Tuesday, January 3, 2012

** Economic downturn leads to overtime cuts at some South African EMS services

** Alleged confession of Kansas man charged with murdering former combat medic is admissible, judge rules

SOUTH AFRICA NEWS

** Financial problems in Limpopo’s health department have led to EMS overtime cuts in an already overstretched department. The Sowetan (Russel Molefe/December 23) said the slashing, which is also impacting public works, education, and road authorities, is at the behest of the federal government. According to the newspaper, bureaucrats were inundated by concerned residents about reduced prehospital services during the traditionally heavy call volume holiday season. Bean counters, however, said ambulance care remained unaffected.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** The alleged confession of a Manhattan man charged with killing a former Kansas combat medic August 11 will be admissible at trial later this month. That is the word from WIBW (December 23) which said a Riley County judge made the decision on the matter just before Christmas. According to the news site, lawyers acting for Justin Taylor, 24, sought to suppress the admission made during questioning into the death of Kevin Cockrum, 31. Cockrum died after suffering severe head injuries during a beating in Manhattan. Taylor, who has pleaded not guilty, said he was drunk and scared at the time he was hauled into a police interrogation room. Fearing he would be presumed guilty by his silence, he said he tried to cooperate by wrongly admitting to the killing. In addition to alcohol, he said he was a regular user of Xanax, Ecstasy and marijuana. Blaming a friend who was with him at the time, Taylor said he did hit Cockrum but only after his companion felled him with a violent blow.