MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Penguin News Update.

Headlines:
Sports Week victory; July earliest for police trial; Ship still detained; ?Otter' inspections; Teenager killed in road crash; Reports rubbished.

Sports Week victory

JOCKEY Arthur Turner raises his hand in the air as he crosses the line in a tight finish in the Darwin Harbour Sports Association's Governor's Cup at Goose Green on Tuesday. At the end of the race meeting, Tim Bonner was named Champion Jockey. Meanwhile, Louise Pole-Evans was named Champion Jockey at the West Falkland Sports Association race meeting at Hill Cove, while Denise McPhee won the Governor's Cup. ? Photos and results from both race meetings in next week's edition.

July earliest for police trial

TWO police officers who stand accused of perverting the course of justice entered pleas in court on Thursday morning. Chief of Police David Morris, who has been charged with two counts of perverting the course of justice, and Detective Sergeant Jonathan Butler, charged with one count, both pleaded not guilty. Senior Magistrate Clare Faulds adjourned the case until March 30 to deal with all substantive matters, including the issue of separating the charge that has been brought jointly against Mr Morris and Mr Butler, from the second charge brought against Mr Morris. Representing Mr Morris, Mr Keith Watson said that although he was not yet in a position to address this issue, he pointed out that in the interests of impartiality and justice, two different judges may be required to deal with the two separate charges. The setting of a trial date proved more difficult due to the issue of availability of witnesses, including some of the Metropolitan Police Officers who conducted the investigation. Mrs Faulds set a provisional trial date as July 17, but said, "To actually set it in stone at this stage is impossible as there's too much uncertainty." Although this trial date may seem a long way off, Mrs Faulds explained that in the UK, "Counsel diaries and judicial diaries are run about six months ahead." As both a judge and legal representatives from the UK will have to travel to the Islands for the trial, the date is dependent on their availability. Both defendants were released on bail.

Ship still detained

THE owners of the Falklands-registered fishing vessel detained by Argentine authorities last week, are waiting for information on how long the vessel can be held without any charges being brought. The John Cheekwas arrested by the Argentine coast guard for allegedly being in their Economic Exclusion Zone. Jan Cheek of Petrel Trawling Company Ltd said they are in no doubt that the vessel was detained while working in international waters with a high seas fishing licence issued by the Falkland Islands Government and, "...are at a loss as to what charges could be brought in those circumstances." Director of Fisheries, John Barton yesterday confirmed that the John Cheek was operating with the appropriate Falklands' high seas licence, "...and that the satellite tracking system or VMS does not show the John Cheekentering the Argentine zone prior to its apprehension." Mr Barton said the Argentine zone "as we calculate its position" is depicted on the Fisheries Department's VMS and it should raise an automatic alarm if a Falklands vessel enters the zone." Earlier this week, Jan Cheek said she was "very disturbed" that the John Cheek's detainment was not mentioned during the meeting of Legislative Council held last week. Penguin News put this to fisheries councillor, Richard Cockwell. He commented, "Until such time as the decision is made whether or not to prosecute the John Cheek for the alleged offence, it would be provocative for politicians to make any comment, sympathetic as I am to the predicament that Petrel Trawling Company find themselves in."

?Otter' inspections

THE four British Antarctic Survey (BAS) Twin Otter Aircraft are to spend the next few weeks in the Falkland Islands for engineering inspections, before returning to the United Kingdom. Linda Capper, head of PR at BAS said the aircraft will undergo the inspections, "...as a result of technical issues raised in recent correspondence between Air Safety Support International (ASSI) and the Director of Civil Aviation (DCA)." A technical spokesperson for BAS explained, "ASSI have advised the DCA that they have concerns over the audit trail for our increased weight operations in polar regions. We have an increased weight dispensation and have been practising that for the last 25 years. "Because ASSI has concerns and questions about the audit trail for how we got that dispensation, we feel it's prudent to have these additional checks carried out." Ms Capper said BAS has no concerns about the safety of the aircraft, "...which have all the necessary legal approvals and permits to fly. An engineering team based at Rothera Research Station maintain the aircraft throughout the Antarctic summer field season." The additional engineering inspections in the Falkland Islands will address the issues raised by ASSI and reassure them of the high standard of BAS air operations, Ms Capper said.

Teenager killed in road crash

A YOUNG Falkland Islander has been killed in a road traffic accident. Helen McKay, the 16 year old daughter of Jeannie and Mike McKay, died following a single vehicle accident on the North Arm Road in the early hours of Wednesday morning. She was flown to hospital in Stanley by helicopter, as were the two other teenage occupants of the vehicle, but was pronounced dead on arrival. Her two friends received varying degrees of injury. Chief Medical Officer, Dr Roger Diggle, yesterday said one was discharged later on the day of the accident while the other remains in hospital. "Both are doing well and recovering," he said. An inquest into the circumstances surrounding Helen's death will be opened shortly by Her Majesty's Coroner, Mrs Clare Faulds.

It is with regret that we announce the death of Mr Jock Fairley of Port Stephens, who died in hospital on Wednesday morning. A letter submitted by Mr Fairley, and which was printed on Tuesday, appears on page 7.

Reports rubbished

THERE is "no substance" to the stories of a build up in the Argentine air force published by a number of British newspapers in the past week, according to Councillor Mike Summers. He commented, "When you get into it, there are basically no facts in the story at all." Earlier this week, the Sunday Express, Scotland on Sunday and The Sunall reported that a military build-up in Argentina was raising tensions in Whitehall and alarming Falkland Islands residents. Councillor Summers condemned the stories: "I think it's irresponsible to write stories like that; of course it's part of the great debate that goes on about freedom of the press, (but) do they really stop to think about the effect it might actually have on people here...?" On Thursday, Buenos Aires daily Clarinreported that Argentina's ambassador in London, Federico Mirre, intends to write to the newspapers that published the stories, to deny the build up of forces.

Subscribe to Penguin News online and save!

For more information and to subscribe to this full colour version of Penguin Newsgo to www.penguin-news.com(Terms and conditions apply)

Categories: Falkland Islands.

Top Comments

Disclaimer & comment rules

Commenting for this story is now closed.
If you have a Facebook account, become a fan and comment on our Facebook Page!