-old male house help
simply identified as David yesterday,
beheaded a retired chief magistrate, Mrs.
Olufunmilayo Timeyin in her Laderin Estate,
Abeokuta, Ogun State residence.
David, who had only worked as house help
to the Timeyin household for only two
months, was said to have scaled the fence
of the house at about 3:30pm to attack the
retired senior magistrate with a machete,
hacking her to death.
He was also said to have switched off the
electricity supply to the house before
attacking the retired senior magistrate who
had wanted to go and open the gate to the
house for her son, Olamide who had just
arrived from an outing.
Having accomplished his alleged mission
to attack her, David was said to have
scaled the fence back into the bush behind
the house where he hid himself to avoid
being caught.
The alarm raised by Olamide who had
heard the desperate cries of her mum
attracted some residents who immediately
alerted the men of the Ogun State Vigilance
Service in the area.
One of the OSV men who raced to the
scene, Oluseye Fasina, attached to
Operation Two, Laderin Unit told our
correspondent that he immediately ran to
the back of the house where he met David
who had pulled off his clothes inside the
bush, and arrested him.
Our correspondent gathered from family
members who pleaded anonymity that the
house help had last week been arrested
and detained by the police for allegedly
burgling the Timeyin family residence.
David was said to have stolen household
items, including jewellery, electronics and
GSM handsets. He was allegedly caught
while trying to sell off the phones and
handed over to the police by GSM phone
dealers at Oke-Ilewo, Abeokuta.
The late chief magistrate was said to have
pleaded with the police to release the
house help who was only let off the hook
last Monday.
The Chief Justice of Ogun State, Justice
Olatokunbo Olopade and the state
Commissioner for Local Government and
Chieftaincy Affairs, Basorun Muyiwa
Oladipo were amongst the sympathisers
who visited the late retired chief
magistrate’s residence.
can boys be coerced into sex
The notion of teenage boys as sexual aggressors
is so engrained, the results of a new study, which
reveal that they are being coerced into sex by
girls and young women, will surprise many.
There was nothing outwardly headline-grabbing
about Bryana H. French’s latest study, published
in the august and largely unread pages of
Psychology of Men and Masculinity , an academic
journal that typically reaches an audience of
dozens. While her findings were depressing, they
were depressingly banal: according to French and
her team of researchers at the University of
Missouri, “sexual victimization continues to be a
pervasive problem in the United States.” Well, we
know that.
Jonathan Cavendish/Corbis
So why the media scrum? Because the authors
concluded that “43 percent of high school boys
and young college men”—yes, boys and young
men—“reported they had an unwanted sexual
experience and of those, 95 percent said a female
acquaintance was the aggressor.”
In a press release, French pointed out that “the
victimization of men is rarely explored” and
concluded hopefully that her team’s findings could
“help lead to better prevention by identifying the
various types of coercion that men face and by
acknowledging women as perpetrators against
men.”
The idea that boys (those sex-obsessed little
monsters) could be victims of “sexual coercion,”
while young girls (so often on the receiving end of
clumsy and aggressive sexual advances of the
sex-obsessed little monsters) could be
perpetrators is, to many, both counterintuitive and
unlikely.
“This is such an under-discussed topic,” clinical
psychologist Dr. Barbara Greenberg told The Daily
Beast. “We’ve been grossly negligent when it
comes to talking to teenage boys about sex
because society makes the assumption that young
adult men are sex-crazed maniacs. But men and
teenage boys have tender feelings too, and we
often neglect them when it comes to sexuality.”
That females can be sexually aggressive—and
young men and teenage boys can sheepishly
submit to sexual aggression—is considered
peculiar because “coerced sex” is narrowly
imagined as violent or forced sex. But according
to French’s research, only “18 percent [of
respondents] reported sexual coercion by physical
force” while 31 percent said “they were verbally
coerced [and] 26 percent described unwanted
seduction by sexual behaviors.”
According to French, “unwanted seduction” of
young men by women is largely overlooked in
existing academic research but “was a particularly
pervasive form of sexual coercion in this study, as
well as peer pressure and a victim’s own sense of
an obligation.”
Indeed, 95 percent of those surveyed said they
were sexually coerced by girls or women. French
told The Daily Beast that a “broadening of the
definition” partially explains the rise in sexual
victimization amongst young men and boys. “I
think that’s a large reason why we’re seeing
numbers come up more [and] I think we need to
have more conversations about what consent
looks like across both genders.”
But it’s not a redefining of terms alone that
explains the increase, says Dr. Greenberg. “I really
do believe that girls are more aggressive sexually
today than they were ten years ago, and I haven’t
seen the same trend in boys. I think it has a lot to
do with the hook-up culture where there’s this
permission to get involved physically without
getting involved emotionally. Boys were always
expected to be the sexual initiators, and now girls
are doing the initiating.”
One familiar trope in the news cycle is the female
high school and middle school teacher preying on
a male student. These sexual relationships are
consensual—and rarely deemed “rape”—but the
large age differential is a type of coercion.
“I was a 15 year old who lost his virginity to a
woman twice his age, who rather abruptly decided
that consistent sexual activity with a local
sophomore was probably ill-advised,” says Martin,
40, who declined to give his second name.
The relationship, a year-long affair with a family
acquaintance, was “consensual,” he says, but with
the benefit of maturity and hindsight Martin
acknowledges that it was coercive. “Had this been
known—and some people indeed knew—it would
have been (and sometimes was) met with
incredulity or the more common ‘attaboy!’ But at
15, one doesn’t make a ‘decision’ to embark on a
‘relationship’ with a 30-year-old woman.”
Statutory limits on age of consent aren’t uniform
in the United States, but they exist (without gender
specificity) for good reason. “The psychological
complexity of sex with an adult is almost by its
nature coercive, considering that a 15-year-old
boy is rarely, if ever, equipped to deal with the
complicated fallout of such a relationship.”
“It’s usually a girl that’s a little bit older and the
boys feel embarrassed to say no because they feel
their friends will make fun of them,” says Dr.
Greenberg. “And they have a lot of shame about it
because they weren’t ready for it and they feel
cultural pressure that they should have been ready
for it.”
The University of Missouri researchers were vague
on the long-term effects of female “sexual
coercion,” though French was careful to suggest
that “it may be the case that sexual coercion by
women doesn’t affect males’ self-perceptions in
the same way that it does when women are
coerced.”
While there are wildly divergent perceptions as to
what constitutes “coerced sex” when genders are
reversed, if one were to substitute genders in this
study, it wouldn’t have captured a minute of
media attention, likely consigned to the pile of
“but of course” sociological studies regularly
produced by academic researchers.
“This study should be a wake-up call to parents
and educators everywhere,” says Greenberg. “We
attend much more to the feelings of our
daughters. But we also need to attend to the
feelings of our boys and their sexuality.”
Waiting for Death in
Washington
by Stacey Solie
This Man Is The Future of
Westboro
by Caitlin Dickson
March Madness: 5 Games to
Watch
by Ben Teitelbaum
Politics Entertainment
World News Tech + Health
Fashion Great Escapes
Women Books
Back to Top
A A FULL SITE
FOLLOW US LIKE US
HELP ABOUT CONTACT US
NEWSLETTERS
PRIVACY POLICY
TERMS OF USE
COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK
© 2014 The Daily Beast Company LLC
CHEAT SHEET MORE
is so engrained, the results of a new study, which
reveal that they are being coerced into sex by
girls and young women, will surprise many.
There was nothing outwardly headline-grabbing
about Bryana H. French’s latest study, published
in the august and largely unread pages of
Psychology of Men and Masculinity , an academic
journal that typically reaches an audience of
dozens. While her findings were depressing, they
were depressingly banal: according to French and
her team of researchers at the University of
Missouri, “sexual victimization continues to be a
pervasive problem in the United States.” Well, we
know that.
Jonathan Cavendish/Corbis
So why the media scrum? Because the authors
concluded that “43 percent of high school boys
and young college men”—yes, boys and young
men—“reported they had an unwanted sexual
experience and of those, 95 percent said a female
acquaintance was the aggressor.”
In a press release, French pointed out that “the
victimization of men is rarely explored” and
concluded hopefully that her team’s findings could
“help lead to better prevention by identifying the
various types of coercion that men face and by
acknowledging women as perpetrators against
men.”
The idea that boys (those sex-obsessed little
monsters) could be victims of “sexual coercion,”
while young girls (so often on the receiving end of
clumsy and aggressive sexual advances of the
sex-obsessed little monsters) could be
perpetrators is, to many, both counterintuitive and
unlikely.
“This is such an under-discussed topic,” clinical
psychologist Dr. Barbara Greenberg told The Daily
Beast. “We’ve been grossly negligent when it
comes to talking to teenage boys about sex
because society makes the assumption that young
adult men are sex-crazed maniacs. But men and
teenage boys have tender feelings too, and we
often neglect them when it comes to sexuality.”
That females can be sexually aggressive—and
young men and teenage boys can sheepishly
submit to sexual aggression—is considered
peculiar because “coerced sex” is narrowly
imagined as violent or forced sex. But according
to French’s research, only “18 percent [of
respondents] reported sexual coercion by physical
force” while 31 percent said “they were verbally
coerced [and] 26 percent described unwanted
seduction by sexual behaviors.”
According to French, “unwanted seduction” of
young men by women is largely overlooked in
existing academic research but “was a particularly
pervasive form of sexual coercion in this study, as
well as peer pressure and a victim’s own sense of
an obligation.”
Indeed, 95 percent of those surveyed said they
were sexually coerced by girls or women. French
told The Daily Beast that a “broadening of the
definition” partially explains the rise in sexual
victimization amongst young men and boys. “I
think that’s a large reason why we’re seeing
numbers come up more [and] I think we need to
have more conversations about what consent
looks like across both genders.”
But it’s not a redefining of terms alone that
explains the increase, says Dr. Greenberg. “I really
do believe that girls are more aggressive sexually
today than they were ten years ago, and I haven’t
seen the same trend in boys. I think it has a lot to
do with the hook-up culture where there’s this
permission to get involved physically without
getting involved emotionally. Boys were always
expected to be the sexual initiators, and now girls
are doing the initiating.”
One familiar trope in the news cycle is the female
high school and middle school teacher preying on
a male student. These sexual relationships are
consensual—and rarely deemed “rape”—but the
large age differential is a type of coercion.
“I was a 15 year old who lost his virginity to a
woman twice his age, who rather abruptly decided
that consistent sexual activity with a local
sophomore was probably ill-advised,” says Martin,
40, who declined to give his second name.
The relationship, a year-long affair with a family
acquaintance, was “consensual,” he says, but with
the benefit of maturity and hindsight Martin
acknowledges that it was coercive. “Had this been
known—and some people indeed knew—it would
have been (and sometimes was) met with
incredulity or the more common ‘attaboy!’ But at
15, one doesn’t make a ‘decision’ to embark on a
‘relationship’ with a 30-year-old woman.”
Statutory limits on age of consent aren’t uniform
in the United States, but they exist (without gender
specificity) for good reason. “The psychological
complexity of sex with an adult is almost by its
nature coercive, considering that a 15-year-old
boy is rarely, if ever, equipped to deal with the
complicated fallout of such a relationship.”
“It’s usually a girl that’s a little bit older and the
boys feel embarrassed to say no because they feel
their friends will make fun of them,” says Dr.
Greenberg. “And they have a lot of shame about it
because they weren’t ready for it and they feel
cultural pressure that they should have been ready
for it.”
The University of Missouri researchers were vague
on the long-term effects of female “sexual
coercion,” though French was careful to suggest
that “it may be the case that sexual coercion by
women doesn’t affect males’ self-perceptions in
the same way that it does when women are
coerced.”
While there are wildly divergent perceptions as to
what constitutes “coerced sex” when genders are
reversed, if one were to substitute genders in this
study, it wouldn’t have captured a minute of
media attention, likely consigned to the pile of
“but of course” sociological studies regularly
produced by academic researchers.
“This study should be a wake-up call to parents
and educators everywhere,” says Greenberg. “We
attend much more to the feelings of our
daughters. But we also need to attend to the
feelings of our boys and their sexuality.”
Waiting for Death in
Washington
by Stacey Solie
This Man Is The Future of
Westboro
by Caitlin Dickson
March Madness: 5 Games to
Watch
by Ben Teitelbaum
Politics Entertainment
World News Tech + Health
Fashion Great Escapes
Women Books
Back to Top
A A FULL SITE
FOLLOW US LIKE US
HELP ABOUT CONTACT US
NEWSLETTERS
PRIVACY POLICY
TERMS OF USE
COPYRIGHT & TRADEMARK
© 2014 The Daily Beast Company LLC
CHEAT SHEET MORE
hmmnmm
Gaddafi’s Son Apologises,
Asks For Forgiveness
Saadi Gaddafi, detained son of late Libyan
dictator Moamar Gaddafi, has apologised
for what he called “my attempts to
destabilise the country” and asked for
forgiveness.
“I should have helped achieve renaissance
in the country. I shouldn’t have carried out
such deeds”, he said without elaborating in
a video broadcast late on Thursday on
Libya’s state television.
“I want Libya’s leaders, people,
government and the Congress (parliament)
to forgive me.”
Saadi, Gaddafi’s third son, was extradited
earlier this month by Niger, where he
sought refuge after armed uprising in 2011
against his father.
Saadi, 40, appeared in the footage in good
health apparently to quash rumours that
he had been tortured in prison.
He is due to go on trial next month for
allegedly ordering the shooting of peaceful
protesters during the uprising against his
father.
Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for 42 years, was
captured and killed in Oct. 2011. (dpa/
NAN)
Asks For Forgiveness
Saadi Gaddafi, detained son of late Libyan
dictator Moamar Gaddafi, has apologised
for what he called “my attempts to
destabilise the country” and asked for
forgiveness.
“I should have helped achieve renaissance
in the country. I shouldn’t have carried out
such deeds”, he said without elaborating in
a video broadcast late on Thursday on
Libya’s state television.
“I want Libya’s leaders, people,
government and the Congress (parliament)
to forgive me.”
Saadi, Gaddafi’s third son, was extradited
earlier this month by Niger, where he
sought refuge after armed uprising in 2011
against his father.
Saadi, 40, appeared in the footage in good
health apparently to quash rumours that
he had been tortured in prison.
He is due to go on trial next month for
allegedly ordering the shooting of peaceful
protesters during the uprising against his
father.
Gaddafi, who ruled Libya for 42 years, was
captured and killed in Oct. 2011. (dpa/
NAN)
ha.......
:
RULES FOR MY FUTURE WOMAN
1. My woman is NOT allowed to laugh at other
peoples jokes even via social media. She has to
send me the
joke first and then we decide if it's funny or not so
we can laugh together.
2. My Woman isn't allowed to sneeze in public. NO
need to say "bless you." She's
already blessed, she has me.
3. My Woman isn't allowed to have candles on her
birthday cake. WTF are you wishing for? All your
dreams came true when you met me.
4. My Woman isn't allowed to defend another man
when I'm talking about him. If I say he's an
asshole, hes an asshole! Say it with me,"HE IS AN
ASSHOLE!
5. My Woman isn't allowed to laugh at another
man’s jokes when I am not around. She better
calls me and we'll decide together if its funny or
not.
6. My Woman isn't allowed to have more than 3
men in her life. Me, her father & her brother. If you
got two brothers, pick your favourite one.
7. My Woman isn't allowed to speak to other men
on the phone. If she calls 180 or any customer
service line and a man answers, she better hangs
up & try again.
8. My Woman is not allowed to spray PERFUME in
public. I‘ve seen the commercials. Those niggas
come out of no where.
9. My Woman isn't allowed to talk to other men
while I'm asleep. You're not tired? Wanna talk to
somebody? Say a prayer & get to know a bit more
about God.
10. My Woman isn't allowed to pray silently. I want
to know what you & God are up to. You might be
praying to get another man.
11. My Woman is not allowed to take a jog around
the house, What is she trying to do? Practice how
she'll run away from me? I don't think so.
12. My Woman isn't allowed to touch another man.
If you wanna touch him, you poke dat nigga with a
stick!
13. My Woman isn't allowed to go out with her
girls, she might turn lesbian and leave me..
I DO this to protect my
woman because I love Her!!......by Enabulele
RULES FOR MY FUTURE WOMAN
1. My woman is NOT allowed to laugh at other
peoples jokes even via social media. She has to
send me the
joke first and then we decide if it's funny or not so
we can laugh together.
2. My Woman isn't allowed to sneeze in public. NO
need to say "bless you." She's
already blessed, she has me.
3. My Woman isn't allowed to have candles on her
birthday cake. WTF are you wishing for? All your
dreams came true when you met me.
4. My Woman isn't allowed to defend another man
when I'm talking about him. If I say he's an
asshole, hes an asshole! Say it with me,"HE IS AN
ASSHOLE!
5. My Woman isn't allowed to laugh at another
man’s jokes when I am not around. She better
calls me and we'll decide together if its funny or
not.
6. My Woman isn't allowed to have more than 3
men in her life. Me, her father & her brother. If you
got two brothers, pick your favourite one.
7. My Woman isn't allowed to speak to other men
on the phone. If she calls 180 or any customer
service line and a man answers, she better hangs
up & try again.
8. My Woman is not allowed to spray PERFUME in
public. I‘ve seen the commercials. Those niggas
come out of no where.
9. My Woman isn't allowed to talk to other men
while I'm asleep. You're not tired? Wanna talk to
somebody? Say a prayer & get to know a bit more
about God.
10. My Woman isn't allowed to pray silently. I want
to know what you & God are up to. You might be
praying to get another man.
11. My Woman is not allowed to take a jog around
the house, What is she trying to do? Practice how
she'll run away from me? I don't think so.
12. My Woman isn't allowed to touch another man.
If you wanna touch him, you poke dat nigga with a
stick!
13. My Woman isn't allowed to go out with her
girls, she might turn lesbian and leave me..
I DO this to protect my
woman because I love Her!!......by Enabulele
Politics of competency test and the options available to Oshiomhole
As a labour leader, Comrade Adams Oshiomhole led popular actions against different governments. Now, the teachers’ union in Edo State are up in arms against a plan by the state administration to verify their competence for the job they do.
BY GABRIEL ENOGHOLASE
Governor Adams Oshiomhole had at different fora expressed his determination to lift the level of education in the state. It even became more pressing on him after he visited a primary school and met a teacher who could not read well. So the need of verifying the competence of the teachers in the school system became a pressing matter for the state administration.
Governor Oshiomhole was backed by some strategic stakeholders in his pursuit. Speakers at a stakeholders’ meeting which took place at Imaguero College Hall gave the governor the go ahead to organize the test for the teachers, and this was what gave birth to the Prof. Dennis Agbonlahor Committee that was saddled with the task of organizing the Competency test.
Oshiomhole and one of the state’s teacher
The test was, however, strongly opposed by some other stakeholders, mostly the teachers who were involved.
A meeting between some civil society groups and the leadership of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Teachers [NUT] to find a common ground over the objection of the teachers to the competency test ended in deadlock on Wednesday.
Concerned members of the civil society in the state also met privately with Governor Oshiomhole towards reaching a common ground between the administration and the warring teachers.
But after all the negotiations last week, the teachers stuck to their guns. Speaking with newsmen soon after one of the meetings held at the famous Teachers House, State Chairman of the NUT, Comrade Mike Ununmwangho said the teachers would not write the competency test as he described the exercise as vindictive adding that the teachers do not trust the State Government.
The state administration, however, rejected the claims.
“The test is not to sack or witch-hunt any teacher but to ascertain those who might need assistance and level of training or retraining required as part of the determination of the Adams Oshiomhole administration to deliver an all-round quality education for the Edo child”, the Commissioner for Information and Orientation, Mr. Loius Odion said while denying the receipt of a court order restraining the government from going ahead with the test.
However, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Edo State on its part while opposing the competency test berated the state government for “using every means possible, including the proposed conduct of competency test for teachers in the state to generate revenue.”
The party stated that the state government was using “the competency test, along with some other policies including repressive tax policies to shore up the state’s depleted vault.”
State chairman of the party, Chief Dan Orbih, who in a statement before the exercise said, “using competency test as a yardstick for retrenchment means using teachers as scapegoat for the dire financial crisis the state governments has plunged the state into.”
”We condemn in very strong term the decision to conduct the competency test. It is discriminatory and unacceptable. For it to be justified, the state government should first of all subject everyone to competency test, starting from the Government House. We sympathize with teachers at this time because we know they are being made the sacrificial lamb.
“As we have repeatedly stated, the proper thing is to organize in-house training for teachers as done by the administration of the late Ambrose Alli. Teachers who were found lacking then were not discarded as being planned but trained to become useful for themselves and their families. We say Governor Oshiomhole should not turn people who are bread winners in their families to bread seekers.
The PDP’s assertion was tackled by the All Progressives Congress, APC which threw its weight behind the test.
The APC state organizing secretary, Mr. Thomas Okosun in his own reaction said:
“I want to state
Thursday, March 27, 2014
only the very best is good enough for you
You Deserve Better.....Yes
You!.....Please Read This.
Hi you,
Yes you, not her, no not him…You! Do you know
you deserve the best? do you know he or she is
not right for you? if he abuses you, insults you,
calls you names and make you feel less, you
should not be with him…If she compares you to
your friends/other guys, tells you, you cannot
afford her, shares you with another guy and think
you cannot do anything important with your life…
You deserve better!
How long do you want to stay to patch things up?
How long would you go on fixing things, how long
would you be patient and wait for him or her to
change? Relationship is not a do or die affair… Oh
you think you cannot love again? You would be
amazed how love will sweep you off your feet. Do
you think he knows you through and through and
no one knows you like he does? You would meet
someone that just after a few conversations, it
would feel like you have been friends forever.
You deserve to smile, you deserve to be happy,
you deserve to be appreciated, to glow, to dream
and for someone to encourage that dream, you
deserve to laugh, you deserve a romance that
feels like that in the movies and of course you
deserve the best.
Oh you were abused as a child and your life just
spiralled out of control from then on, with
everyone taking advantage of you? and this new
relationship though he slaps you once in a while
when you annoy him,he treats you better than any
other guy you have dated?…You deserve better.
Who told you because you gave up your virginity
or had sex with him you have to take his abuses,
his cheating, lies and tantrums do you feel stuck,
tied there for life and think another guy may see
you as trash? Who told you "all guys are like that,
manage the one you have, it doesn't get better"?
Who told you sometimes you have to roll with the
punches and abuse? Who said you will lose out
when you leave? Who told you there are no
good /great guys or girls out there? Who told you
there is no one like the first? Who told you your
life is messed up?
Sometimes I wonder why we stay in a
relationships full of negative drama, knowing the
future is bleak and the outcome is disastrous…
Why are you getting so stressed out and working
sooooo hard to make the relationship work and
perfect… My friend says "Marriage is a lot of work
even when you are with a great partner then you
marry a partner that was a tough cookie/ too
much drama before the marriage started, you are
in for a ride"
Sit back and ask yourself, why you are still in that
relationship when you guys are so different, where
you fight about the things that are important to
him or he doesn't support your dreams and shuts
it up whenever you talk about it or laugh you to
scorn? why are you in that relationship where
everyday he beats you and cheats on you, where
she insults you and make you feel less of a man?
Why are you in a relationship where you are not
yourself, where you cannot be your best, where
you are not comfortable? why??? Why are you in a
relationship with a good guy or girl that you don't
feel anything for? Why are you in a relationship
where you guys have no meeting point? Where
you hate to spend time together because you get
bored….
Why have we set the bar so low on what we think
we deserve? We see a loving couple and admire
them but don't want to dream we can be them
because we don't think we deserve it based on
our past and other things that has happened in
our lives…Please start dreaming big, start
knowing you deserve the best and most especially
start being who and what you think you
deserve….Change that character, work on that
personality, work on that aspect of you that you
know need some help and soon enough people
would think they deserve this new you….May I
just point out that one of the reasons you deserve
the best is because God has the best in mind for
you
Wednesday, March 26, 2014
my husband wants divorce because I refused him ...
A 69-year-old housewife, Mrs Simbiatu Oduntan, on Wednesday told an Orile
Agege Customary Court in Lagos that her husband, Alhaji Mustairu Oduntan, 84,
wanted to divorce her because she refused him sex.
Simbiatu, a trader, who lives with her husband at 3, Olaleye St., Orile Agege, told
the court that the 45-year-old marriage had witnessed ups and downs.
“The main reason my husband wants to leave me is because I refused to satisfy
his demands for sex.
“I have lost the urge for sex. My thinking is not towards that direction again; but
my husband still wants sex.
“I have told him to get another wife,’’ she said.
Simbiatu said she could not cook for her husband again because she suffers from
swollen legs each time she stood for long.
The mother of four children, aged between 18 years and 25 years, told the court
that she supported her husband’s request for dissolution of the marriage.
Earlier, Oduntan told the court that his wife would not cook for him and often went
out at will.
“I am tired of the marriage. My wife does not care for me; she goes out and
comes back at will. I want a divorce,’’ he said.
The court president, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, told the couple to maintain the
peace, and adjourned the case till May 15 for judgment. (NAN)
Agege Customary Court in Lagos that her husband, Alhaji Mustairu Oduntan, 84,
wanted to divorce her because she refused him sex.
Simbiatu, a trader, who lives with her husband at 3, Olaleye St., Orile Agege, told
the court that the 45-year-old marriage had witnessed ups and downs.
“The main reason my husband wants to leave me is because I refused to satisfy
his demands for sex.
“I have lost the urge for sex. My thinking is not towards that direction again; but
my husband still wants sex.
“I have told him to get another wife,’’ she said.
Simbiatu said she could not cook for her husband again because she suffers from
swollen legs each time she stood for long.
The mother of four children, aged between 18 years and 25 years, told the court
that she supported her husband’s request for dissolution of the marriage.
Earlier, Oduntan told the court that his wife would not cook for him and often went
out at will.
“I am tired of the marriage. My wife does not care for me; she goes out and
comes back at will. I want a divorce,’’ he said.
The court president, Mr Adegboyega Omilola, told the couple to maintain the
peace, and adjourned the case till May 15 for judgment. (NAN)
Tuesday, March 25, 2014
When a child's anxiety takes over
Giulia Cacciatore has personality, the kind that
makes you want to be 13 again.
An honor roll student, she peppers her
conversations with superlatives and wears her long
blonde hair in a pony tail that sways when she
moves. Giulia loves mashed potatoes, music —
Coldplay, Bruno Mars and One Direction — and
riding horses is her “favorite thing in the whole
wide world.”
Listening to her, one would never imagine that just
two years ago, she suffered from debilitating
anxiety. Her fear of vomit and of becoming ill had
resulted in extreme weight loss and weeks of
missed school days. Her behaviors — including
excessive hand washing that left her hands
cracked and bleeding, refusing to eat food without
checking an expiration date and hours of distress
after the sight of vomit — frightened her parents.
Her mother, Micheline Cacciatore, had sought help
from a psychologist with little change in Giulia’s
behavior. Desperate, she did some research, and
found the Child and Adolescent Mood and Anxiety
Treatment (CAMAT) program, part of the University
of Miami’s Department of Psychology. Against the
advice of the psychologist who thought the
program was too aggressive, she pursued
treatment for Giulia.
The program, which focuses on groundbreaking
research and treatment of anxiety and depression
disorders in children and adolescents, uses
intensive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in
which patients are gradually exposed to what they
fear and overcome the fear in the process.
“Their whole lives are changed by being in contact
with something they’ve been afraid of, and we’ve
seen that repeatedly,’’ said Jill Ehrenreich May,
Ph.D., director of CAMAT.
Like many parents who deal with a child’s anxiety,
Cacciatore and her husband, Fabrizio, felt alone.
They struggled to help Giulia, maintain a family life
and raise their other child, son Luca, now 5.
“It sounds silly when you tell somebody, ‘My kid’s
afraid of vomit and my life is completely upside
down because of it.’ It sounds ridiculous, but it’s
really real,” Micheline Cacciatore said.
While Giulia’s case was extreme, anxiety disorders
are not only real, they are common, Ehrenreich
May said.
“Anxiety disorders are pretty much the common
cold of childhood mental illness,” she said. “They
don’t get as much press as things like ADHD or
autism, but they’re more common if you consider
all anxiety disorders as a group.’’
Fear and anxiety are normal and instinctual in
everyone, allowing us to protect ourselves from
threats, she said. However, some children,
including Giulia, are more prone to anxiety and
anxiety disorders. Anxiety can turn into depression
if left untreated, she said. In addition, compared
with previous generations, Ehrenreich May said,
“threat information” now follows kids everywhere,
from computers and social media to cellphones
and television.
“You have easy access to the idea that bad things
can happen,” she said.
According to the National Institutes of Mental
Health, a large national survey of adolescent health
found that about 8 percent of teens 13-18 have an
anxiety disorder, with symptoms appearing at
around 6 years old. Of these teens, only 18
percent received mental health care. Brain imaging
shows that children with anxiety disorders have
atypical activity in specific areas of the brain,
compared with people without the disorder.
Nevertheless, Ehrenreich May said, the types of
anxiety therapists see hasn’t changed much.
The most common type of anxiety seen at CAMAT
is generalized anxiety disorder — a high level of
worry about specific issues — school, the future,
performance, hurricanes, the state of the world and
illness, among them. The second most common
disorder therapists see is social anxiety disorder,
which is often seen in children with ADHD,
Asperger’s Syndrome and high-functioning autism.
“Kids who have ADHD … oftentimes get negative
feedback from their social and academic
environment and over time they become overly
vigilant as a way of coping,” she said.
Many children with ADHD also have poor
frustration tolerance, which can result in avoidance
of situations, activities, anything that causes them
anxiety, she said. Children on the autism spectrum
are also prone to generalized anxiety and
particularly social anxiety.
“They feel like they’re getting negative feedback,
and they don’t understand why.”
While parents may first opt for traditional
psychotherapy, experts including those from the
National Institutes of Mental Health, say that in
order to decrease symptoms, parents should seek
treatment from psychotherapists trained in
cognitive behavior therapy, who can also prescribe
medication.
Cognitive behavioral therapy differs from traditional
psychotherapy or “talk therapy’’ in that the focus is
on the present, and is action-oriented in educating
patients and parents about the disorder and
ultimately exposing patients to what they fear.
Ehrenreich May said that whether medication or
CBT is used, an essential part of treating anxiety is
to stop the avoidance. Without addressing
avoidance, a behavior may lessen or go away only
to morph into other anxiety behaviors. Cognitive
behavioral therapy helps kids develop coping skills
that transfer later on, she said.
Despite the need for treating children, she said, a
relatively small number of programs exist
nationwide, primarily as part of research programs
on college campuses. CAMAT, which opened in
2008, conducts research, and every child who
receives treatment becomes part of that research,
Ehrenreich May said.
There are also clinics at Florida International
University, University of South Florida and
University of Central Florida.
Micheline Cacciatore said she was fortunate to find
help, and she and Giulia hope they can help others
by sharing their story.
“Without them [CAMAT], I have no idea where we
would be now,’’ Cacciatore said. “Not only did they
give me back my daughter, but the parenting skills
that I learned also helped us get our whole family
back on track.’’
Giulia was always an anxious child, her mother
said. Add to that a move to Miami from
Massachusetts, bullying at a school she eventually
left and food poisoning at a restaurant, and Giulia’s
anxiety increased.
Her therapist at CAMAT, Erin Girio-Herrera, Ph.D,
said Giulia’s case was tough, not just because of
the particular phobia, but because she had become
“highly avoidant,’’ vehemently refusing and
resisting treatment.
“Initially when they told me what the treatment was
going to be, I just felt like I was throwing her in a
lion’s cage and she was either going to get eaten
alive or come out of it. I knew we had to do it
because nothing else was working,” Micheline
Cacciatore said. “She was losing weight daily, and
it was becoming dangerous.”
At 11, Giulia weighed 56 pounds. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the
median weight for an 11-year-old girl is 108
pounds. Now she weighs 85 pounds, a healthy
weight for her height and size.
Micheline Cacciatore said Giulia’s previous
psychologist had also used cognitive behavioral
therapy. However, “she wasn’t doing it to the
extent they do it at UM. They have patients every
hour. They don’t have time for that. The symptoms
never went away.”
Still, she said, “It was really hard to put all my
trust in them, and we did almost drop out a couple
of times.” Giulia’s pained reactions, crying for
hours, were hard to bear. Some therapy sessions
lasted all day.
“A lot of the parents of kids we work with are
exhausted because they’re providing reassurance
24 hours a day,” Ehrenreich May said.
Micheline Cacciatore said she was one of them. “It
was the only way we could get her out of the
house or get to sleep. She would make us
promise her over and over that she wouldn’t get
sick.
“It was the hardest promise to make, because we
knew it was an empty promise if she got sick. We
learned the second day of therapy from Dr. Girio.
No more [promises that she would not get sick].”
“What kids get a lot of is, ‘It's OK, you don’t need
to worry. That’s never going to happen.’ If that
was curative, I wouldn’t have a job,’’ Ehrenreich
May said.
Girio-Herrera said the process begins relatively
slowly, with psycho education “so she had some
understanding of what’s happening in her body.”
Then she began to trigger Giulia’s reactions.
Girio-Herrera had a staff person cough outside the
door to the office. She “choked” on a sip of water,
and coughed, then rolled a colorful pen across the
table. Giulia caught it without thinking. Giulia had
to touch surfaces in the bathrooms at CAMAT. She
saw pictures and video of people gagging and
vomiting.
Finally came exposure to the smelly vomitous
mass. She and Girio-Herrera ultimately came up
with a name for the object of her fear — Voldemort.
“At times when it was hard for her, I would say
things like, ‘So are you going to let Voldemort
win?’ ’’ Girio-Herrera said. “ ‘Can you be stronger
and braver than Voldemort right now?’ Those kinds
of things were helpful to her.”
“I remember the day I killed Voldemort. It was
good,” said Giulia, now enjoying being a seventh-
grader at Riviera School. She is considering
becoming a therapist like Girio-Herrera.
“I keep telling her ‘You saved me,’ ” Giulia said of
Girio-Herrera, “and she says ‘No, you did it.’ ”
makes you want to be 13 again.
An honor roll student, she peppers her
conversations with superlatives and wears her long
blonde hair in a pony tail that sways when she
moves. Giulia loves mashed potatoes, music —
Coldplay, Bruno Mars and One Direction — and
riding horses is her “favorite thing in the whole
wide world.”
Listening to her, one would never imagine that just
two years ago, she suffered from debilitating
anxiety. Her fear of vomit and of becoming ill had
resulted in extreme weight loss and weeks of
missed school days. Her behaviors — including
excessive hand washing that left her hands
cracked and bleeding, refusing to eat food without
checking an expiration date and hours of distress
after the sight of vomit — frightened her parents.
Her mother, Micheline Cacciatore, had sought help
from a psychologist with little change in Giulia’s
behavior. Desperate, she did some research, and
found the Child and Adolescent Mood and Anxiety
Treatment (CAMAT) program, part of the University
of Miami’s Department of Psychology. Against the
advice of the psychologist who thought the
program was too aggressive, she pursued
treatment for Giulia.
The program, which focuses on groundbreaking
research and treatment of anxiety and depression
disorders in children and adolescents, uses
intensive cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), in
which patients are gradually exposed to what they
fear and overcome the fear in the process.
“Their whole lives are changed by being in contact
with something they’ve been afraid of, and we’ve
seen that repeatedly,’’ said Jill Ehrenreich May,
Ph.D., director of CAMAT.
Like many parents who deal with a child’s anxiety,
Cacciatore and her husband, Fabrizio, felt alone.
They struggled to help Giulia, maintain a family life
and raise their other child, son Luca, now 5.
“It sounds silly when you tell somebody, ‘My kid’s
afraid of vomit and my life is completely upside
down because of it.’ It sounds ridiculous, but it’s
really real,” Micheline Cacciatore said.
While Giulia’s case was extreme, anxiety disorders
are not only real, they are common, Ehrenreich
May said.
“Anxiety disorders are pretty much the common
cold of childhood mental illness,” she said. “They
don’t get as much press as things like ADHD or
autism, but they’re more common if you consider
all anxiety disorders as a group.’’
Fear and anxiety are normal and instinctual in
everyone, allowing us to protect ourselves from
threats, she said. However, some children,
including Giulia, are more prone to anxiety and
anxiety disorders. Anxiety can turn into depression
if left untreated, she said. In addition, compared
with previous generations, Ehrenreich May said,
“threat information” now follows kids everywhere,
from computers and social media to cellphones
and television.
“You have easy access to the idea that bad things
can happen,” she said.
According to the National Institutes of Mental
Health, a large national survey of adolescent health
found that about 8 percent of teens 13-18 have an
anxiety disorder, with symptoms appearing at
around 6 years old. Of these teens, only 18
percent received mental health care. Brain imaging
shows that children with anxiety disorders have
atypical activity in specific areas of the brain,
compared with people without the disorder.
Nevertheless, Ehrenreich May said, the types of
anxiety therapists see hasn’t changed much.
The most common type of anxiety seen at CAMAT
is generalized anxiety disorder — a high level of
worry about specific issues — school, the future,
performance, hurricanes, the state of the world and
illness, among them. The second most common
disorder therapists see is social anxiety disorder,
which is often seen in children with ADHD,
Asperger’s Syndrome and high-functioning autism.
“Kids who have ADHD … oftentimes get negative
feedback from their social and academic
environment and over time they become overly
vigilant as a way of coping,” she said.
Many children with ADHD also have poor
frustration tolerance, which can result in avoidance
of situations, activities, anything that causes them
anxiety, she said. Children on the autism spectrum
are also prone to generalized anxiety and
particularly social anxiety.
“They feel like they’re getting negative feedback,
and they don’t understand why.”
While parents may first opt for traditional
psychotherapy, experts including those from the
National Institutes of Mental Health, say that in
order to decrease symptoms, parents should seek
treatment from psychotherapists trained in
cognitive behavior therapy, who can also prescribe
medication.
Cognitive behavioral therapy differs from traditional
psychotherapy or “talk therapy’’ in that the focus is
on the present, and is action-oriented in educating
patients and parents about the disorder and
ultimately exposing patients to what they fear.
Ehrenreich May said that whether medication or
CBT is used, an essential part of treating anxiety is
to stop the avoidance. Without addressing
avoidance, a behavior may lessen or go away only
to morph into other anxiety behaviors. Cognitive
behavioral therapy helps kids develop coping skills
that transfer later on, she said.
Despite the need for treating children, she said, a
relatively small number of programs exist
nationwide, primarily as part of research programs
on college campuses. CAMAT, which opened in
2008, conducts research, and every child who
receives treatment becomes part of that research,
Ehrenreich May said.
There are also clinics at Florida International
University, University of South Florida and
University of Central Florida.
Micheline Cacciatore said she was fortunate to find
help, and she and Giulia hope they can help others
by sharing their story.
“Without them [CAMAT], I have no idea where we
would be now,’’ Cacciatore said. “Not only did they
give me back my daughter, but the parenting skills
that I learned also helped us get our whole family
back on track.’’
Giulia was always an anxious child, her mother
said. Add to that a move to Miami from
Massachusetts, bullying at a school she eventually
left and food poisoning at a restaurant, and Giulia’s
anxiety increased.
Her therapist at CAMAT, Erin Girio-Herrera, Ph.D,
said Giulia’s case was tough, not just because of
the particular phobia, but because she had become
“highly avoidant,’’ vehemently refusing and
resisting treatment.
“Initially when they told me what the treatment was
going to be, I just felt like I was throwing her in a
lion’s cage and she was either going to get eaten
alive or come out of it. I knew we had to do it
because nothing else was working,” Micheline
Cacciatore said. “She was losing weight daily, and
it was becoming dangerous.”
At 11, Giulia weighed 56 pounds. According to the
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the
median weight for an 11-year-old girl is 108
pounds. Now she weighs 85 pounds, a healthy
weight for her height and size.
Micheline Cacciatore said Giulia’s previous
psychologist had also used cognitive behavioral
therapy. However, “she wasn’t doing it to the
extent they do it at UM. They have patients every
hour. They don’t have time for that. The symptoms
never went away.”
Still, she said, “It was really hard to put all my
trust in them, and we did almost drop out a couple
of times.” Giulia’s pained reactions, crying for
hours, were hard to bear. Some therapy sessions
lasted all day.
“A lot of the parents of kids we work with are
exhausted because they’re providing reassurance
24 hours a day,” Ehrenreich May said.
Micheline Cacciatore said she was one of them. “It
was the only way we could get her out of the
house or get to sleep. She would make us
promise her over and over that she wouldn’t get
sick.
“It was the hardest promise to make, because we
knew it was an empty promise if she got sick. We
learned the second day of therapy from Dr. Girio.
No more [promises that she would not get sick].”
“What kids get a lot of is, ‘It's OK, you don’t need
to worry. That’s never going to happen.’ If that
was curative, I wouldn’t have a job,’’ Ehrenreich
May said.
Girio-Herrera said the process begins relatively
slowly, with psycho education “so she had some
understanding of what’s happening in her body.”
Then she began to trigger Giulia’s reactions.
Girio-Herrera had a staff person cough outside the
door to the office. She “choked” on a sip of water,
and coughed, then rolled a colorful pen across the
table. Giulia caught it without thinking. Giulia had
to touch surfaces in the bathrooms at CAMAT. She
saw pictures and video of people gagging and
vomiting.
Finally came exposure to the smelly vomitous
mass. She and Girio-Herrera ultimately came up
with a name for the object of her fear — Voldemort.
“At times when it was hard for her, I would say
things like, ‘So are you going to let Voldemort
win?’ ’’ Girio-Herrera said. “ ‘Can you be stronger
and braver than Voldemort right now?’ Those kinds
of things were helpful to her.”
“I remember the day I killed Voldemort. It was
good,” said Giulia, now enjoying being a seventh-
grader at Riviera School. She is considering
becoming a therapist like Girio-Herrera.
“I keep telling her ‘You saved me,’ ” Giulia said of
Girio-Herrera, “and she says ‘No, you did it.’ ”
Ironic
Gulnara Karimova, the daughter of Uzbekistan's
president, used to be one of the most powerful
people in Central Asia. Last year she fell from
grace - but remained active online until five weeks
ago. Since then, she has been silent.
The long rambling letter in my inbox is littered
with signs of distress. "I am under severe
psychological pressure, I have been beaten, you
can count bruises on my arms," reads one line.
Another paragraph describes a life under house
arrest, daily threats and constant observation from
cameras and police.
The letter was sent from Uzbekistan, one of the
world's most isolated and repressive states, as an
attachment from an anonymous person who
described himself as someone "trying to restore
justice". The sender said the letter had been
written in the last few days and smuggled out to
him, but refused to give details.
It is unsigned, but the level of detail and insight,
the convoluted style and the neat Russian
handwriting suggests that the author is no
dissident, but Gulnara Karimova, once talked about
as a possible successor to her father, Uzbek
President Islam Karimov.
"How naive I was to think that the rule of law
exists in the country," reads one line of the letter.
An analysis comparing part of the letter with a
sample of handwriting known to be Karimova's
concluded there was a high probability (75%) that
the letter was indeed written by her.
"Working without originals, it is almost impossible
to achieve a 100% match with handwriting, but
there is a very high probability that the two notes
were written by the same person," says Inessa
Goldberg, an Israel-based expert who specialises
in Cyrillic handwriting.
An excerpt from the letter, and (below) a sample of
Karimova's handwriting
The letter sheds new light on the spectacular
downfall of one of Uzbekistan's most influential
figures, and her battle against key members of the
regime, which has unfolded live for the world to
see on Twitter.
For the last 14 months, Karimova, once described
in leaked US diplomatic cables as a "robber baron"
and "the most hated person" in Uzbekistan, has
tweeted about her falling-out with her strongman
father, and its consequences - the closure of her
businesses and TV stations, the shutting down of
her charity and arrests of her supporters.
As Karimova's empire
crumbled she became
openly critical of key
figures in the regime,
and especially her
father's top security
man Rustam
Innoyatov, whom she
accused of trying to
seize power.
From time to time she
and I exchanged
tweets . In a country
where internet and
media are censored,
her Twitter feed
provided an
unprecedented insight into events that could
previously only have been guessed at. But on 16
February she went quiet. Her Twitter account has
since been suspended.
Karimova's last tweet was sent out just a day
before Uzbek police stormed a luxury apartment in
the capital, Tashkent, arresting a group of people
that no law enforcement officer in Uzbekistan
would previously have dared to touch.
The letter provides a first-hand account of the
police operation and its aftermath. "What makes it
all worse, is that it is impossible to live like a
human when you are watched by cameras, when
there are armed men everywhere and when you are
depressed because of what you have seen: special
forces jumping on to the roof, your things in a
mess, broken windows and doors and worst of all:
a blindfolded person who is being dragged along
the floor," it says.
The "blindfolded person" is likely to have been
Rustam Madumarov, Karimova's business partner
and, reportedly, her boyfriend, who was arrested
that night along with two of her closest associates.
The same day the three were charged with
embezzlement, tax fraud, illegal possession of
foreign currency and money laundering.
In fragmented, erratic, at times difficult-to-
understand language, Karimova describes how in
the last few weeks "hundreds, possibly already
thousands" of her supporters and former
employees have been intimidated, arrested and
threatened.
She says she has been isolated from them for
being a disseminator of inconvenient "unnecessary
truth". There is no television, no internet, no
telephone in her house, she says, and she is
worried about her daughter who is ill.
A source in Tashkent who is close to Karimova
confirmed that she is currently under house arrest
and that her 16-year-old daughter, Iman, is being
held with her. The man, who didn't want to be
identified, also said that US embassy staff have
visited Iman, who is an American citizen. (Her
father, Karimova's ex-husband Mansur Maqsudi, is
an American citizen of Afghan origin.)
The US embassy in Tashkent refused to confirm
the visit, saying in a written reply "as a matter of
policy it was unable to comment on this specific
inquiry". The statement added: "As a general
policy the Department of State and our diplomatic
missions abroad have no higher priority than
assuring the welfare and safety of American
citizens abroad."
Throughout the letter, Karimova makes allegations
against her mother, her sister and some of her
father's closest allies. She accuses them of
racketeering, blackmail and torture.
"The reason for this Pinochet-style persecution is
that I dared to speak up about things that millions
are quiet about," she writes.
But for many, Karimova's attacks about her family
and others will strike a hypocritical note. Gulnara,
as most Uzbeks call her, has long been the
glamorous face of the regime she now criticises.
She ran a business empire, became the country's
best-known pop star (under her stage name,
Googoosha) and its foremost patron of fashion, art
and design, created a perfume line, became the
country's chief philanthropist, and served as its
ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.
Over the years I have interviewed a number of
Uzbeks who have lost livelihoods to rackets
operating under her name.
In 2012, a group of Swedish journalists uncovered
evidence which led them to conclude that a
Swedish-Finnish telecom company, TeliaSonera,
had paid a $300m bribe in 2008 to enter
Uzbekistan's lucrative mobile-phone market. The
money was traced to an offshore company
registered in Gibraltar and owned by 25-year-old
Gayane Avakyan, who was one of the two female
associates detained along with Karimova's
boyfriend and fellow pop-star Rustam Madumarov
on 17 February.
It has since become the biggest corruption case in
Sweden's history, and on Monday Gulnara
Karimova became an official suspect.
The investigation now involves 10 other European
countries and the US. Two weeks ago, Swiss
authorities announced they had also launched a
money-laundering investigation into Karimova.
Gulnara has always denied any involvement in
TeliaSonera, and the company itself denies any
wrongdoing. In her letter, she once again insists
the campaign against her was headed by her
father's security chief, Innoyatov.
Karimova had a career as a fashion designer,
among other things
"She paints herself as a victim, and her father as
someone who has been manipulated," says Daniil
Kislov, editor of Central Asia's leading Ferghana.ru
website.
Kislov believes no-one but Karimov himself could
have given the order to put his daughter under a
house arrest or detain her closest friends. He says
that the Uzbek strongman is punishing his
daughter for the excesses of her lifestyle.
"The last 15 years have shown that Karimov
couldn't care less about the international criticism
of human rights in Uzbekistan, about torture in
prisons, forced sterilisations in government
hospitals, child labour in cotton fields ," says Daniil
Kislov.
What Karimov does care about, Kislov argues, is
the damage Gulnara's reputation as a robber baron
has done to Uzbekistan's ability to attract foreign
investment, which for a while she appeared to
monopolise. The arrests, Kislov suggested, were
Karimov's way of telling his unruly daughter and
the world that in Uzbekistan, he is the one in
charge.
Islam Karimov and Vladimir Putin in Sochi
Despite a decade of rumours that Karimov suffers
from a terminal illness, the 76-year-old looked
alert and energetic when he attended the Winter
Olympic opening ceremonies in Sochi in February.
There are no signs that he wants to relinquish
power.
But is the decision to lock Gulnara up also a sign
of Karimov's weakness? It certainly suggests he is
worried about the damage that his outspoken and
well-informed daughter could cause.
And despite the fact that Gulnara's internet has
been turned off, she is still managing to get her
voice heard. Since sending her message to me,
she has leaked another to Uzbek media in which
she asks her father to let her leave the country for
medical treatment.
"I never thought this could happen in a civilised,
developing nation that Uzbekistan portrays itself
as," she says in her letter to me.
"But a closer look showed me all the ugliness of
what goes on here, and listening to people whom I
would argue with before, I realise that all of it has
been happening for a long time."
Though few Uzbeks will believe in Karimova's
transformation into a defender of their rights, this
message will resonate with many.
president, used to be one of the most powerful
people in Central Asia. Last year she fell from
grace - but remained active online until five weeks
ago. Since then, she has been silent.
The long rambling letter in my inbox is littered
with signs of distress. "I am under severe
psychological pressure, I have been beaten, you
can count bruises on my arms," reads one line.
Another paragraph describes a life under house
arrest, daily threats and constant observation from
cameras and police.
The letter was sent from Uzbekistan, one of the
world's most isolated and repressive states, as an
attachment from an anonymous person who
described himself as someone "trying to restore
justice". The sender said the letter had been
written in the last few days and smuggled out to
him, but refused to give details.
It is unsigned, but the level of detail and insight,
the convoluted style and the neat Russian
handwriting suggests that the author is no
dissident, but Gulnara Karimova, once talked about
as a possible successor to her father, Uzbek
President Islam Karimov.
"How naive I was to think that the rule of law
exists in the country," reads one line of the letter.
An analysis comparing part of the letter with a
sample of handwriting known to be Karimova's
concluded there was a high probability (75%) that
the letter was indeed written by her.
"Working without originals, it is almost impossible
to achieve a 100% match with handwriting, but
there is a very high probability that the two notes
were written by the same person," says Inessa
Goldberg, an Israel-based expert who specialises
in Cyrillic handwriting.
An excerpt from the letter, and (below) a sample of
Karimova's handwriting
The letter sheds new light on the spectacular
downfall of one of Uzbekistan's most influential
figures, and her battle against key members of the
regime, which has unfolded live for the world to
see on Twitter.
For the last 14 months, Karimova, once described
in leaked US diplomatic cables as a "robber baron"
and "the most hated person" in Uzbekistan, has
tweeted about her falling-out with her strongman
father, and its consequences - the closure of her
businesses and TV stations, the shutting down of
her charity and arrests of her supporters.
As Karimova's empire
crumbled she became
openly critical of key
figures in the regime,
and especially her
father's top security
man Rustam
Innoyatov, whom she
accused of trying to
seize power.
From time to time she
and I exchanged
tweets . In a country
where internet and
media are censored,
her Twitter feed
provided an
unprecedented insight into events that could
previously only have been guessed at. But on 16
February she went quiet. Her Twitter account has
since been suspended.
Karimova's last tweet was sent out just a day
before Uzbek police stormed a luxury apartment in
the capital, Tashkent, arresting a group of people
that no law enforcement officer in Uzbekistan
would previously have dared to touch.
The letter provides a first-hand account of the
police operation and its aftermath. "What makes it
all worse, is that it is impossible to live like a
human when you are watched by cameras, when
there are armed men everywhere and when you are
depressed because of what you have seen: special
forces jumping on to the roof, your things in a
mess, broken windows and doors and worst of all:
a blindfolded person who is being dragged along
the floor," it says.
The "blindfolded person" is likely to have been
Rustam Madumarov, Karimova's business partner
and, reportedly, her boyfriend, who was arrested
that night along with two of her closest associates.
The same day the three were charged with
embezzlement, tax fraud, illegal possession of
foreign currency and money laundering.
In fragmented, erratic, at times difficult-to-
understand language, Karimova describes how in
the last few weeks "hundreds, possibly already
thousands" of her supporters and former
employees have been intimidated, arrested and
threatened.
She says she has been isolated from them for
being a disseminator of inconvenient "unnecessary
truth". There is no television, no internet, no
telephone in her house, she says, and she is
worried about her daughter who is ill.
A source in Tashkent who is close to Karimova
confirmed that she is currently under house arrest
and that her 16-year-old daughter, Iman, is being
held with her. The man, who didn't want to be
identified, also said that US embassy staff have
visited Iman, who is an American citizen. (Her
father, Karimova's ex-husband Mansur Maqsudi, is
an American citizen of Afghan origin.)
The US embassy in Tashkent refused to confirm
the visit, saying in a written reply "as a matter of
policy it was unable to comment on this specific
inquiry". The statement added: "As a general
policy the Department of State and our diplomatic
missions abroad have no higher priority than
assuring the welfare and safety of American
citizens abroad."
Throughout the letter, Karimova makes allegations
against her mother, her sister and some of her
father's closest allies. She accuses them of
racketeering, blackmail and torture.
"The reason for this Pinochet-style persecution is
that I dared to speak up about things that millions
are quiet about," she writes.
But for many, Karimova's attacks about her family
and others will strike a hypocritical note. Gulnara,
as most Uzbeks call her, has long been the
glamorous face of the regime she now criticises.
She ran a business empire, became the country's
best-known pop star (under her stage name,
Googoosha) and its foremost patron of fashion, art
and design, created a perfume line, became the
country's chief philanthropist, and served as its
ambassador to the United Nations in Geneva.
Over the years I have interviewed a number of
Uzbeks who have lost livelihoods to rackets
operating under her name.
In 2012, a group of Swedish journalists uncovered
evidence which led them to conclude that a
Swedish-Finnish telecom company, TeliaSonera,
had paid a $300m bribe in 2008 to enter
Uzbekistan's lucrative mobile-phone market. The
money was traced to an offshore company
registered in Gibraltar and owned by 25-year-old
Gayane Avakyan, who was one of the two female
associates detained along with Karimova's
boyfriend and fellow pop-star Rustam Madumarov
on 17 February.
It has since become the biggest corruption case in
Sweden's history, and on Monday Gulnara
Karimova became an official suspect.
The investigation now involves 10 other European
countries and the US. Two weeks ago, Swiss
authorities announced they had also launched a
money-laundering investigation into Karimova.
Gulnara has always denied any involvement in
TeliaSonera, and the company itself denies any
wrongdoing. In her letter, she once again insists
the campaign against her was headed by her
father's security chief, Innoyatov.
Karimova had a career as a fashion designer,
among other things
"She paints herself as a victim, and her father as
someone who has been manipulated," says Daniil
Kislov, editor of Central Asia's leading Ferghana.ru
website.
Kislov believes no-one but Karimov himself could
have given the order to put his daughter under a
house arrest or detain her closest friends. He says
that the Uzbek strongman is punishing his
daughter for the excesses of her lifestyle.
"The last 15 years have shown that Karimov
couldn't care less about the international criticism
of human rights in Uzbekistan, about torture in
prisons, forced sterilisations in government
hospitals, child labour in cotton fields ," says Daniil
Kislov.
What Karimov does care about, Kislov argues, is
the damage Gulnara's reputation as a robber baron
has done to Uzbekistan's ability to attract foreign
investment, which for a while she appeared to
monopolise. The arrests, Kislov suggested, were
Karimov's way of telling his unruly daughter and
the world that in Uzbekistan, he is the one in
charge.
Islam Karimov and Vladimir Putin in Sochi
Despite a decade of rumours that Karimov suffers
from a terminal illness, the 76-year-old looked
alert and energetic when he attended the Winter
Olympic opening ceremonies in Sochi in February.
There are no signs that he wants to relinquish
power.
But is the decision to lock Gulnara up also a sign
of Karimov's weakness? It certainly suggests he is
worried about the damage that his outspoken and
well-informed daughter could cause.
And despite the fact that Gulnara's internet has
been turned off, she is still managing to get her
voice heard. Since sending her message to me,
she has leaked another to Uzbek media in which
she asks her father to let her leave the country for
medical treatment.
"I never thought this could happen in a civilised,
developing nation that Uzbekistan portrays itself
as," she says in her letter to me.
"But a closer look showed me all the ugliness of
what goes on here, and listening to people whom I
would argue with before, I realise that all of it has
been happening for a long time."
Though few Uzbeks will believe in Karimova's
transformation into a defender of their rights, this
message will resonate with many.
2012: Air polution killed over seven milliin people
Air pollution killed seven million people in 2012:
WHO
Geneva (AFP) - Air pollution by sources ranging
from cooking fires to auto fumes contributed to an
estimated seven million deaths worldwide in 2012,
the UN health agency said Tuesday.
"Air pollution, and we're talking about both indoors
and outdoors, is now the biggest environmental
health problem, and it's affecting everyone, both
developed and developing countries," said Maria
Neira, the World Health Organization's public and
environmental health chief.
Globally, pollution was linked to one death in eight
in 2012, new WHO research found.
The biggest pollution-related killers were heart
disease, stroke, pulmonary disease and lung
cancer.
The hardest-hit regions of the globe were what the
WHO labels Southeast Asia, which includes India
and Indonesia, and the Western Pacific, ranging
from China and South Korea to Japan and the
Philippines.
Together, they accounted for 5.9 million deaths.
The global death toll included 4.3 million deaths
due to indoor air pollution, chiefly caused by
cooking over coal, wood and biomass stoves.
The toll from outdoor pollution was 3.7 million,
with sources ranging from coal heating fires to
diesel engines.
Many people are exposed to both indoor and
outdoor pollution, the WHO said, and due to that
overlap the separate death toll attributed to the two
sources cannot simply be added together, hence
the figure of seven million deaths.
The new figure is "shocking and worrying", Neira
told reporters.
When it last released an estimate for deaths
related to air pollution, in 2008, the agency had put
the figure related to outdoor pollution at 1.3
million, while the number blamed on indoor
pollution was 1.9 million.
But a change in research methods makes
comparison difficult between the 2008 estimate
and the 2012 figures, Neira said.
In the past, for example, the WHO did not take into
account the overlap between exposure to both
forms, and only assessed urban pollution.
Satellite imagery has made it easier to assess rural
pollution, and new knowledge about the health
impact of exposure has enabled a better count.
- 'Can't buy bottled air' -
"The risks from air pollution are now far greater
than previously thought or understood, particularly
for heart disease and strokes," said Neira.
"Few risks have a greater impact on global health
today than air pollution. The evidence signals the
need for concerted action to clean up the air we all
breathe."
According to the WHO, some 2.9 billion people in
poor nations live in homes that use fires as their
principle method of cooking and heating.
Carlos Dora, the WHO's public and environmental
health coordinator, said that turned homes into
"combustion chambers".
Simple measures to stem the impact include so-
called "clean cook stoves", which are a low-tech
option, as well as improved ventilation, he said.
Countries also need to rethink policies, Dora said,
pointing to the impact in the developed world of a
shift to cleaner power sources, more efficient
management of energy demand, and technical
strides in the auto industry.
He also said transport policies needed a shake-up.
With air pollution having sparked a recent scare in
France, leading to restrictions on car use and the
temporary scrapping of public transport fees in
Paris, Dora said such measures could be applied
in the longer term.
"You can't buy clean air in a bottle," he said.
"The air is a shared resource. In order to breathe
clean air, we have to have interventions in the
areas that pollute air."
The WHO said it planned by the end of this year to
release a ranking of the world's 1,600 most
polluted cities.
WHO
Geneva (AFP) - Air pollution by sources ranging
from cooking fires to auto fumes contributed to an
estimated seven million deaths worldwide in 2012,
the UN health agency said Tuesday.
"Air pollution, and we're talking about both indoors
and outdoors, is now the biggest environmental
health problem, and it's affecting everyone, both
developed and developing countries," said Maria
Neira, the World Health Organization's public and
environmental health chief.
Globally, pollution was linked to one death in eight
in 2012, new WHO research found.
The biggest pollution-related killers were heart
disease, stroke, pulmonary disease and lung
cancer.
The hardest-hit regions of the globe were what the
WHO labels Southeast Asia, which includes India
and Indonesia, and the Western Pacific, ranging
from China and South Korea to Japan and the
Philippines.
Together, they accounted for 5.9 million deaths.
The global death toll included 4.3 million deaths
due to indoor air pollution, chiefly caused by
cooking over coal, wood and biomass stoves.
The toll from outdoor pollution was 3.7 million,
with sources ranging from coal heating fires to
diesel engines.
Many people are exposed to both indoor and
outdoor pollution, the WHO said, and due to that
overlap the separate death toll attributed to the two
sources cannot simply be added together, hence
the figure of seven million deaths.
The new figure is "shocking and worrying", Neira
told reporters.
When it last released an estimate for deaths
related to air pollution, in 2008, the agency had put
the figure related to outdoor pollution at 1.3
million, while the number blamed on indoor
pollution was 1.9 million.
But a change in research methods makes
comparison difficult between the 2008 estimate
and the 2012 figures, Neira said.
In the past, for example, the WHO did not take into
account the overlap between exposure to both
forms, and only assessed urban pollution.
Satellite imagery has made it easier to assess rural
pollution, and new knowledge about the health
impact of exposure has enabled a better count.
- 'Can't buy bottled air' -
"The risks from air pollution are now far greater
than previously thought or understood, particularly
for heart disease and strokes," said Neira.
"Few risks have a greater impact on global health
today than air pollution. The evidence signals the
need for concerted action to clean up the air we all
breathe."
According to the WHO, some 2.9 billion people in
poor nations live in homes that use fires as their
principle method of cooking and heating.
Carlos Dora, the WHO's public and environmental
health coordinator, said that turned homes into
"combustion chambers".
Simple measures to stem the impact include so-
called "clean cook stoves", which are a low-tech
option, as well as improved ventilation, he said.
Countries also need to rethink policies, Dora said,
pointing to the impact in the developed world of a
shift to cleaner power sources, more efficient
management of energy demand, and technical
strides in the auto industry.
He also said transport policies needed a shake-up.
With air pollution having sparked a recent scare in
France, leading to restrictions on car use and the
temporary scrapping of public transport fees in
Paris, Dora said such measures could be applied
in the longer term.
"You can't buy clean air in a bottle," he said.
"The air is a shared resource. In order to breathe
clean air, we have to have interventions in the
areas that pollute air."
The WHO said it planned by the end of this year to
release a ranking of the world's 1,600 most
polluted cities.
woman deceivce's boyfriend and town with fake pregnancy for 34 weeks
A Canadian woman
managed to convince her boyfriend and
her town that she was pregnant with
quintuplets for 34 weeks.
It was only when Barbara Bienvenue, 37,
went to the hospital to deliver the babies
this month that doctors pulled her
boyfriend aside to tell him she wasn’t
pregnant and never had been, according
to CTV , a Canadian news station.
“I lost everything, it was my whole life,”
her boyfriend Paul Servat told the Toronto
Sun, adding that Bienvenue told him she
was expecting twins, then triplets, then
quadruplets, then quintuplets. He said her
belly grew, and she experienced morning
sickness and lactation.
Paul Sevat stands in an empty nursery. (Credit:
Camille Laurin-Desjardins /Le Journal De Montral/
Agence QMI)
Marie-Pier Gagnon, a reporter for Le
Canada Français , a local French-language
newspaper that covers Saint-Jean-sur-
Richelieu, Quebec, reported on Jan. 23
that the couple was expecting
quadruplets. They would be named
Alexander, Sebastian, Charles and Rosalie,
and they would be born via Cesarean
section on Feb. 22 at the CHU Sainte-
Justine Hospital in Montreal. Photos of a
colorful room with wall-to-wall cribs
accompanied the article.
Gagnon wrote that the news spurred a
movement on social networks to help the
couple, and donations poured in.
Then, on March 20, Gagnon published
another article, revealing that Bienvenue
was never pregnant.
Local police spokesman Sgt. Luc Tougas
said his department is aware of the
Bienvenue story, but it has not received
any formal fraud complaints from the
people who donated money and baby
things to the couple.
“The spouse, who was also jilted with this
whole story, has been reimbursing some
of the associations,” Tougas told
ABCNews.com. “He was also very
stunned. Right now, this woman is at the
hospital undergoing psychiatric
treatment. We suspect some mental
issues.”
A Facebook page soliciting donations for
the babies has since been taken down.
ABC News sent an email to the account
set up to handle donations, but there was
no response.
Bienvenue experienced a phantom
pregnancy, or pseudocyesis, and she is
receiving psychiatric care, The Sun
reported. Pseudocyesis is a very rare
disorder in which a woman experiences
all the symptoms of pregnancy, but is not
pregnant.
managed to convince her boyfriend and
her town that she was pregnant with
quintuplets for 34 weeks.
It was only when Barbara Bienvenue, 37,
went to the hospital to deliver the babies
this month that doctors pulled her
boyfriend aside to tell him she wasn’t
pregnant and never had been, according
to CTV , a Canadian news station.
“I lost everything, it was my whole life,”
her boyfriend Paul Servat told the Toronto
Sun, adding that Bienvenue told him she
was expecting twins, then triplets, then
quadruplets, then quintuplets. He said her
belly grew, and she experienced morning
sickness and lactation.
Paul Sevat stands in an empty nursery. (Credit:
Camille Laurin-Desjardins /Le Journal De Montral/
Agence QMI)
Marie-Pier Gagnon, a reporter for Le
Canada Français , a local French-language
newspaper that covers Saint-Jean-sur-
Richelieu, Quebec, reported on Jan. 23
that the couple was expecting
quadruplets. They would be named
Alexander, Sebastian, Charles and Rosalie,
and they would be born via Cesarean
section on Feb. 22 at the CHU Sainte-
Justine Hospital in Montreal. Photos of a
colorful room with wall-to-wall cribs
accompanied the article.
Gagnon wrote that the news spurred a
movement on social networks to help the
couple, and donations poured in.
Then, on March 20, Gagnon published
another article, revealing that Bienvenue
was never pregnant.
Local police spokesman Sgt. Luc Tougas
said his department is aware of the
Bienvenue story, but it has not received
any formal fraud complaints from the
people who donated money and baby
things to the couple.
“The spouse, who was also jilted with this
whole story, has been reimbursing some
of the associations,” Tougas told
ABCNews.com. “He was also very
stunned. Right now, this woman is at the
hospital undergoing psychiatric
treatment. We suspect some mental
issues.”
A Facebook page soliciting donations for
the babies has since been taken down.
ABC News sent an email to the account
set up to handle donations, but there was
no response.
Bienvenue experienced a phantom
pregnancy, or pseudocyesis, and she is
receiving psychiatric care, The Sun
reported. Pseudocyesis is a very rare
disorder in which a woman experiences
all the symptoms of pregnancy, but is not
pregnant.
How 7-day-old baby saved parents house from demolition
Contrary to the popular saying that the law
is blind, officials of the Federal Capital
Territory Administration (FCTA),
penultimate week proved that the law also
has a human face.
The officials disproved the popular saying
when they spared the house of a woman
who had given birth to a baby girl seven
days before a demolition exercise in Gishiri
village, Katampe Extension, in Abuja
Municipal Area Council (AMAC).
Mrs Mercy Ezekiel, a resident of Gishiri
gave birth to her baby girl through
Caesarean operation few days before
officials of the development control
department of the FCTA swooped on the
village to demolish structures which they
termed illegal.
Speaking to journalists, Mrs Ezekiel said
news of impending demolition got to her at
the hospital while she was still
recuperating after the birth of the baby.
“I heard that officials of the FCTA came
and marked some houses but when I came
back from the hospital, I looked around
but did not see any mark for demolition on
our house. So, I assumed that the houses
that were not marked would not be
affected by the exercise,” she explained.
Other residents of the settlement, who were
affected by the demolition exercise,
complained that indigenes of the village
had assured them that the village would
not be demolished, hence their decision to
build and rent houses there.
A tenant, Ibeneme Chika, said that most of
the property owners in the village bought
land from one Hajiya Adebayo, an indigene
of the village, with the assurance that there
would be no demolition until after the
general elections in 2015.
“I’m a tenant and I moved in here only in
September 2013. The person I rented the
house from told me he bought the land
from Hajiya. This Hajiya is the one that
has been selling the whole land in this
vicinity. Even though she informed
residents that the sale is temporal, she
assured them that there is no problem
with the land for now until after the 2015
general election. So, people rushed to buy
these lands.”
A landlord in the area, Pastor Akpos Felix
Oga of the Anointed House of Victory, also
said he bought and built with the
assumption that they could live there
without disturbance till 2017.
“I bought this land measuring 50 by 50
from Hajiya and built some living rooms
for members of my church which I later
rented out at the rate of N150,000 for the
self-contain rooms. Even though the land
was sold to us temporarily as we were told
the rightful owners with allocation papers
for it would come for it later, we were
assured that we would be here for at least
four years before they come to take
ownership of the land,” he lamented.
Hajiya Adebayo however denied all the
allegations, saying she didn’t sell land to
anyone but only collects rent from them.
“I did not sell the land to them. I rent it
out to thoise who want to build and we
contribute and build and share the
proceeds from rent,” she said.
The district officer of Katampe, Kalu Amadi,
described the situation where individuals
sell government land under the pretext of
village expansion without the necessary
requirements for the process as
unfortunate.
While noting that the act is criminal, he
advised residents to seek redress with law
enforcement agencies since the FCTA does
not handle criminal matters
limitations of black boxes
The mystery of flight MH370 is unlikely to be
solved until the flight recorder - known as a black
box - is found. It has two components - a cockpit
voice recorder and a data recorder. But these
devices have their limitations.
The voice recorder only captures the final two
hours
Listening to the last moments of Air France flight
447, which crashed into the Atlantic in 2009, gives
a chilling insight into the confusion that had
overcome the pilots. Such a record of what went
on in the cockpit would be a priceless tool for
investigators trying to work out whether the
Malaysia Airlines plane was the victim of foul play
or a mechanical fault. But it's not that simple even
if the black box is found. The cockpit voice
recorder continually records over itself as the flight
goes on. US firm Honeywell Aerospace says the
black box on the missing airliner - which it
provided - only retains two hours of recording.
That's the length of time that regulations demand.
The principle is in place because it is normally the
last section of a flight that determines the cause of
the crash. But in the case of the Malaysia Airlines
777 it might well be the case that the key events
happened long before the actual crash. On the
other hand, Steve Buzdygan, a former BA 777 pilot,
says the data recorder would provide a wealth of
useful information. "You can almost reconstruct
the flight path from it."
The battery life is short
The black box sends out a ping - after activation
by contact with water - that can be picked up by a
microphone and a "signal analyser". Both the voice
recorder and the data recorder each have their
own pinger. But there's a problem - the battery of
the pinger on MH370 will only last for 30 days,
says Steve Brecken, media director at Honeywell.
Some pingers last for 90 days. The variation
stems from the fact the rules changed after Air
France flight 447. It took nearly two years to find
its black box and new guidelines were issued that
the ping should last for 90 days to give search
teams longer to find it. Some planes have since
been updated, but apparently not the MH370. Even
after the batteries for the pinger run out, the
recorded data remains intact.
It is a small object to find
The black box is bolted into the tail of the aircraft
to avoid damage in a head-on crash. It is small -
about the size of a shoe box, says Dr Guy Gratton
of Brunel University's Flight Safety Lab. Contrary to
the name, it is bright orange. But it's not easy to
see it in the middle of the ocean. The search will
aim to try to locate the wreckage before moving in
to pinpoint the black box by picking up the ping. If
the pinger has expired then other techniques -
such as magnetic detection - are going to be
necessary.
It doesn't float
The box is made out of aluminium and designed to
withstand massive impact, fierce fire or high
pressure. That means it's heavy - about 10kg for
what is a small box - and will sink quickly. The
Indian Ocean has very deep sections. The search
area ranges between 1,150m (3,770ft) and 7,000m
(23,000ft), media reports suggest. So investigators
will be have to consider the prospect of it being
out of reach of many sonar devices. "You have to
ask if there's terrain in the way. The seabed could
be as mountainous as the Alps," says David Barry,
an expert on flight data monitoring at Cranfield
University.
The pinger's range is only a few miles
Honeywell, who made MH370's pinger, say the
signal can typically only be picked up a mile
away. But if it is deep on the ocean floor navies
have hydrophone technology that has a better
chance of locating it than conventional detectors.
The Air France black box was not found until after
its ping had expired. It was eventually located by
slow moving unmanned underwater vehicles. A
modern submarine - such as one of the Royal
Navy's hunter-killer models - could potentially at
least hear a ping from many miles away, Gratton
says. The US, China and Australia all have similar
submarines, he says. "By now there will be a
submarine down there. I'm certain the Chinese will
have put something out there." The US has
deployed a ship that will tow a special black box
locator through the water. According to the
Associated Press, "the Towed Pinger Locator,
which is pulled behind a vessel at slow speeds,
has highly sensitive listening capability so that if
the wreck site is located, it can hear the black box
pinger down to a depth of about 20,000ft
(6,100m)". However, there is a further
complication, says Barry. The black box may be
giving off pings from the ocean floor. But if those
pings hit a layer of warmer or colder water above,
the signal might be refracted or reflected.
solved until the flight recorder - known as a black
box - is found. It has two components - a cockpit
voice recorder and a data recorder. But these
devices have their limitations.
The voice recorder only captures the final two
hours
Listening to the last moments of Air France flight
447, which crashed into the Atlantic in 2009, gives
a chilling insight into the confusion that had
overcome the pilots. Such a record of what went
on in the cockpit would be a priceless tool for
investigators trying to work out whether the
Malaysia Airlines plane was the victim of foul play
or a mechanical fault. But it's not that simple even
if the black box is found. The cockpit voice
recorder continually records over itself as the flight
goes on. US firm Honeywell Aerospace says the
black box on the missing airliner - which it
provided - only retains two hours of recording.
That's the length of time that regulations demand.
The principle is in place because it is normally the
last section of a flight that determines the cause of
the crash. But in the case of the Malaysia Airlines
777 it might well be the case that the key events
happened long before the actual crash. On the
other hand, Steve Buzdygan, a former BA 777 pilot,
says the data recorder would provide a wealth of
useful information. "You can almost reconstruct
the flight path from it."
The battery life is short
The black box sends out a ping - after activation
by contact with water - that can be picked up by a
microphone and a "signal analyser". Both the voice
recorder and the data recorder each have their
own pinger. But there's a problem - the battery of
the pinger on MH370 will only last for 30 days,
says Steve Brecken, media director at Honeywell.
Some pingers last for 90 days. The variation
stems from the fact the rules changed after Air
France flight 447. It took nearly two years to find
its black box and new guidelines were issued that
the ping should last for 90 days to give search
teams longer to find it. Some planes have since
been updated, but apparently not the MH370. Even
after the batteries for the pinger run out, the
recorded data remains intact.
It is a small object to find
The black box is bolted into the tail of the aircraft
to avoid damage in a head-on crash. It is small -
about the size of a shoe box, says Dr Guy Gratton
of Brunel University's Flight Safety Lab. Contrary to
the name, it is bright orange. But it's not easy to
see it in the middle of the ocean. The search will
aim to try to locate the wreckage before moving in
to pinpoint the black box by picking up the ping. If
the pinger has expired then other techniques -
such as magnetic detection - are going to be
necessary.
It doesn't float
The box is made out of aluminium and designed to
withstand massive impact, fierce fire or high
pressure. That means it's heavy - about 10kg for
what is a small box - and will sink quickly. The
Indian Ocean has very deep sections. The search
area ranges between 1,150m (3,770ft) and 7,000m
(23,000ft), media reports suggest. So investigators
will be have to consider the prospect of it being
out of reach of many sonar devices. "You have to
ask if there's terrain in the way. The seabed could
be as mountainous as the Alps," says David Barry,
an expert on flight data monitoring at Cranfield
University.
The pinger's range is only a few miles
Honeywell, who made MH370's pinger, say the
signal can typically only be picked up a mile
away. But if it is deep on the ocean floor navies
have hydrophone technology that has a better
chance of locating it than conventional detectors.
The Air France black box was not found until after
its ping had expired. It was eventually located by
slow moving unmanned underwater vehicles. A
modern submarine - such as one of the Royal
Navy's hunter-killer models - could potentially at
least hear a ping from many miles away, Gratton
says. The US, China and Australia all have similar
submarines, he says. "By now there will be a
submarine down there. I'm certain the Chinese will
have put something out there." The US has
deployed a ship that will tow a special black box
locator through the water. According to the
Associated Press, "the Towed Pinger Locator,
which is pulled behind a vessel at slow speeds,
has highly sensitive listening capability so that if
the wreck site is located, it can hear the black box
pinger down to a depth of about 20,000ft
(6,100m)". However, there is a further
complication, says Barry. The black box may be
giving off pings from the ocean floor. But if those
pings hit a layer of warmer or colder water above,
the signal might be refracted or reflected.
Monday, March 24, 2014
Man imprenates elder sister
A 24-year-old man has impregnated his
elder sister, 25, in Ajegunle area of Lagos
State.
LEADERSHIP learnt that their father
popularly known as Papa Akpan is a
steward in Ikoyi area while his wife, Mama
Akpan is a staff of a private company in
Apapa where she works as a cleaner.
Sources said the parents usually leave
their children, Akpan and Ime alone in their
one-room apartment when going to work
and the siblings are said to be fond of
each other but nobody suspected an
amorous relationship between them.
LEADERSHIP gathered that when their
mother suspected that Ime was pregnant,
she asked her but she denied one month
later, it became obvious that Ime was
pregnant and the woman had to tell her
husband about the situation.
Last Friday, at about 4am, Papa Akpan was
said to have woken Ime, her mother and
Akpan up to discuss the issue and had
pulled out a machete and threatened to cut
Ime down if she failed to say who was
responsible for her pregnancy.
A neighbour said as the atmosphere in the
room became charged, Akpan ran out and
it was at this point that Ime who was by
this time weeping profusely, told her
parents that her younger brother was
responsible for the pregnancy.
elder sister, 25, in Ajegunle area of Lagos
State.
LEADERSHIP learnt that their father
popularly known as Papa Akpan is a
steward in Ikoyi area while his wife, Mama
Akpan is a staff of a private company in
Apapa where she works as a cleaner.
Sources said the parents usually leave
their children, Akpan and Ime alone in their
one-room apartment when going to work
and the siblings are said to be fond of
each other but nobody suspected an
amorous relationship between them.
LEADERSHIP gathered that when their
mother suspected that Ime was pregnant,
she asked her but she denied one month
later, it became obvious that Ime was
pregnant and the woman had to tell her
husband about the situation.
Last Friday, at about 4am, Papa Akpan was
said to have woken Ime, her mother and
Akpan up to discuss the issue and had
pulled out a machete and threatened to cut
Ime down if she failed to say who was
responsible for her pregnancy.
A neighbour said as the atmosphere in the
room became charged, Akpan ran out and
it was at this point that Ime who was by
this time weeping profusely, told her
parents that her younger brother was
responsible for the pregnancy.
insane
Woman Stalker Planned a Wedding
with Her Victim
This brings new meaning to the term
"surprise marriage."
One very important thing about a
wedding is that it should occur between
consenting adults. But that didn't stop
Madeline Desmet, 64, from planning a
wedding with a man she barely knew.
Desmet met the man (who is unidentified)
briefly at church in 2010 and was instantly
lovestruck. However, the feeling was not
mutual, in spite of the fact that she sent
him 50 letters professing her “undying”
love. Things got really weird/scary when
the woman went so far as to plan a
December wedding, setting up a date at
the municipal court and even picking out
rings for the occasion; the man was
tipped off when the jeweler called him
about payment.
She may suffer from Limerance, an
overwhelming romantic obsession with an
unfamiliar person, as well as Fatal
Attraction syndrome.
with Her Victim
This brings new meaning to the term
"surprise marriage."
One very important thing about a
wedding is that it should occur between
consenting adults. But that didn't stop
Madeline Desmet, 64, from planning a
wedding with a man she barely knew.
Desmet met the man (who is unidentified)
briefly at church in 2010 and was instantly
lovestruck. However, the feeling was not
mutual, in spite of the fact that she sent
him 50 letters professing her “undying”
love. Things got really weird/scary when
the woman went so far as to plan a
December wedding, setting up a date at
the municipal court and even picking out
rings for the occasion; the man was
tipped off when the jeweler called him
about payment.
She may suffer from Limerance, an
overwhelming romantic obsession with an
unfamiliar person, as well as Fatal
Attraction syndrome.
CRACY
The Crazy Love story of Linda Riss and Burt
Pugach
In 1959, one of the most notoriously bizarre
stories of love and betrayal began. Linda
Riss was 20 years old, living in East
Bronx. She was beautiful by anyone’s
standard. Riss met an older man named
Burt Pugach, a lawyer and somewhat shady
character. Pugach became enamored with
Riss, and pursued her relentlessly. Riss fell
for his charms, and they began dating
exclusively.
Within a year of their courtship, Burt
proposed and Riss accepted. Then, things
took a dramatically twisted turn. Linda
discovered to her horror that the man she
had agreed to marry was already married
and had a child. When she confronted him,
he admitted to the deception, and swore
he’d get a speedy divorce. Linda told him
she’d consider taking him back as soon as
he could produce the divorce papers. He
did. But wary after already having been
fooled, Linda did a little investigating, and
found the divorce papers to be phony.
As it turned out, Pugach’s wife Francine
refused to grant him a divorce. Their
daughter Caryn had severe learning
difficulties, and Francine was not about to
be left without a husband to provide for
them. Allowing all of this to sink in, Linda
called off the wedding, and started dating
other men. Burt obsessively pursued her,
even stalked her, saying “If I can’t have
you, no one else will.”
Finally, the whole thing came to a head
when Pugach hired 3 men to carry out a
horrific plot. On June 15, 1959, Linda’s
mother answered the door at their
apartment in the East Bronx, and was told
there was a delivery for Linda. As soon as
Linda appeared at the door, the man threw
chemical Lye in her face causing her to
lose her hair and the vision in one of her
eyes. As time went on, Linda went
completely blind. And although Pugach
wasn’t the person at the door, it was clear
that he was behind the attacks. His goal?
To maim Linda to the point where no one
else would want her. Pugach was
sentenced to 30 years in prison, 14 with
good behavior.
Linda traveled Europe with some friends,
always hiding behind very dark glasses.
Although her skin was restored and her
appearance was mostly as lovely as before,
her eyes were left horribly disfigured. At
one point she fell for a man who she
thought might be the one. One night, she
let him see her eyes. She never heard from
him again. Her self esteem was terribly
damaged.
In 1974, Burt was nearing the end of his
sentence, and he once again began
sending love letters to Linda. They
proclaimed that “No one will love you the
way I do”. He asked his lawyer to visit
Linda, and ask if there was anything she
needed. “Tell him I need some money” is
what she said. She was broke having been
so limited in the work she was able to do,
and Burt commenced sending her $50 a
week. When he was released, Linda was
put under police protection. Even with all
that had happened, Linda’s friends started
encouraging her to meet up with Burt.
They believed that she needed a husband.
Considering herself to be damaged goods,
she decided that Burt really did love her,
and soon…. they were engaged to be
married. The headlines in the paper read,
“Blinded bride-to-be weds her attacker.”
Linda and Burt have been married ever
since, and by all accounts have a normal
and happy marriage. Linda says she’s
forgiven Burt. He says he loves her still
after 30+ years together. Although he
stalked her, harassed her, and eventually
had her blinded and disfigured for life with
acid… she says that the moment she
agreed to marry him 1974, she never made
him explain why he did it. She thinks that
would be unfair. Burt claims he was
temporarily insane, and that the action he
took against Linda all those years ago was
not the real him.
It is interesting to note that in 1997, Burt
Pugach was arrested for stalking and
harassing his Filipino secretary, with whom
he’d been having an affair. When it came
time for him to go on trial, the star witness
who got Pugach acquitted was his wife,
Linda, who testified, “Burt is a wonderful,
devoted husband.”
The twisted tale of Burt and Linda Pugach
was made into an award winning
documentary Crazy Love , which explores
the relationship in detail. This doc was
what first brought this insane story to my
attention. And of course, the Pugach’s
were at the premiere.
Pugach
In 1959, one of the most notoriously bizarre
stories of love and betrayal began. Linda
Riss was 20 years old, living in East
Bronx. She was beautiful by anyone’s
standard. Riss met an older man named
Burt Pugach, a lawyer and somewhat shady
character. Pugach became enamored with
Riss, and pursued her relentlessly. Riss fell
for his charms, and they began dating
exclusively.
Within a year of their courtship, Burt
proposed and Riss accepted. Then, things
took a dramatically twisted turn. Linda
discovered to her horror that the man she
had agreed to marry was already married
and had a child. When she confronted him,
he admitted to the deception, and swore
he’d get a speedy divorce. Linda told him
she’d consider taking him back as soon as
he could produce the divorce papers. He
did. But wary after already having been
fooled, Linda did a little investigating, and
found the divorce papers to be phony.
As it turned out, Pugach’s wife Francine
refused to grant him a divorce. Their
daughter Caryn had severe learning
difficulties, and Francine was not about to
be left without a husband to provide for
them. Allowing all of this to sink in, Linda
called off the wedding, and started dating
other men. Burt obsessively pursued her,
even stalked her, saying “If I can’t have
you, no one else will.”
Finally, the whole thing came to a head
when Pugach hired 3 men to carry out a
horrific plot. On June 15, 1959, Linda’s
mother answered the door at their
apartment in the East Bronx, and was told
there was a delivery for Linda. As soon as
Linda appeared at the door, the man threw
chemical Lye in her face causing her to
lose her hair and the vision in one of her
eyes. As time went on, Linda went
completely blind. And although Pugach
wasn’t the person at the door, it was clear
that he was behind the attacks. His goal?
To maim Linda to the point where no one
else would want her. Pugach was
sentenced to 30 years in prison, 14 with
good behavior.
Linda traveled Europe with some friends,
always hiding behind very dark glasses.
Although her skin was restored and her
appearance was mostly as lovely as before,
her eyes were left horribly disfigured. At
one point she fell for a man who she
thought might be the one. One night, she
let him see her eyes. She never heard from
him again. Her self esteem was terribly
damaged.
In 1974, Burt was nearing the end of his
sentence, and he once again began
sending love letters to Linda. They
proclaimed that “No one will love you the
way I do”. He asked his lawyer to visit
Linda, and ask if there was anything she
needed. “Tell him I need some money” is
what she said. She was broke having been
so limited in the work she was able to do,
and Burt commenced sending her $50 a
week. When he was released, Linda was
put under police protection. Even with all
that had happened, Linda’s friends started
encouraging her to meet up with Burt.
They believed that she needed a husband.
Considering herself to be damaged goods,
she decided that Burt really did love her,
and soon…. they were engaged to be
married. The headlines in the paper read,
“Blinded bride-to-be weds her attacker.”
Linda and Burt have been married ever
since, and by all accounts have a normal
and happy marriage. Linda says she’s
forgiven Burt. He says he loves her still
after 30+ years together. Although he
stalked her, harassed her, and eventually
had her blinded and disfigured for life with
acid… she says that the moment she
agreed to marry him 1974, she never made
him explain why he did it. She thinks that
would be unfair. Burt claims he was
temporarily insane, and that the action he
took against Linda all those years ago was
not the real him.
It is interesting to note that in 1997, Burt
Pugach was arrested for stalking and
harassing his Filipino secretary, with whom
he’d been having an affair. When it came
time for him to go on trial, the star witness
who got Pugach acquitted was his wife,
Linda, who testified, “Burt is a wonderful,
devoted husband.”
The twisted tale of Burt and Linda Pugach
was made into an award winning
documentary Crazy Love , which explores
the relationship in detail. This doc was
what first brought this insane story to my
attention. And of course, the Pugach’s
were at the premiere.
Saturday, March 22, 2014
Immigration tragedy: I found my wife in the mortuary
If they had known,
maybe they would have
asked government to
forget its job so they
could live together. This is part of the
lamentation of Mr Austin Amu, the
widower of Mrs Sandra Amun, who lost
her life, Saturday, March 15, 2014, at the
Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City,
where the recruitment exercise of the
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) took
place.
Incidentally, Amun, from Uzebba, Owan
West Local Government Council of Edo
State, participated in the recruitment
exercise with the deceased but survived
the stampede. It was a pitiable sight when
Sunday Vanguard visited the family’s
residence in Benin City watching the
husband of the deceased trying to
administer medication on their last born,
Favour, who was crying due to cough and
catarrh.
Amun recalled that he and Sandra had
woken up on the ill-fated day and had
their bath together as they had always
done in the past 10 years. They planned
to get to the recruitment venue on time.
They actually did but met an
uncontrollable crowd at the stadium as
thousands of applicants struggled to
participate in the job test.
*Bereaved husband and kids… Govt
insensitive
Sunday Vanguard found that the
stampede occurred because the
organizers decided to lock the big gates
and used the small ones at the stadium.
As a result, people had to pay N1000
each to gain entry.. Those who could not
afford the money made frantic efforts to
find their way into the stadium at all
costs, a situation that created chaos.
Amun narrated his story to Sunday
Vanguard: “ I applied for the job as a
senior secondary school holder while my
wife applied as a graduate because she
finished from Auchi Polytechnic. On that
day, while we were on queue, I could
have been the victim because while I
was in the crowd, I almost couldn’t
breath. I told her we should go home.
But she said I shouldn’t worry, that I
should find somewhere to relax while
she will be at the stadium and monitor
things and then get back to me. About 20
minutes later, her younger brother who
also came to write the examination saw
me and asked after his sister. I told him
she was in the crowd. 30 minutes later,
somebody shouted that a woman had
died.
I didn’t know it was my wife. It was then
they now went to open the big gates into
the stadium. The first time, they were
using the small gates; it was after the
incident that they went to open the big
gates, for people to enter the stadium.. I
thought I was going to see her inside the
stadium. I went round the place, I didn’t
see her. Around 4 pm when we were
about to write the test, I still had not seen
her and I became more worried but the
brother encouraged me to write the test
saying maybe she was writing her own
somewhere. After the test, I sat by the
gates thinking while coming out I would
see her. I waited till around 6.30 to 7 pm.
Later, thought maybe she would be in
my viewing centre. I went there but
didn’t see her, people came around to
watch football, but because I had not seen
my wife, I couldn’t open the shop. I
locked the place and called her younger
brother and my friend who has a vehicle.
We went to the hospital where they
rushed those injured during the test, to
check if she was there; but they said they
had discharged four people who
sustained injuries.
They checked their names, my wife’s
name was not there. They now said there
was one woman who Immigration
officials brought without a name and they
used no name to book the woman’s
corpse. I now requested to see the
woman. Behold I saw my wife in the
mortuary sleeping alone. I touched her,
she could not touch me, I called her, she
could not answer.
I tried to call her phone because I did not
believe she was dead; but she did not
pick. But somebody picked her phone on
the ground and the person told me he
couldn’t reach the owner until after the
test, because of the crowd. It was the next
day that the Civil Defence people that
collected it brought it home.
“Since the incident nobody has called me
from the Immigration Service. The only
people that came to see me were from a
human rights group based in Abuja. They
asked how I felt and what happened. I
told them the story. I don’t know where
to start from. We had been together even
before she went to Auchi Polytechnic, she
went to the polytechnic from my house;
she finished her studies before we
started having kids.
She graduated in HND banking and
finance seven years ago. The most senior
child, a girl, Favour, is six years, Miracle,
the second, is five and the last, Favour
(male), is three years. I want assistance
from government, let them give the
children scholarship, give me and my
brother-in-law jobs. My wife’s mother
and grandmother are still alive; she is the
first daughter of her family and I am the
first son of my family too. This load is too
much for me and I don’t know where to
start.” (31)
maybe they would have
asked government to
forget its job so they
could live together. This is part of the
lamentation of Mr Austin Amu, the
widower of Mrs Sandra Amun, who lost
her life, Saturday, March 15, 2014, at the
Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City,
where the recruitment exercise of the
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) took
place.
Incidentally, Amun, from Uzebba, Owan
West Local Government Council of Edo
State, participated in the recruitment
exercise with the deceased but survived
the stampede. It was a pitiable sight when
Sunday Vanguard visited the family’s
residence in Benin City watching the
husband of the deceased trying to
administer medication on their last born,
Favour, who was crying due to cough and
catarrh.
Amun recalled that he and Sandra had
woken up on the ill-fated day and had
their bath together as they had always
done in the past 10 years. They planned
to get to the recruitment venue on time.
They actually did but met an
uncontrollable crowd at the stadium as
thousands of applicants struggled to
participate in the job test.
*Bereaved husband and kids… Govt
insensitive
Sunday Vanguard found that the
stampede occurred because the
organizers decided to lock the big gates
and used the small ones at the stadium.
As a result, people had to pay N1000
each to gain entry.. Those who could not
afford the money made frantic efforts to
find their way into the stadium at all
costs, a situation that created chaos.
Amun narrated his story to Sunday
Vanguard: “ I applied for the job as a
senior secondary school holder while my
wife applied as a graduate because she
finished from Auchi Polytechnic. On that
day, while we were on queue, I could
have been the victim because while I
was in the crowd, I almost couldn’t
breath. I told her we should go home.
But she said I shouldn’t worry, that I
should find somewhere to relax while
she will be at the stadium and monitor
things and then get back to me. About 20
minutes later, her younger brother who
also came to write the examination saw
me and asked after his sister. I told him
she was in the crowd. 30 minutes later,
somebody shouted that a woman had
died.
I didn’t know it was my wife. It was then
they now went to open the big gates into
the stadium. The first time, they were
using the small gates; it was after the
incident that they went to open the big
gates, for people to enter the stadium.. I
thought I was going to see her inside the
stadium. I went round the place, I didn’t
see her. Around 4 pm when we were
about to write the test, I still had not seen
her and I became more worried but the
brother encouraged me to write the test
saying maybe she was writing her own
somewhere. After the test, I sat by the
gates thinking while coming out I would
see her. I waited till around 6.30 to 7 pm.
Later, thought maybe she would be in
my viewing centre. I went there but
didn’t see her, people came around to
watch football, but because I had not seen
my wife, I couldn’t open the shop. I
locked the place and called her younger
brother and my friend who has a vehicle.
We went to the hospital where they
rushed those injured during the test, to
check if she was there; but they said they
had discharged four people who
sustained injuries.
They checked their names, my wife’s
name was not there. They now said there
was one woman who Immigration
officials brought without a name and they
used no name to book the woman’s
corpse. I now requested to see the
woman. Behold I saw my wife in the
mortuary sleeping alone. I touched her,
she could not touch me, I called her, she
could not answer.
I tried to call her phone because I did not
believe she was dead; but she did not
pick. But somebody picked her phone on
the ground and the person told me he
couldn’t reach the owner until after the
test, because of the crowd. It was the next
day that the Civil Defence people that
collected it brought it home.
“Since the incident nobody has called me
from the Immigration Service. The only
people that came to see me were from a
human rights group based in Abuja. They
asked how I felt and what happened. I
told them the story. I don’t know where
to start from. We had been together even
before she went to Auchi Polytechnic, she
went to the polytechnic from my house;
she finished her studies before we
started having kids.
She graduated in HND banking and
finance seven years ago. The most senior
child, a girl, Favour, is six years, Miracle,
the second, is five and the last, Favour
(male), is three years. I want assistance
from government, let them give the
children scholarship, give me and my
brother-in-law jobs. My wife’s mother
and grandmother are still alive; she is the
first daughter of her family and I am the
first son of my family too. This load is too
much for me and I don’t know where to
start.” (31)
Immigration tragedy: I found my wife in the mortuary
If they had known,
maybe they would have
asked government to
forget its job so they
could live together. This is part of the
lamentation of Mr Austin Amu, the
widower of Mrs Sandra Amun, who lost
her life, Saturday, March 15, 2014, at the
Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City,
where the recruitment exercise of the
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) took
place.
Incidentally, Amun, from Uzebba, Owan
West Local Government Council of Edo
State, participated in the recruitment
exercise with the deceased but survived
the stampede. It was a pitiable sight when
Sunday Vanguard visited the family’s
residence in Benin City watching the
husband of the deceased trying to
administer medication on their last born,
Favour, who was crying due to cough and
catarrh.
Amun recalled that he and Sandra had
woken up on the ill-fated day and had
their bath together as they had always
done in the past 10 years. They planned
to get to the recruitment venue on time.
They actually did but met an
uncontrollable crowd at the stadium as
thousands of applicants struggled to
participate in the job test.
*Bereaved husband and kids… Govt
insensitive
Sunday Vanguard found that the
stampede occurred because the
organizers decided to lock the big gates
and used the small ones at the stadium.
As a result, people had to pay N1000
each to gain entry.. Those who could not
afford the money made frantic efforts to
find their way into the stadium at all
costs, a situation that created chaos.
Amun narrated his story to Sunday
Vanguard: “ I applied for the job as a
senior secondary school holder while my
wife applied as a graduate because she
finished from Auchi Polytechnic. On that
day, while we were on queue, I could
have been the victim because while I
was in the crowd, I almost couldn’t
breath. I told her we should go home.
But she said I shouldn’t worry, that I
should find somewhere to relax while
she will be at the stadium and monitor
things and then get back to me. About 20
minutes later, her younger brother who
also came to write the examination saw
me and asked after his sister. I told him
she was in the crowd. 30 minutes later,
somebody shouted that a woman had
died.
I didn’t know it was my wife. It was then
they now went to open the big gates into
the stadium. The first time, they were
using the small gates; it was after the
incident that they went to open the big
gates, for people to enter the stadium.. I
thought I was going to see her inside the
stadium. I went round the place, I didn’t
see her. Around 4 pm when we were
about to write the test, I still had not seen
her and I became more worried but the
brother encouraged me to write the test
saying maybe she was writing her own
somewhere. After the test, I sat by the
gates thinking while coming out I would
see her. I waited till around 6.30 to 7 pm.
Later, thought maybe she would be in
my viewing centre. I went there but
didn’t see her, people came around to
watch football, but because I had not seen
my wife, I couldn’t open the shop. I
locked the place and called her younger
brother and my friend who has a vehicle.
We went to the hospital where they
rushed those injured during the test, to
check if she was there; but they said they
had discharged four people who
sustained injuries.
They checked their names, my wife’s
name was not there. They now said there
was one woman who Immigration
officials brought without a name and they
used no name to book the woman’s
corpse. I now requested to see the
woman. Behold I saw my wife in the
mortuary sleeping alone. I touched her,
she could not touch me, I called her, she
could not answer.
I tried to call her phone because I did not
believe she was dead; but she did not
pick. But somebody picked her phone on
the ground and the person told me he
couldn’t reach the owner until after the
test, because of the crowd. It was the next
day that the Civil Defence people that
collected it brought it home.
“Since the incident nobody has called me
from the Immigration Service. The only
people that came to see me were from a
human rights group based in Abuja. They
asked how I felt and what happened. I
told them the story. I don’t know where
to start from. We had been together even
before she went to Auchi Polytechnic, she
went to the polytechnic from my house;
she finished her studies before we
started having kids.
She graduated in HND banking and
finance seven years ago. The most senior
child, a girl, Favour, is six years, Miracle,
the second, is five and the last, Favour
(male), is three years. I want assistance
from government, let them give the
children scholarship, give me and my
brother-in-law jobs. My wife’s mother
and grandmother are still alive; she is the
first daughter of her family and I am the
first son of my family too. This load is too
much for me and I don’t know where to
start.” (31)
maybe they would have
asked government to
forget its job so they
could live together. This is part of the
lamentation of Mr Austin Amu, the
widower of Mrs Sandra Amun, who lost
her life, Saturday, March 15, 2014, at the
Samuel Ogbemudia Stadium Benin City,
where the recruitment exercise of the
Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) took
place.
Incidentally, Amun, from Uzebba, Owan
West Local Government Council of Edo
State, participated in the recruitment
exercise with the deceased but survived
the stampede. It was a pitiable sight when
Sunday Vanguard visited the family’s
residence in Benin City watching the
husband of the deceased trying to
administer medication on their last born,
Favour, who was crying due to cough and
catarrh.
Amun recalled that he and Sandra had
woken up on the ill-fated day and had
their bath together as they had always
done in the past 10 years. They planned
to get to the recruitment venue on time.
They actually did but met an
uncontrollable crowd at the stadium as
thousands of applicants struggled to
participate in the job test.
*Bereaved husband and kids… Govt
insensitive
Sunday Vanguard found that the
stampede occurred because the
organizers decided to lock the big gates
and used the small ones at the stadium.
As a result, people had to pay N1000
each to gain entry.. Those who could not
afford the money made frantic efforts to
find their way into the stadium at all
costs, a situation that created chaos.
Amun narrated his story to Sunday
Vanguard: “ I applied for the job as a
senior secondary school holder while my
wife applied as a graduate because she
finished from Auchi Polytechnic. On that
day, while we were on queue, I could
have been the victim because while I
was in the crowd, I almost couldn’t
breath. I told her we should go home.
But she said I shouldn’t worry, that I
should find somewhere to relax while
she will be at the stadium and monitor
things and then get back to me. About 20
minutes later, her younger brother who
also came to write the examination saw
me and asked after his sister. I told him
she was in the crowd. 30 minutes later,
somebody shouted that a woman had
died.
I didn’t know it was my wife. It was then
they now went to open the big gates into
the stadium. The first time, they were
using the small gates; it was after the
incident that they went to open the big
gates, for people to enter the stadium.. I
thought I was going to see her inside the
stadium. I went round the place, I didn’t
see her. Around 4 pm when we were
about to write the test, I still had not seen
her and I became more worried but the
brother encouraged me to write the test
saying maybe she was writing her own
somewhere. After the test, I sat by the
gates thinking while coming out I would
see her. I waited till around 6.30 to 7 pm.
Later, thought maybe she would be in
my viewing centre. I went there but
didn’t see her, people came around to
watch football, but because I had not seen
my wife, I couldn’t open the shop. I
locked the place and called her younger
brother and my friend who has a vehicle.
We went to the hospital where they
rushed those injured during the test, to
check if she was there; but they said they
had discharged four people who
sustained injuries.
They checked their names, my wife’s
name was not there. They now said there
was one woman who Immigration
officials brought without a name and they
used no name to book the woman’s
corpse. I now requested to see the
woman. Behold I saw my wife in the
mortuary sleeping alone. I touched her,
she could not touch me, I called her, she
could not answer.
I tried to call her phone because I did not
believe she was dead; but she did not
pick. But somebody picked her phone on
the ground and the person told me he
couldn’t reach the owner until after the
test, because of the crowd. It was the next
day that the Civil Defence people that
collected it brought it home.
“Since the incident nobody has called me
from the Immigration Service. The only
people that came to see me were from a
human rights group based in Abuja. They
asked how I felt and what happened. I
told them the story. I don’t know where
to start from. We had been together even
before she went to Auchi Polytechnic, she
went to the polytechnic from my house;
she finished her studies before we
started having kids.
She graduated in HND banking and
finance seven years ago. The most senior
child, a girl, Favour, is six years, Miracle,
the second, is five and the last, Favour
(male), is three years. I want assistance
from government, let them give the
children scholarship, give me and my
brother-in-law jobs. My wife’s mother
and grandmother are still alive; she is the
first daughter of her family and I am the
first son of my family too. This load is too
much for me and I don’t know where to
start.” (31)
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