Articles by Bradley Jolly

Man who had denied ever raping and murdering neighbour 27 years ago is killed

A man who denied raping and murdering his neighbour 27 years ago was today executed on death row. Norman Mearle Grim Jr, 65, had been convicted of the sexual battery and first-degree murder of Cynthia Campbell despite, in court, claiming he hadn't carried out the offences. However, he was today given a three-drug injection on death row in Florida , becoming the state's record 15th execution this year. Asked if he wished to make a final statement, he said: "No sir." Grim was then given the jab, which led to him breathing heavily and twitching slightly before he was declared dead - nearly three decades after Ms Campbell's death. After the young woman was reported missing in 1998, her battered body was found in waters near the Pensacola Bay Bridge in Florida by a fisherman. Prosecutors said Ms Campbell had suffered multiple blunt-force injuries to her face and head that were consistent with being struck by a hammer, as well has 11 stab wounds in the chest. An autopsy revealed seven of the stab wounds penetrated her heart. Physical evidence including DNA tied Grim to her killing. But he denied the offences, and was eventually found guilty after a trial in 2000. The man was sentenced to death that year, and this was carried out today 27 years on. Since the US Supreme Court restored the death penalty in 1976, the highest previous annual total of Florida executions was eight in 2014. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, followed by Texas and Alabama with five each. After a death warrant is signed and an execution date is set, inmates have a last chance to make appeals to the Florida Supreme Court and the US Supreme Court. Grim received no visitors Tuesday and did not meet with a spiritual adviser, authorities said. A total of 40 men have died by court-ordered execution so far this year in the US, and at least 18 other people are scheduled to be put to death during the remainder of 2025 and next year. Florida has executed more people than any other state this year, followed by Texas and Alabama with five each. Two more executions are planned for next month in Florida under death warrants signed by Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis. Two more executions are planned next month in Florida. Bryan Fredrick Jennings, 66, is scheduled for the state's 16th execution on November 13. He was convicted of raping and killing a six-year-old girl in 1979 after entering through a window and abducting her from her central Florida home.

Oct 28, 2025

Technology

Young people fed up of living with housemates from hell in shared accommodation

More than half of Brits haved lived with - or currently live with - a "housemate from hell," according to a study. Some young renters have even moved out of their place due to problems with flatmates, including dirty dishes piling in the sink, the bathroom always being left in a state and bins constantly overflowing. Another common bug bears is hearing your housemate having "loud intimate time" with their partner, a poll has found. But renting remains common - out of necessity - as the average age at which Brits are able to buy their own place has now increased to 38, it is understood. The conflict of shared accommodation, though, can impact the mental well-being of tenants, and their ability to work and study. Joe Thomas, the actor famed for playing Simon Cooper in The Inbetweeners, lived in shared accommodation with sitcom co-star Simon Bird following graduation from Cambridge University. Joe, 41, has now backed a move by Quizlet, a global learning platform for students, to help young people tackle conflicts and maintain the social contracts that lead to a happy home. The organisation has launched the "Unofficial Housemate Rulebook" following the research it commissioned. Joe, who was also in student drama Fresh Meat, said: "I have lived in shared accommodation during my time at university and as a graduate, and I have played the role of student in a messy house share. So, trust me, I know all about the ups and downs of living in shared accommodation. "Whether it is the never-ending pile of bin bags or the mountain of dirty dishes in the sink, I would have benefited from a guide on how to be a good housemate. Thankfully, Quizlet has created an ‘Unofficial Housemate Rulebook’ to prevent a few of those familiar arguments from happening." Leaving dirty dishes in the sink (65 per cent) tops the list of housemate red flags, followed by eating food that isn’t theirs (52 per cent), leaving the bathroom in a mess (47 per cent), and ignoring overflowing bins (42 per cent). Not paying bills or rent on time (31 per cent), never buying loo roll or cleaning supplies (29 per cent), inviting strangers to stay without asking (25 per cent) and smoking or vaping indoors (23 per cent) also made the list of annoyances. But Quizlet says young people can learn from these experiences and navigate through them with the use of its advice on the app. Niki Frankfort, senior communications manager at the firm, said: "Navigating the unspoken rules of a shared home can be a major source of stress, and as the data reveals, it often leads to conflict that can impact everything from mental well-being to the ability to study effectively. "We hope that by creating this guide, we will help make moving away from home an easier transition and support our users not just in their studies, but in all pivotal learning moments that shape their lives."

Oct 7, 2025

Technology

Prince Harry blow as Chad cuts ties with his 'disrespectful' charity African Parks

Chad has cut ties with a wildlife charity associated with Prince Harry . The nation accused African Parks of being "disrespectful" and, in a damning four-page statement, Chad's environment minister Hassan Bakhit Djamous announced the end to the country's 15-year partnership with it. The Duke of Sussex , 41, was its president for six years before he was elavated to the governing board of directors in 2023. But following previous controversy surrounding charity work earlier this year , Harry has now suffered his latest blow as Mr Djamous branded African Parks as "a recurring indelicate and disrespectful attitude toward the government". African Parks says it now intends to "explore the best way forward" following the criticism, which also included Mr Djamous' allegations that there had been a resurgence in poaching and a lack of investment at the reserves managed by the conservation group. The charity said today it is in talks to "better understand the government's position" and "explore the best way forward to support the continued protection of these critical landscapes". "African Parks will continue to keep its partners and stakeholders informed, as further clarity is obtained," the charity, to which Chad had links since 2010, continued. African Parks had led anti-poaching efforts and to restore elephant populations at the Ennedi Natural and Cultural Reserve and the Greater Zakouma Ecosystem, which includes the Zakouma and Siniaka-Minia national parks. According to the charity, the elephant population at Zakouma National Parks increased from 450 in 2010, when it took over management of the site, to over 550 by 2019. But last year, evidence of intimidation and abuse in the rainforests of the Republic of the Congo by guards managed and paid by African Parks was uncovered. This included claims of of rapes and beatings. The press found first-hand testimonies of atrocities inflicted on the Baka, an indigenous people once known as pygmies, to stop them entering forests where they have foraged, fished, hunted and found medicines for millennia. The charity said in a statement in May last year: "The board of African Parks has reviewed Omnia's advice and endorsed the management plan and timeframes to implement the recommendations resulting from this process. "African Parks acknowledges that, in some incidents, human rights abuses have occurred, and we deeply regret the pain and suffering that these have caused to the victims. "Omnia's process also highlighted several failures of our systems and processes that were insufficient for the level of responsibility given to us, particularly in the early years of our management of Odzala."

Oct 7, 2025

Technology

ITV Loose Women statement in FULL as popular show set for another huge shakeup

The editor of Loose Women is set to leave her role, ITV has announced. The broadcaster confirmed Sally Shelford has decided to end her reign following a lengthy period in charge, and it is understood many of the show's stars are concerned about keeping their spots. The programme, which first aired in 1999, is likely to be trimmed down from 2026, as ITV is cutting budgets across its daytime schedule . It is not the only hit show to be affected as Lorraine will instead run for half an hour and for 30 weeks a year. Loose Women , Lorraine and This Morning will move to a shared studio location in Covent Garden where the three shows will be produced by just one team, with 220 jobs set to go. And Sally won't be in her role from January, with Vivek Sharma – who already edits This Morning and Lorraine – primed to undertake the leadership position. Sally's departure is also said to be a hit to the cast as she "knows the women well" and "who will go on with who". Following the announcement, ITV has issued a statement, which reads in full: "After almost a decade at the helm of Loose Women, winning three Royal Television Society Awards, two BAFTA nominations, launching powerful campaigns and expanding the Loose brand with Loose Men, a successful podcast and a live nationwide tour, Sally feels the time is right to hand the Loose baton on. She will continue as Loose Women Editor until the New Year ." The broadcaster celebrates Sally's lengthy tenure, during which Loose Women has won several awards, such as the Best Daytime Programme gong at the Royal Television Society in 2021. But, as the Mirror reported on Monday, there is now concern for the lunchtime programme. Speaking about the huge cuts , an insider told us: "It’s not a case of viewers seeing less of their shows… it’s impossible to see how the high standards will remain the same. "Some staff believe Loose Women and Lorraine in particular will enter a death spiral… it’s just so sad. Just a handful of people will be working on each of those two programmes which has huge ramifications for how they are going forward." Regular panelist Nadia Sawalha ecently admitted she was “totally devastated” at the loss of the studio audience and spoke out in support of her close friend and warm-up artist Lee Peart, who lost his job as a result. The actress and presenter said: "The audience is so important for the show. What a lot of people don’t realise is that we’re self-employed. Every contract is a new contract - I could be let go tomorrow or in five years. It’s brutal."

Oct 6, 2025