Author Topic: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.  (Read 57148 times)

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Offline John

South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« on: October 17, 2016, 12:54:40 AM »
Police search for Ben ends.

Police investigating the disappearance of toddler Ben Needham in Kos have concluded their three-week search for information on the Greek island.



Ben, from Sheffield, was 21 months old when he disappeared on 24 July 1991.

Searches have taken place over the past 21 days after it emerged he may have been accidentally killed by a digger driver.

More than 800 tonnes of soil was dug up, with items of interest sent back to the UK for forensic analysis.

Det Insp John Cousins, who is leading the investigation, said: "I've got the confidence that we have done exactly what we can, given the plans we had before we came out here so that I can give an answer, whatever that might be, to Ben's family."

He said he was proud of his team: "It has been a difficult job, the conditions have been extremely hot and very dusty and they are long hours they have been working."

The Help Find Ben Needham campaign thanked South Yorkshire Police, Hellenic search and rescue workers and the media for their work over the past three weeks.
Image caption Items of interest have been sent back to the UK for forensic analysis

Police are expected to hold a briefing on Monday for a further update on the progress of the search.



Ben vanished from a farmhouse, which his grandfather was renovating, in the village of Iraklis.

Officers are working on the theory that Konstantinos Barkas, who died of cancer in 2015, might be responsible for Ben's death.
Image caption Ben Needham went missing on the Greek island of Kos in July 1991 when he was 21 months old

Over the past three weeks, digs took place near the farmhouse where he was last seen and a second site 750m away.

A team of 19 South Yorkshire Police officers, forensic specialists, an archaeologist and search and rescue personnel have been excavating the area as a result of a television appeal in May, which brought the theory about Mr Barkas to the attention of the force.

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-south-yorkshire-37671368

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« Last Edit: October 21, 2016, 06:33:32 PM by John »
A malicious prosecution for a crime which never existed. An exposé of egregious malfeasance by public officials.
Indeed, the truth never changes with the passage of time.

Offline John

Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #1 on: October 17, 2016, 12:56:20 AM »
Ben Needham search: Mother 'in limbo and can't say goodbye'.



The mother of Ben Needham feels "in limbo" and "can't say goodbye" after a renewed police search to find the missing toddler failed to find him.

A three-week search involving members of South Yorkshire Police on the Greek island of Kos - where Ben disappeared in 1991 - ended on Sunday.

Police are yet to find Ben while a full update from the latest update is set to take place on Monday.

Ben's mother, Kerry Needham, claimed she has now been urged by police to end her 25-year search.

But she insisted she can't say goodbye knowing her son is "still on that island somewhere".



Kerry Needham has searched for her son for 25 years.

Speaking to the Daily Mirror, Ms Needham, whose son disappeared after travelling to Kos with his mother and grandparents, said the latest results had left her "in limbo".

"They know he's dead but just can't find him. Police said it's time we ended our 25-year search", she said.

"They are right but I can't say goodbye knowing he's still on that island somewhere. I feel physically sick. I can't feel any worse than I do.

"He didn't leave Kos, he didn't walk away ... Somebody didn't take him, so he's here somewhere. They believe he is there but they can't dig in everyone's gardens or homes that have been built over the years.

"I want to tear up the whole island to find him".



The latest search operation was prompted by information that a digger driver, Konstantinos Barkas, may have been responsible for Ben's death, as he was clearing land near where the toddler had been playing on the day he vanished.

Mr Barkas is believed to have died from stomach cancer last year.

South Yorkshire Police said on Sunday: "The physical search of two sites on Kos, Greece, has formally come to an end.

"Work continues behind the scenes as officers begin to process the findings from each site".

During the search, officers accumulated more than 60 items of interest which will be brought back to the UK for examination.



http://www.itv.com/news/2016-10-16/ben-needham-search-mother-in-limbo-and-cant-say-goodbye/
« Last Edit: October 17, 2016, 01:00:34 AM by John »
A malicious prosecution for a crime which never existed. An exposé of egregious malfeasance by public officials.
Indeed, the truth never changes with the passage of time.

Offline Angelo222

Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #2 on: October 17, 2016, 11:50:27 AM »
I am not surprised to be honest. Again the police are acting on information from a friend of a friend, who has passed away and cannot actually confirm one way or the other if it could have been true. 

I feel he is further away from the area just a feeling i have had.  I dont think money has been wasted, i think they should have more and send in the dogs.

Weren't the dogs noticeable by their absence?   

The perfect opportunity for CSI dogs and not one was deployed.  Instead we have plod raking through rubble trying to spot something of interest whereas a properly trained cadaver dog would have swooped in immediately on any human remains.

Despite no proof whatsoever the blame game has begun!!

'I hope he’s burning in hell': Ben Needham's mum slams digger driver who 'took secret to his grave'.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/i-hope-hes-burning-hell-9060236
« Last Edit: October 17, 2016, 12:11:22 PM by Angelo222 »
De troothe has the annoying habit of coming to the surface just when you least expect it!!

Je ne regrette rien!!

Offline slartibartfast

Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #3 on: October 17, 2016, 01:06:14 PM »
Headline on news, Police say Ben died in accident.
“Reasoning will never make a Man correct an ill Opinion, which by Reasoning he never acquired”.

Offline John

Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #4 on: October 17, 2016, 02:25:14 PM »
Headline on news, Police say Ben died in accident.

There is no proof of this, merely speculation and another man very possibly wrongly accused.
A malicious prosecution for a crime which never existed. An exposé of egregious malfeasance by public officials.
Indeed, the truth never changes with the passage of time.

Offline Admin

Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #5 on: October 17, 2016, 03:04:33 PM »
A couple of points in respect of these latest reports. 

There is no reason to believe any item discovered in a tip some 25 years after Ben disappeared got there by sinister means.  South Yorkshire Police are being extremely coy in relation to their find which most probably was a toy and not clothing.  Children play in mounds of earth and sand all the time so in the absence of any real evidence this find is hardly significant.

The second point relates to the ending of the search and the announcement of a find.  Why announce anything and why now?  Why start a media frenzy at all?  One could be forgiven for thinking that SYP needed something to bring closure to this event and pointing the finger at some dead digger driver was all too convenient.  In fact, can anyone see a similarity with another case?

Offline John

Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #6 on: October 17, 2016, 04:06:32 PM »
I must say I'm amazed at these recent events, what an awful way to conduct an investigation.

South Yorkshire Police have failed to identify any human remains or bloodstained clothing as far as we are aware so abduction still cannot be ruled out.  As for this 'item of significance' it could have been innocently buried by Ben while playing and thereafter moved during excavation works.  I fear SYP have opened up a huge can of worms by suggesting that Constantine Barkas ran this child over and thereafter hid the child's body.  Could be grounds for litigation.
« Last Edit: October 17, 2016, 06:59:53 PM by John »
A malicious prosecution for a crime which never existed. An exposé of egregious malfeasance by public officials.
Indeed, the truth never changes with the passage of time.

Alfie

  • Guest
Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #7 on: October 17, 2016, 05:58:31 PM »
Weren't the dogs noticeable by their absence?   

The perfect opportunity for CSI dogs and not one was deployed.  Instead we have plod raking through rubble trying to spot something of interest whereas a properly trained cadaver dog would have swooped in immediately on any human remains.

Despite no proof whatsoever the blame game has begun!!

'I hope he’s burning in hell': Ben Needham's mum slams digger driver who 'took secret to his grave'.

www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/i-hope-hes-burning-hell-9060236
As more than 100 skeletons and numerous bits of bone were dug up during this search what good do you think a dog would have been?

Alfie

  • Guest
Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #8 on: October 17, 2016, 06:01:33 PM »
I must say I'm amazed at these recent events, what an awful way to conduct an investigation.

South Yorkshire Police have failed to identify any human remains or clothing with blood on it as far as we are aware so abduction still cannot be ruled out.  As for this 'item of significance' it could have been innocently buried by Ben while playing and thereafter moved during excavation works.  I fear SYP have opened up a huge can of worms by suggesting that Constantine Barkas ran this child over and thereafter hid body.  Could be grounds for litigation.
Litigation by whom exactly?!  The Met get credible intelligence that this man accidentally killed Ben and are supposed to what?  Sit on it?  Keep quiet?  Do nothing?

Offline John

Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #9 on: October 17, 2016, 07:06:03 PM »
Litigation by whom exactly?!  The Met get credible intelligence that this man accidentally killed Ben and are supposed to what?  Sit on it?  Keep quiet?  Do nothing?

It is not a cop's brief to make public accusations of criminality against any person live or dead on national TV.  If they have proof let them bring it out otherwise they should keep shtum.

By suggesting that Ben was run over by a digger, DI Cousins has publicly implicated digger driver Constantine Barkas in his death.




Digger driver at centre of Ben Needham police probe was
successful businessman who 'knew everyone on the island'


Despite his wealth Dino spent many days in the cab of his huge digger.

He was clearing access for a delivery of concrete on the day Ben went missing, on a building site just 100 yards from the farmhouse where the toddler was playing in the village of Iraklis.

When quizzed by the Daily Mirror in 2012 he said: “Yes, I was the man with the JCB that day.

Loads of earth were being taken to clear the ground for the new house down the road.

“I think people were misled in thinking the child was abducted. Could there have been an accident?

"I don’t think so, but no one really knows what happened.” But Dino later insisted to his close family that Ben had been abducted.

It has been claimed Ben could have been killed in an accident but his body then removed from the scene and buried elsewhere.

British police have been looking into the timetable of events leading up to Ben’s disappearance.

After Dino’s death last year a new witness told police there were two areas of land where building waste had been dumped by Dino which had never been searched.

Son Valandis Barkas, 29, said: “My dad lived his life with this hanging over him and I cannot believe they are still hounding him even after his death.

"He had nothing to do with Ben’s disappearance. Towards the end he was a very ill man, and he was very concerned and worried about everything to do with Ben coming back. It upset him a lot.

"My mother is very, very tired. She lost her husband and now she has to go through all this.

"When the British police came here he went up there to the site to help them.

"He told them they could look as much as they want but they would not find the little boy there.

“As far as I know the boy was abducted. That’s what my dad always said and that’s what our family still believe today.

"My father was a very good, honest man. My dad always told the police and prosecutors that there wasn’t an accident.

"He said the boy was taken away and almost certainly taken to Athens.”

He added: “I hope that Ben is still alive. As a father myself I cannot imagine what his mother is going through.”

He said his father died from cirrhosis of the liver after suffering from intestinal problems for some time.

Dino’s brother Ioannis branded the renewed investigation “disgusting”.

He said: “My brother is dead – he cannot defend himself. Why don’t they let his soul rest in peace.

“I don’t understand why they are still chasing Dino. Are they going to take a dead man in to court?”

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/digger-driver-centre-ben-needham-8852737
« Last Edit: October 17, 2016, 07:25:38 PM by John »
A malicious prosecution for a crime which never existed. An exposé of egregious malfeasance by public officials.
Indeed, the truth never changes with the passage of time.

Alfie

  • Guest
Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #10 on: October 17, 2016, 07:26:30 PM »
It is not a cop's brief to make public accusations of criminality against any person live or dead on national TV.  If they have proof let them bring it out otherwise they should keep shtum.

By suggesting that Ben was run over by a digger, DI Cousins has publicly implicated digger driver Constantine Barkas in his death.



Digger driver at centre of Ben Needham police probe was
successful businessman who 'knew everyone on the island'


Despite his wealth Dino spent many days in the cab of his huge digger.

He was clearing access for a delivery of concrete on the day Ben went missing, on a building site just 100 yards from the farmhouse where the toddler was playing in the village of Iraklis.

When quizzed by the Daily Mirror in 2012 he said: “Yes, I was the man with the JCB that day.

Loads of earth were being taken to clear the ground for the new house down the road.

“I think people were misled in thinking the child was abducted. Could there have been an accident?

"I don’t think so, but no one really knows what happened.” But Dino later insisted to his close family that Ben had been abducted.

It has been claimed Ben could have been killed in an accident but his body then removed from the scene and buried elsewhere.

British police have been looking into the timetable of events leading up to Ben’s disappearance.

After Dino’s death last year a new witness told police there were two areas of land where building waste had been dumped by Dino which had never been searched.

Son Valandis Barkas, 29, said: “My dad lived his life with this hanging over him and I cannot believe they are still hounding him even after his death.

"He had nothing to do with Ben’s disappearance. Towards the end he was a very ill man, and he was very concerned and worried about everything to do with Ben coming back. It upset him a lot.

"My mother is very, very tired. She lost her husband and now she has to go through all this.

"When the British police came here he went up there to the site to help them.

"He told them they could look as much as they want but they would not find the little boy there.

“As far as I know the boy was abducted. That’s what my dad always said and that’s what our family still believe today.

"My father was a very good, honest man. My dad always told the police and prosecutors that there wasn’t an accident.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/digger-driver-centre-ben-needham-8852737

You can't libel the dead.  And as a policeman you can name suspects on national TV - I've watched Crimewatch!
« Last Edit: October 17, 2016, 07:28:43 PM by John »

Offline John

Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #11 on: October 17, 2016, 07:50:01 PM »
You can't libel the dead.  And as a policeman you can name suspects on national TV - I've watched Crimewatch!

Actually Alf, insulting the memory of the dead with cruel or malicious defamation or libel is a criminal offence under Art. 365 of the Greek Criminal Code. It is punishable with imprisonment for up to six months.

Naming suspects is one thing but this went further.
« Last Edit: October 17, 2016, 08:41:10 PM by John »
A malicious prosecution for a crime which never existed. An exposé of egregious malfeasance by public officials.
Indeed, the truth never changes with the passage of time.

Alfie

  • Guest
Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #12 on: October 17, 2016, 08:30:09 PM »
Actually Alf, insulting the memory of the dead with cruel or malicious defamation or libel is a criminal offence under Art. 365 of the Greek Criminal Code. It is punishable with imprisonment for up to six months.

Naming suspects is one thing but this went further.
In what way?  I don't really think you can accuse the Met of cruelty or being malicious - they were acting on credible evidence, I really don't know what you expected them to do tbh.

Offline John

Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #13 on: October 17, 2016, 08:40:40 PM »
In what way?  I don't really think you can accuse the Met of cruelty or being malicious - they were acting on credible evidence, I really don't know what you expected them to do tbh.

Defamation of the dead is illegal in Greece.

They found one of Ben's old toys at the second site which somehow equates to a tragic accident and a cover up?  No proof, just a professional belief!

What I would expect from a professional police officer is professionalism and not some half baked story which will fit with the hearsay and gossips.  How dare they tell the Needham's they can stop searching now!
« Last Edit: October 18, 2016, 01:29:30 AM by John »
A malicious prosecution for a crime which never existed. An exposé of egregious malfeasance by public officials.
Indeed, the truth never changes with the passage of time.

Alfie

  • Guest
Re: South Yorkshire Police end latest search for Ben Needham.
« Reply #14 on: October 17, 2016, 09:16:11 PM »
Defamation of the dead is illegal in Greece.

They found one of Ben's old toys at the second site which somehow equates to a tragic accident and a cover up?  No proof, just a professional belief!

What I would expect from a professional police officer is professionalism and not some half baked story which will fit with the hearsay and gossips.  How dare they tell the Needham's they can stop searching now!
The Needhams seem to have accepted that Ben is dead and was killed by the digger driver, perhaps they know details about this that the rest of us don't.  As far as I'm aware the Needhams don't have any complaints about the police's professionalism.