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Snowmail: final Mann evidence
Last Modified: 20 Jun 2008
By:
Krishnan Guru-Murthy
In tonight's show...
I could tell you what our lead story is tonight but I'd have to kill you. So I'll let Cathy Newman our political correspondent reveal all on the programme.
But there's loads more to entice you. Sue Turton will have the last day of evidence in the Simon Mann "wonga coup" trial. Some viewers have been concerned that he is emerging from the coverage as a sort of Boys Own hero, rather than a key figure in a criminal attempt to overthrow the government of Equatorial Guinea.
Personally I don't think this is the fault of anyone's reporting. We have certainly put some tough questions to him over the last few months in our exclusive interviews, but there's no doubt he has a pretty charming way of revealing his guilt and pleading for clemency. Will the judge be impressed? We probably won't hear for a few days but the evidence is as gripping as ever.
Will Tsvangirai pull out of latest run-off?
We will also have the latest on Zimbabwe, where Morgan Tsvangirai is reported to be considering pulling out the presidential run-off next week in the face of political violence and the expected rigging. There is also some action going on at the EU summit on this, which is more than can be said for their performance on the Lisbon treaty, which is confused to put it kindly.
Naomi's rage sparks media circus
Naomi Campbell pleaded guilty to assaulting police officers and threatening behaviour. She has been sentenced to 200 hours community service, must pay £2,300 in fines and £200 compensation to each of the police officers.
And the detail of what actually happened is pretty stunning, and she tried to make race an issue at the time. It occurs to me, the day after Big Brother aired the eviction of Alexandra for alleged threatening behaviour, that young black girls in Britain are not currently seeing the best role models.
As a slight aside I should tell you that the media world is in uproar at a small incident that happened outside the court during the media scrum when Campbell arrived. It has been alleged - and there is some photographic evidence - that a presenter on Sky News called Kay Burley had an altercation with a fellow female hack and ended up pinning her to the wall, with her hand around the woman's neck. Scrum rage? Shocking.
Raj Persaud: hero or plagiarist?
Is he a doctor who will be remembered for copying other people's work and passing it off as his own? Or is he a champion for people with everyday psychological problems and mental illnesses who has helped raise awareness?
The celebrity psychiatrist Dr Raj Persaud faces the possibility of being suspended or even struck off the medical register for plagiarising the work of others in a book. The GMC has found him in the wrong despite his assertions that there was no dishonesty in what he did. He is famous for This Morning and his work on Radio 4. Whether he'll be able to continue with that work remains to be seen. There is no suggestion that he is either a bad doctor or a bad media performer. So does it matter?
Stop being so sad, says minister
And we might have a chat about why everyone is so "bloody miserable" at the moment, as asserted by Labour minister Tom Harris.
The little-known transport minister has been catapulted into the limelight after a blog in which he said we are all miserable despite never having had it so good.
He's probably onto something, but are we wrong to expect more in 2008? And was it wise for a politician in a government currently in the doldrums and heading for recession to voice it?









