Tuesday, August 16, 2011

** Off duty UK medic beaten to death following cricket match

** Dodgers’ boss attempts to amend lawsuit filed against him by beaten California paramedic’s family

UNITED KINGDOM NEWS

** Police in Nottinghamshire have a launched an investigation into the murder of an off duty London Ambulance Service paramedic beaten after a cricket match. The Daily Echo (Patrick Knox/August 14) said the look-see began after Southampton resident James Hodgkinson died last Tuesday. According to the newspaper, Hodgkinson succumbed after spending some nine days in hospital. Attacked around 2:30 a.m. on July 31st outside the Yates Wine Lodge, he sustained head injuries which placed him in a coma. No one has been charged in connection with Hodgkinson’s death. Police continue to search for witnesses. Hodgkinson, who worked for the South Central Ambulance Service from 2007-09, had been with the London Ambulance Service for two years. Funeral services are pending.

UNITED STATES NEWS

** Wording in a lawsuit launched against the owner of the Los Angeles Dodgers by the family of a beaten paramedic could be softened. That is the word from NBC Bay Area (Chris Roberts/August 15) which said attorneys for Frank McCourt are attempting to remove phrases from the filing which paint the ball club in a negative light. According to the newspaper, McCourt’s lawyers have asked that references be removed indicating allegedly readily available beer at the stadium prior to the March 31st attack on Bryan Stow. In addition, McCourt’s side has asked that the attack description itself be excised. Stow, 42, continues to recuperate from a brain injury in a San Francisco hospital. Three people have been arrested in connection with the assault.