A new Netflix documentary reveals the dark truth behind a horrific 100mph car crash that ended two lives. The driver, Mackenzie Shirilla, is languishing in jail after being found guilty of murder

When detectives combed through the wreckage of a horrific car crash, what first appeared to be a tragic accident soon began to look like a calculated crime.

Three people were in the vehicle when it ploughed into a brick building at 100mph. Two lost their lives. Mackenzie Shirilla, the 17-year-old driver, was the sole survivor.

In the early hours of July 31, 2002, Mackenize was driving home from a party with her boyfriend Dominic Russo and his friend Davion Flanagan in tow. Just minutes after getting behind the wheel of her 2018 Toyota Camry, she rammed into the building with chilling ferocity.

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Russo and Flanagan were tragically declared dead at the scene in Strongsville, Ohio, while Shirilla was seriously injured. Prosecutors argued during a 2023 trial that she intentionally crashed the car as she was ‘on a mission’ to kill Russo. She claimed to have no recollection of the moments before her car hit the wall.

Now, Netflix has released a gripping new true crime documentary, titled The Crash, which takes a deep dive into “the volatile relationship at the centre, examining the shifting narratives of that fateful night to explore where a fatal mistake ends and cold-blooded murder begins”.

But where is Mackenzie Shirilla now? Here’s everything we know about the killer…

Toxic relationship with Dominic Russo

At the time of the crash, Shirilla and Russo had been dating on-and-off for around four years after first meeting at school. They had moved in together towards the end of 2021.

In the months leading up to the tragic crash, Russo’s mother, Christine, said the couple were on the rocks, often fighting and making threats towards one another, Ohio Supreme Court documents show.

She said the relationship has been ‘strained’ for some six months, and that she witnessed “fighting,” “arguments,” “disagreements,” “breakups” and “threats” and believed that Shirilla became “more possessive” of her son.

The night of the crash

In the hours before the crash, Shirilla, Russo and Flanagan attended several parties, including a gathering at their friend Paul Burlinghaus’ home. According to his testimony, the group arrived around 11 pm, and listened to music while some people smoked marijuana. Burlinghaus testified that “everything seemed fine” between Shirilla and Russo.

He said he went to sleep around midnight, the group continued to hang out. According to data from a phone app, Shirilla, Russo and Flanagan left the house around 5:30 am.

Minutes after setting off, Shirilla inexplicably sped up, and the trio were involved in a high-speed car wreck when the car crashed into a brick building. It would be 45 minutes before a passerby came across the site and called 911, People reports. Russo and Flanagan were pronounced dead on the scene. Shirilla was found unconscious and not breathing, and was transported to a local hospital with serious injuries.

Chilling online tribute

After the crash, Shirilla chillingly paid tribute to boyfriend Russo online, writing that he was “the last person to deserve this.” “You had such a perfect life ahead of you,” she wrote on his obituary page, where she shared photos of the pair together. “I miss your laugh, your perfect smile. I feel your energy around me everyday. I just wish it was physical.”

But behind the scenes, an investigation was underway with officials interviewing those close to Shirilla and Russo. She was arrested on November 4, 2022, shortly after being discharged from hospital, and charged with multiple crimes, including murder, felonious assault, and aggravated vehicular homicide.

The trial

Shirilla’s case went to trial in 2023, where prosecutors accused her of intentionally crashing her car to kill Russo and end their tumultuous relationship, stating that she had purposefully driven towards the wall of the brick building at upwards of 100 mph.

Shirilla claimed to have no recollection of the moments before her car hit the wall. But, based on the car’s event data recorder, forensic mechanical expert Mark Sargent concluded that the accelerator pedal was fully depressed – with no application of the brake – just seconds before the collision. It meant that Shirilla’s foot was on the accelerator when the crash occurred; her Prada slipper was still trapped between the pedal and the floor mat when the crash was discovered.

It was also shown that in the seconds before the crash, the car took a hard right turn. It’s not known whether this was Shirilla, or a passenger grabbing the wheel in an attempt to take control of the vehicle.

Sargent concluded that there was “no indication of any precrash mechanical or electrical failure that may have caused a loss of accelerator control, a loss of braking or a loss in the ability to steer the vehicle”.

The trial also heard that Shirilla was under the influence of marijuana and was in possession of the psychedelic mushroom psilocybin at the time of the crash.

Detective Zaki Hazou also uncovered over a hundred instances of what he called distracted or reckless driving on Shirilla’s social media accounts, including driving while smoking, People reports. Prior to her arrest, she posted a shocking photo on TikTok that boasted, “I’m just one of those girls that can do a lot of drugs and not die.”

The verdict

In August 2023, Shirilla was found guilty on four counts of felonious assault and two counts of aggravated vehicular homicide. She broke down in tears as the judge called her “literal hell on wheels.”

“This was not reckless driving — this was murder,” Cuyahoga County Judge Nancy Margaret Russo said in court. “She had a mission, and she executed it with precision. The decision was death.”

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Shirilla was sentenced to 15 years to life. As of March 2026, the Eighth District Court of Appeals upheld the denial of a new trial for Shirilla, confirming she will continue serving her 15-years-to-life sentence for the 2022 double-murder conviction. The appeal was rejected because her legal team filed the motion one day late, preventing the court from reviewing the new evidence.

Where is Mackenzie Shirilla now?

Shirilla is incarcerated at the Ohio Reformatory for Women (ORW) in Marysville, Ohio. She is serving a sentence of 15 years-to-life for the 2022 murders, with her first parole hearing scheduled for September 2037.

Ryedale Community & Leisure Centre (RCLC), in Norton, needs a caterer or chef to take over the running of its restaurant facilities.

Following the retirement of its current function suite operator, Julie Copeland, the committee is looking for someone new to take on the catering side of the RCLC.

Based in Bowling Lane, Norton, RCLC is a charity, incorporating a five-lane bowling area with over 300 members, along with the thriving Brooklyn Nursery and dance school Dance Expression, that offers dance and exercise classes for all ages.

Chair of the RCLC a management committee, Ray King, said: “We want to thank Julie for the fine work managing the clubs catering facilities and we all wish her a very happy retirement.

“Moving forward we are now looking for an active and enthusiastic operator to run our function suite, which is made up of a 120 seat restaurant, a dance area and features good bar facilities along with easy parking in our large carpark.

“We firmly believe that this is an excellent business opportunity for the right person, be they a chef or caterer. The RCLC committee would also consider an Outside caterer should they be looking for premises to operate out of.

For initial enquiries and to arrange an informal chat, anyone interested in this exciting opportunity can email – RCLCadmin@gmail.com

At 11am on Thursday 15 May, a new British airline is due to make its maiden flight. A giant Airbus A380 plane in the colours of Global Airlines will lift off from Glasgow airport in Scotland, destination New York JFK.

The founder has pledged to “take passengers back to the Golden Age of Travel, reinvigorating the onboard experience with elevated service”. But plans for a five-cabin aircraft, including a new “gamer class”, have been dropped.

The promised regular scheduled links across the Atlantic are very much on hold. After a transatlantic round trip from Glasgow and a second this month from Manchester, no other flights are currently on offer.

So what is the story behind Global Airlines – and what are the chances of success? These are the key questions and answers.

What’s the big idea?

The key word is “big”. Global Airlines will be using the double-deck A380 – the world’s largest passenger plane – across the North Atlantic between the UK and US. The founder, James Asquith, 36, promises a new era of flying, saying: “People are sick and tired of the service they get on current airlines. We will be better.”

He says he is “constantly bewildered and disappointed by the poor experiences he has encountered aboard hundreds of commercial flights”. Passengers on his airline will enjoy “the best experience in the sky” and get “fast relief from the aches and pains associated with commercial air travel”.

In 2013, Mr Asquith became the youngest person to travel to every country in the world, aged 24. He spent eight years working in investment banking, and founded the Holiday Swap website – which is funding the Global Airlines project along with private investors.

What’s the plane?

Global Airlines owns two European-built Airbus A380s. The one that is serviceable is 12 years old, with one previous operator, China Southern. The other, a 16-year-old SuperJumbo formerly flown by Singapore Airlines, is still stored at Lourdes in southwest France.

The launch aircraft is operated by the Maltese subsidiary of a Portuguese carrier, Hi Fly, and has the registration 9H-GLOBL.

The plane has the same three-class seating configuration as it did when China Southern flew it between Guangzhou and Los Angeles, Amsterdam and Sydney. In its “LOPA” (layout of passenger accommodation). Global Airlines is more economy-heavy than British Airways, and can therefore accommodate more passengers. I have compared Global Airlines with the BA A380 LOPA:

“Gamer class”, which was to be located and priced between business and premium economy, does not feature on the Global Airlines aircraft.

As with British Airways, some economy passengers are able to travel on the upper deck; 76 cheap seats are up top, with 352 on the main (lower) deck.

How much does it cost?

I paid the full economy fare of £778 return, but already prices have been halved to £380 try to fill the first departures. You can get this fare through ga.flights with the code GLOBAL380 or in business class for £1,999 return with the code GLOBAL1999. That also applies for the second round-trip, from Manchester to New York and back (21-25 May).

Is this like the launch of Virgin Atlantic?

James Asquith has been compared with Richard Branson. And The Global Airlines debut has some similarities to the bearded entrepreneur’s launch of a single Boeing 747 from Newark to in June 1984: the founder is a rich and successful young man in his mid-30s vowing to improve the passenger experience on transatlantic flights using the largest available secondhand plane.

But there are some important differences.

Virgin Atlantic flights were for sale direct from the airline by phone, through travel agents and even at Virgin Records stores (they were big in the 20th century). From day one, Virgin Atlantic had a scheduled operation between London Gatwick and New York Newark. You could stay in the US for a day or a month, or simply fly one way.

Global Airlines has only four transatlantic flights planned. These are fixed-duration charters bookable through a Slough-based travel agent called Travelopedia. The flights are operated by the Maltese subsidiary of a Portuguese airline, Hi Fly.

The new carrier has promised scheduled flights from London Gatwick to the US, but does not have the necessary permits or slots.

Doesn’t everyone love the A380?

The A380 is a passenger favourite. Many people prefer it because of the sense of space. The main deck economy cabin is a couple of feet wider than the Boeing 777 – which makes a lot of difference with a 10-abreast configuration.

The double-deck jet was devised to make the most of limited slots (particularly at London Heathrow) and to offer airlines lower costs for “hub and spoke” operations. It is used assiduously for this latter purpose by Emirates – which has almost half of the total production run of 251 aircraft. (For comparison, the Boeing 747 Jumbo sold over six times more during its much longer production run.)

Global Airlines plans to use the aircraft on the London-New York run, the world’s most lucrative intercontinental air route. The only time it has ever been served by an A380 was briefly before Covid when Norwegian chartered one from Hi Fly to cover for unserviceable Boeing 787s. (That aircraft was actually the non-flying A380 now owned by Global Airlines.)

The evidence is that high-spending business passengers value frequency over aircraft type. On the day of the Global Airlines launch, British Airways – just one of five airlines competing from London to New York JFK – has eight departures from Heathrow plus one from Gatwick. BA has never flown its A380 on the route.

What do others say?

The mainstream aviation community is sceptical about the prospects of success for Global Airlines. The start-up is seeking to fill a very large aircraft – with high costs of fuel, crew and maintenance – in a crowded market where existing “legacy” carriers have strong loyalty programmes and networks offering connections.

What does the founder say?

After flying some passengers from Barcelona to Berlin and onwards to London Gatwick, Mr Asquith posted on social media about what he called “lots of unfounded, baseless and negative speculative commentary written by people who I think should feel ashamed”.

He said: “Lots of colleagues and partners are working their asses off, and when their family and friends read the nasty and offensive comments from anonymous keyboard warriors claiming that our company was ‘made up’ or a scam at the start, it cuts deep. We have proven over and over again that this is not true.

“Like anyone, we of course make mistakes. Nothing is perfect in any new venture, but even more so in aviation. We do not always have all the answers and we cannot always explain everything as it happens don’t think anyone will ever fully appreciate just how complex and fast-moving this has all been over the last two years.

“Global started out as a vision; an ambition to make a change. It quickly became a reality due to huge perseverance and effort from our brilliant home team and many partners along the way. We wanted to create some competition, create jobs and a better product backed by passion.

“Everyone seems to love our aircraft, and couldn’t be happier. We are just a team of people trying so hard to deliver a dream that will ultimately be hugely positive.”

How much has the project cost?

Global Airlines is not saying, but it is fair to say tens of millions of pounds have been invested in the enterprise so far. James Asquith told The Independent: “I’ve sold and risked everything to be in the position I’m at. I’m putting everything on the line.”

Liverpool and Aston Villa are due to meet in the Premier League this week and there has been transfer history between the rival clubs

Former Liverpool striker Milan Baros left Anfield in 2005 in search of regular football but later admitted it was a mistake to move on. The Czech international moved to Aston Villa but things didn’t work out for him and he was on the move again less than two years later.

Baros’ former clubs are due to face off on Friday with a top four finish at stake. Victory for either side would be enough to make sure of Champions League qualification but a defeat could yet open the door for Bournemouth or Brighton.

Liverpool finished fifth in Baros’ last full season at the club but their famous Champions League triumph in Istanbul saw them return to the top table of European football. The striker himself wasn’t involved, though, failing to make it onto the pitch during three qualifying rounds and joining Villa before the Reds’ first group stage game.

“At that age, I wish I had fought a little bit more to stay in Liverpool and try to get fit,” Baros told the ECHO in 2022. “At that time, I decided to leave because I wanted to play more. In the end, I know it was a mistake.

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“I was told I was going to be the third-choice striker. There are a lot of games and a lot of injuries in a season, so I should have fought more for the place and to stay longer. I could have stayed, but I decided to go because I wanted to play more. That was the decision. In the end, you never know what can happen.

“It was strange because after leaving I was playing against a team I had been part of for four years. It is never easy, but you always find the bigger motivation for the previous club if you play against them. I enjoyed those games, but I think I only did it a couple of times.”

Sky Sports, HBO Max, Netflix and Disney+ with Ultimate TV package

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Sky has upgraded its Ultimate TV and Sky Sports bundle to now include HBO Max, Netflix, Disney+, discovery+ and Hayu, as well as 135 channels and full Sky coverage of the Premier League and EFL.

Sky broadcasts more than 1,400 live matches across the Premier League, EFL and more with at least 215 live from the top flight alongside Formula 1, darts and golf.

Baros scored the winner on his home debut for Villa as they beat Blackburn and grabbed 12 goals in all competitions in his first season with the club. However, he struggled after Martin O’Neill arrived in the summer of 2006 and left the following January in a swap deal which saw John Carew move to Villa Park.

He won two league titles with Lyon and also became an FA Cup winner during a loan spell at Portsmouth in 2008. He then had spells in Turkey and his native Czech Republic, continuing to play top-flight football until his retirement in 2020 at the age of 38.

Liverpool didn’t sign an immediate replacement for Baros in August 2005 but did bring club legend Robbie Fowler back to Anfield the following January. The English striker’s five league goals helped secure another year of Champions League football under Rafa Benitez after a third-place finish, while Baros and Villa finished down in 16th.

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Defending champion Luke Humphries beat Gerwyn Price to win his first night of the Premier League season, but the pair both sealed play-off spots in Birmingham.

Humphries, who was in his third successive night final, overcame the Welshman 6-4 after an impressive 6-0 win over Stephen Bunting and 6-3 comeback win over Luke Littler.

The 31-year-old was in imperious form, averaging 107 and 111, before another 100-plus average in the final.

It guarantees a place at finals night on 28 May for the third successive year and rounds off a remarkable few weeks for the world number two.

After week 10, Humphries sat seventh in the eight-player table and, before his run to the week 13 final, he was five points off fourth.

He is now guaranteed to finish at least fourth and goes into the final league phase night in Sheffield on 21 May equal on points with third-placed Price.

The pair join Littler and Jonny Clayton, who had secured their places after week 12 in Liverpool.

“It’s been a struggle this year,” Humphries told Sky Sports.

“I worked incredibly hard, I changed back to my old flights and it worked. I’m proud of myself.

“It’s easy when you’re winning, but it shows true grit to come from my position to then get through and win it tonight.

“I’m just incredibly proud of myself. Probably the most proud I’ve been in my life.”

Aimed at delivering more sustainable care, the trial will test the vehicle’s performance during live patient journeys and everyday scheduled operations.

Barry Dews, head of patient transport at NEAS, said: “This is an exciting step forward in modernising our Patient Transport Service fleet and understanding how electric vehicles can support both our patients and our people.

“A dedicated group of trained colleagues will operate the vehicle throughout the trial, supported by familiarisation, refresher driver training and clear operational guidance, so patient safety is always our priority.

“By testing the vehicle across different journey types and distances, we’ll gather valuable insight to help shape future fleet decisions, improve patient journeys and support a more sustainable ambulance service for the future.”

The electric Renault Master stretcher vehicle will operate as a core part of the patient transport service in the coming months.

The trial will test the vehicle’s performance during live patient journeys and everyday scheduled operations (Image: North East Ambulance Service)

Designed to improve patient comfort, it offers a quieter and smoother journey with capacity for one stretcher patient and three seated passengers.

It also features a ramp and winch system to ensure accessibility and safety for patients with varying mobility needs.

Andrew Williams, patient transport operations manager, said: “The vehicle has been designed to meet a wide range of patient needs while also improving safety for staff, with features such as a ramp and winch system.

“Having this flexibility is important for patient transport and allows us to safely and comfortably support patients with differing mobility and care requirements day to day.”

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The electric vehicle trial is part of NEAS’s broader effort to cut emissions and support the NHS Net Zero Travel and Transport Strategy, without compromising patient care.

The trust is also testing electric emergency ambulances and cars as part of its sustainability programme.

Further details of NEAS’s sustainability plans are available at neas.nhs.uk.

Management charges at James House, in James Street, are set to increase by £14.28-a-week per flat to £38.84-a-week, with service and cleaning fees also set to rise.

Housing benefits will cover the hikes for most tenants, 54, but it will cost more for the three who pay for accommodation themselves.

A City of York Council report stated those leaving temporary accommodation were finding it extremely challenging to afford their new homes, leading to tenancy breaches and arrears.

It added those having to cover the cost of the hikes themselves would still pay less than they would in private rental homes.

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The council plans to use the money raised by increasing the charges to fund a Tenancy Sustainment Coach post first created for a fixed term in January 2025.

They help tenants prepare to move out of temporary accommodation including with bills, claiming benefits, jobs and skills, budgeting and hosting sessions for women.

More support and sessions could be offered by the coach but there is currently not enough money to cover the expansion of the role, according to the council report.

It added it would be possible to fund the role by increasing management charges for tenants from the current £24.56-a-week.

A fall in some utility charges is also expected to offset the increases, according to the council.

James House (Image: Supplied)

Weekly service charges for different sizes of flats have also increased in 2026/7 as follows:

• Studio- £11.93
• One-bedroom- £16.68
• Two-bedroom- £22.31
• Three-bedroom- £26.05
• Large than three bedrooms- £30.77

James House is managed all hours, with the equivalent of around seven full-time staff and a supervisor on-site from 8.30am to 8pm daily and night-time security.

Weekly charges cover utilities and council tax bills.

The council’s report on the move stated the majority of tenants receiving housing benefits so the hikes would not cause them financial hardship.

The report stated: “The ongoing cost of living crisis and reduction in York Financial Assistance Scheme (YFAS) grants means many customers leave temporary accommodation in a position where it is extremely challenging to meet the financial commitments of their new tenancy, and this is contributing to arrears and tenancy breaches.

“Wider factors of the financial crisis are beyond local control, however providing further support through group sessions will help customers to prepare for their tenancy and to access all the support available to help them furnish it.

“Sessions would include all aspects of living as a responsible tenant, as well as broader topics affecting resilience and wellbeing such as substance use, accessing community facilities and services, building peer support, healthy relationships etc.”

Eleven passengers were stranded on a life raft for hours after a Bahamian plane crashed off the east coast of Florida on 12 May.

During what should have been a routine flight between two islands in the Bahamas, the small plane’s navigation systems, radio, and engines all faltered. The aircraft’s emergency transmitter sent out a distress call, alerting the US Coast Guard.

‘You could tell just by looking at them that they were in distress physically, mentally and emotionally,” said Captain Rory Whipple, an Air Force combat rescue officer, during a news conference after the rescue.

All 11 on board were rescued and are in stable condition.

Read more about the rescue here

The murder of Neil McCann remains unsolved more than 50 years after his death.

The fatal stabbing of Neil McCann prompted one of the biggest police investigations Scotland had seen and more than 50 years later the baffling gangland related murder remains unsolved.

In what proved to be a tragic case of mistaken identity the police probe centred round two brothers, both with links to the criminal underworld. However to this day it is not clear which one the hired killers were after.

Law abiding Neil was a former boxer who had moved in with his mum after a marriage split.

The 37-year-old had won a Scottish title as a teenager and had been tipped for a big professional career but now worked as a builder.

He had spent the evening with an old friend in a bar in the Gorgie area of Edinburgh before they both shared a bus home after the pubs closed at 10pm.

Neil had got off in the capital’s Craigmillar district and had intended staying the night with a girlfriend.

However unbeknown to Neil he was being followed by several men in a distinctive Ford Capri. A luxury car in its day and not one normally seen in the housing estate.

Neil had almost reached home when the car pulled up beside him. Two men jumped out and stabbed him several times including blows to the head and body.

The attack in Craigmillar Castle Loan lasted about a minute and Neil who had tried to use his boxing skills to defend himself collapsed on the pavement in a pool of blood.

The car sped away, leaving him bleeding heavily from his wounds. Local people heard his agonised screams and came to his aid but by the time he reached the city’s Royal Infirmary he was dead.

To the police it had all the hallmarks of a gangland hit.

However the former soldier and dad had no history of criminality and no involvement in organised crime. He had no enemies. In other words he was not known to the police.

However the man he had spent the evening with, Charlie McGranaghan, was on the police radar.

Charlie was an old school friend who he met by chance in The International pub in Edinburgh’s Tollcross earlier that day before moving on to the Green Tree in Gorgie Road.

It was the first time they had seen each other in a long time. Customers later told police how they looked similar in appearance, almost like brothers.

In fact they had often been mistaken for each other when they were at school. It meant the murder had suddenly taken a more sinister turn.

Could Neil have been a victim of mistaken identity, were the killers really after his old pal?

The police had previously suspected Charlie of travelling to London and bringing back consignments of heroin at a time when the drug was beginning to take hold in the city.

The men he was dealing with were said to be linked to an up and coming Turkish Cypriot family the Arifs who would go on to become one of the most powerful firms in London.

Like any organised crime group they did not take kindly to people ripping them off.

Is that what had happened? Had McGranaghan short-changed or cheated the Arifs?

Had they sent a hit team up to take him out got the wrong man?

Another theory was that the killers were in fact after his younger brother John McGranaghan who was due to meet a wealthy local businessman in the International to settle a dispute.

Charlie had taken his place for the meeting but the man never showed up.

It’s thought the mystery businessman had approached Glasgow crime boss Arthur Thompson snr to help him find a couple of men who would carry out a hit on John Arthur, who died in 1993, is then said to have put him in touch with several men who had been asking him for work.

In an interview in 2008 John McGranaghan said he was told the day after Neil’s murder – by someone in the know – that he was the intended victim.

He was also told that four hired killers from Glasgow were paid £12,000 (worth £140,000 today) but got the wrong man.

In a second interview in 2012 McGranaghan also revealed that he had recently been quizzed by police who were reinvestigating the case.

McGranaghan said: “They wanted me to formally name the people concerned. “But I’m just not prepared to do that. “The names of two men they think committed the murder and the guy who paid for the hit were put to me but I told them I could add nothing.”

At the time of the original investigation Lothian and Borders Police issued a photofit of a suspect.

But the mystery man was never identified and Neil’s mother Flora died five years later said to be from a broken heart. Local residents came forward with sightings of the smart Capri but little else of value.

At the time police interviewed around 10,000 people with their inquiries taking them across the UK with officers even travelling to a North Sea oil rig to interview one witness.

In 1981 Charlie McGranaghan was murdered in a street stabbing in London unrelated to Neil McCann’s murder. Yesterday Police Scotland said they were still committed to bringing Neil’s killer to justice.

A spokesperson said: “Undetected and unresolved murders are never closed and Police Scotland is fully committed to identifying those people responsible for all such cases.

“We work closely with the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and meet regularly to review outstanding unresolved murders from across the country.

“Working collaboratively, the potential for new investigative opportunities is regularly assessed to maximise the ability to deliver justice for grieving families, irrespective of the passage of time.

“As with any unresolved or undetected homicide, we would review any new information provided to police and investigate further if appropriate.”

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The Friday letters page asks why video games often have such late review embargoes, as a reader wonders where Warner Bros. went wrong with The Lord Of The Rings.

Games Inbox is a collection of our readers’ letters, comments, and opinions. To join in with the discussions yourself email gamecentral@metro.co.uk

Class of its own
Great to see the positive reviews for Forza Horizon 6, although I hardly expected anything else. It’s easily Microsoft’s most consistent and popular series now, well ahead of where Halo and Gears Of War are nowadays.

The more important question for me is where it stands in terms of being the best arcade racer series. It’s a difficult question, because there basically aren’t any anymore, not since they shut down Need For Speed, so you can only compare it with games that are much older, which isn’t quite fair.

Neither is comparing it with old Sega games (although they’re all great) or Ridge Racer. For me the two big classics are Burnout (either 3 or Paradise) and Split/Second: Velocity but they’re old too and not open world, so the only thing you can say is there’s nothing else really like Forza Horizon. Microsoft should probably take that as an important lesson in generation.
Jimbo

Stopping while you’re ahead
I find it strange that Warner Bros. were onto a good thing with The Lord of the Rings with the Shadow Of Mordor games and then just stopped. We know eventually they shut down the developer but that took nearly a decade and in that time it all just got wasted.

Shadow Of Mordor might not have been the most authentic Tolkien game but at least it was good and that’s got to be the most important starting point, surely? I’m glad they didn’t make a MMO but how exactly you’d combine the epic scale of the books and the individual stories, for a proper game, I don’t know.

You can simulate the combat easy enough but not the storytelling, which I feel it’s a miracle the movies were ever able to adapt well and still have them be fun. I think a game would have to have strategy elements but maybe focus on different characters than the main story, which was also what Shadow Of Mordor was doing anyway.
Benjy Dog

Turtle power
Nice review of Forza Horizon 6. The score given that I expected it would get. I’m just hoping it’s different enough from the last game, but the Japan setting has caused me to pre-order it anyway. I’m hoping the cars aren’t just a rehash from the last couple of games, Forza Horizon edition of the same old cars. That’s the only problem I have with the series and the cheesy avatars and annoying voice-acting but they aren’t dealbreakers at all. I’ve been hoping they might throw some Skoda rallying cars into the mix but it’s probably wishful thinking.

I bought that Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles games, Splintered Fate, after you published how cheap it was. I went in for a penny in for a pound with it and bought its DLC as well. It’s a nice little Hades clone, if quite basic in comparison, but the characters are all different enough to keep trying more runs.

I do like the Turtles though, so it’s been fun playing it, although rather buggy. On first downloading it, it wouldn’t start so I had to reload it twice before it did. Then yesterday, I couldn’t choose room upgrades, the game went on the blink, and I had to reset it. Minus that, it’s been a good little game to play on and off especially for the price and I’ll keep going with it.
Nick The Greek

GC: We did consider an 8 for Forza, as it doesn’t really do anything new, but it’s just too much fun.

Email your comments to: gamecentral@metro.co.uk

The sound of Doom
I’m going to be honest, I didn’t even realise Minecraft had any music, and I’ve watched my kid play it a lot, but whatever. Super Mario Bros. definitely deserves to be in a list of the best ever tunes and, while it wouldn’t be the first thing to come to my mind, so does Doom.

As soon as I hear At Doom’s Gate it transports me straight back to the early 90s. I assume it’s probably in the newer games but I don’t remember it, which is a shame. I do like the newer games but there’s been something slightly off about all of them, I feel. I think they’re a bit too open world, as once you get in a fight they’re amazing but the exploration and story and everything is very meh, in my opinion.
Barkley

Next generation remake
So, this new version of Zelda: Ocarina Of Time. Anything concrete as to whether it’s going to be a remaster or a remake? Switch 1? Switch 2? Both?

The original N64 version was/is a masterpiece. Best game ever, best year in gaming ever. Just sayin’.
Paul C.
PS: Good review for Forza Horizon 6, though I would have been mightily surprised with a score of anything less than 9. Should get 500+ hours out of this game.

GC: Ocarina Of Time is just a rumour. The suggestion is that it’s a remake and a big title like that is going to be Switch 2 only. Rhythm Paradise Groove in July is almost certainly going to end up as Nintendo’s last game for the Switch 1.

Embargo scheduling
Great Forza Horizon 6 review. It’s one my most anticipated games of the year and I’ll give it a try on my Legion Go via Game Pass before it runs out later in the year. If it’s a bit too demanding for a portable device I’ll wait till the PlayStation 5 version.

However, whilst I appreciate the review I just can’t understand the embargo. The game comes out less than 24 hours after reviews for those who upgraded to the premium edition. In some cases there’s people already playing the game who are able to give their opinions before reviewers.

I’d understand if the game wasn’t very good but judging by both your review and Metacritic it’s a massive success. Why wouldn’t Microsoft want to use positive reviews as a way to promote the game ahead of release? Also, as a racing game it’s not like reviews are giving away any critical plot points of the game.

It’s not just Forza either. I just can’t fathom that when developers and publishers have made what they are fairly certain is a really good game that wouldn’t want reviews to go out a week before release to promote the game and build hype.
matc7884

GC: The standard version of the game isn’t out till Tuesday and Microsoft wouldn’t have anticipated people getting copies before the premium edition. Also, having a review too early can run the risk that people forget about the game by the time it’s actually out, which is certainly a consideration for lower profile titles.

Zero respect
Considering Rockstar got fined for paying below minimum wage only a few weeks ago, I’d say even £40 is too much to be paying for GTA 6.

If a company that is making $1 million a day in revenue can’t be decent enough to pay all its staff a fair and decent wage it deserves the same amount of respect it gives its low paid workers.
Anon

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Like what I like
Really good point in your Mixtape article, about the poor opinion some have of non-games feeding into the Mixtape bashing.

I’ve seen quite a few sarcastic quotation marks put around the word game, when discussing Mixtape. I’ll grab one from the comments section from your article. ‘Suspicious article. I had already forgotten about this ‘game’.’

I think the debate as to whether a non-game, narrative game or visual novel should ever receive a 10 is fine. My opinion is yes, they are as valid as any other game.

What’s happening with Mixtape though is not honest questioning of what deserves a 10/10. Which is a time honoured discussion.

It’s some saying I don’t believe a non-game should ever get a 10 and when one has and reviewed very well it’s very suspicious and must be because of the score being bought or maybe politically motivated.

Maybe it was, but don’t conflate the two. Asking if a non-game deserves a 10 is perfectly fine. Accusing a review of being bought because you think a non-game shouldn’t get a 10 is a serious accusation.

The former conversation is not being shut down, as some have suggested, by the latter receiving serious and needed redress.
Simundo

GC: Non-games are just an easy target, some people are simply angry that someone likes something they don’t, especially if it’s gained critical acclaim.

Inbox also-rans
Anyone wanting to avoid paying £110 for the premium edition of Forza Horizon 6 can pick up a code here for just £72.99. That’s only £13 more than standard edition and the Xbox Store. I couldn’t resist at that price.
Charlie H

If you’re spending the equivalent of Switch 2 on a plush Donkey Kong that doesn’t even look that good then I don’t know what to say, except… can you lend me 400 quid?
Bosley

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