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No. 5. 22nd February 2012 www.theafronews.eu
Tel. 0207 300 7320 Email: afronews@myownmedia.co.uk
COMMUNITY
Stephen Ojerinola buried in Camberwell New Cemetery Stephen was buried in Camberwell New Cemetery on 10th February 2012. Southwark Mayor Lorraine Lauder and the chair of the London Race and Criminal Justice Consortium Lee Jasper attended the service at St. Giles Church, Camberwell. Mr. Jasper, who delivered a eulogy at the funeral, said they were happy with the way the investigation was going so far, but looked forward to justice being done. Stephen went missing in April 2011 when he was 18 years old. His remains were found on 20th November 2011 in the back garden of a house in Eltham, South East London. He was killed and buried in a makeshift grave, then covered with concrete. A garden shed was then erected over the grave. A post-mortem examination revealed that Stephen died from stab wounds. To date a total of seven suspects have been arrested in connection with his mur-
der. Two men - Lee Davies, 35, of Chiswell Square, Greenwich, and William Regan, 36, of Lynsted Gardens, Eltham have been charged with murder and remain in custody. Regan is also accused of two counts of residential burglary. A 31-year-old man has also been arrested in South-East London on suspicion of murder and perverting the course of justice. Three women, one in her 60s and two in their 40s, along with a man in his 40s, have been arrested on suspicion of murder and conspiracy to pervert the course of justice. All remain on bail as the investigation continues. By Oran Blackwood
Home Office allocates funds to help male victims of domestic violence Home Office has allocated £225,000 to be used by 12 organisations that support male victims of domestic violence and sexual abuse, Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone has announced. The selected organisations will use the money to help ensure a better service for male victims. “I am pleased to announce that we are able to support male victims of domestic violence through this funding. We recognise that men can be victims of these crimes too and deserve support and protection,” Ms. Featherstone said. These grants are just one of a range of actions the government is taking to tackle domestic violence. Overall, £28 million will be directed towards specialist domestic and sexual violence services over the next four years to help victims. Last October, the government ran a consultation on a national Domestic Violence Disclosure Scheme,
known as ‘Clare’s Law’. Domestic Violence Protection Orders are currently being piloted in three police force areas to stop offenders from contacting victims or returning to their home for up to 28 days.
Home Office Minister Lynne Featherstone
Black leaders criticize Liverpool for mishandling Saurez/Evra affair An influential group of high profile black leaders has strongly criticized the way Liverpool Football Club (LFC) handled Luis Suarez/Patrice Evra affair. Liverpool manager Kenny Dalglish said the club supported Suarez after he was banned for eight matches by the FA for calling Evra “negro”. “We stand alongside Luis Suarez, as the football club has always done for people that they respect and people they appreciate for the efforts they have given to the club,” Mr. Dalglish said. The Consortium of Liverpool and National Black and AntiRacism Organisations has written an open letter accusing LFC and manager Dalglish of grossly mishandling the Saurez/Evra affair, contributing to the incitement of racism in football and wider society. The group called on LFC to accept the findings of the FA investigation that concluded that Suarez had racially abused Evra and offer an immediate and unre-
served apology to Evra. LFC is accused of colluding with racism by seeking to dismiss the FA’s findings and racially aggravating this sensitive issue by inappropriately and misguidedly showing public team support for Suarez after the publication of the FA’s investigative report into the issue. The group noted that the refusal of Suarez to shake Evra’s hand was a further incitement of racism. The group called on LFC to acknowledge the implicit racism involved and issue a statement with other civic leaders committing themselves to opposing racism and to commit to organise a conference on racism in football. Gloria Hyatt MBE said: “Liverpool Football Club has presided over the worst incident of racism in football seen in recent years. Their misguided handling of the Suarez and Evra Saga has let down all of those in the city who work hard to challenge racism and make Liverpool a better place to live for everyone.” Lee Jasper, a national human
©Ardfern
Stephen Temilola Ojerinola, a teenager whose body was discovered in a makeshift grave in Eltham, South East London in November 2011, has been laid to rest.
rights and race equality campaigner urged the LFC, including the owners, the players and the manager “to realise the enormous damage caused by their reluctance and obdurate behaviour.” Recalling that Mr. Dalglish used to manage Celtic, Mr. Jasper said: “He ought to know the importance of stamping out bigotry. The club failed the city, the nation as a whole and in particular Britain’s black communities. Their abysmal lack of leadership on these issues has given a green light to racism. They must make urgent reparations and make a clear and unequivocal apology.”