News

Clydach murders: police review claims sock links Dai Morris to scene

A review of the case of David “Dai” Morris, who was jailed for four murders in the Swansea valley village of Clydach, was launched after his legal team, family members and a television documentary raised doubts about the safety of the conviction.

Forensic evidence has been discovered that supports the conviction of a man found guilty of murdering three generations of the same family in south Wales more than 20 years ago, police have claimed.

On Monday, South Wales police said that fresh examination of a sock that was used by the killer as a glove using new forensic techniques supported the conviction of Morris, who died aged 59 in prison in August.

Supporters of Morris immediately dismissed the findings, his sister Debra Thomas, said they would continue to clear her brother’s name. “We will fight on, 100%,” she said. “Any fool can see through what they are saying.”

Morris was found guilty of bludgeoning to death Mandy Power, 34, her daughters Katie, 10, and Emily, eight, and her 80-year-old mother Doris Dawson in 1999, and was sentenced to 32 years.

He always protested his innocence and police decided to look again material including the sock after a request from Morris’ legal team requesting the release of various exhibits from the investigation and after a BBC Wales documentary, The Clydach Murders: Beyond Reasonable Doubt, which examined whether there had been a miscarriage of justice.

The police review – carried out under the banner of Operation Dolomite – was led by detectives Steve Carey and Ian Ringrose, supported by forensic expert David Lloyd, all of whom are from Devon and Cornwall police.

Following Morris’ death on 20 August 2021, permission was given by his family to obtain a blood sample to help the forensic examinations.

The team used a technique called Y-STR profiling, which specifically targets male DNA. It is regarded as particularly useful for detecting and analysing a male individual’s DNA in a sample that contains a mixture of male and female cellular material.

Carey said samples obtained from two areas of the sock at the time of the original investigation showed it was “more likely that David Morris or a close paternal-line male relative of his contributed DNA to them than if he did not.”

He said: “This is significant as the sock was recovered from the murder scene and it was widely accepted that it was used by the killer. In my view, the new findings from the samples taken from the sock support the existing evidence that originally convicted him.”

Assistant chief constable David Thorne, of South Wales police, said: “Morris was convicted unanimously by a jury on the strength of the prosecution case and independent reviews by the Criminal Cases Review Commission have never identified any evidence which would determine the conviction to be unsafe.

“However, the advancement of forensic technology has provided the opportunity for evidence-based answers to some of the questions which have been raised.”

News

Tinubu condoles with NNPCL boss over daughter’s death

President Bola Tinubu has condoled the death of his daughter with the Group Chief Executive Officer (GCEO) of the Nigeria National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Mr Kolo Mele Kyari.

Kyari’s daughter, Fatima died Friday at the age of 25 after protracted illness.

The President sympathised with Kyari and the rest of the family on the irreparable and painful loss.

He prayed for the repose of the soul of Fatima and urged the Kyari family to stay strong at these trying times

News

Lagos sacks six LASTMA officials over misconduct

The Lagos State Traffic Management Authority (LASTMA) has dismissed six of its officials based on the directive from the Lagos State Civil Service Commission (CSC).

This follows the recommendations of the Personnel Management Board, which flagged the officers for serious misconduct and inefficiency.

The disciplinary actions were officially communicated to the affected officials at LASTMA’s headquarters in Oshodi, Lagos.

In a statement issued by Adebayo Taofiq, Director of Public Affairs and Enlightenment, LASTMA’s General Manager, Olalekan Bakare-Oki, confirmed that the Civil Service Commission had approved the board’s recommendations.

He emphasised that the disciplinary measures were in strict accordance with the Lagos State Civil Service Rules and Regulations.

Bakare-Oki reassured the public that LASTMA is committed to improving its operations and urged Lagos residents to report both commendable acts and cases of misconduct by LASTMA officials, providing necessary evidence.

“This exercise is part of our ongoing efforts to rid the agency of errant officers. Another Personnel Management Board meeting will soon be held to review additional cases,” he said.

He also called on road users in Lagos to adhere to traffic laws, reminding them that violations would lead to penalties, including fines imposed by the Lagos Mobile Courts.

Highlighting the importance of compliance, Bakare-Oki noted that following traffic regulations is key to achieving Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s “Greater Lagos” vision, with traffic management being a core pillar of the THEMES Plus Development Agenda.

Mmebers of the public were encouraged to report complaints through LASTMA’s toll-free hotline (080000527862) or the Walk-In Complaint Centre at their Oshodi headquarters.

Bakare-Oki reassured citizens that LASTMA is committed to addressing all complaints impartially while protecting the civil rights of motorists across the state.

News

Zulum opens houses for teachers in Buratai Secondary School in Tum

Borno State Governor, Babagana Umara Zulum, on Thursday night, commissioned two projects constructed by his administration in Biu Local Government Area in the southern part of the state.

The projects include a housing estate for teachers in Buratai town and a new secondary school in Tum village.

The Buratai housing estate comprises 10 units of two-bedroom semi-detached bungalows aimed at addressing the problem of housing deficit particularly as it affects teachers in Borno State.

Tum Day Secondary School, one of the 102 constructed by the Zulum administration is a co-educational senior secondary school attached with junior secondary and primary schools.

Performing the brief opening ceremony, Zulum assured that his administration is committed to improving the quality of healthcare service delivery and education in Borno State.

He said, “I want to assure you that this administration is committed to providing affordable quality health care delivery systems and, most importantly, education, which is the bedrock for any meaningful development. Without education, there will be no meaningful development.”

As a mark of appreciation for the numerous projects by the Zulum administration, Buratai community presented a plaque to the governor commending his integrity in governance.