14 December
On Friday, the Coroner's Court found John Shannon guilty of the unlawful killing of Anarda De La Caridad Perez Friman, aged 37, Amanda Kristofferson Perez, aged 4, and his six-week old daughter Eve Shannon Perez, before his own suicide two days later on 30th March 2015.
Throughout last week we saw the inquest into the Boschetti's steps deaths take place beginning with experts in both the forensic and psychological department of criminal investigation speaking about their findings on the case.
Instances of severe paranoia and signs of schizophrenia in John's past and the days leading up to the event were revealed to the courtroom, along with possible explanations for his behaviour. Results from DNA and blood splatter analysis were also thoroughly explained by a forensic scientist from the UK who assisted the RGP in the investigation.
We also heard from the families of the deceased providing further details into the backgrounds of John and Anarda, details which found us hearing about more signs of paranoia in John's past, along with disturbing messages sent by John to his step-father in the few days preceding the event.
Lastly prior to the Coroner's verdict we heard several statements, one of which was from an estate agent who met and described John as seeming "nervous and agitated" 3 days prior to the police entering the house at Boschetti's steps. Potentially more crucial to the investigation, we heard a statement from the neighbours of John's house who claimed to hear the screaming of a woman and soon after a little girl on 28th March late at night.
This brought us to Friday morning when the Coroner began his final verdict by expressing his condolences to the families of the deceased, also thanking them for all they had done to help the investigation.
He stated, from the evidence heard, John was a troubled man with anger issues who saw the world in a black and white view. He was also a man who had a history of cannabis and steroid use, one who had been described by Anarda herself in a text message to Rene Kristofferson, Amanda's father, as a Jekyll and Hyde character.
The Coroner explained John often appeared as a rude man, who could be aggressive, along with being anti-social. This was based on evidence given by his step-father and his colleague who briefly met John closer to his final days.
He believed events such as that described by the clinical psychologist in which John locked himself in his room for multiple months could have been signs of psychotic incidents. John's urine was also found to contain three times the normal amount of testosterone, showing signs he may have been using steroids prior to the event, some of which are known to increase levels of aggression.
Furthermore, the Coroner agreed with John's step-father in saying there appeared to be multiple stressors present in John's life prior to the event, something which along with his already highly paranoid state may have caused him to take the actions he did.
The Coroner then began speak in more detail about the event itself. He stated no 3rd parties were involved. The front door had been locked from the inside, the windows were covered by metal bars, the patio walls were too high to be climbed, and lastly the only other opening was a small window in the bathroom which had been secured using part of a vacuum cleaner to jam it closed, placed there by John, another sign of his paranoia.
John was found with hesitation marks on his neck next to a severe wound. These types of marks are often seen in cases of suicide. It is also believed John inflicted this injury in front of a mirror in the bathroom, another common feature found in suicide. Lastly, John appeared to have no real defensive injuries other than a small cut on his finger, which could likely have occurred due to his hand slipping onto the blade.
Some other important factors taken into consideration by the Coroner were as follows;
- The injuries to the females were not self-inflicted
- Only John's blood was found everywhere in the house
- John would have been able to move around for some time prior to passing out in the living room
- Rigor mortis (the stiffening of muscles found in dead bodies after 24hours) was found in all three females, however not in John, meaning it was highly likely he was the last to die
- The screams heard by neighbours on 28th March
Following this, the Coroner began his final conclusion into the inquest. He believed at around 03:15 on 28th March, due to the screams heard by their neighbours, Anarda De La Caridad Perez Friman was unlawfully killed by a stab wound to her heart. Amanda Kristofferson and Eve Shannon Perez, on 28th March at 03:30, were both unlawfully killed by a stab wound to the heart. Lastly, John Shannon commited suicide two days later on 30th March 2015.
14-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
British Legion's thanks
December 14, 2015
Dear Sir
On behalf of the Committee and myself I would like to thank the Gibraltar public for their exceptional contribution to the Royal British Legion Fund Appeal.
With the street collection on the 6th November, the sale of wreaths and private donations we have collected the fabulous record sum of £11,408.43, of which £2,000. will remain in Gibraltar with our Branch for the needs of our local members.
We haven't got enough words to thank the local public for their generosity and I also want to thank all the helpers on the day and those who helped before the actual collection.
These funds which we send to the UK will help soldiers aged around 22 years old who have lost both their legs and others who have similar casualties because of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.
May The Almighty bless you all and send you good health above all and we take this opportunity to wish you all a Very Merry Christmas and a happy and healthy New Year.
Yours gratefully
Solomon (Momy) Levy
Chairman of the local Branch of the Royal British Legion
14-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Governor maintains GPA's Wall of Silence in RGP theft case
December 14, 2015
Over a month ago, in a Panorama report regarding an incident where an RGP officer was arrested for theft of an amount of found property money stolen whilst the officer was on duty, it was highlighted that our main concern was not only the theft of found property money or that the money was in police custody at the time, but also the manner in which the case was subsequently (internally) dealt with by the police.
Unfortunately, this latest report as with others before it, was critical in the flagrant attitude of the GPA Chairman and his apparent disdain for the press or as we pointed-out, this newspaper only!
An Affront to the Freedom of the Press
We had hoped that Alison Macmillan using her temporary powers, as Governor of Gibraltar under the 2006 Police Act would have at least intervened and looked into this matter as we suggested. In our opinion, the GPA chairman's blatant insolence towards the press 'was an affront to the freedom of the press' by ignoring and refusing to supply information on issues of public interest.
The temporary Governor, like Goncalvez, has also remained silent. However, allowing for any possible benefit of the doubt, in that any aspect of the case in question may have involved some 'state secret' or highly classified information not for public release, it would have been appropriate, as in similar instances in the past, for someone at the Convent to have had the professional courtesy to contact Panorama to communicate such a situation, but this regretfully has not happened.
This presents another possible situation, where the temporary Governor may possibly agree and see nothing inappropriate with the stance taken by Goncalvez.
The fact remains, that in our opinion this is wrong for the reasons explained. In addition, because the Press has the duty to inform the public, we are not prepared to let this issue go. If the temporary Governor is not able to say or do anything, this matter will be one of the issues we shall be raising with the new Governor when he arrives in the New Year.
GPA Constitutional and Legal Responsibility to Inform
The GPA Chairman has a constitutional and legal responsibility to provide information on police issues to the community which, not for the first time, appears to be a repeated scenario of him not conforming to that legal dictum.
The temporary Governor for her part, and as pointed out in our original report, also has legal obligations to look into these important issues. In fact, the law dictates the Governor has overall ultimate responsibility, not only to hold the Police Authority to account for any matter, but also to hold the GPA to account for the professional standards of the Force.
So far in this matter, in the absence of any information or communication of any kind from the Governor's office…It has to be said that the temporary Governor has been disappointing to say the least. The temporary Governor, in fact, to put it as nicely as I can, has not lived up to expectations. Certainly, regarding the Governor's duties as prescribed under constitutionally regulated legislation.
Not the First Time
This is very negative and damaging conduct by the GPA chairman. Because every time there is some high profile incident/issue involving the police, he clams up and refuses to say anything!
In December last year, this newspaper highlighted a similar set of circumstances concerning the GPA and its Chairman, regarding another high profile police related incident where claims were made of bullying during the RGP selection weekend. In this case, a dog's dinner was made in the handling of this incident by the GPA, this later required direct intervention by the previous Governor and Chief Minister.
The GPA then, as is the case now in the latest incident, reluctantly supplied the most basic of information to the press, which amounted to a 'nothing-reply'. It was obvious then as it is now, that information was intentionally being withheld.
The Gibraltar Police Authority and its Chairman should not be allowed to think they are running a secret society. The police authority was constitutionally created to be the link between the public and the police… and not just another arm or extension of the RGP.
Neither can GPA be allowed to believe that by conducting a once per year public survey, where they do have some direct contact with the public, that they are fulfilling an important part of their role in life as a policing body, because in my opinion, they are not. In this latter aspect, the public has no idea or are mindful of what the GPA are up to during the rest of the year. Or how policing is progressing or not, or if yearly policing plans are hitting the mark or on any other issue of interest to the public!
Another important issue raised in Panorama in previous similar reports is why GPA meetings are not published online to enable the public to be effectively informed, as they should be! What is so secretive about everyday policing and the role of the GPA? Admittedly, there may be an item on a GPA agenda that for whatever reason, is not for public consumption and can be left out, but this must be an exception to the rule and not the general rule as the situation stands now.
Ways Others Publish Minutes of Meetings but not the GPA
In contrast, we have GHA and DPC meeting that are easily accessible and published for public consumption, yet GPA meetings are a mystery. Considering the authority has a legal obligation to provide information on police issues to the community and provide a mechanism for enhanced police accountability through a process of consultation with the community. They in turn appear to have their agendas and minutes locked away from public view. As if a GPA agenda meeting was the equivalent of a MI5 or MI6 meeting in the UK or similar to one at the CIA in Langley in the States.
GPA Model Out-dated Situation Needs Radical Change
Presently in the United Kingdom, Police and Crime Commissioners (PCC) must publish agendas for public meetings, and copies of reports considered at those meetings. The Police and Crime Commissioner must also publish minutes of public meetings, and minutes of meetings that are not public but at which matters of public interest arising from the exercise of the PCC's functions are discussed, where these relate to decision-making by the PCC.
In 2010 Police Authorities in the UK were abolished, they were considered invisible to the public. The UK public did not know how to influence the way policing was delivered in their community, let alone get involved. The UK Government abolished police authorities allowing the public to directly vote for an individual to represent their community's policing needs… by way of a Police and Crime Commissioner.
Constitutional Change to Abolish GPA
The situation with the GPA and the local public is far worse than it was in the United Kingdom before authorities over there were done away with.
The GPA in Gibraltar are truly invisible, they cannot possibly fulfill their role in influencing the public or keeping them informed on policing matters by merely conducting a basic yearly public survey and publishing a couple of publications on the GPA website!
A radical change to the GPA model now requires serious thought. Firstly, to keep the public better informed on police matters. Secondly, to bring policing issues closer to the public allowing them to better influence the way policing is delivered in the community. Thirdly, to consider a constitutional change to make way for the abolishment of the GPA and the introduction of a modern and more effective alternative body that would not only enrich the public's impact regarding policing in Gibraltar… but also increase police accountability!
14-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Members of Parliament owe it to this community to temper their language, says Speaker
December 14, 2015
FULL TEXT of statement to Parliament - by ADOLFO CANEPA on being reappointed Speaker
I wish to thank you all most sincerely for the honour and privilege which you have just bestowed on me in electing me as Speaker of the Gibraltar Parliament. It is also appropriate, I think, at this stage that I should express my gratitude to the Chief Minister for his kind words and also indeed the frankness with which the Leader of the Opposition has spoken, and whilst noting that my election as Speaker of this Parliament may perhaps be described by some as only having received the qualified support of the Opposition on this occasion, I want to make it clear that in accepting the honour and privilege, I propose to carry out the duties of this office to the best of my ability without fear or favour.
When I was first elected Speaker on 18th October 2012, I pointed out that the Speaker has an almost sacred duty to the august institution that is Parliament, and I pledged myself to uphold its dignity and not to allow it to be brought into disrepute. Today, I wish to solemnly reiterate my commitment to upholding those ideals at all times, conscious that the Speaker is also the servant of the servants of the people. It is my earnest hope that Parliament should be held in high esteem by the electorate, the people whom we are here to serve. Accordingly, I want to appeal to all Hon Members and urge them to try to conduct our affairs in this House with the respect, responsibility and dignity that befits the mature democracy that we are and that, lest we forget, took so many years of sacrifice and struggle to achieve.
I suggest that, Honourable Members owe it to this community to temper their language whenever debate becomes overheated and concentrate more on the substance thereby raising the standard and quality of Parliamentary exchanges. Perhaps Hon Members should reflect on the fact that the turnout at this last General Election was around 10% lower than in the previous three General Elections. I think that the electorate, is conveying some message to you all.
Those Hon Members who were here last July during the Budget debate may recall that at one stage I said that it had become clear to me during the time that I have been Speaker that the present Standing Rules and Orders of Parliament were inadequate. The Chief Minister has made some reference to this aspect of the Rules in his contribution. It is my view that this has affected the conduct of Parliamentary business and at times created controversy to a disproportionate level. It has simply raised the political temperature but contributed very little, if anything, to the reputation of this Parliament. I therefore believe that they need to be reviewed, and to be reviewed soon.
Finally, may I take this opportunity to congratulate all Hon Members on their election to Parliament and assure the new Members in particular that they will always find me, the Clerk, and the staff at their disposal in order to help them in the exercise of their important duties. Thank you.
14-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Miss Gibraltar at Miss World
December 14, 2015
Miss Gibraltar 2015, Hannah Bado, is to participate at the Miss World Pageant being held in Sanya, China, on 19 December.
On arrival there, Miss Gibraltar and the 117 other contestants, had a full schedule of photo shoots, receptions, official ceremonies, filming and touring Hainan island and travelling to neighbouring islands. Hannah has participated in the Miss World Sports elimination round, in which she took 9th place.
Hannah has also visited a local orphanage where contestants presented the children with gifts supplied by the Miss World Organisation, which will be donating clothes and shoes to the orphanage for a year. Hannah has been updating her online blog with her experiences and is enjoying her time in Sanya.
14-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Nostalgia at HMS Calpe
December 14, 2015
Sundri Vinnicombe and Rosie Mifsud with the Gibraltar Crystal vases embossed with the HMS Calpe crest presented to them by Governor Allison MacMillan in recognition of their excellent work and dedication over two years interviewing past members and collecting an impressive number of photographs and historical data about the RNR Unit HMS Calpe and the ship bearing her name.
Also in the picture is Keith Vinnicombe who made a model ship and a painting of the WW2 ship HMS Calpe and a ship's crest which were displayed in the exhibition.
Grateful thanks to the working group of ex members who contributed so much to the success of the exhibition including Dr Clive FInlayson and Marie Mosquera from the Gibraltar Museum and Gino Sanguinetti from the Fine Arts Gallery.
The exhibition was attended by Chief Minister Fabian Picardo who highlighted the nostalgia that this exhibition created and the important part that HMS Calpe had played in the community.
Former Governor of Gibraltar Vice Admiral Sir Adrian Johns sent a message of congratulations which was read by former Commanding Officer of HMS Calpe Tony Lima after the exhibition was officially opened by Commander British Forces Commodore Ian McGhie.
14-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Over 1,300 take part in Panorama online poll: MAJORITY NOT SURE ABOUT BRITAIN'S COMMITMENT TO GIBRALTAR
December 14, 2015
In a Panorama online poll that attracted over 1,300 participants, the majority were not too sure about Britain's commitment to Gibraltar.
To the question 'Do you think that Britain will ever let Gibraltar down? 52.54% said Yes.
Nearly 38.57% came up with a No, while almost 9% said they did not know.
This poll shows to what extent there are people who think that the UK governmnt might end up letting Gibraltar down.
o JOE GARCIA explains: That such a view exists is not entirely surprising. People cannot forget that not long ago a British Government entered into negotiations with the Spanish Government to work out a deal on joint sovereignty.
The deal foundered because Britain wanted joint sovereignty on a permanent basis, while the Spanish saw it as a step to full sovereignty.
Another matter that stood in the way of a final agreement was that Spain wanted to make military inroads, as the Spanish military have always taken the view that the military aspect of Gibraltar is what matters most. Some of them say: What is the point of Gibraltar being Spanish if we don't control or at least share the military base in Gibraltar?
In fact, when the deal was being worked out, it was the Americans who expressed private concern at the possibility of the British military hold on Gibraltar being weakened as a result of a deal on joint sovereignty. The concern expressed by the Americans was leaked by the then UK defence secretary and this was a strong influence in stopping the deal.
The Gibraltar referendum that followed, also against the deal, confirmed that joint sovereignty would be unworkable.
Over the years, the ambivalent attitude of the Foreign Office has also generated much distrust in official British intentions.
14-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
Who is behind this?
December 14, 2015
Dear Sir,
In an editorial in the digital Spain Report of Saturday 27th September, an unprecedented alleged 'manipulation' of an official European Commission reply to a parliamentary question stunned the European Union. Unsurprisingly there has been no publication or reaction in the Spanish papers or television media, outside Cataluña of course.
However the alleged doctored EC reply featured prominently in the much anticipated 8TV (Cataluña) one-to-one "recorded" debate between the Spanish Foreign Secretary Sr Margallo and the leader of Esquera Republicana de Cataluña Sr Oriol Junqueras, and caused the ERC leader to challenge Sr Margallo's allusion to President Junkers "Spanish
version" and the Commission's President earlier official English version.
You should note that the EC's reaction to the "Spansh version" was issued the very same day (Wed 23rd) that the television debate was recorded.
'The European Commission issued a startling statement on Wednesday evening, 'admitting' the Spanish version of a reply by President Juncker to a parliamentary question on the Commission's position on Catalan independence was not the same as the, correct, English version. #The Spanish version contained a long extra paragraph full of phrases about the importance of territorial integrity, constitutional law and national identity#. Mr. Rajoy himself would have been proud to have penned such a text. Only that is not what President Juncker replied, (although he may have thought it).
"Human error", said a Commission spokeswoman, which is a start because there is zero chance the text was an accidental machine translation or a computer algorithm error. The phrases are written in perfect, Castillian Spanish, with no apparent grammatical errors. The words express politically astute, perfectly contextualised phrases that are very relevant to the current debate happening in Spain over the future of Catalonia and the question of secession. And the non-reply was published in the middle of an election campaign in the region in question. Computers are not yet capable of that kind of text manipulation.
Which means a human being was indeed involved, and a human being capable of writing very advanced Spanish. But who? Was it a translator who just decided to include a whole new relevant paragraph by himself? It seems unlikely professional European Commission translators would be allowed to do such a thing. A Spanish civil servant working in the EC's IT department? A Spanish subcontractor with access to the European Commission's IT systems? It is unlikely any of these technical professionals would have the political intent to attempt such a stunt, leaving the finger pointing at a senior Spanish-speaking political operative with enough influence and access to be able to publish a false official reply on President Juncker's behalf.
It is very grave that such an action be allowed to take place, or that someone with such a high level of access should undertake to do so in a partisan manner. Perhaps the Commission's computer security services could help out by checking their logs to see who logged on to which computer terminal to post the fake Spanish reply.>
Mr Junker needs to think had and serious about this!
The reply made a star appearance in Wednesday evening's much anticipated debate between Sr Margallo, and Sr Junqueras.
Pre-debate advertisement of the debate's pre-recorded status was minimal enough to have several of the country's best online journalists scrambling to discover this fact only after the show had got underway because what on earth was the Foreign Secretary doing quoting President Juncker's unauthorised non-reply at his separatist opponent with such a large beaming smile on his face? Had the Foreign Secretary not been told in advance by his team that the European Commission had issued a very embarrassing rectification just before the debate began?
Of course not, because the debate had been pre-recorded hours earlier. Several Spanish and Catalan newspapers "live blogged" the by then non-live debate to add to the confusion. After it was over, the pro-independence Catalan news site VilaWeb put the non-story of Mr. Margallo quoting the disqualified Juncker reply-that someone on the Spanish side had doctored in the first place-at Mr. Junqueras during the pre-recorded debate, on its front page, to the disadvantage, in this case, of the Foreign Secretary.
Is this alleged attempt at tampering/falsifying text of an official Commission reply to a parliamentary question a repeat of the 2008 lie about the infamous 11M Atocha station terrorist bombs, which cost the PP the election. That time their target was clearly ETA, are they now trying to denigrate what they see as the Catalan Independance aspirations to a similar level?
What there is no doubt of is that Margallo's 'ambush' has dragged him and his party into a trap and potentially a Europe wide political scandal.
The Catalan government is right to ask for an investigation and the Spanish government should clarify what it knows about the fake reply.
But more importantly Messier Jeanne-Claude Junker should make a EU Parliamentary statement denouncing such behaviour and instigate an independent investigation and prosecute the culprits in the European Courts of Justice.
Or is this the tip of yet another iceberg.
Sincerely,
Joe Brugada.
14-12-15 PANORAMAdailyGIBRALTAR
