EXCLUSIVE: Convicted twice and acquitted twice of murder, Amanda Knox describes the miscarriage of justice against Andrew Malkinson, who was wrongly branded a rapist, as “absolutely horrifying.”

Convicted twice and acquitted twice of murder, Amanda Knox describes the miscarriage of justice against Andrew Malkinson, who was wrongly branded a rapist, as “absolutely horrifying.”

Ms Knox says of Mr Malkinson, 59, who served 17 years in prison for a rape he did not commit: ’It also sounds like a very typical wrongful conviction case, where authorities got tunnel vision. They went after the wrong person and then, all of these years later, after somebody has had their entire life derailed, they actually find the true perpetrator.”

This week, father-of-six Paul Quinn, 52, was given a 24 year sentence for the rape, which Mr Malkinson – a security guard working in Salford when he was arrested – has dubbed an “insult.”

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Recalling her own first night in jail, Ms Knox – who served nearly four years in an Italian prison after her wrongful conviction for the 2007 murder of her roommate Meredith Kercher, 21 – says: “I imagine that [Malkinson] had the very same feeling that I had, which is ‘oh my god, this is a huge misunderstanding. ‘My innocence will ultimately become clear.

“I lived for years with the feeling like, ‘okay, there’s this crazy story that’s being put out there, but there are these institutions that I trust and there’s truth beyond a reasonable doubt.’”

Now married to US author and podcaster Christopher Robinson, 43, with whom she has a daughter, Eureka Muse, 5, and a son, Echo, 3, Amanda, 38, also believes misogyny was “absolutely 100%” involved in her own wrongful conviction.

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Speaking to Tom Swarbrick on LBC radio, she says there was a “hyper focus” on her. Claiming she was portrayed as a “femme fatale,” she adds that the focus on “my appearance, my behaviour, [was] as an attempt to make me seem guilty.”

She feels the same misogyny has been faced by Lucy Letby, the 36-year-old former neonatal nurse, serving life for the murder of seven infants and attempted murder of seven others between June 2015 and June 2016 at the Countess of Chester Hospital.

Ms Knox says she was seen as having “the face of an angel but is really a demon inside.” Now host of Doubt: The Lucy Letby Podcast, Ms Knox “leans in the direction” of Letby’s innocence.

She has written to her and says, if they ever speak, she won’t sugar-coat the fact that wrongly convicted people do die in jail. She says: “What I can guarantee her is that her life is worth living.

“No matter what circumstances we arrive at in life, we can find a way to find meaning out of them.”

Ms Knox, who lives in Seattle, USA, says she still thinks about Meredith, who she lived with in Puglia, Italy, where they were exchange students, every day, but that her parents “never seemed to want to speak to me.”

She says of Meredith, who came from Coulson, south London: “She has left an indelible mark on my life. She was a real person who I knew. Especially now that I’m a mother, I think about my daughter entering a world that is not fair and not kind and is not safe for women. She [Meredith] changed the course of my life.”

*Amanda Knox was speaking on LBC’s Drive with Tom Swarbrick and is availableon Global Player and the LBC App.

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A video has been released of the moment of a serious hit and run collision that left a man with ‘life changing injuries’.

The collision took place in a 20mph zone on Northgate on the Headland in Hartlepool and left 22-year-old Ryan Cameron with a serious head injury.

Liam Kenny, of Miers Avenue, Hartlepool, was sentenced to 30 months in prison and banned from driving for 51 months at Teesside Crown Court on Monday, June 1, after pleading guilty to causing serious injury by dangerous driving, drink and drug driving, and riding without a licence or insurance.

The video, released by Cleveland Police, shows Kenny in a bar, then speeding through the streets on the bike. 

Detective Constable Aileen Ward, from the Matrix Collision Investigation Unit, said: “This case highlights the devastating consequences that dangerous driving can have on individuals, families and communities.

“This was a 20mph area designed to protect the public, yet Liam Kenny chose to ignore the law.”

Liam Kenny. (Image: CLEVELAND POLICE)

Mr Cameron had been out collecting a pizza with his mum when he was hit by a Yamaha 125 motorcycle ridden by Kenny.

He suffered a fractured jaw and skull, as well as bruising and bleeding on the brain.

The court heard Kenny had spent several hours drinking at a nearby pub before taking the motorcycle, which did not belong to him.

He fled the scene after the crash but was later arrested and found to be almost four-and-a-half times over the legal alcohol limit and 12 times over the limit for benzoylecgonine, a substance linked to cocaine use.

DC Ward said Mr Cameron continues to undergo rehabilitation one year on and has shown “remarkable strength throughout his recovery.”

“Our thoughts remain firmly with the victim, who sustained traumatic and life changing injuries, including a significant brain injury as a result of the collision,” she said.

“The impact on his life is irreversible.

“He supports the road safety message highlighted by this case and hopes that no one else has to experience the same devastating consequences.

“I would also like to thank the witnesses who came forward, along with the Great North Air Ambulance Service, paramedics, off-duty medical personnel and members of the public, whose swift actions and intervention helped to save the victim’s life.

“We hope this case serves as a clear reminder to drivers and riders across Hartlepool and the wider Cleveland area that unsafe and illegal behaviour on our roads will not be tolerated.”

Kevin Reeves, 31, of Portswood Road, Southampton; Andrew Riddett, 38, of Seacombe Green, Southampton; Harry Varney, 34, of Briarswood, Southampton;Taylor Grundy, 22, of Pavillion Way, Gosport; and Dillon Crawford, 29, of Wilton Avenue, Southampton, were charged with violent disorder, Hampshire Police said.

Seaham car boot sale, ran by Nobles Promotions Limited, took to social media this morning (June 6) to share the news.

The Facebook post said: “Seaham Saturday is cancelled today due to poor weather.

“See you all tomorrow with a much better forecast.”

The car boot sale usually operates on Sundays between 12pm and 5pm, from the last Sunday in March to the third Sunday in October.

It is located north of the existing parking area at Seaham Hall Farm, off the B1287 road.

The seasonal event has previously been praised for its positive impact on the local community. 

“The car boot sale is of substantial social and economic importance to Seaham and the wider area,” a planning statement read. 

“On a typical Sunday, around 230 sellers and over 4,500 buyers attend, generating significant spend that benefits local traders, catering outlets, and the visitor economy. 

“It is more than a market: it is a valued community meeting place, supporting social interaction, affordable opportunities for families, and the re-use and recycling of goods.”

The car boot sale will return tomorrow (June 7) as normal.

If you’re looking for a natural weed killer for gravel driveways or patios, experts say you should ditch vinegar in favour of another common kitchen item for long-lasting results

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Weeds infiltrating gravel driveways and patios encompass numerous species. From grassy varieties such as henbit and purslane to woody types including broadleaf and dandelions – all flourish with remarkable ease in these spaces.

The real challenge extends beyond merely extracting them; it’s about responding rapidly enough to stop them from overwhelming the area entirely.

Addressing weeds on gravel driveways or patios needn’t involve resorting to harsh chemicals that might harm your garden or endanger pets.

White vinegar stands out as one of the most commonly suggested natural solutions for tackling gravel weeds.

Nevertheless, while vinegar “may well kill some small weeds”, according to Chelsey, a gardening expert at Good Grow, it won’t achieve permanent elimination, reports the Mirror.

She explained that vinegar “simply burns away the visible part of the weed”, and while it might look dead, the roots stay completely intact and will ultimately regrow.

For those wanting a homemade weed killer for driveways or patios, “rock salt is the way to go”.

While standard table salt functions as a weed killer, rock salt proves far superior for driveways plagued by persistent weeds requiring permanent removal. It represents the “fastest way to kill weeds on your drive forever”.

Gardening experts at Joe’s Lawn Care similarly endorse rock salt for controlling gravel weeds. They said: “Rock salt is actually a super-effective and totally natural weed killer that is ace at clearing a gravel driveway.” Simply scatter rock salt around any visible weeds and “watch as the salt kills the weeds in just a matter of days”. They claimed that “it’s almost unbelievable”.

The specialists noted that while rock salt provides “long-term results”, it must be kept well away from areas of the garden where you’re hoping to grow flowers or cultivate crops.

They elaborated: “The salt will gradually seep into the ground where it was sprinkled, preventing any weeds (or plants) from being able to grow there for a while.

“Now that may sound absolutely perfect for your gravel driveway situation, but just make sure you are conservative with the amount you sprinkle and where you sprinkle it.”

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West Ham United co-owner David Sullivan has stepped down from his position as joint chairman of the club with immediate effect.

The Hammers said they had “been made aware of the impending publication of serious historic allegations” concerning Sullivan.

In a statement of his own, the 77-year-old said a “small number of improper conduct claims” have been made against him adding: “I categorically deny these claims.”

He said the “decades-old allegations concerning my personal life” are “factually incorrect and entirely false”.

Sullivan, who had held the role for 16 years, said he stepped down “to apply my full energy and attention on fighting these false allegations”.

The Hammers were relegated from the Premier League at the end of the 2025-26 season after finishing 18th.

“At what is already a challenging and important time for the club, I refuse to allow personal matters concerning me to become an unnecessary distraction or a source of instability,” added Sullivan, who has also resigned as a director.

“Therefore, after very careful consideration and with a heavy heart, I have decided to resign.”

In a club statement, West Ham said Sullivan has denied any “illegal conduct” and is leaving “in order to avoid disruption to the club while he addresses the matter privately”.

Sullivan has been the club’s largest single shareholder since the death of his business partner David Gold in January 2023, which left him with a 38.8% stake.

Sullivan and Gold became joint chairmen of West Ham when they completed their takeover of the club in January 2010.

“It is understood none of the allegations relate to West Ham United or any of its operations,” said West Ham.

“Interim chief executive officer Karim Virani, reporting into the current board of directors, will continue to be responsible for leading the club’s day-to-day operations.

“The club will provide an update on the future structure of the board of directors in due course, but will make no further comment at this time.”

The cause of the fire is under investigation

A fire in the early hours of this morning has caused “significant damage” to a former gospel hall in Belfast.

The fire service attended the scene on the Shankill Road at around 2.30am on Saturday, June 6. Three appliances attended from Springfield, Westland, and Central fire stations alongside a Turntable Ladder appliance.

Officers forced entry to the building, with a drone and jets also used to tackle the blaze. Images from the scene show the road was sealed off for a period of time, but has since reopened.

A spokesperson for the Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service said no injuries were reported but “significant damage” was caused to the building. Fire crews were in attendance at the scene until around 5am.

The cause of the fire is still under investigation. The PSNI have been contacted for comment.

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Cult pop pioneers Sparks, have announced a long-awaited return with a headline show at York Barbican this summer – their first performance in the city since 1974.

The brothers Ron, on keyboards, and Russell Mael, vocals, will take to the stage on Tuesday, August 25 as part of a wider international tour spanning Japan, Australia, New Zealand, the UK and Europe.

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The York date has been added due to demand, alongside a second new UK show in Southend-on-Sea, following previously announced performances in London, Glasgow, Blackpool, Bournemouth and Bristol.

The career-spanning set comes off the back of the band’s latest releases, their 28th studio album MAD! and companion EP MADDER!, and follows a critically acclaimed 2025 world tour.

Reviews praised the band’s enduring live appeal, with Louder Than War calling the show “a hundred minutes of energetic, thrilling pop songs”, while The Spectator described it as “an unadulterated triumph”.

Sparks first rose to prominence in the UK in 1974 with the hit This Town Ain’t Big Enough For Both of Us, and went on to inspire artists such as Joy Division, Depeche Mode to Björk, Beck and contemporary acts including The Last Dinner Party.

The band, dubbed “your favourite band’s favourite band”, were also the subject of Edgar Wright’s documentary The Sparks Brothers.

Alongside their headline shows, Sparks are set to appear at Green Man Festival and will support Gorillaz at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The Mael brothers recently joined Gorillaz on Jimmy Kimmel Live to perform The Happy Dictator, a collaboration featured on Gorillaz’s latest album, The Mountain.

The royal family have begun to arrive in the Cotswolds for the wedding of the Princess Royal’s son Peter Phillips.

The King and Queen, the Princess of Wales, Zara and Mike Tindall and the Duke and Duchess of Edinburgh have all been pictured arriving in the small village of Kemble, near Cirencester in Gloucestershire, for the private nuptials on Saturday.

Mr Phillips is the late Queen Elizabeth II’s eldest (and, according to some, favourite) grandson.

He is the King’s nephew, William and Harry’s first cousin, the brother of Zara, and the son of Anne and her first husband Captain Mark Phillips.

His engagement to NHS nurse Harriet Sperling, who he began dating in 2024, was announced in August last year.

It is not known whether an invitation was extended to Mr Phillips’s cousin Harry, Meghan and their children, amid reports the Sussexes were left off the guest list.

Harry and Mr Phillips were close when younger but it is reported they have lost touch, with the duke, who has a longstanding rift with his brother William, moving to the US, from where he has criticised members of his family and the royal institution.

Members of the public and media have gathered in the Gloucestershire village.

Metal barriers have been erected and roads closed around All Saints Church, which sits in the heart of the village, about four miles south of Cirencester.

Rain was forecast in the area on Saturday, with those waiting in the morning standing under sunshine and showers.

Local residents gathered at the cordon, with many describing their hopes of seeing senior members of the royal family arriving.

Sarah and Jez Smith came from their home in nearby Poole Keynes to watch the royal wedding with their dog Ziggy.

They joined dozens of other wellwishers at the cordon in Kemble.

Mrs Smith said: “It is something that doesn’t happen normally on your doorstep.

“It’s a great thing to come and watch.

“It’s really important that it is a local church for Harriet.

“I think it’s great that they’ve chosen to come locally.”