this is bbc news, the headlines the high court gives hugh grant permission to sue the publisher of the sun newspaper for using unlawful means to gather information on him. an inquest finds the army missed opportunities to prevent the suicide of the officer cadet olivia perks in 2019.

well if you were with us on wednesday you will have seen the amazing report by our correspondent pallab ghosh about the use of electronic implants in the brain of paralysed man which enabled him to walk again. well it might sound like it's the stuff of science fiction films, but electronic brain implants took a step closer today. an experimental company — called neuralink — founded by elon musk says it has won clearance from us regulators to carry out its first clinical study on a human. it's working on brain implants to treat conditions such as paralysis and blindness, and to help some disabled people communicate with computers. eventually, the company says it wants to surpass able bodied human performance with its technology. well, speaking to me now is nita farahany, professor of philosophy at duke law university and an expert on the ethical, legal and social implications

of emerging technology. welcome to the programme what do you make of all of this? i welcome to the programme what do you make of all of this?— make of all of this? i think it's potentially _ make of all of this? i think it's potentially exciting. _ make of all of this? i think it's potentially exciting. elon - make of all of this? i think it's| potentially exciting. elon musk being within the field of brain computer interface but also the move toward clinical trials offers promise to people suffering from paraplegia, quadriplegia and other syndromes who have lost the ability to speak. it's exciting in the short term and also raises new perils in the long term about the coming age of brain transparency. i will the long term about the coming age of brain transparency.— of brain transparency. i will come to the parrot _ of brain transparency. i will come to the parrot is _ of brain transparency. i will come to the parrot is ethical _ of brain transparency. i will come to the parrot is ethical dilemmas| of brain transparency. i will come i to the parrot is ethical dilemmas in a moment or two but take us through the potential. i reference the report we had on wednesday with the brain implant and paralysis. in terms of step two or three or four orfive, where did this terms of step two or three or four or five, where did this and terms of step two or three or four orfive, where did this and up do you think? i

or five, where did this and up do you think?— you think? i think both we are seeinu you think? i think both we are seeing extraordinary - you think? i think both we arei seeing extraordinary advances you think? i think both we are i seeing extraordinary advances in you think? i think both we are - seeing extraordinary advances in al, enabling much better decoding of the human brain, together with the promise that neuralink offers which is the incredibly fine almost here like electrodes which can be put into the brain through a robotic assisted technology. that could enable a much safer ways of gifted it into brands. the hope is for people suffering from paralysis, from people who can no longer communicate with the outside world to have their thoughts decoded into actions and speech stopped i think it's in tremendously promising and it's in tremendously promising and it signals that the fda is confident that a list of the issues it raised previously can be addressed enough so that it's allowing these first faces of criminal trials to go forward. i think it's exciting and a new error in the brain computer interface and to have the talent of

elon musk and his team at the problem with really bring a lot more investment and focus and development investment and focus and development in the field. �* , investment and focus and development in the field. �*, . , , in the field. there's incredibly blue sky thinking _ in the field. there's incredibly blue sky thinking i _ in the field. there's incredibly blue sky thinking i will- in the field. there's incredibly blue sky thinking i will come i in the field. there's incredibly - blue sky thinking i will come back in a moment but you touch up on it earlier in terms of the ethical dilemmas here, what immediately strikes you?— dilemmas here, what immediately strikes ou? ., , , strikes you? two things. one is the short-term — strikes you? two things. one is the short-term dilemmas _ strikes you? two things. one is the short-term dilemmas with - strikes you? two things. one is the short-term dilemmas with the - strikes you? two things. one is the i short-term dilemmas with the people short—term dilemmas with the people who are part of the trial itself. the longer term questions, especially given the ambitions that elon musk has outlined, which is a bring computer interface for everyone and notjust people who love lost the ability to communicate or move. the hope from his perspective that it becomes a tool for human augmentation and changes our relationship with ourselves and technology, i think is in many ways a future that we need to be wary of. while i think that wearable brain centres are increasingly going to become part of our everyday lives,

and that can offer hope is for individuals to learn a lot more about their health and mental well—being, open our brains to corporate access our governments introduces a new parents who privacy introduces a new parents who privacy in our one last bastion for freedom and private reprieve. unless we put safeguards in place and do so quickly, we will find that the one space we have is no longer safe after all. ., ., after all. you said right after the start of that _ after all. you said right after the start of that answer _ after all. you said right after the start of that answer that - after all. you said right after the start of that answer that in - after all. you said right after the start of that answer that in the l start of that answer that in the short—term people involved in trials and dilemmas there, what did you mean by that? for and dilemmas there, what did you mean by that?— mean by that? for example, the shortest term _ mean by that? for example, the shortest term questions - mean by that? for example, the shortest term questions of - mean by that? for example, the . shortest term questions of consent, especially for people who are suffering from locked—in syndrome and are unable to communicate. there are also questions about the ongoing servicing of devices once they are actually put into the brains of individuals. there been controversies recently of trails which have ended where participants

have forcibly had a computer device x planted, which is removed, even though which is become integral to their identity. the question is what if the child does not succeed? what if they are infections or if the device has removed?- if they are infections or if the device has removed? even if the sick child succeeds _ device has removed? even if the sick child succeeds and _ device has removed? even if the sick child succeeds and you _ device has removed? even if the sick child succeeds and you can _ device has removed? even if the sick child succeeds and you can walk - child succeeds and you can walk again and at the end of the trailer it suggested that the implant is taken out and the person has to revert, is that what you're saying? that is what i'm saying and is something that has happened in other trials where the child has ended but the obligation of the company ceases and the device is no longer something that the person is able to continue to have access to or use. fundamentally that disrupts their sense of self and violets there autonomy and their ongoing understanding and capabilities of their experience of interacting with a. there are lots of complicated questions with implanted technologies like this that become

very much a part of the south identity of the person who is a child in this instance.- identity of the person who is a child in this instance. they talk about looking _ child in this instance. they talk about looking at _ child in this instance. they talk about looking at areas - child in this instance. they talk about looking at areas of - child in this instance. they talk about looking at areas of sites | child in this instance. they talk - about looking at areas of sites and pyrolysis but on the wish list for this company, daigle want to talk about possibly enabling telepathy and uploading memories for later reference and downloading it into replacement bodies. extraordinary in terms of blue sky thinking, is it remotely possible? i terms of blue sky thinking, is it remotely possible?— terms of blue sky thinking, is it remotely possible? ithink it is. i think it's remotely _ remotely possible? ithink it is. i think it's remotely possible - remotely possible? ithink it is. i think it's remotely possible and i remotely possible? ithink it is. i| think it's remotely possible and if you look at even just the studies that have come out over the past few months showing with technology that is noninvasive like functional my negative images residence. with images from the brain, that we might be able to communicate brain communicate brain to brain has been shown in some richard studies and labs. bring to tech communication and other technology, all of that is

not only theoretically possible but there has been some proof of concept in some studies. so, i think that idea of medication going from brains or other devices or brain to brain is certainly a blue sky thought today but a potential reality in the future. �* , ., ., future. bright brief final thought because you _ future. bright brief final thought because you talked _ future. bright brief final thought because you talked about - future. bright brief final thought - because you talked about safeguards when we're looking at al only last week. elon musk himself talking about the need to perhaps pause and regulate and look at safeguards. what are the potential safeguards here in the immediate short—term? i think the most urgent thing we need to do is upgrade our constant of liberty and a right to cognitive liberty. a right to self—determination over our brains and experiences and we need to update our existing right to self—determination and privacy and mental privacy. and our existing concept of freedom of thought to include a rights against

interference and my new position and punishment for our thoughts. if we put that framework into place now it will help us navigate a lots of instances with al especially in this common area of rapidly developing neurotechnology. brute common area of rapidly developing neurotechnology.— neurotechnology. we have to live there but what _ neurotechnology. we have to live there but what a _ neurotechnology. we have to live there but what a extraordinarily l there but what a extraordinarily fascinating area this is thank you for being with us on the programme first knuckle. for being with us on the programme first knuckle-— the actor, hugh grant, has been given permission to sue the publisher of the sun newspaper, for using unlawful means to gather information on him. a judge dismissed an attempt by news group newspapers, to block his legal action, because he didn't bring it within six years. our home affairs correspondent, tom symonds, is outside the high court in london. tom, this is a victory but only a partial victory, tom, this is a victory but only a partialvictory, right? it tom, this is a victory but only a partialvictory, right?— tom, this is a victory but only a partialvictory, right? partial victory, right? it sort of a 50 victory _ partial victory, right? it sort of a 50 victory victory. _ partial victory, right? it sort of a 50 victory victory. hugh - partial victory, right? it sort of a 50 victory victory. hugh grant i partial victory, right? it sort of a i 50 victory victory. hugh grant says and has been campaigning for some years that the son and its

journalists and private investigators were paid to figure into his lives in different ways getting information about them. bug in his car and his home and breaking into his flight and tapping his form nine and listening to his voicemails. he has said this some good company and its newsgroup which owns the sun that has always denied that and it is the right deprived them of any evidence he might have to bring a case to court. the crucial thing is in this sort of case you have to go to court within six years and the argument of limitation is at the heart of this stage of the case. a judge limitation is at the heart of this stage of the case. ajudge has ruled today that when it comes to the tapping and putting of listening to his messages for example, or listening to his phone calls, it can a case can go forward because evidence about that bit of the case has only been known about for a few

years. when it comes to listening to his voicemails and mobile phone voicemails, that goes back further. you will remember the phone hacking scandal going back as far as 2006 and thejudge has decided scandal going back as far as 2006 and the judge has decided when scandal going back as far as 2006 and thejudge has decided when he comes that bit of the case that hugh grant can come to trial because he should acted earlier. i've spoken to someone close to his case and say they are undeterred and they think that what they can do is take all of the articles that they are concerned about in newspapers and have a trial about in newspapers and have a trial about them early next year. newsgroup, the company, has said it is pleased with today's decision because it doesn't mean it's not with the phase phone hacking allegations in court next year. tam allegations in court next year. tom 5 monds allegations in court next year. tom symonds there _ allegations in court next year. tom symonds there at _ allegations in court next year. tom symonds there at the _ allegations in court next year. tom symonds there at the high court. thank you very much. an inquest here in the uk has found that the army missed opportunities to prevent the suicide of a "positive and bubbly" female officer cadet at the prestigious sandhurst military academy. olivia perks died by suicide

in february 2019 after fearing she might be expelled for spending the night in an instructor's room. coroner alison mccormick found the army missed opportunities to get the 21—year—old mental health support before the incident. and failed to pass on mental health risk assessments further up the chain of command. major—general zac stenning, who took over as commandant at sandhurst in 2022, said he was sorry for the "�*systemic and individualfailings�* which led to her death. live now to our correspondent, duncan kennedy who was at the inquest this afternoon. duncan take us through some of the conclusions there and the reaction that there's been.— that there's been. you're right first of all— that there's been. you're right first of all olivia _ that there's been. you're right first of all olivia was _ that there's been. you're rightj first of all olivia was described that there's been. you're right i first of all olivia was described as first of all 0livia was described as vicious, bubbly and extremely popular and always wanted to join the army. she did in may 2018 and there were a few incidents which are at the heart of the story. the first one took place injuly 2018 when she

was on a course and one evening she got drunk and started self harming but she was assessed the following day in the following day after that she was put back into training. fast—forwa rd to she was put back into training. fast—forward to february 2019 and she goes to a charity ball at sandhurst and ended up spending the night the room of a sergeants, an officer, which is banned or the rules of the army was up the following day she is discovered and is spoken to by an officer and she fears that the army will kick her out of the army. five days after that ball, she takes her own knife in her room. today, the carter returned a verdict of suicide and had lots of criticism for the army and that the army had missed opportunities that help 0livia and that the army had missed opportunities that help olivia and that risk assessments had not been shared on staff. there was not enough training and welfare and said that if all 0livia had been assessed properly in the run up to her death, it's possible she would not have

been left alone and she would not have taken her life. 0livia's parents were at the hearing today and they were crying at various stages and afterwards with louis standing next to them, the family so the story gave their reaction. the maternal family of olivia welcomed the findings of the coroner's inquest into her tragic and unnecessary death. the last four years have been the hardest and most difficult journey we could have embarked on. to lose our wonderful, vivacious and captivating girl in circumstances which we now know were avoidable. we have been fighting for the truth of what really happened since she passed, and the story we were presented with by the ministry of defence was very different to the conclusion that has now been reached by the coroner. we were aware that the career of olivia had chosen had inherent risks, but we watched with pride as she joined her one eight

to commissioning course in may 2018. we felt secure in the knowledge that she would be safe for those 44 weeks. whilst at this prestigious academy. sadly, this was not the case. the accident the army responded this afternoon and said they have changed their training practices since 0livia death and welfare is now the top priority for officer cadets and this afternoon the commandants of sandhurst give this power for officer cadets and this afternoon the commandants of sandhurst give this powerful apology. much the commandants of sandhurst give this powerful apology.— this powerful apology. much more should and could _ this powerful apology. much more should and could have _ this powerful apology. much more should and could have been - this powerful apology. much more should and could have been done| this powerful apology. much more i should and could have been done to support— should and could have been done to support her— should and could have been done to support her but as an organisation we should — support her but as an organisation we should of been better. this has been _ we should of been better. this has been an— we should of been better. this has been an extremely difficult inquest for all. _ been an extremely difficult inquest for all. in _ been an extremely difficult inquest forall, in particular been an extremely difficult inquest for all, in particular 0livia's family— for all, in particular 0livia's family and friends. 0livia was a young — family and friends. 0livia was a young woman full of sparkling premise — young woman full of sparkling premise with so much to give in life

and we _ premise with so much to give in life and we cannot begin to understand the unimaginable loss of 0livia's family— the unimaginable loss of 0livia's family have endured. 0ur the unimaginable loss of 0livia's family have endured. our thoughts and sympathies remain with them. we are committed to being better and will consider all other of the corouers— will consider all other of the coroners families to ensure we learn any further— coroners families to ensure we learn any further lessons to provide the best possible leadership and careful our soldiers and officers and trainees _ our soldiers and officers and trainees. this includes zero tolerance _ trainees. this includes zero tolerance of the utterly unacceptable behaviours exposed by the servicing inquiry and this inquest _ the servicing inquiry and this inauest. a, ., the servicing inquiry and this inauest. ., , ., ,, ., , inquest. ma'or general stallings said inquest. major general stallings said tonight _ inquest. major general stallings said tonight she _ inquest. major general stallings said tonight she will— inquest. major general stallings said tonight she will be - inquest. major general stallings i said tonight she will be addressing all 900 officer cadets and cadets to tell them about the life of olivia and the lessons learned. he said the army had learned lessons from this case and he hoped the legacy of 0livia's death will have lessons learned right across all of the armed forces.— learned right across all of the armed forces. , .. , ., ~ armed forces. duncan kennedy thank ou ve armed forces. duncan kennedy thank

you very much- _ british cycling is to ban transgender women from the female category of its competitions, following a nine—month review and consultation. under the new rules, trans athletes will compete in an �*open category�* with men. the changes will prevent emily bridges, the country's highest—profile transgender cyclist, potentially being part of the british women's team. bridges has accused british cycling of engaging in "culture wars" and called the change a "violent act" by a "failed organisation." 0ur sports editor, dan roan, has that story. it's known as the country's most successful olympic sport. but for the past year, british cycling has faced a dilemma over its policy towards the participation of transgender women riders. and today, following a review, it announced they would be banned from the female category across its competitive events, and instead compete alongside men in a new open category. the man in charge of the sport told me why there was a need for change. we will define the female

category as the athletes who are female by sex at birth. and the open category is available to all other riders. the overriding principal of the competitive policy is around fairness. that has been put together on the basis of the consultation and also the medical research we have available. the news dashes emily bridges�* dream of being part of the british women�*s team at the olympic. one of sport�*s highest profile trans women athletes, last year having reduced her testosterone level to meet the rules, she was barred from competing in herfirst elite women�*s event by cycling�*s world federation, amid the threat of a boycott by some rivals. british cycling now says while medical research is limited, it does indicate that even with testosterone suppression, transgender women who transition post—puberty retain a performance advantage. she and others will say this is discriminatory. it�*s really important for us to ensure that all athletes remain welcome, but all athletes have clarity about their ability to compete.

i have an enormous amount of sympathy with both emily and any other rider impacted and affected by this. in a lengthy statement, bridges said british cycling is a failed organisation. you don�*t care about making sport more diverse, this is a violent act. i agree that there needs to be a nuanced policy discussion and continue to conduct research. but this hasn�*t happened. i don�*t even know if i want to race my bike any more. transgender riders will face no restrictions on recreational and community cycling, but it�*s the changes in competitive events that will be debated. keep sport single sex! trans sport participation has become one of the thorniest issues facing sports, as they search for a way to balance inclusion with safety and fairness. but amid mounting controversy, british cycling has becomejust the latest to ban transgender women from female events. swimming, athletics, rugby and triathlon all adopting similar approaches over the past year. cycling�*s focus is currently

on the giro d�*italia, welshman geraint thomas leading the way. but the race continues as british cycling heads in a new direction. dan roan, bbc news. creating a popular tv drama is notoriously hard. making one in which every character is a truly terrible person is even more impressive. that�*s what the makers of succession have done. in just five years, the tale of a media mogul and his ruthlessly ambitious children — which ends on sunday — has gained millions of devoted fans. the final series included one very major plot point quite early on, involving the central character, media mogul logan roy played by the actor brian cox. we can nowjoinjamie east in surrey for more on this who is host of the podcast series the sound of succession. just a spoiler alert because anyone who was not got to the end of this series to bobby sibley there may be a few clues along the way so if you don�*t want to know turn away and turn off no but welcome to the programme. to call it a smash hit is

a hopeless understatement, isn�*t it? it is. it certainly very rare that a show is critically acclaimed and everybody that watches it loves it and that has fantastic rights in and fantastic performances. it has hit that sweet spot. it�*s fantastic performances. it has hit that sweet spot.— fantastic performances. it has hit that sweet spot. it's great. it's so aood. that sweet spot. it's great. it's so good- tell — that sweet spot. it's great. it's so good- tell me — that sweet spot. it's great. it's so good. tell me more _ that sweet spot. it's great. it's so good. tell me more than. - that sweet spot. it's great. it's so good. tell me more than. you - that sweet spot. it's great. it's so | good. tell me more than. you are totally immersed in all of this but run through what do you think the core of this success is here? i think we all like watching rich people. i think there some kind of voyeuristic thing that we like looking at money and whatjesse armstrong has done so well with the family and the story of succession over the years has been that really clever thing where everybody is absolutely hate it and it. everyone is despicable yet you find yourself

rooting for a different person every week. just last week, as do my best not to give voice boilers, it was a pretty brutal episode that we saw on monday, depend on cement episode about where one of the characters had a complete nervous breakdown in a public engagement and it was one of the most heartbreaking things i�*ve ever watched on television and yet she is an awful character. his genius how he has done it. it�*s yet she is an awful character. his genius how he has done it. it's so aood. genius how he has done it. it's so good- you're _ genius how he has done it. it's so good. you're absolutely - genius how he has done it. it's so good. you're absolutely right - good. you�*re absolutely right because across the whole family, there�*s a almost no redeeming feature, is there? there's a almost no redeeming feature, is there?— there's a almost no redeeming feature, is there? no. there is a character — feature, is there? no. there is a character called _ feature, is there? no. there is a character called cousin _ feature, is there? no. there is a character called cousin greg, - feature, is there? no. there is a character called cousin greg, if l feature, is there? no. there is a i character called cousin greg, if you have watch it, who has often been the stooge and comedy punching bag for many years. even if he has started to show a glimpse in his eye, and a sharpening and gnashing of the teeth over the past six weeks. there are people that are

surmising and theorising that he could be the one to sneak in at the last minute and grab the big prize. i think brian fox brian cox almost into the same. you touch in a writing which is spectacular and i found there are times i re—round to listen to a line again. it�*s listen to a line again. it's incredible. _ listen to a line again. it's incredible. it's _ listen to a line again. it's incredible. it's great - listen to a line again. it�*s incredible. it's great it's one of incredible. it�*s great it�*s one of the few shows i actually enjoy having the subtitles on for as well because you cannot. back it�*s just amazing shakespearean comedy tragedy being thrown at you. you can�*tjust get by on one doing, either. yet the pause that you said and rewind and savourin pause that you said and rewind and savour in the brilliant crafting of its child. i think a lot of it has to do with the fight that is a predominantly english. jesse armstrong english, or brilliant english writers write in an american story loosely based around an australian mogul. {iii

story loosely based around an australian mogul.— story loosely based around an australian mogul. of course, the music is staggering, _ australian mogul. of course, the music is staggering, isn't - australian mogul. of course, the music is staggering, isn't it? - australian mogul. of course, the music is staggering, isn't it? i. music is staggering, isn't it? i don't know how they do it so well. don�*t know how they do it so well. hbo has a real knack for getting theme tunes that really get under your skin and the orchestration over the past few weeks has just been sublime and the performances are just incredible. why bother entering the enemies if you�*re not with succession? i the enemies if you're not with succession?— the enemies if you're not with succession? i know you've had different members _ succession? i know you've had different members of- succession? i know you've had different members of the - succession? i know you've had different members of the cost| succession? i know you've had - different members of the cost cast their new studio did they know from their new studio did they know from the outset or from the early scripts or early takes that this was going to be a big one? i or early takes that this was going to be a big one?— or early takes that this was going to be a big one? i think there is no den in: to be a big one? i think there is no denying as — to be a big one? i think there is no denying as an _ to be a big one? i think there is no denying as an actor _ to be a big one? i think there is no denying as an actor they _ denying as an actor they have all spoken out and said it�*s all there on the page. they do a bit of improvising with the vast majority of it is right there. there almost

seen how could we get it wrong? how could we go wrong with writing as goodis could we go wrong with writing as good is this? i interviewjesse armstrong about succession about three weeks before their first episode aired and it a tiny room trying to drum up a bit of interest in the show, matthew mcfadden was in the next room trying to talk about the next room trying to talk about the show that no one had even washed and now it�*s just the biggest show on television. the excitement and tension and nerves for monday�*s episode are as big as they have been since game of thrones. i episode are as big as they have been since game of thrones.— since game of thrones. i have only about 30 seconds _ since game of thrones. i have only about 30 seconds here _ since game of thrones. i have only about 30 seconds here so - since game of thrones. i have only about 30 seconds here so you - since game of thrones. i have only| about 30 seconds here so you have since game of thrones. i have only i about 30 seconds here so you have to be brief as of a few sentences. if you read that? oh, yes. 100% absolutely. they would do that to us, i don�*t think. there�*s plenty of drama to be had without doing that. i am talking to jamie�*s we would have to leave it there but thank you

for joining have to leave it there but thank you forjoining us on today�*s programme. that�*s it from verified life. i hope you enjoyed it. yalda hakim is up next unselect them goodbye. hello there. prospects still looking good for the bank holiday weekend. and today was a good day to be out and about in the sunshine. whether you were walking by the river here in oxfordshire or walking a little higher up in the cumbrian fells. we did see some cloud developing here, but this fine walking weather will continue through the weekend. overnight tonight, skies will clear across much of the country, but the cloud will continue to push in on that breeze into the northwest of scotland. so here temperatures will be higher than last night. but last night we got down to one celsius in suffolk and it will be quite chilly overnight where we have those clearer skies in eastern england. but for the bank holiday weekend, a lot of dry weather to come. more sunshine as well, probably turning a bit cooler as the weekend goes on. and we do have that cloud pushing in on that wind across northern ireland and into scotland.

there�*s not much rain really. and later in the northwest there�*ll be some sunshine. south east scotland, dry and bright and quite warm, some patchy cloud for northern england. sunnier skies further south and not as windy in the south either. it�*s pointing to a warmer day for england and wales. widely, temperatures reaching 22 or 23 degrees. should be very pleasant. north western parts of scotland turning cooler. cooler air follows that weatherfurther, springing a few spots of rain. that�*s out of the way by sunday as high pressure builds back in, cooler air pushes down from the north. so some changes, really, for sunday. we may well start off quite sunny in most places, but the cloud looks like it will tend to increase and spread out versus sunshine hanging on across western areas. and the highest temperatures are getting squeezed down towards the southwest, turning cooler across northern and eastern parts of the uk, a significant drop in temperature for the northeast of england. but high pressure is still around, so it�*s keeping it fine and dry. but we�*ve got quite a few more isobars on the chart in southern parts of the uk on monday. so it�*s going to be a windier day,

and quite a chilly wind actually coming in from off the north sea. and that east or north easterly wind could bring some cloud for a while. that will then get pushed away. and away from northern scotland looks like it should be quite a sunny day on monday. but the air is going to be cooler for england and wales, but starting to warm up in scotland and northern ireland. and with those stronger winds, even with some sunshine, it�*ll feel chillier. in the south, the highest temperatures are likely to be in western parts of scotland.

today at six: ten—month—old finley boden, who was murdered by his parents on christmas day in 2020 — his killers are jailed for 29 and 27 years. finley was taken from his parents at birth by social services but then returned to them 39 days before he died. during sentencing, stephen boden and shannon marsden were described as "persuasive and accomplished liars" who "brutally assaulted" their son. they used the covid pandemic to hide their actions. you continued to abuse him, and you lied that he had covid so that no one would see him and remove him from your care, and in doing so, you subjected your own baby son to unimaginable cruelty.

also on today�*s programme: