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CCTV shows the moments before Saudi Cambridge student Mohammed Algasim is fatally stabbed

February 18, 2026 at 17:28

CCTV shows the moments before a Saudi student was fatally stabbed in the neck by a stranger as he sat with friends outside his university accommodation.

Mohammed Algasim, 20, died of a single stab wound across his jugular vein after an altercation on the evening of 1 August last year.

Chas Corrigan, 22, who denies murder and is on trial at Cambridge Crown Court, is seen in CCTV approaching the student and his friends as they sit on a low wall.

Abdullah Bin Shuail, one of Mr Algasim's fellow students, said he heard the pair exchange words but could not make out what they were saying.

Nicholas Hearn, prosecuting, previously told the court the pair had never met before.

Corrigan then walked towards the train station before Mr Algasim said something to him.

Mr Bin Shuail could only make out one word, "centre", Mr Hearn said.

"When Mr Algasim said this, the defendant turned and started to come back towards them," he continued.

The prosecutor said the defendant said "what did you say, what did you say?" in a "very angry and aggressive way".

He said Mr Bin Shuail "saw the defendant punch Mr Algasim hard to the left side of his neck" and "then saw that the defendant was holding a large knife in his right hand".

The stab wound, which also cut across his carotid artery, caused "massive bleeding", Mr Hearn said.

Jane Osborne KC, opening the defence case, said Corrigan "had a kitchen knife - tucked into his waistband rather than in the pocket".

"He will tell you he had no intention of using that knife," she said.

"He had it with him so if he was attacked, as he had been in the past, he could frighten off any attacker.

"He wanted to prevent himself being a victim of violence again."

She said Corrigan will say "in the incident Mr Algasim was standing in front of him, he thought Mr Algasim was acting aggressively".

"He thought he (Corrigan) was imminently going to be attacked so he produced the knife," she said.

"Having produced the knife Mr Corrigan had no intention of using it to cause Mr Algasim any harm.

"He intended to wave it between them.

"He will say he had no idea he had made contact with Mr Algasim with the knife."

The trial, estimated to last around two weeks, continues.

Jose Mourinho sounded like he was victim blaming - but Vinicius Junior needs empathy over alleged racist abuse

February 18, 2026 at 19:01

Vinicius Junior had every right to want to leave the pitch - and for the game to be abandoned.

Because while he is a superstar of the game, well used to the biggest Champions League occasions, being the target of racism cannot be excused as coming with football's tribalism.

This was reporting being racially abused at work. Just after adding another wondrous strike to his collection of goals.

The accused - Benfica's Gianluca Prestianni - has every right to a thorough process if he persists with denials.

And the UEFA case has to be watertight before imposing the minimum 10-game ban for racism.

But Benfica have gone beyond defending their man with statements, showing no empathy with a player who has been singled out for hate because he is black too often in his career.

There has been no acknowledgement of how difficult it is to take a stand and report abuse, halting a match being watched worldwide by millions.

There has been no recognition of the anguish Vinicius will be feeling, even if, as a club, you do not believe he was called a monkey by Prestianni on Tuesday night in Lisbon - five times, according to his Real teammate Kylian Mbappe.

You can recognise that personal pain as a club without admitting wrongdoing.

For all the courage and dignity demonstrated by Vinicius - praised by his Brazilian FA bosses - there was only deflection and no compassion from Jose Mourinho and Benfica.

They only complained about facing a "defamation campaign", and appropriated the memory and legacy of Eusebio and the black superstar's legendary career with them in the 1960s and 70s as evidence that the club cannot be racist. That overlooked the racism Eusebio endured.

How does Benfica reaffirming their "historical and unwavering commitment to defending the values of equality, respect, and inclusion" align with victim blaming?

Mourinho suggested Vinicius incited the crowd with his goal celebration.

And yet if there is anyone in football known for goading, overexuberant celebrations, it is Mourinho himself on the touchlines.

UEFA has avoided saying anything beyond the appointment of an ethics and disciplinary inspector to investigate.

But FIFA President Gianni Infantino did speak out in a statement naming Vinicius, showing "full solidarity to victims of racism and any form of discrimination" and saying: "We need all the relevant stakeholders to take action and hold those responsible to account."

But that did not happen when another Real Madrid player, Antonio Rudiger, reported being racially abused last year.

It was in the Club World Cup - a tournament run by FIFA. An investigation was launched, but no one was held to account.

So, when the world asks why racism is still a stain on the game, why black players fear being abused in stadiums and online, the words and actions of those with status and power come under greater scrutiny.

And at the heart of it is Vinicius feeling he isn't being protected enough by football, and could have to face the alleged perpetrator next week in the second leg in Madrid.

Britain's Got Talent dancer Kerri-Anne Donaldson found dead at home had been accused of 'child sex offence', inquest hears

February 18, 2026 at 18:04

A Britain's Got Talent dancer found dead at home had been arrested over a child sex offence just days earlier, an inquest has heard.

Warning: This story contains descriptions some readers may find distressing, including references to suicide.

Kerri-Anne Donaldson's body was discovered in Farnborough, Hampshire, on 7 June 2023 - the day after she was discharged from hospital.

The 38-year-old had been taken into custody and questioned at a police station on suspicion of "child sex offending" three days before her death, the hearing was told.

Ms Donaldson, who reached the semi-final of the TV talent show in 2014 as part of dance group Kings and Queens, was arrested on 4 June 2023 about the alleged sex offence, which she denied.

After going missing and being found at a hotel in Woking, Surrey, she was taken to nearby St Peter's Hospital, having taken an overdose.

But she was discharged on 6 June, then Ms Donaldson was found dead at her home the following morning, Winchester coroner's court heard.

At an inquest into her death, the coroner heard Ms Donaldson told the alleged victim she would take her own life "if someone finds out" about the allegation made to police.

Detective Constable Benjamin Harris, of Hampshire Constabulary, said he considered the possibility Ms Donaldson's reported comments could be a "form of control" against her accuser.

He said: "In my experience in some offences it can often be said without wanting to carry it out."

After being taken to hospital following her arrest and deemed a "high and imminent risk of suicide", she was later ruled suitable for release as she had "settled", allowing her to be discharged.

Consultant psychiatrist Dr Martin Williams, who was one of three mental health workers who carried out an assessment of Ms Donaldson before her release, told the inquest she was suffering from an "acute adjustment reaction" to her arrest.

A psychiatric nurse rated her risk at level 10 out of 10 on 5 June, but the next day she was assessed as having changed her position from the previous evening and was released.

Dr Williams said: "I was able to form a snapshot of the risk she was posing at that point, she expressed clearly that she didn't have plans to carry out acts that could lead to her death.

"It struck me how warm and personable Kerri-Anne was, it struck me she was open, she was receptive, she was showing emotions appropriate of what she was facing."

Dr Williams added: "We considered the possibility she was masking a higher level of risk than she was saying, but all the indications were that she was settling and the risk was markedly reduced from the previous day."

Dr Williams said hospital staff were told the nature of the allegation by either police or Ms Donaldson, but she told him she no longer believed she was "definitely going to go to prison".

He said: "She had shifted from a position of quite stressed and downbeat about the police involvement to where she felt much more confident."

Dr Williams said Ms Donaldson said she "wanted to take her own legal advice and wanted to fight the case".

He added: "She believed she had a good case in putting together a defence to whatever the arrest was for, she believed she had a good case.

"She expressed a view on the day of the assessment, she was no longer so worried about going to prison."

Detective Chief Superintendent Sarah McConnell, of Hampshire Constabulary, said the officer who carried out an enhanced risk assessment of Ms Donaldson while she was in hospital acted "appropriately" by not revealing to the medical team what she had been arrested for.

No further details about the nature of the allegation, other than it was over "child sex offending," were heard during the inquest.

The hearing continues.

Anyone feeling emotionally distressed or suicidal can call Samaritans for help on 116 123 or email jo@samaritans.org in the UK. In the US, call the Samaritans branch in your area or 1 (800) 273-TALK

Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo sets record with fifth Olympic gold medal - and 10th overall - at Winter Games

February 18, 2026 at 17:45

Norway's Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo has won his fifth Olympic gold medal at the Winter Games - and the 10th of his career.

The 29-year-old cross-country skier won gold again on Wednesday when he, along with Einar Hedegart, won the men's team sprint with a time of 18 minutes and 28.9 seconds.

He has won every race he has entered in at the 2026 Milan Cortina Games, breaking the Winter Olympics record in Sunday's 4 x 7.5km relay. His final race will be in the 50km mass start this weekend.

The latest win means Norway's Klaebo is now only the second athlete to win 10 Olympic gold medals, following US swimming legend Michael Phelps, who has a total of 23.

"It's obviously very satisfying to make this happen," Klaebo said after his win. "The team sprint is one of the most fun events, but also one of the hardest."

He added: "There are so many strong teams, and so many fast skiers, so it always comes down to tight battles. That makes it even more rewarding."

Coming in second place were US skiers Ben Ogden and Gus Schumacher, who were just 1.4 seconds behind for the silver medal.

Speaking to journalists after the race, Schumacher said that he "locked in" - and followed Klaebo over the line.

"I did it, and I'm really proud of it," he said.

With 10 metres to go, he saw Ogden - now the US's most decorated male cross-country skier - across the finish line to greet him, and knew a medal was in hand, having beaten Italy's Federico Pellegrino.

Ex-council worker who stole £900k from vulnerable claimants to fund luxury lifestyle is jailed

February 18, 2026 at 16:56

A former council employee who stole nearly £900,000 from the accounts of vulnerable benefit claimants to fund a luxury lifestyle has been jailed.

Richard Shaw, 46, transferred the money to his own bank accounts while working for Bolton Council's financial protection team between 2015 and 2023.

He was jailed on Wednesday for four years and eight months.

In his role, he managed state benefits on behalf of service workers who were unable to manage their own finances and had no one else to assist them.

But investigations in 2023 revealed several bank transfers, totalling £893,296, to nine personal accounts held in his name.

Two BMW cars worth nearly £120,000 and other high-value items, including computers and bikes, were seized during a warrant at Shaw's home in Harrier Close, Bolton, when he was arrested on suspicion of fraud by abuse of position and money laundering.

It was established during the investigation that he spent £100,000 buying a holiday lodge in Ribble Valley, Lancashire, and almost £18,000 on garden improvements.

There were also more than £53,000 in payments to different women with references including "treat", "allowance", "nice" and "ass" which totalled hundreds of pounds every week, the court heard.

He was sacked for gross misconduct in March 2023, when the council identified and reported the possible fraud to Greater Manchester Police.

Shaw pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of fraud by abuse of position.

A Greater Manchester Police spokesperson said there would be a proceeds of crime hearing to reclaim the rest of the money to reimburse the council.

'Cases like these are exceptionally rare'

A spokesperson for Bolton Council said: "Bolton Council has robust measures in place to detect, prevent and deter corruption and this crime was first uncovered via our own internal safeguards.

"We have worked closely with Greater Manchester Police to build the case that has resulted in this sentence which reflects the gravity and impact of the crime committed.

"Cases like this are exceptionally rare and the actions of one person do not reflect a wider workforce that is conscientious, diligent, and committed to public service.

"Any identified financial losses to individuals as a result of this fraud have been refunded by the council, and benefit losses rectified."

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