Man faces court over Tia murder

THE man accused of murdering 12-year-old Tia Sharp will appear at the Old Bailey today.

Stuart Hazell, 37, will appear in Court One by a prison videolink for the plea and case management hearing.

Hazel is due to go on trial at the same court on May 7 accused of murdering Tia, the granddaughter of his partner Christine Sharp, 46.

Lib Dems gather after court case

LIBERAL Democrats are gathering for their spring conference today with the party wracked by more damaging controversy.

Senior figures are facing questions over when they knew of allegations that Chris Huhne’s ex-wife had taken speeding points on his behalf.

Vicky Pryce was found guilty of perverting the course of justice yesterday, and will be sentenced along with the ex-Cabinet minister at a future date.

State funeral to be held for Chavez

NICOLAS Maduro will be sworn in as acting president of Venezuela today after a state funeral is held for Hugo Chavez.

The speaker of the National Assembly, Diosdado Cabello made the announcement on national television yesterday.

He said Mr Maduro, the vice president, would be sworn in at 7pm local time, in the same military academy complex where the president has been lying in state.

Sinn Fein hold mid ulster seat

SINN Fein’s Francie Molloy has won the Mid Ulster Westminster by-election.

The outgoing principal deputy speaker at the Northern Ireland Assembly succeeds party colleague and Stormont deputy First Minister Martin McGuinness.

Mr Molloy secured 17,462 votes.

Man quizzed over girl’s bus murder

A MAN is being questioned by police over the murder of a teenage girl who was stabbed to death on a crowded bus on her way to school.

Police are investigating whether “bright and popular” Christina Edkins was targeted in a random attack.

She was killed shortly after she boarded the double decker in Birmingham during the morning rush hour yesterday.