Uphaar Cinema Tragedy

It was just an ordinary evening one day in Delhi way back in 1997 when people went to their local cinema to catch the latest blockbuster. But ordinary soon turned into tragedy as a fire that started in the parking lot engulfed the cinema building itself.

Fire exits had been blocked and building safety norms were not followed by the owners of the cinema. As the fire struck, in the ensuing panic 59 men, women and children (some as young as 4 and 6 years old) lost their lives.

Eighteen years later and following an epic battle through the Indian legal system a verdict was passed by the Supreme Court that the

High Pryce To Pay

Am I alone in feeling sorry for Vicky Pryce? She was sitting next to her husband whom she loved for almost 30 years and he turned to her and said it was over, he was with a younger woman, he wanted a divorce. And then he went to the gym.

Then the press find the whole thing hilarious because the younger woman had been in a relationship with another woman.

A Woman in Delhi

You couldn’t have escaped one of the most tragic and gut-wrenching stories to have come out of India over the New Year period.  A 23 year old med student was gang raped in Delhi on a moving bus, then beaten with an iron rod for 45 minutes, thrown semi-naked off the moving bus and it emerged today that the bus driver tried to run her over but she was saved by her boyfriend who was also violently beaten during the attack.

Reading about this tragic and awful story is hard enough but this story gives me shivers as I live in Delhi half of year and I’m going there this week

Laughing It Off

Justin Lee Collins has been caught laughing off his meager punishment for domestic violence.

Saville: Brushed Under The Carpet

The outbreak of Jimmy Saville allegedly molesting several young girls and rape has caused great concern amongst the British public. The issue raised for me in this whole tragedy is why, when people such as the former colleagues and staff including the former BBC chief Lord Michael Grade had heard rumours, they did not take it any further.

His family are outraged at the allegations and ask for his reputation not to be tarnished as he is not alive to defend himself. However, the number of women are growing on a daily basis and if he did do this then his victims need to be heard and full inquiry needs to take place at the BBC who housed Mr Saville for his career.

Possession

Four members of one British Asian family from Birmingham were jailed today for killing a pregnant woman as they thought she was possessed.

The victim was a 21 year old woman from Pakistan who had come to Britain after marriage.  On the other side of the world from her own family

Terry and Huhne

Two British public figure’s lives and careers have been transformed by the criminal charges they face.

John Terry has been sacked as England captain

Double Jeopardy Justice

18 years following the death of Stephen Lawrence, Gary Dobson and David Norris, have been sentenced for his murder.

The Girl Who Cried Wolf

Dominique Strauss-Kahn was released on bail and freed from house arrest as the case against him collapses thanks to his victim’s past and our prejudices.

The victim has a shady past and so now, according to an article in the New York Times, although the police privately believe DSK probably is guilty it will be a difficult case to win.  The police compared it to cases such as when prostitutes are raped where the perpetrator can often get away.