live from london, this is bbc news. disgraced entertainer and convicted sex offender rolf harris dies at the age of 93. police investigating the disappearance of madeleine mccann begin searching a reservoir in portugal. shouting. two teenage boys died in a crash before last night because big rights in cardiff which left several police officers injured. whatsapp says it will allow users to edit their messages for up to 15 minutes after being sent. hello, i'm maryam moshiri, welcome to bbc news now, all the latest fast moving news,

interviews and reaction. and interviews and reaction. we start with the death of disgraced and we start with the death of the disgraced former entertainer and convicted sex offender rolf harris at the age of 93. he was jailed in britain for nearly six years in 2014 for a series of indecent assaults on girls. the assault happened between the late 19605 to mid—19 girls. the a55ault happened between the late 19605 to mid—19 805. for his crimes came to light, harris was a well—known figure in the entertainment industry in britain and his native australia. helen wilkinson reports. rolf harris, the tv star who was a fixture on screens in britain for decades, later revealed to be a serial sex offender. this is his final public appearance walking into court — his bag packed for prison. why don't you apologise, mr harris? a convicted paedophile guilty of indecently assaulting women and young girls. born in australia, rolf harris

arrived in britain in the 505. he quickly found fame on bbc children's tv. singing, joking, painting. "can you tell what it is yet?" was the catchphrase everyone knew. he presented programmes including the rolf harris show, rolf�*s cartoon time, animal hospital and rolf 0n art. when a poll was carried out in the �*905 asking the public to name a famous arti5t, rolf harris was at the top. i have the fox in here. for decades, rolf harris was a part of childhood entertainment. rather fat chops there. but behind it all was a side the public didn't see. what have you got to say for yourself? in 2014 he was convicted of a string of indecent assaults against women and young girls. 0ne conviction was later overturned by the court of appeal, asjudges ruled it was unsafe.

at his sentencing hearing, the judge said rolf harris had shown no remorse and used his celebrity status to take advantage of his victims. 0ur media and arts correspondent david sillito has more now from the newsroom. i remember meeting rolf harris at glastonbury, in the early 2000, and the slot he was in was known as the legends 5lot, it was reserved for legend5 5lot, it was reserved for people who were considered to be national trea5ure5, people who were considered to be national treasures, and everyone who was singing along, who had grown up with him as a children's entertainer, i mean, he arrived in britain from australia in 1952 and was on tv in 1953 so we are talking about a 60 year career as a children's entertainer. he had hit songs, he had a programme called animal hospital. he was one of those people who was, for instance, he was

given the job of being an official portrait painter of the queen in 2005. in 2013, when these charges were brought, the shock was palpable. i rememberwhen were brought, the shock was palpable. i remember when he had his court case and was surrounded by people as he walked into court, and his natural inclination wa5 people as he walked into court, and his natural inclination was to smile and wave because that is what his entire life had been, a beloved entertainer. but they had not come to cheer him along. convicted of 12 assaults against four young women and girls between 1968 and 1986. the only way to describe it is the most extraordinary fall from grace, and people wondering, how was it possible that people did not know about this? and of course, this was all a consequence of another entertainer who had died, jimmy savile, and the revelations about his life. what was it that people

didn't know, what was going on behind the scenes? and rolf harris was convicted, spent three years in prison. there was another trial and pri5on. there was another trial and they failed to come to a conclusion at that time. but his reputation wa5 utterly destroyed. his death today from cancer, a one line statement from cancer, a one line statement from the solicitor 5aying, from cancer, a one line statement from the solicitor saying, this is to confirm that rolf harris recently died peacefully, 5urrounded to confirm that rolf harris recently died peacefully, surrounded by family and friends, and has now been laid to rest. no further comment will be made. there have been appeals for calm in cardiff after two teenage boys died in a traffic accident last night. in the last 15 minutes they've been named locally as a 16—year—old and a 15—year—old. riot police were called in to deal with what the police described as large—scale disorder in the eelee district of the city.

0bject the eelee district of the city. object such paving slabs were thrown at officers and cars were set alight. the uk government called the scene is appalling and completely unacceptable. a warning, this report does contain some flashing images. oh, no, no, no, no, no. a part of cardiff was in chaos last night. cars set on fire and an angry crowd armed with fireworks, paving stones and debris a5 missiles, aimed at the police. in riot gear, they forced the mob back as they approached then here in ely on the west side of cardiff, an area which is one of the most deprived in wales. this morning, a bonfire was still smoking in the middle of the road when we arrived. around it, devastation and ruin clear to see. rubble, bits of wood and those fireworks were littered acro55 stanway road, and also around the corner, another burned out vehicle turned upside down, presumably another one of the local residents�* car5,

5ma5hed in the violence. residents say those that caused this damage don't actually live on this street and that people living here are shocked and angry that this has happened right outside their doors. why take it out, you know, on people in the street? why run amok, you know? itju5t doesn't make sense. i just. .. you know, i despair. thi5 street is one of the best 5treet5. the people, we are all so close as neighbour5, and this has happened. how things turned violent is still being confirmed. but, at around 6pm yesterday, two teenagers died after a road collision on a different 5treet nearby. the police say they were not involved in the incident and arrived after the accident. it has been suggested by south wales�* police and crime commissioner that incorrect rumours on social media about the authorities�* involvement in a car chase may have fuelled some to start what turned into a riot.

i think it illustrates the speed with which the activity that goes on on social media nowadays. a5 cardiff council workers cleared the roads affected this morning, it has been confirmed that arre5ts have been made, with more on the way, as the police continue their two investigations into how two teenagers were killed in an accident nearby, and why and how such violence happened in the welsh capital. and a reminder that in the last few minutes we had been given the information in terms of the names of those two teenage boys who lost their lives in that car accident before the riot, they�*ve been named locally as16—year—old kyree5 sullivan and 15—year—old harvey evans. so sullivan and 15—year—old harvey evan5. so those two boys, as you heard in that report there, were killed in a car accidentju5t a very short while before the riots happened, and the riots happened a

little while after that crash. we will of course bring you more on that story as and when we get it here on bbc news, but there is another story that�*s been making headlines, not only here in the uk but around the world because police have begun a new search for the british toddler madeleine mccann, who disappeared during a holiday in portugal 16 years ago. police diver5 have entered a reservoir 50 kiometre5 — 30 miles — from where she was was last seen. officials are hoping to find evidence linking the main suspect, a german sex offender, christian brueckner, was made a formal suspect, or an "arguido", by portuguese prosecutors last year. daniel sandford reports from portugal. after ye5terday�*5 preparations, the renewed search in the madeleine mccann case began in earnest today. the search was being helped by a rigid hull inflatable boat on the reservoir, but the main focus was

on the land, on a promontory sometimes used as a campsite. the search is being coordinated by the portugue5ejudiciary police, at the request of german pro5ecutor5. a handful of british officers are also at the scene. a diving team�*s vehicle is present at the site, but we have not seen diver5 in the water. it i516 years since madeline mccann vanished from a holiday apartment, just a few days before her fourth birthday. it became one of the most infamous missing persons cases. madeleine�*s parents have never given up hope of finding her alive. earlier this month on the 16th anniversary of her disappearance, they wrote, "the police investigation continue5 and we await a breakthrough." this latest investigation i5 centred on a suspect called christian brueckner, currently serving a prison sentence in germany for a rape in portugal in 2005. he�*s never been charged over madeline mccann�*5 disappearance and has denied any involvement, but the german state prosecutor said there was growing evidence connecting him to the case, including mobile phone records. he is believed to have been

a regular visitor at the site being 5earched today. the former head of the child exploitation and 0nline protection centre, jim gamble, who was involved in the original madeleine mccann investigation, says the search could be significant. i think it is reasonable to be hopeful, twofold, one that the german police are continuing at a pace and are not taking off the pressure, they are continuing to invest re5ource5. number two, at some stage there has got to be a breakthrough in this case. madeleine mccann vanished from her room at the ocean club in praia de luz in 2007, as her parents were in a restaurant a few yards away. de5pite months of extensive searching, no trace was found. in 2008, a private search of the reservoir, funded by a portuguese lawyer, found nothing of relevance to the case. it is here that police are searching again.

the surrounding area of the arade dam is about 50 kilometres from where the family was staying. the search is expected to take at least two days. lets you bring your pictures now of that reservoir, you can see on the banks of the reservoir, the police are trying to dig in search around the foliage, the few bushes and hedge5 you entries you see in the area. earlier, we were sent a few lines of copy that told us that around 20 police officers, apparently, were seen digging around apparently, were seen digging around a specific area just next to the reservoir. again, information is very difficult to come by in this case but we have been told that this pertained to some information regarding an area where that key

suspect, the arguido amaz portuguese prosecutors call him, christian brueckner, may have camped in that area during the period that madeleine mccann went missing. we also know that police diver5 enter the water earlier today. this reservoir we are seeing here is around 30 miles from praia da luz, where madeleine mccann disappeared from on that evening in 2007. a5 where madeleine mccann disappeared from on that evening in 2007. as i said a little earlier, portuguese police have said their coordinating the search with german pro5ecutor5. the actual call to start the search came from germany, and that�*s a key point being made today, that, as you heard earlier from point being made today, that, as you heard earlierfrom our correspondent in berlin, its german prosecutors who have led this search. they are going on evidence. they haven�*t told us much about the evidence but they are going on the evidence they believe there might be some sort of clue in this area. that search, as i said, is continuing. a little earlier i spoke withjim gamble, a

former police officer who actually helped with the madeleine mccann investigation. i also spoke to professorjohn silverman, professor professor john silverman, professor of professorjohn silverman, professor of media and criminaljustice at the university of bedford5hire and former bbc home affairs correspondent. i asked about the case and about the new search for madeleine mccann. where we stand as a positive place because the german police obviously have newlines of inquiry, 5u5pect have newlines of inquiry, suspect they are adamant i5 have newlines of inquiry, suspect they are adamant is the right person, though he has made no per5on, though he has made no admissions and has never been charged, and they have significant, i think, circumstantial evidence to support the contention that they may well have the right person. what�*s more important is their investigation is live, it�*s not historic. they have been pushing for a number of years now, they�*ve been interviewing associates of christian brueckner, and i think the fact that german police are leading the search, supported by the portuguese, is a really positive step forward.

they would not be doing this if there was no hope. they are not ticking boxes. and what i�*m absolutely convinced of his that the german police have more than they are telling us, and it�*s right not to tell the public everything, but if you think about their statement this morning about the search, was very restrained. compare and contrast that to their definite statement about madeleine mccann and their view that she may be, or they believe she is dead, that�*s very different, and knowing the germans as the conservative and cautious law enforcement agencies and prosecutors that they are, i find that very, very strange and interesting. so i think they have more and they are saying and i think there following different lines of inquiry. haw different lines of inquiry. how difficult is _ different lines of inquiry. how difficult is it — different lines of inquiry. how difficult is it to _ different lines of inquiry. how difficult is it to find _ different lines of inquiry. how difficult is it to find evidence 17 years later in an area like that? it's years later in an area like that? it�*s difficult but not impossible. i think if you�*re looking at, you know, cadaver, if you�*re looking at

decomposed remains, obviously it will depend on where the body was. some soil secures and retains it for a much longer period, like peat, for example, but ultimately if you go into the water it is a different story. but there are two things there, one, human body is very, very hard to dispose of. even if you incinerate a body of the skeletal remains and tiny, you incinerate a body the skeleton remains and tiny, euro, microscopic elements of bone tissue will give you dna. so they have that on their site. plus they have that on their site. plus they have access to technology that wasn�*t available many years ago are has indeed been radically improved now, so they can sniff, literally, the soil in areas where they may have information to believe it�*s relevant. they can look at using radar and thermal imaging, much deeper than they did before, and they are able to apply different techniques when they engage in a

great search of the water of the reservoir itself.— great search of the water of the reservoir itself. john silverman, at the time of — reservoir itself. john silverman, at the time of the _ reservoir itself. john silverman, at the time of the disappearance - reservoir itself. john silverman, at the time of the disappearance of l the time of the disappearance of madeleine mccann, this was a huge case, and in many ways it stayed within the public psyche. taught me how dour back to how big it was at the time you are using it still resonates with so many people, there�*s still so much interest in what happens to madeleine i there's still so much interest in what happens to madeleine i think seen through _ what happens to madeleine i think seen through a — what happens to madeleine i think seen through a media _ what happens to madeleine i think seen through a media lens, - what happens to madeleine i think seen through a media lens, this i what happens to madeleine i think seen through a media lens, this isj seen through a media lens, this is the kind _ seen through a media lens, this is the kind of— seen through a media lens, this is the kind of archetypal true crime siory~ _ the kind of archetypal true crime story if— the kind of archetypal true crime story. if you look at the circumstances of her disappearance, you've _ circumstances of her disappearance, you've got _ circumstances of her disappearance, you've got this middle—class family io you've got this middle—class family go on _ you've got this middle—class family go on holiday in a very safe resort, a lovely— go on holiday in a very safe resort, a lovely blonde three—year—old child abducted _ a lovely blonde three—year—old child abducted out of the blue, when there eating _ abducted out of the blue, when there eating only— abducted out of the blue, when there eating only a few yards away. there is all _ eating only a few yards away. there is all the _ eating only a few yards away. there is all the counts of narrative detail— is all the counts of narrative detail is— is all the counts of narrative detail is that if you're trying to write _ detail is that if you're trying to write fiction you are put into a true _ write fiction you are put into a true crime _ write fiction you are put into a true crime story, and it played into every— true crime story, and it played into

every parent's nightmare about leaving — every parent's nightmare about leaving a — every parent's nightmare about leaving a child unattended, and of course _ leaving a child unattended, and of course that aspect also led to darker— course that aspect also led to darker theories that somehow, either that the _ darker theories that somehow, either that the parents were irresponsible in leaving _ that the parents were irresponsible in leaving the child alone, or as the portuguese said at one point, that they— the portuguese said at one point, that they themselves were responsible for the abduction. so, you know. — responsible for the abduction. so, you know, you've got all the elements— you know, you've got all the elements of something that, if you are writing — elements of something that, if you are writing fiction, you will probably put into a book. so it doesn't — probably put into a book. so it doesn't explain, of course, why the story— doesn't explain, of course, why the story has— doesn't explain, of course, why the story has retained its interest for the media — story has retained its interest for the media over the years, and i think— the media over the years, and i think that's _ the media over the years, and i think that's probably intensified because — think that's probably intensified because of social media. i mean, if you think— because of social media. i mean, if you think back, 2007, when madeleine disappeared, was a dawn of a social media _ disappeared, was a dawn of a social media for— disappeared, was a dawn of a social media for some now it's everywhere, enabling _ media for some now it's everywhere, enabling theories to swirl around out there —

enabling theories to swirl around out there in the ether. so it all feeds— out there in the ether. so it all feeds into _ out there in the ether. so it all feeds into this obsession that there is a mystery that has to be resolved _ around the world and across the uk this is bbc news. this is bbc news. we�*re taking you straight to newcastle crown court where david boyd, who murdered seven—year—old nikki allan more than thirty years ago, is being sentenced. thejudge is mrsjustice lambert and a warning some of what she says might be distressing. joining me is our correspondent. just take us through, if you would, this case and the fact it�*s now 30 years on. this case and the fact it's now 30 ears on. . �* , this case and the fact it's now 30 ears on. ., �* , �* , this case and the fact it's now 30 earson. ., h �*, ., years on. that's right. it's a shocking — years on. that's right. it's a shocking and _ years on. that's right. it's a shocking and appalling - years on. that's right. it's a shocking and appalling case years on. that's right. it's a - shocking and appalling case which dates back more than three decades. nikki allan was a seven—year—old

girl who was lured away from her home to a disused building in sunderland on the docks by david boyd, and he attacked her there in court this morning we heard the prosecution say they believed it was a sexual motive to the attack, and we can cut to the court now. that she was waiting for her mother. the timing of that encounter can be identified with some precision, because mrs graham had just stepped off the number 13 bus, which was known to have arrived at that. —— at that bus stop. david boyd must be nearby when that encounter took place. by 9:51pm, anothertiming which can be identified with precision, you were seen with

nikki,, striding ahead whilst nikki tried to keep pace with you. it would have taken three to for minutes for you and nikki allan to walk from the bus stop to there. you, david boyd, were leading nikki allan to a derelict building surrounded by a walled area of rough scrubland. you took her into that rough ground, where you sexually assaulted her, or at least attempted to do so. nikki was heard screaming at around 10pm by mrs 05borne, who was in herflat at around 10pm by mrs 05borne, who was in her flat overlooking at around 10pm by mrs 05borne, who was in herflat overlooking high street east. you struck her across the face, causing her lip to bleed. you did this to shut her up. before or after this, there must have been some sort of a struggle between you, as nikki�*s and rick came off and she lost both of her shoes. —— her and

rack him. among different screens her screams about her fate was sealed, you killed her to silence her and prevent herfrom sealed, you killed her to silence her and prevent her from telling anyone that you had sexually assaulted her attempted to do so. you hosted her up the six feet necessary to reach the window and put her through a gap into the derelict 0ld exchange building. inside the building was pitch black. the windows were boarded up, save for one missing board, the gap through which nikki had been pushed. but in any event it was late in the evening of an october night. 0nce evening of an october night. once inside, nikki must have been petrified. it would not have taken the seven—year—old monk to appreciate that she was trapped in that cold and dark building and that you were coming through the window to get her. the forensic scientists told the jury that the site of the fatal assault was as far away from the window as nikki could have got

on that ground floor, that is, the far wall of the furthest room. no doubt this is where she ran in order to get away as far as possible from you. her fear as to get away as far as possible from you. herfear as she to get away as far as possible from you. her fear as she saw you lurching towards her in the dark is unimaginable. you found her standing or sitting against that firewall. it was there that you struck her head at least twice with a brick, fracturing her skull into several pieces. though not necessarily immediately fatal, those close to the head are likely to have rendered nikki unconscious. you then stabbed her naked chest and upper body with a knife, which you have brought with you. it was a frenzied attack during which you stabbed her 37 times. many of the stabs were inflicted through the same stab wound. the knife was described by the pathologist, doctor cooper, as having a tapering blade of around ten centimetres long. you pushed the blade into her chest and

organs to its. extent so that her body bore the marks of the hilt of the knife. having killed her, he then dragged nikki allan by her ankles down the staircase into the cellar of the old exchange building head bouncing from start to stare, leaving traces of blood and fire burst on the risers. you dragged her into the further corner of the furthest room and left her, no doubt hoping her body would remain undiscovered. your hope that nikki would not be discovered did not take into account the extent of concern that her disappearance provoked in the community of the complex of tenement flats where she and her family lived. a large number of her friends, family and neighbours set about searching for her. nikki�*s body was discovered in the basement of the old exchange building on the next morning by a local teenager. in

the police investigation which followed the murder, you were interviewed by police officers conducting house—to—house inquiries. he later gave a witness statement in which you said you had seen nikki playing earlier that evening. you tell the place you had been out getting fish and chips between 930 and 10pm that evening, so giving yourself a neat but wholly false alibi for the time of the murder. in 1993 and innocent man, george heron, was tried and acquitted of nikki allan�*s murder at leeds crown court. as the years passed by and you got on with your life, you must have thought often about nikki�*s murder. you must of thought, no doubt with some satisfaction and some relief, that you had got away with it. however, the signs of dna analysis was advancing. new developments led the police to identify traces of y

sdr dna which match your profile on the leggings nikki was wearing on the leggings nikki was wearing on the night she was murder. whilst not as specific as autism dna, the ystr dna profile was none the less discriminating. mr chapman, the forensic scientist who gave evidence before this jury, accepted that the y-str before this jury, accepted that the y—str profile found on her clothing was not necessarily unique to you, it would have been shared by any male relative of yours, but the police investigation effectively ruled out the possibility of another male relative being in the sunderland area in october of 1992. mr chapman also accepted that your y-str mr chapman also accepted that your y—str profile might be shared coincidentally by other males. the chances of that coincidental sharing may have been in the order of around

one to 28,000. but the jury had to consider what chance there was of an unrelated man coincidental sharing your y—str dna profile, living within your local community, knowing nikki allan sufficiently well to be able to lure her away, and he also knew the old exchange building so out they were able to navigate their way around the the dna evidence was powerful evidence against you. a review of other witness evidence demonstrated inconsistencies in the accounts which you had given the police and showed that your alibi code you had given yourself and police statement, must have been false. this led to your arrest and charge. the discovery of nikki�*s body in the long search for her killer has shocked and bewildered

this community for the past 31 years. the long search for nikki allan�*s killer culminated in your conviction for the murder of her on the 12th of may 2023. nikki allan was loved. she was loved by her mother, who is moving statement of loss and sadness was right to the court this morning by mr wright kings council. she was loved by her father, whose life was changed by the events of seven 0ctober1992. she has left a hole in herfamily and in the community in which she lived. i now sentence you for her murder. there is only one sentence which i can impose for the crime of murder and that is one of life imprisonment. i must however go on to consider whether to make a whole life order or to make a minimum term order, that is a minimum term which you must serve before consideration

is given by the parole board to your release. i must have regard to the general principles set out in schedule 21 of the sentencing act 2020, when deciding whether to impose a whole life term or a minimum term which you must serve. your offence was committed before the 18th of december 2003. this makes a significant difference to the approach which i must take to sentence. paragraph 12 to the schedule 21 of the sentencing act 2020 requires me to have regard to, andindeed 2020 requires me to have regard to, and indeed to apply, practice that would have been followed by the secretary of state before 2002 in respect of the term to be served in prison. the law prevents me from making an order which is greater than that which would have been imposed had you been convicted

before december 2003. this principle, which i must follow, should be clearly understood. i emphasise that at this stage because, as will become apparent, minimum terms to be served before consideration is given to release on licence were in the 19905 and early 2000 is much shorter than would have been ordered today in 2023. in deciding whether to impose a minimum term and if so the length of that term and if so the length of that term before any release on licence, i am required to adopt the following approach. first, to assess the term to be served by reference to contemporary principles, set out in schedule 21 of the sentence act 2020, and identify the length of that minimum term before any release on licence as would have been identified by the secretary of state

before 2000 by applying the relevant practice