South African prosecutors are expected to press for the toughest sentence against Paralympian Oscar Pistorius at the conclusion of his trial this week.
In December the Supreme Court of Appeal overturned the double amputee runner's manslaughter conviction and changed it to murder.
In South Africa murder carries a mandatory sentence of 15 years minimum - although there is a caveat built in "unless there are substantial and compelling circumstances".
The athlete was refused leave to appeal to the Constitutional Court, finally exhausting all legal avenues to avoid jail.
Several reports suggest his girlfriend's father, Barry Steenkamp, may give evidence in the coming days in an attempt to persuade the judge to levy a long sentence.
Mr Steenkamp did not attend most of the trial due to ill health and if he does testify it is likely to be very emotional and powerful.
It is more than three years since the athlete shot dead his law graduate girlfriend Reeva Steenkamp in a toilet cubicle at his home in Pretoria.
The runner has steadfastly insisted the shooting was a mistake. He said he thought an intruder had entered his home in the early hours of Valentine's Day 2013 and he feared for their safety.
He fired four shots through a locked toilet door, killing his girlfriend. She was hit in the head, hip and arm.
Sunday, June 12, 2016
EU Vote 'Fuelling UK Rush For Irish Passports'
Ireland's Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed a significant rise in the number of Irish passport applications from Britain.
The prospect of the UK voting to leave the European Union is thought to have fuelled the rush for Irish citizenship.
Irish Foreign Minister Charlie Flanagan TD said: "We've had an unprecedented level of applications. We have in excess of 200 new staff on a temporary basis in our passport office.
"I don't have any evidence that you can forge a link between an increase in passport applications and the current referendum but I do acknowledge the factual position that there is heightened interest in Irish passport application and Irish citizenship."
Figures obtained by Sky News reveal a 25% increase in the number of applications from England, Scotland and Wales.
In the first five months of 2016, there were 1,901 applications, compared to 1,518 in the first five months of 2015, an increase of 25%.
In the month of April alone, the figure shot up from 695 last year to 987 this year, a rise of 42%.
Ireland grants citizenship to applicants who have an Irish parent, grandparent or even great-grandparent.
Grandchildren need to have been recorded in the country's foreign births register for their children to be eligible too.
People living in Northern Ireland are considered a special case, with the same right to claim Irish citizenship as those living south of the border.
No one has to state their reason but it is clear some have applied to ensure they remain citizens of the EU in the event of a British exit.
Martin O'Neill, a politics professor from York, already holds both British and Irish passports. He has applied for his children to become dual citizens.
He told Sky News: "I think we always thought that eventually it might be nice for the children to have dual citizenship as well, but the fear of Brexit and the fact that the referendum was happening really concentrated our minds to try to get that all sorted out sooner rather than later."
Orlando Gunman 'Motivated By Homophobia'
The gunman who killed 50 people at a gay nightclub in Orlando may have been motivated by homophobia, his father has told US media.
Details are beginning to emerge about the nightclub shooter, identified as 29-year-old Omar Mateen.
Mateen, from Port St Lucie in Florida, was shot dead after a three-hour stand-off with police.
He is understood to have been an American citizen, born in New York, of Afghan descent.
He was married, is believed to have had one child and worked as a security officer.
One senior FBI official has said Mateen may have had leanings towards Islamic extremism and Islamic State, however other officials have cautioned that a Islamist motive requires further investigation.
Speaking to NBC News, Mateen's father Mir Seddique said he believed his son's actions were motived by homophobia.
"This had nothing to do with religion," he said.
He said his son recently lashed out in his presence after witnessing a gay couple embracing in downtown Miami.
"He saw two men kissing each other in front of his wife and kid and he got very angry," Mr Seddique said.
He added: "We are saying we are apologising for the whole incident.
"We are in shock like the whole country."
Judo Star 'Would Have Died' Without Donations
The parents of a British judo star, who was given a 1% chance of survival following a motorbike accident in Vietnam, have said she would be dead if it was not for the thousands of people who have made donations to support her treatment.
It comes as they prepare to fly 27-year-old Stephanie Inglis, who won a silver medal in judo at the 2012 Commonwealth Games, back to the UK - a journey that seemed impossible until she showing unexpected signs of a recovery a few days ago.
Inglis, from Inverness, had been teaching in Ha Long, Vietnam, when the accident happened last month.
She suffered severe head injuries after her dress got tangled in the mechanism of a motorbike she was travelling on, resulting in her being thrown to the road at high speed.
Her parents, Robert and Alison, travelled to the country as soon as they heard of what had happened, but were shocked that the Vietnamese hospitals were reluctant to treat their daughter due to her medical insurance company refusing to accept the cover.
A crowdfunding campaign, launched by a close family friend, that aimed to raise money for her medical costs has since raised more than £300,000.
It not only enabled the family to fly Inglis to Bangkok to receive treatment at the renowned Samitivej International Hospital, but also to organise the medevac flight that is now due to return her to the UK.
Speaking to Sky News as they prepared to leave Thailand, her parents could not be more grateful to those who donated.
"They've saved somebody's life. Without them, it would be a completely different story. She wouldn't be coming home, not alive anyway. I don't know how to thank people, 'thank you' sounds so small doesn't it?" said Alison Inglis.
Robert Inglis added: "They have saved her. It's them that brought her home.
"In these countries, money talks, and if you haven't got the money, no matter if you have but it takes time to get the money, you have to pay first, if they didn't do all this, she wouldn't be here today, I know she wouldn't be here today".
Robert and Alison Inglis also described their shock and overwhelming happiness the moment their daughter woke up from a medically induced coma last week.
"We're sitting there and I'm looking and Robert goes, 'her eyes are opening' - and I mean, a tiny bit - so he runs out to get the nurses 'her eyes are opening, her eyes are opening' and they're kind of looking, so that, it's lifted us," said Alison.
Her father is in no doubt the skills and mindset that led her to sporting glory have also saved her life.
"I don't think anyone could have survived what she's been through if she wasn't fit and strong," he said.
"It's the strength and discipline, she's been training all her life, and she's very disciplined in what she does, and I just don't think any normal person could have survived it that doesn't do the sport that she does.
"Because her body, being a judo player, her body takes a lot of abuse, so she's used to the thumping and the bumping, so I know she actually worked really hard there.
"So even when we go in, in the last couple of days, she's trying to lift her leg. She's exercising. I've been telling her ... to get out of here, you just have to keep things moving. And she's listening to me, and it's so, so good to see."
The progress has been so significant Inglis has now been cleared to take the specialist medical flight back to the UK.
"The window is here to move here, and while she is stable enough we have to make that move," said Alison.
"The doctors are saying she's stable to fly so it's good and she's actually acknowledging them, and in fact the doctors were in this morning and she actually tried to smile, and that to us was great, they were amazed," Robert added.
Florida shooting: Attack on Orlando nightclub
At least one armed man has attacked a nightclub in the US state of Florida, shooting multiple people and taking hostages, according to local police.
"Shooting at Pulse Nightclub on S Orange. Multiple injuries. Stay away from area," Orlando police department said on its account on Sunday.
The violence erupted overnight Friday at the Pulse Orlando nightclub, which urged patrons in a post on its Facebook page to "get out" and "keep running."
Local media reported that a number of people, as many as 20, had been shot but there were was no confirmed fatalities.
Several patrons posted on social media that a gunman was holed up inside and was holding hostages.
Stewart Moore, a local TV reporter, said on his Twitter early on Sunday quoting a police source that more than 20 people had been shot at the nightclub.
Video posted online showed a large response by police and emergency vehicles outside the nightclub.
The shooting comes after a singer Christina Grimmie was fatally shot while she was signing autographs after a concert in Orlando on Friday.
"Shooting at Pulse Nightclub on S Orange. Multiple injuries. Stay away from area," Orlando police department said on its account on Sunday.
The violence erupted overnight Friday at the Pulse Orlando nightclub, which urged patrons in a post on its Facebook page to "get out" and "keep running."
Local media reported that a number of people, as many as 20, had been shot but there were was no confirmed fatalities.
Several patrons posted on social media that a gunman was holed up inside and was holding hostages.
Stewart Moore, a local TV reporter, said on his Twitter early on Sunday quoting a police source that more than 20 people had been shot at the nightclub.
Video posted online showed a large response by police and emergency vehicles outside the nightclub.
The shooting comes after a singer Christina Grimmie was fatally shot while she was signing autographs after a concert in Orlando on Friday.
Blond Bombshell: Does Boris Dye His Hair?
Boris Johnson has admitted for the first time that he dyes his trademark mop of blond hair.
In an interview, the former London mayor conceded he had reached for the bottle of bleach to keep its eye-catching colour.
"This is the real thing. It's all natural," he told the Sunday Times.
But asked: "You do dye it, don't you Boris?" He replied: "Yes".
He used the interview to claim he was reluctant to declare for Brexit, out of loyalty to the Prime Minister, and denied he did it to boost his leadership prospects.
Last year celebrated hairdresser Heinz Schumi - whose Chelsea clients include actress Jenny Agutter and novelist Jilly Cooper claimed Boris' blond mop was a forgery.
"I'm telling you, it's bleached," Mr Schumi told a newspaper.
"I went to see him give a speech, and when the spotlights shone on his hair, it was kind of orangey - it doesn't go light enough.
"Also, when hair is bleached, the follicles are broken so you manipulate it how you like - this is what Rod Stewart did, so I am absolutely certain he bleaches it."
At the time, Mr Johnson's father and former MP Stanley, insisted: "I can tell you that's 100%. I remember when he was born in New York, I nipped off to get a pizza and when I returned he was swaddled with all the other babies - but quite distinguishable by this shock of white hair.
"So I can reassure the nation, it's quite genuine."
Zayn Malik Pulls Out Of Gig Blaming 'Anxiety'
Zayn Malik has pulled out of a performance at the Capital FM Summertime Ball because of an "anxiety" attack.
The former One Direction star, who was due to perform at the Wembley Stadium show, posted a lengthy apology and explanation on his Instagram account.
"Unfortunately, my anxiety that has haunted me throughout the last few months around live performances has gotten the better of me," he said.
"With the magnitude of the event, I have suffered the worst anxiety of my career. I cannot apologise enough.
"I promise I will do my best to make this up to everybody I've let down today."
The show's organisers were forced to make an announcement just moments before Malik was due on stage on Saturday.
The news was greeted with loud boos from disappointed fans.
Capital FM said in a statement: "We know everyone's already had a great day and enjoyed the 19 other huge artists' performances, but of course we're all gutted that Zayn's had to pull out tonight at the last minute."
Following Malik's message, many people have voiced their support for the 23-year-old Bradford-born star.
This Morning's Phillip Schofield tweeted: "I have huge respect for Zayn with this."
Malik's decision to pull out of the Summertime Ball follows a number of non-appearances by the singer.
In January, he pulled out of The Graham Norton Show due to "scheduling" issues.
A month later, he cancelled a Radio 1 interview with DJ Greg James, a move which was criticised at the time as "rude" by Piers Morgan.
The Capital FM Summertime Ball, which raises money for charity, would have been Malik's first live UK solo stage performance.
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