Amy Walker

A 72-year-old woman, Daryl Berman, was sentenced to life in prison with a minimum term of 12 years for murdering her 84-year-old husband, David Berman, at their home in Prestwich. Despite claiming he fell onto a paring knife, a post-mortem examination found the wound had features typical of homicide, including a defensive injury. After an initial trial ended without a verdict, she was convicted in a retrial. The judge said she lost her temper and attacked him, and that her lack of a truthful account prolonged the family’s distress. Police said the post-mortem findings exposed the truth, while the victim’s daughter described the emotional toll of his death.

A jury convicted 72-year-old Daryl Berman of murdering her husband, David Berman, who died from a stab wound at their home in Prestwich. Prosecutors argued the injury was intentionally inflicted, contradicting her claim that he fell onto a knife. A post-mortem found the wound consistent with homicide, prompting police to reassess the case. Despite her emotional testimony denying wrongdoing, the jury found her guilty following a retrial. She will be sentenced on July 3.

A drug- and alcohol-impaired driver, Shaun Orchard, was jailed for over three years after a high-speed chase in Stockport ended in a collision that left police officer PC Rushton with permanent, severe injuries. Orchard stole a family member’s Mercedes before driving at extreme speeds, running red lights and ultimately crashing into Rushton’s vehicle, sending it into a building. In court, the officer described lasting physical and psychological trauma, while sentencing highlighted Orchard’s deliberate disregard for road safety. Police emphasised the danger posed to the public and officers, noting Orchard was unlicensed and far above legal drug and alcohol limits.

Armed police shot a man in Whitefield after he allegedly failed to stop his vehicle and drove directly at officers. The driver, a 20‑year‑old later arrested on suspicion of Class A drug supply, sustained a non‑life‑threatening arm injury while no officers or bystanders were harmed. A police cordon, major road closures, and specialist units were deployed as investigators examined the scene. Greater Manchester Police referred the incident to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, and local residents reported hearing gunshots before emergency services arrived.

Police detained two cabin crew members at Manchester Airport after initial breath tests suggested they exceeded limits for aviation duties. Further testing in custody showed they were within legal limits, leading to their release without charge. Any additional action will be handled by the airline.

Two teenagers were convicted of murdering 15-year-old Mohanad Goobe during a confrontation in Manchester that escalated from a dispute linked to TikTok. A third teenager was found guilty of manslaughter. Court evidence detailed weeks of rising tensions, group chats planning a rematch fight, and attempts to obtain knives. CCTV footage captured the fatal attack in Moss Side on September 15, 2025. The defendants, who cannot be named, will be sentenced on May 21.

A trial at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court concluded with three teenage boys being found not guilty of raping a 13‑year‑old girl in Rochdale in 2024. Jurors viewed mobile phone footage of the incident and heard conflicting accounts regarding consent, with prosecutors arguing the girl did not want the encounter and defence lawyers describing the situation as a misguided interaction between adolescents. After almost ten hours of deliberation, the jury acquitted all three boys of rape and related joint enterprise charges.

A jury at Manchester’s Minshull Street Crown Court found three teenage boys not guilty of raping a 13‑year‑old girl near Newbold tram stop in February 2024. Prosecutors alleged the girl was pushed into bushes and assaulted while part of the incident was filmed, but the boys maintained the encounter was consensual. Defence lawyers argued inconsistencies in the girl’s account and emphasised the adolescents’ age and inexperience. Jurors determined after nearly ten hours of deliberation that none of the boys committed the alleged offences or encouraged them, leading to emotional reactions in the courtroom.

A jury acquitted three boys accused of raping a 13‑year‑old girl in Rochdale after a 10‑day trial, finding all not guilty of the charges. Prosecutors alleged the incident was filmed and circulated, while the defence argued the encounter was consensual and that the girl had been inconsistent in her account. Testimony included the girl’s recorded interview, cross‑examination, and statements from the boys, who said they believed she consented. After nearly ten hours of deliberations, the jury cleared each defendant, prompting emotional reactions from their families in court.

Jurors at Minshull Street Crown Court were shown a 10‑second Snapchat clip prosecutors say depicts part of an alleged sexual assault on a 13‑year‑old girl by three boys. Two of the boys, now aged 15 and 16, are on trial while a third has been deemed unfit to stand trial. Prosecutors argue the boys took turns assaulting the girl and understood the issue of consent, while the defence claims she initiated some activity. The girl’s mother gave emotional testimony describing the moment she learned of the alleged attack and her daughter’s distressed state. The jury will determine both the actions of the two defendants and whether the unfit 14‑year‑old encouraged the incident. The indictment includes five rape counts, all of which the boys deny.

A collision between a car and a Royal Mail van on the A663 Broadway in Chadderton, Oldham, prompted a rapid response from police, fire and ambulance crews. The road was closed between the A627 Elk Mill Roundabout and the A669 as firefighters worked to secure the vehicles using a Tirfor Winch. Both drivers were assessed and reported to be uninjured. Emergency services remained on-site for around 30 minutes, and the road reopened by 10am.

Former British and European boxing champion John Murray was sentenced to three years in prison for violent assaults on two women, including an unprovoked attack during a parking dispute and a later assault on his ex-partner involving strangulation and repeated blows. Court testimony detailed severe physical and emotional harm to both victims. Murray, whose boxing career ended due to injury, later struggled after closing his gym. He pleaded guilty to multiple charges and received a restraining order prohibiting contact with his former partner for seven years.

Testimony at Minshull Street Crown Court details how Josh Baxter is accused of killing Michael Barron after a sexual encounter arranged on Grindr, with prosecutors alleging excessive alcohol consumption, restraint, and pressure to the neck contributed to Barron’s death. Evidence from police, paramedics, and medical experts outlines fractures to the neck, signs of oxygen deprivation, and a high blood alcohol level. Baxter denies manslaughter and related charges as the trial continues.

A Manchester court heard allegations that Josh Baxter caused the death of Michael Barron during a sexual encounter involving restraint and choking arranged through Grindr. Prosecutors argued Baxter engaged in high-risk sexual behaviour, ignored clear dangers and conducted internet searches about accidental death during sex before calling emergency services. Barron died from cerebral hypoxia resulting from neck fractures and lack of oxygen. Baxter denies manslaughter and related charges, and the trial continues.

Large numbers of audience members left the Wicked Wizard of Oz: A Cirque Spectacular show at Manchester’s AO Arena, calling it amateurish, misleadingly advertised and inappropriate for families. Attendees reported poor production quality, unsuitable jokes and chaotic staging, prompting demands for refunds and the creation of an online complaints group. The production company defended the show as pantomime-style entertainment with circus elements and noted positive responses at previous venues, while the arena stated it was not responsible for show content.

A Bolton man, Kieran Naylor, was sentenced to 14 years in prison with an extended two‑year licence after being convicted of raping, assaulting and imprisoning a woman during an 18‑hour attack that left her with severe injuries. The victim, who later died of natural causes, was repeatedly beaten, raped and denied medical help before escaping while Naylor slept. Her daughters described the lasting physical and emotional damage she endured. The court cited Naylor’s extensive criminal history and ongoing risk to women. Police commended the victim’s bravery, noting that her actions ensured his conviction and helped protect others.

Two sisters, Destiny and Paris Connolly, received suspended sentences after admitting involvement in supplying cocaine and heroin, uncovered when cannabis packages were mistakenly delivered to a neighbour. Evidence showed Destiny managed a drug line sending over 2,500 sales messages, with both sisters linked to a larger operation led by Jack Harrison, who has been jailed. The court accepted they were coerced by Harrison, whose behaviour included aggression and domestic violence. Despite the seriousness of the offences, the judge imposed suspended sentences due to their ages, character references, low risk of reoffending, and the coercion involved.

A mother warns of the dangers of nitrous oxide misuse after her 20‑year‑old daughter, Amy Louise Leonard, died from a blood clot following a night out during which she had taken laughing gas. The family describes her health struggles, the circumstances leading to her hospitalisation, and their shock at the risks posed by nitrous oxide. Greater Manchester Police and the Coronial Service are investigating, and the family is preparing a parliamentary petition calling for stricter controls and national awareness campaigns. A fundraiser has been launched to support funeral costs.

Emergency services responded to a food-related incident at a restaurant on Northenden Road in Sale after several diners became unwell, with at least eight affected and one more seriously. Greater Manchester Police reported minor reactions among those treated, while investigators quickly ruled out a gas leak. Police later left the scene, but officials from Trafford Council and the Health and Safety Executive continued inquiries. The restaurant Dosa Kingss temporarily closed, citing unforeseen circumstances, though it is not confirmed if this is linked to the incident.

A woman was sexually assaulted by an intoxicated passenger, Craig Lowe, during a Jet2 flight from Manchester to Tenerife after he consumed multiple bottles of wine and made sexual comments before repeatedly groping her. The incident escalated with threats toward another passenger, leading to police involvement and later prosecution. In court, the victim described lasting anxiety about flying, while the defence cited Lowe’s alcoholism and subsequent rehabilitation. The judge imposed a 28‑week suspended sentence, unpaid work, rehabilitation requirements and seven years on the Sex Offenders Register, citing the delay in proceedings and Lowe’s progress since the incident.

A 17‑year‑old fan reached the front of the crowd at an Oasis reunion concert in Edinburgh with help from fellow attendees, allowing her to show Noel Gallagher a handmade sign expressing how the band aided her through mental health struggles. Gallagher and bandmate Paul Arthurs acknowledged the sign, with Arthurs later sending supportive words online. The teen described the performance as deeply meaningful and credited the experience, and the kindness of other fans, with providing emotional healing.

A woman returning from Thailand was caught at Manchester Airport with nearly 50 kilograms of cannabis in her suitcase after falsely claiming to be a backpacker. Prosecutors detailed her account of being asked to carry clothes for someone she met abroad, while the judge dismissed her claims of receiving no reward and warned she narrowly avoided prison. She received a suspended one‑year sentence and community service. The case highlighted Thailand’s harsh penalties for drug offences, with past examples such as Jonathan Wheeler, and raised concerns about vulnerable young travellers being targeted by drug gangs.

A mother testified at Manchester Crown Court describing the moment she found her three-year-old son fatally mauled by two large dogs at a farm in Milnrow. Prosecutors allege the child was left unattended before entering the dog enclosure, while his parents, Joanne Bedford and Mark Twigg, deny gross negligence manslaughter and dangerous dog offences. Bedford recounted the sequence of events, her attempts to save her son, and her emotional state, while facing cross‑examination about inconsistencies in earlier statements. The trial continues.

Pep Guardiola and his daughter Maria shared a widely noticed father-daughter moment while attending Oasis’s first Heaton Park homecoming show since 2009. The pair were seen singing along to Don’t Look Back in Anger as the band delivered a nostalgic reunion performance marked by fan excitement, fireworks and onstage shoutouts, including Liam Gallagher dedicating a song to Guardiola. The concert highlighted Oasis’s return to Manchester following years of separation between the Gallagher brothers, who reunited for an extended run of comeback shows.