Paradise News

Category: Metro

  • Mich. woman arrested after boyfriend found dead on top of her in bed

    GREEN OAK TOWNSHIP, Mich. (TCN) — A woman is in custody after she was reportedly found in bed with her boyfriend, who was deceased with apparent blunt force injuries.

    According to a statement, on March 9 at 11:13 a.m., officers from the Green Oak Township Police Department responded to a residence on Shady Brook Court after receiving a call about a possible death investigation. When they arrived, they reportedly found a woman “in her bed with an obviously deceased male on top of her.”

    During the investigation, detectives determined the male victim was “struck several times with blunt force in the head and stabbed several times in the chest and neck.”

    His death was ruled a homicide.

    Police took the female suspect, who remained unnamed, to University of Michigan Hospital for evaluation, then transported her to the Livingston County Jail upon her release.

    Green Oak Township Police said the suspect and victim, who was also not publicly identified, had been in a long-term relationship. They lived at the home with their adult son, who was not harmed.

    • Press Release – Green Oak Township Police Department

    Source: True Crime Daily

  • ‘Human error’ costs HSF £465k as firm fined over Russia sanctions breach

    The penalty concerns £4 million in payments from 2022

    Moscow, Russia

    Herbert Smith Freehills (HSF) has been hit with a £465,000 fine after its Moscow office breached UK sanctions by making payments to Russian banks subject to asset freezes.

    The Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation (OFSI), which sits within HM Treasury, said six payments totalling just under £4 million were made to sanctioned institutions including Sberbank, Sovcombank and Alfa-Bank. All three were subject to UK asset freezes following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022.

    The payments were made by HSF’s Russian subsidiary, Herbert Smith Freehills CIS LLP, over a seven-day period as it wound down its operations in Moscow. The office officially closed in May 2022.

     The 2025 Legal Cheek Firms Most List

    OFSI said the payments, which made funds “directly available” to designated persons, demonstrated a “pattern of failings”. The enforcement body noted that while HSF’s UK arm voluntarily disclosed the breaches, the seriousness of the misconduct warranted a public penalty.

    Because of this voluntary disclosure and HSF’s cooperation, the final fine was cut in half to £465k.

    In a statement, HSF said the payments were made “as the result of human error” and do not relate to the firm’s clients or client work, or to any of the firm’s offices other than its former Moscow base.

    “Given the firm’s self-reporting and cooperation, OFSI’s recognition that these payments occurred as a result of good faith errors made during our withdrawal from Russia, and the prompt recovery of the only substantial payment, we were disappointed by the fine that has been imposed,” the statement continued. “Nonetheless, we are pleased that this matter has now been resolved. The firm is committed to complying in full with its obligations.”

    The penalty was issued specifically against HSF Moscow (not its parent firm in London) and OFSI has confirmed it found no fault with HSF London’s conduct.

    Economic Secretary to the Treasury Emma Reynolds said: “Our commitment to robust enforcement of UK financial sanctions is steadfast.” She added that financial sanctions are a key part of the UK’s efforts “to disrupt Russia’s war machine and put Ukraine on the strongest footing possible”.

    The post ‘Human error’ costs HSF £465k as firm fined over Russia sanctions breach appeared first on Legal Cheek.

    Source: Legal Cheek

  • Bar Council urges barristers to report inappropriate behaviour in wake of Sidhu disbarment

    ‘I recognise how difficult it is for complainants to come forward’, says chair Barbara Mills KC

    The chair of the Bar Council has urged members of the profession to report inappropriate behaviour, following the disbarment of high-profile criminal barrister Jo Sidhu KC for professional misconduct of a sexual nature.

    Barbara Mills KC said in a statement yesterday that “inappropriate behaviour, bullying, and sexual harassment will not be tolerated at the bar”, and encouraged barristers and chambers staff to speak up if they experience or witness such behaviour.

    “I recognise how difficult it is for complainants to come forward, especially to report sexual misconduct,” Mills said. “But I hope the bar has confidence that reports will be taken seriously, and that support is available.”

    The call comes amid a number of recent findings by the Bar Tribunal and Adjudication Service (BTAS) involving inappropriate conduct, including yesterday’s sanctions hearing where Sidhu was disbarred. The former Criminal Bar Association (CBA) chair was found to have initiated sexual contact with a mini-pupil in a hotel room — behaviour the tribunal deemed deliberate, inappropriate and professional misconduct.

    Sidhu can appeal the tribunal’s decision to disbar him.

    An independent review into bullying, harassment and sexual harassment at the bar, led by Baroness Harman KC, is currently underway and expected to report in June. Mills said this was “an important opportunity for us to change the culture at the bar”.

    The Bar Council is also highlighting support services including “Talk to Spot”, a confidential tool for anonymously logging incidents, as well as its 24/7 assistance programme, equality helpline, and mental health charity LawCare.

    Yesterday, a spokesperson for the Bar Standards Board said: “Conduct of this nature has no place in the profession,” and urged others who experience similar behaviour to come forward.

    The post Bar Council urges barristers to report inappropriate behaviour in wake of Sidhu disbarment appeared first on Legal Cheek.

    Source: Legal Cheek

  • White & Case posts 87% spring trainee retention rate

    20 of 23

    White & Case will retain 87% of its London trainees due to qualify this March, the firm has announced.

    The global giant offered newly qualified (NQ) roles to 20 of its 23 qualifying trainees, all of whom accepted. One of the new associates will be heading to the firm’s Doha office, while the rest join London teams spanning practice areas like antitrust, commercial litigation, international arbitration and mergers & acquisitions.

    White & Case’s London trainee head Vicky Landsbert said the firm gives rookies “an opportunity to make a difference, advising leading global clients on significant matters that help shape the world we live in”.

     The 2025 Legal Cheek Firms Most List

    This 87% score is a dip from the firm’s perfect 100% retention rate for Autumn last year, but in-keeping with its five-year average which now stands at an impressive 82%.

    White & Case isn’t the only firm posting spring retention stats this month. Addleshaw Goddard has kept on all 11 of its spring qualifiers, while Hogan Lovells retained 78%, with some NQs on fixed-term deals. HSF and A&O Shearman have posted strong retention rates of 88% and 84% respectively for this Spring.

    The post White & Case posts 87% spring trainee retention rate appeared first on Legal Cheek.

    Source: Legal Cheek

  • Safely Sidekick

    Safely Sidekick

    Source: True Crime Daily

  • Suspect convicted of killing man found in trunk with 55 stab wounds and burns on 80% of his body

    PORTLAND, Ore. (TCN) — A 44-year-old man has been convicted of killing another man and placing his body in a car’s trunk before setting it on fire.

    The Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office announced March 14 that Thomas Colon pleaded guilty to second-degree arson, second-degree abuse of a corpse, and tampering with physical evidence. A jury also found him guilty of murder in connection with Andrew Hathaway’s death. Colon is set to be sentenced on March 19 and faces a mandatory minimum sentence of life in prison with parole eligibility after 25 years.

    According to prosecutors, on Sept. 3, 2018, Hathaway and Colon were at the same house with two other men and all four of them got high on drugs. The two other men left, and Colon and Hathaway allegedly got into a physical altercation while alone in the house.

    The district attorney’s office said the two men returned, and one of the other men claimed Colon was “winning the fight.” Hathaway reportedly yelled for help, and the other two men intervened to break up the altercation. “Things calmed down for a time,” but the fight later resumed, and “Hathaway was bloodied.” Colon reportedly beat and stabbed Hathaway until he died.

    Colon and one of the two occupants of the home placed Hathaway’s body into the trunk of the victim’s vehicle and drove to Marine Drive, where they abandoned it in a vacant parking lot and set it ablaze. Responding fire personnel discovered Hathaway’s remains with 80% of his body “charred by the fire.” An autopsy showed the victim died before the flames due to 55 stab wounds and six slice injuries.

    Multnomah County Senior Deputy District Attorney Shawn Overstreet said, “This is some justice for the Hathaway family. They’ve been living with this for seven years. I’m glad we could finally bring them some closure. This was a lengthy, involved investigation with lots of misdirection from others in the beginning. But we saw it through and found the killer.”

    • Jury Convicted Thomas Colon of Second-Degree Murder – Multnomah County District Attorney’s Office

    Source: True Crime Daily

  • Exclusive — Rep. Darrell Issa on ‘Fixing Our Broken System of Elections … in California’

    From Breitbart:

    LOS ANGELES, California — Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) told Breitbart News exclusively on Sunday that he is suing the State of California to bring its election practices in line with federal law and the Constitution.

    As Breitbart News reported earlier, Issa and Judicial Watch are suing California to force it to end its practice of counting ballots that have been received up to seven days after Election Day, which has been struck down earlier.

    Read more here…

    Source: Judicial Watch

  • New Orleans woman charged with murder after Super Bowl reporter was found dead in hotel

    KENNER, La. (TCN) — Police announced a murder charge against a woman they allege drugged and robbed a reporter from Kansas City who was in town for the Super Bowl in February.

    Adan Manzano was found dead in a Kenner hotel room on Feb. 5 after he was seen walking in with the suspect, Danette Colbert. Manzano’s phone and credit card were missing from the room but were reportedly later found at Colbert’s home. Police called Colbert a “career criminal” who has allegedly committed similar crimes on other victims. She was arrested at the time for property crimes, including robbery and bank fraud.

    At a press conference on Tuesday, March 18, Jefferson Parish Coroner Dr. Gerry Cvitanovich shared that Manzano died from the combined toxic effects of alcohol and Xanax, along with positional asphyxia from lying face-down in a pillow. His manner of death remains undetermined. According to Cvitanovich, Manzano’s blood alcohol level was 0.232, nearly four times the legal limit. He also had “not an insignificant amount” of Xanax in his system.

    Cvitanovich explained that while Manzano’s Xanax level was not as high as some overdose cases, the lethal amount “goes way down” when the anti-anxiety drug is combined with alcohol and other central nervous system depressants. Even though most overdose cases are ruled accidental, Cvitanovich said he and his office said Manzano’s manner of death was undetermined because of the “uncertain circumstances of this case.”

    Kenner Police Chief Keith Conley also spoke at the press conference and announced the arrest of Colbert’s alleged accomplice, Rickey White. He was located in Hollywood, Florida, and has been charged with the same property crimes as Colbert. Police obtained a warrant to arrest Colbert on a charge of second-degree murder, so she was rebooked into the Jefferson Parish Jail on that charge.

    “We don’t want her to see the light of day again,” Conley said.

    Watch the “True Crime News” video below to learn more about Manzano’s case.

    Source: True Crime Daily

  • Darrell Issa, Judicial Watch Sue California to Stop Late Ballots from Being Counted

    From Breitbart:

    Rep. Darrell Issa (R-CA) and Judicial Watch are suing California over its controversial practice of allowing mail-in ballots to be counted up to a week after Election Day, saying that it is a biased practice that violates the Constitution.

    For the past decade, California has allowed late ballots to be counted, as long as they are postmarked by Election Day, in the name of protecting voter rights. The result is that many elections in which one candidate appears to be leading on Election Night are reversed over subsequent weeks — usually in favor of Democrats, who have pioneered the use of ballot harvesting in their get-out-the-vote efforts.

    The complaint, filed by Judicial Watch on Issa’s behalf as plaintiff on March 13, names California Secretary of State Shirley Weber as the defendant, and says, in part: “Despite Congress’ unambiguous and longstanding statement regarding a single and uniform national Election Day, California modified and extended Election Day by allowing seven additional days after Election Day for receipt of vote-by-mail ballots (‘VBM ballots’).”

    “I am grateful to have Judicial Watch’s support in this important lawsuit,” Rep. Issa said, in a statement released by the organization. “California voters need all the help they can get to ensure fair elections.”

    Read more here…

    Source: Judicial Watch

  • Florida man arrested after toddler found wandering alone in street with soiled diaper

    PALM COAST, Fla. (TCN) — Deputies recently arrested a 44-year-old man who was allegedly passed out while a toddler was wandering alone outside.

    According to a news release from the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, on Sunday, March 16, deputies received multiple 911 calls regarding a 2-year-old who was “walking in the middle of the street in pajamas with a heavily soiled diaper.”

    Before the incident, witnesses saw the child in the front yard of a residence. They allegedly brought the toddler inside and saw Ross Judy, who WESH-TV reports is the child’s father, “passed out on his bed intoxicated.”

    The sheriff’s office responded to the child’s location, and the victim led them to Judy, who allegedly reeked of alcohol.

    Deputies searched the property and found dangerous tools and trash inside and outside the residence, as well as animal feces, filth, and an emaciated dog with an “almost rotted off” ear and missing fur.

    In a statement obtained by WESH, Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said, “It might as well be a landfill on the inside of the home. That’s how disgusting it looked.”

    According to the sheriff’s office, the home was in “deplorable living conditions,” and there were multiple alcoholic beverage containers. Authorities reportedly observed bugs swimming in toilet water and a sink covered in so many layers of cigarette ash that it was “no longer visible.”

    Deputies discovered pill bottles all over a spare room and on top of shelves in the living room. There were also reportedly exposed razors and hypodermic needles, which could have been accessed by the toddler.

    Deputies arrested Judy on charges of child neglect without great bodily harm and abandon animal to die, sick, diseased, or infirm. He was booked into the Flagler County Jail on $4,000 bond.

    The 2-year-old was transported to a family member’s home.

    Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said, “No child should be living in deplorable conditions with an adult who obviously doesn’t care about their well-being.”

    • Palm Coast Man Arrested after Toddler Found Wandering Alone, Residence in Deplorable Conditions – Flagler County Sheriff’s Office
    • Flagler County dad arrested after toddler found wandering outside ‘unlivable home’ – WESH
    • Flagler County Jail

    Source: True Crime Daily