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Articles / Re: The hell of being widowed at just 44 and then finding out your husband was....
« on: October 14, 2026, 03:31:22 PM »
Poor woman, she found out that her marriage was in effect a lie.
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2
Faith / Re: Devotions
« on: September 29, 2026, 11:51:29 AM »
https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2025/04/20/from-grief-to-glory-the-women-who-ran-to-share-the-good-news?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-8rFOL0MavU1VJS6eNc1EAlFMRzuAY3AvWtqmpj0cWTvL8LnFnMHT4-7WxSwEQh1TY3PRfflPnrjDY9txoFElyEwZq7lQ&_hsmi=354486940&utm_content=354486940&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread
From Grief to Glory: The Women Who Ran To Share the Good News
April 20, 2025
by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young
“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Matthew 28:8 (NIV)
On the first Easter Sunday, some women rose to bring spices to anoint Jesus’ dead body but what they witnessed was miraculous. An angel dressed in gleaming white revealed to them that Jesus had risen from the dead. The angel invited the women to come and see where Jesus had lain, then go and tell His disciples. These ladies had the opportunity to run for God’s glory. And that’s exactly what they did (Matthew 28:2-8). I coach track and field at the high school my daughters attend. One of my athletes has a T-shirt that says “I run like a girl” on the front and “Try to keep up” on the back. Every time she wears that shirt, I am filled with delight. The shirt is a tongue-in-cheek statement to those who believe girls must run slower than boys. Still, I’ve always taught my girls we don’t run merely to beat the boys or prove ourselves to the world. We run for God’s glory. When the Gospel writer Matthew described the scene at Jesus’ tomb, he quoted the angel as saying: “‘Go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.” Now I have told you.’ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples” (Matthew 28:7-8, NIV, emphases added).
God could have announced His Son’s resurrection in a myriad of grandiose ways, but He chose to send an angel first to go and tell women whose lives had been transformed by His Son. The Gospels mention that among these women were Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus delivered from seven demons; another Mary, mother of James; Salome, mother of James and John; and Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s servant, whom Jesus healed and partnered with throughout His ministry (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10). These faithful women walked with Jesus, ate with Him, and listened to Him teach. Many women were there the day He was crucified and the night His body was buried (Matthew 27:55). At the opening of the empty tomb, they leaned in close to see for themselves as eyewitnesses. Then they ran joyfully to share the Good News. Can you fathom the grief and sorrow these women had endured just days before? Have you ever felt like all hope was lost, only to discover there was good news on the other side?
Imagine these women picking up their skirts and running with all their strength, soaring like eagles, until they reached the feet of Jesus, where they fell down in worship (Matthew 28:9-10). They ran like the girls God created them to be, sharing about His resurrection and so can we.
From Grief to Glory: The Women Who Ran To Share the Good News
April 20, 2025
by Dorina Lazo Gilmore-Young
“So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples.” Matthew 28:8 (NIV)
On the first Easter Sunday, some women rose to bring spices to anoint Jesus’ dead body but what they witnessed was miraculous. An angel dressed in gleaming white revealed to them that Jesus had risen from the dead. The angel invited the women to come and see where Jesus had lain, then go and tell His disciples. These ladies had the opportunity to run for God’s glory. And that’s exactly what they did (Matthew 28:2-8). I coach track and field at the high school my daughters attend. One of my athletes has a T-shirt that says “I run like a girl” on the front and “Try to keep up” on the back. Every time she wears that shirt, I am filled with delight. The shirt is a tongue-in-cheek statement to those who believe girls must run slower than boys. Still, I’ve always taught my girls we don’t run merely to beat the boys or prove ourselves to the world. We run for God’s glory. When the Gospel writer Matthew described the scene at Jesus’ tomb, he quoted the angel as saying: “‘Go quickly and tell his disciples: “He has risen from the dead and is going ahead of you into Galilee. There you will see him.” Now I have told you.’ So the women hurried away from the tomb, afraid yet filled with joy, and ran to tell his disciples” (Matthew 28:7-8, NIV, emphases added).
God could have announced His Son’s resurrection in a myriad of grandiose ways, but He chose to send an angel first to go and tell women whose lives had been transformed by His Son. The Gospels mention that among these women were Mary Magdalene, whom Jesus delivered from seven demons; another Mary, mother of James; Salome, mother of James and John; and Joanna, wife of Chuza, Herod’s servant, whom Jesus healed and partnered with throughout His ministry (Matthew 28:1; Mark 16:1; Luke 24:10). These faithful women walked with Jesus, ate with Him, and listened to Him teach. Many women were there the day He was crucified and the night His body was buried (Matthew 27:55). At the opening of the empty tomb, they leaned in close to see for themselves as eyewitnesses. Then they ran joyfully to share the Good News. Can you fathom the grief and sorrow these women had endured just days before? Have you ever felt like all hope was lost, only to discover there was good news on the other side?
Imagine these women picking up their skirts and running with all their strength, soaring like eagles, until they reached the feet of Jesus, where they fell down in worship (Matthew 28:9-10). They ran like the girls God created them to be, sharing about His resurrection and so can we.
3
Articles / Re: Left to die at 27,000ft: Never-before-seen footage shows climbers discover ...
« on: September 27, 2026, 04:24:26 PM »
Absolute tragedy and I can't imagine making that decision to leave someone to die.
4
Articles / Re: I grew up in a normal family then I found out my mother was hiding a dark .....
« on: September 04, 2026, 02:54:33 PM »
It's probably a generational thing why his mother never told anybody about her family. It's sad though he found out the truth as an adult.
5
Faith / Re: Devotions
« on: July 03, 2026, 05:10:24 PM »
https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2025/02/21/giving-space-to-our-trials?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-_KqggRtYtLXrS2ScEygPc03OLeemp8CJNZQTUR6at75qmTzWAk--OhaHV6QzVR8T05Y1fm9CskuOpCZBlAqdZ3_UfKMg&_hsmi=345356449&utm_content=345356449&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread
Giving Space to Our Trials
February 21, 2025
by Carole Holiday
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 (NIV)
When Christians mention favorite Bible verses, I’m guessing James 1:4 doesn’t get many votes. I doubt it regularly appears on gift shop shelves where sweet spiritual promises find themselves emblazoned on mugs or tea towels. In the more-often-recited neighboring verses, James advises welcoming trials: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3, NIV).
If I’m honest, I want to rush trials. But James 1:4 proposes just the opposite giving trials time and space, allowing them to do their work: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Ugh. You won’t find me dancing in delight as I read that message. But James understood the difficulties and struggles of the early Christians to whom he originally wrote this scripture. The Church was reeling from persecution, and he addressed their response to those hardships. The idea of inserting joy anywhere in the vicinity of tough times may have seemed exhausting. It exhausts me. Furthermore, the suggestion that I allow perseverance to wring out the best in me pushes me to the limit. And the limit is right where God can meet me. When I don’t think I can take any more hurt, God promises to transform pain into perseverance the ability to endure. It’s endurance that teaches us good things take time.
Developing our character takes time.
Growing in our relationships takes time.
Understanding holiness takes time.
Healing from emotional injury takes time.
I remember sheepishly confessing to a kind friend how embarrassed I was that I didn’t seem able to “get over” my ex-husband. Others wondered aloud how I could want someone who didn’t want me. Here I sat, tying all of my hopes and dreams to someone who had discarded me. I felt ashamed as a woman and as a woman who proclaimed Jesus as Lord. My friend leaned forward and softly said, “It takes a long time to heal a broken heart.”
I straightened a bit in my chair, realizing she was right. This isn’t a period of unfruitful heartache. This is a period of perseverance maturing me on the inside. Completing my growth. Filling my empty cup with new purposes. Sometimes we have to suspend earthly logic and rest in faith that God’s Word makes mysterious promises. Unseen, tiny wheels and gears turn in our deepest parts, unsticking our stuck places and stretching out space for the Spirit of God. I can say I have endured trials I thought I could never endure. I have witnessed the maturity that follows that endurance. And I want to encourage you with these words, as I have met many women who say the same: I guess James was right all those years ago. That’s why you can say with assurance that no pain in your life will ever be wasted.
Giving Space to Our Trials
February 21, 2025
by Carole Holiday
“Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:4 (NIV)
When Christians mention favorite Bible verses, I’m guessing James 1:4 doesn’t get many votes. I doubt it regularly appears on gift shop shelves where sweet spiritual promises find themselves emblazoned on mugs or tea towels. In the more-often-recited neighboring verses, James advises welcoming trials: “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance” (James 1:2-3, NIV).
If I’m honest, I want to rush trials. But James 1:4 proposes just the opposite giving trials time and space, allowing them to do their work: “Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
Ugh. You won’t find me dancing in delight as I read that message. But James understood the difficulties and struggles of the early Christians to whom he originally wrote this scripture. The Church was reeling from persecution, and he addressed their response to those hardships. The idea of inserting joy anywhere in the vicinity of tough times may have seemed exhausting. It exhausts me. Furthermore, the suggestion that I allow perseverance to wring out the best in me pushes me to the limit. And the limit is right where God can meet me. When I don’t think I can take any more hurt, God promises to transform pain into perseverance the ability to endure. It’s endurance that teaches us good things take time.
Developing our character takes time.
Growing in our relationships takes time.
Understanding holiness takes time.
Healing from emotional injury takes time.
I remember sheepishly confessing to a kind friend how embarrassed I was that I didn’t seem able to “get over” my ex-husband. Others wondered aloud how I could want someone who didn’t want me. Here I sat, tying all of my hopes and dreams to someone who had discarded me. I felt ashamed as a woman and as a woman who proclaimed Jesus as Lord. My friend leaned forward and softly said, “It takes a long time to heal a broken heart.”
I straightened a bit in my chair, realizing she was right. This isn’t a period of unfruitful heartache. This is a period of perseverance maturing me on the inside. Completing my growth. Filling my empty cup with new purposes. Sometimes we have to suspend earthly logic and rest in faith that God’s Word makes mysterious promises. Unseen, tiny wheels and gears turn in our deepest parts, unsticking our stuck places and stretching out space for the Spirit of God. I can say I have endured trials I thought I could never endure. I have witnessed the maturity that follows that endurance. And I want to encourage you with these words, as I have met many women who say the same: I guess James was right all those years ago. That’s why you can say with assurance that no pain in your life will ever be wasted.
6
Articles / Henry Nowak's killer 'applies to have murder conviction quashed AND his ....
« on: July 03, 2026, 05:00:30 PM »
https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15949635/Henry-Nowak-killer-applies-murder-conviction-quashed-sentence-reduced.html
Henry Nowak's killer 'applies to have murder conviction quashed AND his sentence reduced'
See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
By NOOR QURASHI, NEWS REPORTER
Published: 01:50, 3 July 2026 | Updated: 09:08, 3 July 2026
Henry Nowak's killer has launched a bid to have his murder conviction quashed and his sentence reduced. Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed for life last month with a minimum 21-year term after he stabbed Mr Nowak, 18, to death in December with a ceremonial dagger. Digwa did not know his teenage victim but 'lied' to officers at the scene by claiming Mr Nowak shouted racist abuse, punched him and knocked off his turban. Mr Nowak was then arrested as he lay covered in his own blood, before dying 'alone, humiliated and handcuffed' in police custody. Digwa has now made an application to the Court of Appeal in the hopes of reducing his jail term. It comes despite Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC applying for his jail term to be reconsidered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The Court of Appeal confirmed Digwa's case had previously been referred to them as 'unduly lenient'. An official added: 'This person has also recently lodged an application for leave to appeal conviction and sentence.'
A judge is now set to decide whether Digwa should be given the opportunity to appeal. If he is, the case will be heard by three judges sitting at the Court of Appeal Criminal Division. Digwa was given a life sentence for stabbing Mr Nowak with a ceremonial knife with a 21cm blade which he claimed he carried as part of his Sikh religion. He had previously been investigated by police in 2023 on suspicion of stealing ceremonial blades from a Sikh temple in Southampton but no further action was taken. Passing sentence at Southampton Crown Court last month, Judge William Mousley pushed back on accusations of racism against Digwa, saying of Mr Nowak: 'I am sure that Henry said nothing racist. You are the only person to make that claim and it is completely at odds with his previous character.'
Widespread outrage followed the release of police bodycam footage of the Southampton University student being arrested. The footage showed Mr Nowak handcuffed as he lay dying. Mr Nowak could be heard repeatedly telling officers 'I can't breathe' before his death. Ellie Reeves KC previously described the case as 'horrifying' adding she knew that sentiment was 'shared by the British public'. Speaking on her application to the Court of Appeal, she said: 'It is right that difficult questions need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry Nowak's murder, while my role is to review Digwa's sentence for his crimes. After careful consideration, I have taken the decision to refer this case to the Court of Appeal. No sentence can ever undo the devastation that Henry's family have suffered, or fill the void left by his loss. But I hope this referral goes some way towards bringing them the justice they deserve.'
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously said he 'felt sick' watching footage of police handcuffing Mr Nowak as he lay dying, and that there are 'serious questions' to answer about the case. Last month, there was outrage over the decision not to charge Digwa's brother Gurpreet after he accused Mr Nowak of racism and being the aggressor. Evidence at the trial of Vickrum Digwa also suggested his brother may have committed perjury, assisted an offender and obstructed police. Gurpreet Digwa watched as police handcuffed fatally injured Henry. He had told officers 'we've been racially attacked by a white person' before they wrongly arrested Henry as he lay dying. Last month the Daily Mail revealed Hampshire Police did not ask the Crown Prosecution Service to consider any case against Gurpreet over Henry's murder. An online petition has called for him to be reinvestigated. Earlier this week, it emerged that the two police officers called to the scene of Henry's murder are under investigation for potential gross misconduct. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it is investigating potential failures by the officers to realise that Henry needed urgent medical attention, to take action when he said he had been stabbed and could not breathe, and the decision to arrest and handcuff him instead of providing first aid.
Henry Nowak's killer 'applies to have murder conviction quashed AND his sentence reduced'
See more Daily Mail on Google - save us as a Preferred Source
By NOOR QURASHI, NEWS REPORTER
Published: 01:50, 3 July 2026 | Updated: 09:08, 3 July 2026
Henry Nowak's killer has launched a bid to have his murder conviction quashed and his sentence reduced. Vickrum Digwa, 23, was jailed for life last month with a minimum 21-year term after he stabbed Mr Nowak, 18, to death in December with a ceremonial dagger. Digwa did not know his teenage victim but 'lied' to officers at the scene by claiming Mr Nowak shouted racist abuse, punched him and knocked off his turban. Mr Nowak was then arrested as he lay covered in his own blood, before dying 'alone, humiliated and handcuffed' in police custody. Digwa has now made an application to the Court of Appeal in the hopes of reducing his jail term. It comes despite Solicitor General Ellie Reeves KC applying for his jail term to be reconsidered under the Unduly Lenient Sentence scheme. The Court of Appeal confirmed Digwa's case had previously been referred to them as 'unduly lenient'. An official added: 'This person has also recently lodged an application for leave to appeal conviction and sentence.'
A judge is now set to decide whether Digwa should be given the opportunity to appeal. If he is, the case will be heard by three judges sitting at the Court of Appeal Criminal Division. Digwa was given a life sentence for stabbing Mr Nowak with a ceremonial knife with a 21cm blade which he claimed he carried as part of his Sikh religion. He had previously been investigated by police in 2023 on suspicion of stealing ceremonial blades from a Sikh temple in Southampton but no further action was taken. Passing sentence at Southampton Crown Court last month, Judge William Mousley pushed back on accusations of racism against Digwa, saying of Mr Nowak: 'I am sure that Henry said nothing racist. You are the only person to make that claim and it is completely at odds with his previous character.'
Widespread outrage followed the release of police bodycam footage of the Southampton University student being arrested. The footage showed Mr Nowak handcuffed as he lay dying. Mr Nowak could be heard repeatedly telling officers 'I can't breathe' before his death. Ellie Reeves KC previously described the case as 'horrifying' adding she knew that sentiment was 'shared by the British public'. Speaking on her application to the Court of Appeal, she said: 'It is right that difficult questions need to be answered about the way the police handled Henry Nowak's murder, while my role is to review Digwa's sentence for his crimes. After careful consideration, I have taken the decision to refer this case to the Court of Appeal. No sentence can ever undo the devastation that Henry's family have suffered, or fill the void left by his loss. But I hope this referral goes some way towards bringing them the justice they deserve.'
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer previously said he 'felt sick' watching footage of police handcuffing Mr Nowak as he lay dying, and that there are 'serious questions' to answer about the case. Last month, there was outrage over the decision not to charge Digwa's brother Gurpreet after he accused Mr Nowak of racism and being the aggressor. Evidence at the trial of Vickrum Digwa also suggested his brother may have committed perjury, assisted an offender and obstructed police. Gurpreet Digwa watched as police handcuffed fatally injured Henry. He had told officers 'we've been racially attacked by a white person' before they wrongly arrested Henry as he lay dying. Last month the Daily Mail revealed Hampshire Police did not ask the Crown Prosecution Service to consider any case against Gurpreet over Henry's murder. An online petition has called for him to be reinvestigated. Earlier this week, it emerged that the two police officers called to the scene of Henry's murder are under investigation for potential gross misconduct. The Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC) said it is investigating potential failures by the officers to realise that Henry needed urgent medical attention, to take action when he said he had been stabbed and could not breathe, and the decision to arrest and handcuff him instead of providing first aid.
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Fun, Games And Silliness / Re: Use the last two letters to make next word
« on: May 17, 2026, 11:14:56 AM »
station
8
Fun, Games And Silliness / Re: Keep A Word, Drop A Word, Add A Word
« on: May 17, 2026, 11:14:01 AM »
good choice
11
Articles / Re: A paedophile prowls the streets in a white van, snatching children from....
« on: April 03, 2026, 06:28:06 PM »
I have watched a true crime documentary about this case and it was terrible what happened.
12
Faith / Re: Devotions
« on: April 03, 2026, 06:25:15 PM »
https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2024/11/08/five-scriptural-prayers-for-joy-when-life-is-hard?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz-88cAghW4j4UEPjrYuCQruycDv49tUYqwZwOkr0yyXWj3OnxAvKbulsXaWCga6y_QTkvnciZNtAGlVNIg-nIRGMN9I0BA&_hsmi=330722906&utm_content=330722906&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread
Five Scriptural Prayers for Joy When Life Is Hard
November 8, 2024
by Asheritah Ciuciu
“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:11 (NLT)
Why am I so cranky?
Have you ever asked yourself that question?
I have, more times than I care to admit. I could blame my child who just responded disrespectfully to a reasonable request. I could blame my co-worker whose political chatter grates on my nerves. I could blame the stubborn imperfections I see when I look in the mirror. But truthfully, none of those situations should have the power to steal my joy and turn me into a grump because Jesus offers me His overflowing joy. In John 15:11, just hours before He would be betrayed, arrested and executed, Jesus told His disciples: “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (NLT).
What Jesus promised His disciples, and by extension those of us who follow Him today, is a supernatural joy that transcends circumstances. A supernatural joy that comes only from God’s work in us, often in response to our prayers. The truth is we need God’s help to grow into women of joy, and thankfully, our Bibles are full of sample prayers we can learn to pray on our own. After all, if joy is a fruit of God’s Spirit in us (Galatians 5:22) and the Father longs for us to bear fruit (John 15:2), won’t He be pleased to answer our prayers and grant us joy in Christ?
He certainly will. So let us confidently ask God to grow us into women of contagious joy, unbothered by mundane irritations and filled with His Spirit. Here are five powerful prayers you can start praying today:
1. Based on Nehemiah 8:10: Your joy is my strength, Lord, so please fill me with Your supernatural power to respond cheerfully even when I’m tired.
2. Based on Psalm 30:5: Though my sorrow may last through this dark night, Your joy will come in the morning. Help me wait patiently for You to turn my tears to laughter.
3. Based on Psalm 51:12: Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, Jesus, and make me quick to obey You.
4. Based on Psalm 4:6-7: Lord, You can fill my heart with more joy than a shopping spree or exotic vacation or [fill in the blank]. I choose to trust You.
5. Based on Psalm 13:3 and Psalm 34:5: Restore the sparkle to my eyes, Lord. May my wrinkles and laugh lines reveal that I am a woman whose face radiates Your joy!
May we grow in supernatural joy that points us and our world to Jesus.
Five Scriptural Prayers for Joy When Life Is Hard
November 8, 2024
by Asheritah Ciuciu
“I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” John 15:11 (NLT)
Why am I so cranky?
Have you ever asked yourself that question?
I have, more times than I care to admit. I could blame my child who just responded disrespectfully to a reasonable request. I could blame my co-worker whose political chatter grates on my nerves. I could blame the stubborn imperfections I see when I look in the mirror. But truthfully, none of those situations should have the power to steal my joy and turn me into a grump because Jesus offers me His overflowing joy. In John 15:11, just hours before He would be betrayed, arrested and executed, Jesus told His disciples: “I have told you these things so that you will be filled with my joy. Yes, your joy will overflow!” (NLT).
What Jesus promised His disciples, and by extension those of us who follow Him today, is a supernatural joy that transcends circumstances. A supernatural joy that comes only from God’s work in us, often in response to our prayers. The truth is we need God’s help to grow into women of joy, and thankfully, our Bibles are full of sample prayers we can learn to pray on our own. After all, if joy is a fruit of God’s Spirit in us (Galatians 5:22) and the Father longs for us to bear fruit (John 15:2), won’t He be pleased to answer our prayers and grant us joy in Christ?
He certainly will. So let us confidently ask God to grow us into women of contagious joy, unbothered by mundane irritations and filled with His Spirit. Here are five powerful prayers you can start praying today:
1. Based on Nehemiah 8:10: Your joy is my strength, Lord, so please fill me with Your supernatural power to respond cheerfully even when I’m tired.
2. Based on Psalm 30:5: Though my sorrow may last through this dark night, Your joy will come in the morning. Help me wait patiently for You to turn my tears to laughter.
3. Based on Psalm 51:12: Restore to me the joy of Your salvation, Jesus, and make me quick to obey You.
4. Based on Psalm 4:6-7: Lord, You can fill my heart with more joy than a shopping spree or exotic vacation or [fill in the blank]. I choose to trust You.
5. Based on Psalm 13:3 and Psalm 34:5: Restore the sparkle to my eyes, Lord. May my wrinkles and laugh lines reveal that I am a woman whose face radiates Your joy!
May we grow in supernatural joy that points us and our world to Jesus.
13
Faith / Re: Devotions
« on: April 03, 2026, 06:19:20 PM »
https://proverbs31.org/read/devotions/full-post/2024/11/07/but-what-if-you-could?utm_campaign=Daily%20Devotions&utm_medium=email&_hsenc=p2ANqtz--BwNyFHL8n78jBx9d4lyzsGJp5GOWiYDvHRdVPu3T-hB0Trw0bE5UTaP_Hbjr1jHix_PpwWgAd6marF_rN8XxI0vGm0g&_hsmi=330719416&utm_content=330719416&utm_source=hs_email#disqus_thread
But What if You Could?
November 7, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries
“Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7 (CSB)
It was just a broken ice maker. It wasn’t a catastrophic event. I was safe. I was in a good place. And I was looking forward to spending a few days on vacation. But when the ice maker broke at the beach house we were staying in, I started spiraling. I was having an out-of-proportion reaction to the minor situation in front of me. And when that happens, I know it’s not just about the thing. It’s all the other things attached to this thing. I can’t fix this thing! And I can’t find a repairman. And even if I do find someone to help me, what if a part has to be ordered?
And what if that part is on back order? Or worse yet, what if it can’t be fixed? Now here I am with another broken thing, and there’s nothing I can do about it!
I’m usually very “go with the flow.” But not this day. About the third time I said out loud, “I can’t fix this ice maker!”
I stopped myself, and five words popped into my head. But what if I could?
What if I try to fix it?
What’s the worst thing that could happen it breaks?
It’s already broken. I rolled my eyes at the absurdity of what I was about to attempt. I Googled “how to fix an ice maker.” It was too general of a search, bringing up way too many options and way too many written instructions. Then I decided to look on YouTube, and I narrowed my search with the name of the fridge. I watched the video several times. I opened the freezer. And no joke I did it! I fixed that ice maker! You would have thought I just climbed Mount Everest or finished running a marathon based on my victory dance around that kitchen! I know this is a whole lot of drama around what should have been just an everyday aggravation. But isn’t this where a lot of us fall apart?
It’s that last little broken thing, put on top of all the hurt we’re carrying, that breaks us wide open and leaks out another flood of tears. It was never really about the ice maker. It was a moment of resilience I could see, touch and celebrate. This resilience was tangible evidence that I was healing, growing, and moving forward by trying new things. Most of all, it was a moment when I didn’t succumb to the limitations of living hurt. I’ve written in my journal so many times, “Just because I’ve been hurt doesn’t mean I have to live hurt.”
That’s easy to write. Hard to live out. That day in the kitchen, I fixed that ice maker in a rebellious act of resilience. And I knew this was going to be an important part of getting unstuck and moving forward. For me, two words that indicate stuckness are “can’t” and “don’t.” I can’t deal with this. I can’t do this. I can’t trust people. I can’t fix this. I can’t change. I don’t think this is ever going to get better. I don’t want to try. I don’t believe it’s possible. I don’t think God has a good plan for me. I don’t want to hope again. Now, please lean in close here. If we don’t tend well to this kind of broken processing, our can’ts and don’ts will turn into won’ts.
I won’t do this.
I won’t trust people.
I won’t fix this.
I won’t change.
I won’t try.
I won’t believe.
I won’t trust that God has a good plan.
I won’t hope again.
Healing is layered and can be complicated. It takes time to process and move forward from heartbreak, betrayal and broken trust … probably more time than any of us want it to take. But by listening for our “I can’ts” and “I don’ts” and making sure they don’t turn into “I won’ts,” we can see significant progress today. Build our resilience muscles today. Prove today that being brave is not always something we feel — it’s something we do.
Let’s resist fear and anxiety and come into alignment with truth today, like Psalm 116:7: “Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.”
Friend, you don’t have to fix an ice maker, but don’t miss an opportunity to overcome an “I can’t” or “I don’t” today. Maybe try using some new words … I am willing to try. Maybe I can find someone who can teach me. This is an opportunity for me to be brave. But what if I could?
But What if You Could?
November 7, 2024
by Lysa TerKeurst, President and Chief Visionary Officer of Proverbs 31 Ministries
“Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.” Psalm 116:7 (CSB)
It was just a broken ice maker. It wasn’t a catastrophic event. I was safe. I was in a good place. And I was looking forward to spending a few days on vacation. But when the ice maker broke at the beach house we were staying in, I started spiraling. I was having an out-of-proportion reaction to the minor situation in front of me. And when that happens, I know it’s not just about the thing. It’s all the other things attached to this thing. I can’t fix this thing! And I can’t find a repairman. And even if I do find someone to help me, what if a part has to be ordered?
And what if that part is on back order? Or worse yet, what if it can’t be fixed? Now here I am with another broken thing, and there’s nothing I can do about it!
I’m usually very “go with the flow.” But not this day. About the third time I said out loud, “I can’t fix this ice maker!”
I stopped myself, and five words popped into my head. But what if I could?
What if I try to fix it?
What’s the worst thing that could happen it breaks?
It’s already broken. I rolled my eyes at the absurdity of what I was about to attempt. I Googled “how to fix an ice maker.” It was too general of a search, bringing up way too many options and way too many written instructions. Then I decided to look on YouTube, and I narrowed my search with the name of the fridge. I watched the video several times. I opened the freezer. And no joke I did it! I fixed that ice maker! You would have thought I just climbed Mount Everest or finished running a marathon based on my victory dance around that kitchen! I know this is a whole lot of drama around what should have been just an everyday aggravation. But isn’t this where a lot of us fall apart?
It’s that last little broken thing, put on top of all the hurt we’re carrying, that breaks us wide open and leaks out another flood of tears. It was never really about the ice maker. It was a moment of resilience I could see, touch and celebrate. This resilience was tangible evidence that I was healing, growing, and moving forward by trying new things. Most of all, it was a moment when I didn’t succumb to the limitations of living hurt. I’ve written in my journal so many times, “Just because I’ve been hurt doesn’t mean I have to live hurt.”
That’s easy to write. Hard to live out. That day in the kitchen, I fixed that ice maker in a rebellious act of resilience. And I knew this was going to be an important part of getting unstuck and moving forward. For me, two words that indicate stuckness are “can’t” and “don’t.” I can’t deal with this. I can’t do this. I can’t trust people. I can’t fix this. I can’t change. I don’t think this is ever going to get better. I don’t want to try. I don’t believe it’s possible. I don’t think God has a good plan for me. I don’t want to hope again. Now, please lean in close here. If we don’t tend well to this kind of broken processing, our can’ts and don’ts will turn into won’ts.
I won’t do this.
I won’t trust people.
I won’t fix this.
I won’t change.
I won’t try.
I won’t believe.
I won’t trust that God has a good plan.
I won’t hope again.
Healing is layered and can be complicated. It takes time to process and move forward from heartbreak, betrayal and broken trust … probably more time than any of us want it to take. But by listening for our “I can’ts” and “I don’ts” and making sure they don’t turn into “I won’ts,” we can see significant progress today. Build our resilience muscles today. Prove today that being brave is not always something we feel — it’s something we do.
Let’s resist fear and anxiety and come into alignment with truth today, like Psalm 116:7: “Return to your rest, my soul, for the LORD has been good to you.”
Friend, you don’t have to fix an ice maker, but don’t miss an opportunity to overcome an “I can’t” or “I don’t” today. Maybe try using some new words … I am willing to try. Maybe I can find someone who can teach me. This is an opportunity for me to be brave. But what if I could?
14
Articles / Suffolk strangler Steve Wright admits murder for the first time as he ....
« on: February 02, 2026, 06:17:28 PM »
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15518539/Suffolk-strangler-Steve-Wright-admits-murder-victoria-hall.html
Suffolk strangler Steve Wright admits murder for the first time as he pleads guilty to killing teenage girl in 1999 years before he terrorised sex workers on the streets of Ipswich
LISTEN: The Trial - The Cold Case Killer is available now wherever you get your podcasts
By REBECCA CAMBER, CRIME AND SECURITY EDITOR
Published: 10:33, 2 February 2026 | Updated: 17:16, 2 February 2026
Suffolk strangler Steve Wright dramatically confessed to murder for the first time today admitting that he killed a 17-year-old girl over 25 years ago. The 67-year-old serial killer unexpectedly pleaded guilty to killing Victoria Hall in 1999 on the first day of his highly anticipated trial at the Old Bailey. Seven years before he stalked Ipswich's red-light district murdering five sex workers in 2006, Wright snatched the A-level student off the street in Felixstowe as she walked home from a nightclub on September 19, 1999. In front of a hushed courtroom, Wright also pleaded guilty to the attempted kidnap of Emily Doherty, aged 22, just 24 hours earlier in the same area. It is the first time that one of Britain's most notorious killers has admitted responsibility for any of his crimes and Wright showed no emotion as he pleaded guilty to the murder. He refused to stand for the judge as the court hearing started, but staggered to his feet to utter the pleas during the brief nine-minute appearance. In the hushed courtroom, there was a gasp from onlookers who wept as Wright said he was guilty of Victoria's murder. He is due to be sentenced on Friday. He is currently serving a whole life sentence at Long Lartin Prison in Worcestershire for five murders.
In a six-week frenzy, the former QE2 steward went on the rampage in Ipswich's red-light district murdering Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24 and Annette Nicholls, 29 before he was captured by police just before Christmas 2006. Despite overwhelming forensic evidence linking him to the bodies of the sex workers found in near identical positions dumped in a stream and woodland, Wright denied any responsibility. But today for the first time Wright confessed that he killed Miss Hall before dumping her body in the same stream as two of his later victims. The shock confession on the first day of a month-long trial will inevitably raise questions about how many more victims Wright claimed in the intervening years. Ever since he was sentenced to a whole life tariff for the five murders in 2008, there have been questions about other unsolved murders, with Wright previously being linked to high-profile cases including the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh with whom he had previously worked on the QE2.
Wright was on a long list of potential suspects for Victoria's murder after his car was found to be a partial number plate match with a vehicle used in the attempted abduction of Miss Doherty the day earlier. But he was never arrested or interviewed because bungling officers spent £2million prosecuting the wrong man. Local businessman Adrian Bradshaw was at the same nightclub as Victoria before she vanished on her way home in the early hours of September 19, 1999. Her parents had expected her to take a taxi home, but she ran out of money. Instead, Victoria and her best friend Gemma Algar stopped to buy chips before walking the two miles from Bandbox nightclub to their homes in Trimley St Mary. The pair went their separate ways around 2.30am, just 300 yards from Victoria's home. As she walked away, Gemma heard a scream, but she thought someone was messing around. Other residents also heard 'horrifying screams', the sound of a 'throaty exhaust' and a car screeching away. At 8.20am, Victoria's parents raised the alarm when they discovered she was not in her bedroom. Five days later, her body was found by a dogwalker in a ditch 25 miles away in Creeting St Peter. Like two of Wright's later victims, the teenager was found naked in a stream. In another similarity, a post-mortem examination revealed that she had been asphyxiated, but not sexually assaulted. But detectives focused their inquiries on Mr Bradshaw after locals pointed out that his Porsche had a noisy exhaust.
The 27-year-old, who owned a local newspaper, had been at the same nightclub before taking a taxi home with friends, being dropped off at 2.30am near a roundabout where Victoria was last seen. He was arrested in May 2000 and charged months later after forensic scientists found ten grains of mud on the accelerator pedal of his 1982 Porsche 944, which Britain's top soil expert Professor Kenneth Pye claimed was of 'remarkable' similarity to the soil in the ditch. But jurors took just 90 minutes to acquit him after a geologist revealed the sample could have come from anywhere in East Anglia.
In 2019 cold case officers took a fresh look at the investigation, releasing a CCTV clip of a man standing close to the spot where Victoria's body was dumped. Detectives had set up a secret camera at the scene hoping that the killer might return. Grainy CCTV showed a man in a white van return to the scene three weeks after her death. The unidentified figure got out of a van before walking around and driving off at 12.34pm on October 7, 1999. At the time Suffolk Police was unable to identify the person, but following a Crimewatch appeal a member of the public came forward to report that Wright owned a similar vehicle and the man closely resembled his profile, age and height. In July 2021 Wright was arrested in prison and interviewed by officers. He was charged in 2024 after new forensic techniques revealed a link to the serial killer for the first time. At the time of Victoria's murder, Wright was not on the police database and his DNA was only added two years later when he was convicted of stealing from a bar. Today he pleaded guilty to the kidnap and murder of Victoria Hall 'by force or fraud taking or carrying away Victoria Hall against her will'. He also admitted the attempted kidnap of Ms Doherty on September 18, 1999 acting 'unlawfully and by force or fraud attempted to take or carry her away against her will'.
Suffolk strangler Steve Wright admits murder for the first time as he pleads guilty to killing teenage girl in 1999 years before he terrorised sex workers on the streets of Ipswich
LISTEN: The Trial - The Cold Case Killer is available now wherever you get your podcasts
By REBECCA CAMBER, CRIME AND SECURITY EDITOR
Published: 10:33, 2 February 2026 | Updated: 17:16, 2 February 2026
Suffolk strangler Steve Wright dramatically confessed to murder for the first time today admitting that he killed a 17-year-old girl over 25 years ago. The 67-year-old serial killer unexpectedly pleaded guilty to killing Victoria Hall in 1999 on the first day of his highly anticipated trial at the Old Bailey. Seven years before he stalked Ipswich's red-light district murdering five sex workers in 2006, Wright snatched the A-level student off the street in Felixstowe as she walked home from a nightclub on September 19, 1999. In front of a hushed courtroom, Wright also pleaded guilty to the attempted kidnap of Emily Doherty, aged 22, just 24 hours earlier in the same area. It is the first time that one of Britain's most notorious killers has admitted responsibility for any of his crimes and Wright showed no emotion as he pleaded guilty to the murder. He refused to stand for the judge as the court hearing started, but staggered to his feet to utter the pleas during the brief nine-minute appearance. In the hushed courtroom, there was a gasp from onlookers who wept as Wright said he was guilty of Victoria's murder. He is due to be sentenced on Friday. He is currently serving a whole life sentence at Long Lartin Prison in Worcestershire for five murders.
In a six-week frenzy, the former QE2 steward went on the rampage in Ipswich's red-light district murdering Gemma Adams, 25, Tania Nicol, 19, Anneli Alderton, 24, Paula Clennell, 24 and Annette Nicholls, 29 before he was captured by police just before Christmas 2006. Despite overwhelming forensic evidence linking him to the bodies of the sex workers found in near identical positions dumped in a stream and woodland, Wright denied any responsibility. But today for the first time Wright confessed that he killed Miss Hall before dumping her body in the same stream as two of his later victims. The shock confession on the first day of a month-long trial will inevitably raise questions about how many more victims Wright claimed in the intervening years. Ever since he was sentenced to a whole life tariff for the five murders in 2008, there have been questions about other unsolved murders, with Wright previously being linked to high-profile cases including the disappearance of Suzy Lamplugh with whom he had previously worked on the QE2.
Wright was on a long list of potential suspects for Victoria's murder after his car was found to be a partial number plate match with a vehicle used in the attempted abduction of Miss Doherty the day earlier. But he was never arrested or interviewed because bungling officers spent £2million prosecuting the wrong man. Local businessman Adrian Bradshaw was at the same nightclub as Victoria before she vanished on her way home in the early hours of September 19, 1999. Her parents had expected her to take a taxi home, but she ran out of money. Instead, Victoria and her best friend Gemma Algar stopped to buy chips before walking the two miles from Bandbox nightclub to their homes in Trimley St Mary. The pair went their separate ways around 2.30am, just 300 yards from Victoria's home. As she walked away, Gemma heard a scream, but she thought someone was messing around. Other residents also heard 'horrifying screams', the sound of a 'throaty exhaust' and a car screeching away. At 8.20am, Victoria's parents raised the alarm when they discovered she was not in her bedroom. Five days later, her body was found by a dogwalker in a ditch 25 miles away in Creeting St Peter. Like two of Wright's later victims, the teenager was found naked in a stream. In another similarity, a post-mortem examination revealed that she had been asphyxiated, but not sexually assaulted. But detectives focused their inquiries on Mr Bradshaw after locals pointed out that his Porsche had a noisy exhaust.
The 27-year-old, who owned a local newspaper, had been at the same nightclub before taking a taxi home with friends, being dropped off at 2.30am near a roundabout where Victoria was last seen. He was arrested in May 2000 and charged months later after forensic scientists found ten grains of mud on the accelerator pedal of his 1982 Porsche 944, which Britain's top soil expert Professor Kenneth Pye claimed was of 'remarkable' similarity to the soil in the ditch. But jurors took just 90 minutes to acquit him after a geologist revealed the sample could have come from anywhere in East Anglia.
In 2019 cold case officers took a fresh look at the investigation, releasing a CCTV clip of a man standing close to the spot where Victoria's body was dumped. Detectives had set up a secret camera at the scene hoping that the killer might return. Grainy CCTV showed a man in a white van return to the scene three weeks after her death. The unidentified figure got out of a van before walking around and driving off at 12.34pm on October 7, 1999. At the time Suffolk Police was unable to identify the person, but following a Crimewatch appeal a member of the public came forward to report that Wright owned a similar vehicle and the man closely resembled his profile, age and height. In July 2021 Wright was arrested in prison and interviewed by officers. He was charged in 2024 after new forensic techniques revealed a link to the serial killer for the first time. At the time of Victoria's murder, Wright was not on the police database and his DNA was only added two years later when he was convicted of stealing from a bar. Today he pleaded guilty to the kidnap and murder of Victoria Hall 'by force or fraud taking or carrying away Victoria Hall against her will'. He also admitted the attempted kidnap of Ms Doherty on September 18, 1999 acting 'unlawfully and by force or fraud attempted to take or carry her away against her will'.
15
Articles / Man wrongly jailed for murder for 38 years struggles with smartphones, apps ....
« on: November 22, 2025, 04:02:45 PM »
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-15316129/Man-wrongly-jailed-murder-smartphones-apps-millionaire.html
Man wrongly jailed for murder for 38 years struggles with smartphones, apps and self-checkouts since his release but soon may be a millionaire
By ROBERT FOLKER, NEWS REPORTER
Published: 13:47, 22 November 2025 | Updated: 13:53, 22 November 2025
In one of Britain's worst miscarriages of justice, Peter Sullivan spent 38 years behind bars for the murder of 21-year-old florist Diane Sindall. Dubbed the 'Beast of Birkenhead' after the brutal killing, Mr Sullivan had long protested his innocence after his conviction in 1987. Earlier this year, three senior judges quashed his conviction after the Court of Appeal heard DNA evidence showed the killer was someone else. After spending a lifetime in some of Britain's toughest category A prisons, Mr Sullivan was released back into the world, which has drastically changed from the one he left behind. Following his release in May, Mr Sullivan has revealed that even a trip to the shops shows how 'everything's changed', as he comes face to face with self-checkouts for the first time. He also now owns a smartphone, which he needed to buy so he could book a doctor's appointment on what he now knows is an 'app'. His first interaction with smartphones came as he sat on the bus and saw people glued to their screens before realising they were phones when he saw them pressing them to their ears. The 68-year-old, who to date has spent more of his life in prison than free, has also opened up on the strain of being inevitably institutionalised. He recalled that he sometimes walks back to his bedroom and sits on his bed, subconsciously waiting for a prison officer to lock him back into his cell. 'You've got to be at your door at a certain time, otherwise the officers will go off at you', he told the BBC.
'I was just sitting there thinking, "What am I doing?"'
His parents died while he was in prison, and Mr Sullivan said 'it hurts because I wasn't there for them', adding that he has not yet been able to 'set' himself to visit his mother's grave.
Mr Sullivan is also now entitled to £1.3million in compensation after ministers increased the cap for people wrongly jailed for 10 years or more. But it is not an automatic process and is a lengthy process. In another high-profile case, Andrew Malkinson was wrongly jailed for rape for 17 years and finally freed two years ago. Months after his release, he had received no payout and described himself as ‘broke’ and ‘living in a tent’. In February, it emerged Mr Malkinson had received a ‘significant’ six-figure interim payout – but his final application is yet to be resolved. Mr Sullivan, as an innocent man, is not entitled to the help that guilty prisoners who admit their crimes would get. If released on parole, you are given accommodation and help with living expenses. As he is not eligible for this, Mr Sullivan is understood to be living a modest life, but many believe he is a millionaire in waiting. 'There's not a figure that you could say that would be enough for losing 38 years of your life,' his lawyer, Sarah Myatt said.
In response to the huge miscarriage of justice, Merseyside Police expressed its 'regret', but maintained its officers had acted within the law at the time. Chief Constable Rob Carden who took on the job earlier this year said: 'It was a grave miscarriage of justice and obviously as chief constable of Merseyside it doesn't matter how long I've been there, I deeply regret the detrimental impact on Mr Sullivan's life.'
Mr Sullivan also said he is willing to support Ms Sindall's family in court if her killer is found. In an undisclosed location, with his face hidden to protect his privacy, he told the BBC: 'I feel sorry for (Ms Sindall's family), I really do feel sorry for them and what they're going through at the moment, where they're back at square one and not knowing who the person is that killed their daughter. I don't know what to say to them, I am really sorry for what's happened to their daughter, and if they need if they want my support when they go to court with the guy, when they find him, I will go to court with them, I will be there by their side 100%, because I will be there for them.'
Mr Sullivan was aged 30 when he was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years in 1987, but he remained in prison for almost four decades. Mr Sullivan told the BBC: 'I can't forgive them for what they've done to me because it's going to be there with me for the rest of my life I've got to carry that burden until I can get an apology on what happened from everyone else who's been involved with the case. That's all I want is an apology with the reason why they done this to me from Merseyside police and everyone else I lost all my freedom, I lost my mother, since I was put in prison, I've lost my father, and it hurts because I wasn't there for them. I have never been able to set myself to go and see my mum's grave, and I can't carry on with my life if I can't get an answer out of them, that is what I need the most, is an answer from them, and that's all I care about, that answer why they done it to me.'
The investigation into her murder continues, supported by the National Crime Agency, with hundreds of men screened and eliminated in the past two years. Miss Sindall was brutally killed after she left work at a pub in Bebington, Birkenhead, just before midnight on Friday, August 1, 1986. The bride-to-be, who was picking up barmaid shifts to earn extra money for her wedding, was walking to a garage to buy some fuel after her van broke down. Her lifeless and brutally abused body was discovered 12 hours later in an alley. At his trial, prosecutors said Mr Sullivan had spent the day drinking and went out armed with a crowbar. Evidence at the time suggested the petty thief had recently borrowed a crowbar from a neighbour. He was placed near the scene by witnesses following a BBC Crimewatch appeal. But he denied going anywhere near where the crime took place or having the crowbar in his possession, and said he had given different accounts to the police because he could not remember his movements. Mr Sullivan was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years in 1987, but denied parole multiple times, largely due to his refusal to admit responsibility for the killing. He applied to the High Court for permission to appeal against his conviction in 2019, but this was rejected by the Court of Appeal in 2021. Then, in November last year, the Criminal Cases Review Commission said his case had been referred to the Court of Appeal on the basis of the DNA evidence. Samples taken at the time of the murder were re-examined and a DNA profile that did not match Mr Sullivan was found. This crucial evidence was revealed by a method that only came into use in 2015, and he was finally freed after the Court of Appeal in London quashed his conviction in May. Speaking from a secret location, and with his face obscured and voice changed to hide his current appearance, Mr Sullivan said he wanted an apology from Merseyside Police. Mr Sullivan said being denied legal representation at his initial police interviews had been 'very daunting'. He told the broadcaster he was beaten in his cell on two occasions. 'They threw a blanket over the top of me and they were hitting me on top of the blanket with the truncheons to try and get me to co-operate with them,' he said.
'It really hurt, they were leathering me.'
Asked why he would confess to a murder he did not commit, Mr Sullivan told the BBC: 'All I can say, it was the bullying that forced me to throw my hands in, because I couldn't take it anymore.'
He said he felt 'sorry' for Miss Sindall's family, who are 'back at square one and not knowing who the person is that killed their daughter'.
Quashing his murder conviction in May, Lord Justice Holroyde said: 'Strong though the circumstantial evidence undoubtedly seemed at the trial, it is now necessary to take into account the new scientific evidence pointing to someone else the unknown man.'
The new suspect identified by new DNA techniques does not appear on the national database, nor is he linked to any other unsolved offences. Police have confirmed the DNA does not belong to any of Miss Sindall's family or her then fiancé, David Beattie, who has since moved to Australia.
Man wrongly jailed for murder for 38 years struggles with smartphones, apps and self-checkouts since his release but soon may be a millionaire
By ROBERT FOLKER, NEWS REPORTER
Published: 13:47, 22 November 2025 | Updated: 13:53, 22 November 2025
In one of Britain's worst miscarriages of justice, Peter Sullivan spent 38 years behind bars for the murder of 21-year-old florist Diane Sindall. Dubbed the 'Beast of Birkenhead' after the brutal killing, Mr Sullivan had long protested his innocence after his conviction in 1987. Earlier this year, three senior judges quashed his conviction after the Court of Appeal heard DNA evidence showed the killer was someone else. After spending a lifetime in some of Britain's toughest category A prisons, Mr Sullivan was released back into the world, which has drastically changed from the one he left behind. Following his release in May, Mr Sullivan has revealed that even a trip to the shops shows how 'everything's changed', as he comes face to face with self-checkouts for the first time. He also now owns a smartphone, which he needed to buy so he could book a doctor's appointment on what he now knows is an 'app'. His first interaction with smartphones came as he sat on the bus and saw people glued to their screens before realising they were phones when he saw them pressing them to their ears. The 68-year-old, who to date has spent more of his life in prison than free, has also opened up on the strain of being inevitably institutionalised. He recalled that he sometimes walks back to his bedroom and sits on his bed, subconsciously waiting for a prison officer to lock him back into his cell. 'You've got to be at your door at a certain time, otherwise the officers will go off at you', he told the BBC.
'I was just sitting there thinking, "What am I doing?"'
His parents died while he was in prison, and Mr Sullivan said 'it hurts because I wasn't there for them', adding that he has not yet been able to 'set' himself to visit his mother's grave.
Mr Sullivan is also now entitled to £1.3million in compensation after ministers increased the cap for people wrongly jailed for 10 years or more. But it is not an automatic process and is a lengthy process. In another high-profile case, Andrew Malkinson was wrongly jailed for rape for 17 years and finally freed two years ago. Months after his release, he had received no payout and described himself as ‘broke’ and ‘living in a tent’. In February, it emerged Mr Malkinson had received a ‘significant’ six-figure interim payout – but his final application is yet to be resolved. Mr Sullivan, as an innocent man, is not entitled to the help that guilty prisoners who admit their crimes would get. If released on parole, you are given accommodation and help with living expenses. As he is not eligible for this, Mr Sullivan is understood to be living a modest life, but many believe he is a millionaire in waiting. 'There's not a figure that you could say that would be enough for losing 38 years of your life,' his lawyer, Sarah Myatt said.
In response to the huge miscarriage of justice, Merseyside Police expressed its 'regret', but maintained its officers had acted within the law at the time. Chief Constable Rob Carden who took on the job earlier this year said: 'It was a grave miscarriage of justice and obviously as chief constable of Merseyside it doesn't matter how long I've been there, I deeply regret the detrimental impact on Mr Sullivan's life.'
Mr Sullivan also said he is willing to support Ms Sindall's family in court if her killer is found. In an undisclosed location, with his face hidden to protect his privacy, he told the BBC: 'I feel sorry for (Ms Sindall's family), I really do feel sorry for them and what they're going through at the moment, where they're back at square one and not knowing who the person is that killed their daughter. I don't know what to say to them, I am really sorry for what's happened to their daughter, and if they need if they want my support when they go to court with the guy, when they find him, I will go to court with them, I will be there by their side 100%, because I will be there for them.'
Mr Sullivan was aged 30 when he was sentenced to life with a minimum term of 16 years in 1987, but he remained in prison for almost four decades. Mr Sullivan told the BBC: 'I can't forgive them for what they've done to me because it's going to be there with me for the rest of my life I've got to carry that burden until I can get an apology on what happened from everyone else who's been involved with the case. That's all I want is an apology with the reason why they done this to me from Merseyside police and everyone else I lost all my freedom, I lost my mother, since I was put in prison, I've lost my father, and it hurts because I wasn't there for them. I have never been able to set myself to go and see my mum's grave, and I can't carry on with my life if I can't get an answer out of them, that is what I need the most, is an answer from them, and that's all I care about, that answer why they done it to me.'
The investigation into her murder continues, supported by the National Crime Agency, with hundreds of men screened and eliminated in the past two years. Miss Sindall was brutally killed after she left work at a pub in Bebington, Birkenhead, just before midnight on Friday, August 1, 1986. The bride-to-be, who was picking up barmaid shifts to earn extra money for her wedding, was walking to a garage to buy some fuel after her van broke down. Her lifeless and brutally abused body was discovered 12 hours later in an alley. At his trial, prosecutors said Mr Sullivan had spent the day drinking and went out armed with a crowbar. Evidence at the time suggested the petty thief had recently borrowed a crowbar from a neighbour. He was placed near the scene by witnesses following a BBC Crimewatch appeal. But he denied going anywhere near where the crime took place or having the crowbar in his possession, and said he had given different accounts to the police because he could not remember his movements. Mr Sullivan was handed a life sentence with a minimum term of 16 years in 1987, but denied parole multiple times, largely due to his refusal to admit responsibility for the killing. He applied to the High Court for permission to appeal against his conviction in 2019, but this was rejected by the Court of Appeal in 2021. Then, in November last year, the Criminal Cases Review Commission said his case had been referred to the Court of Appeal on the basis of the DNA evidence. Samples taken at the time of the murder were re-examined and a DNA profile that did not match Mr Sullivan was found. This crucial evidence was revealed by a method that only came into use in 2015, and he was finally freed after the Court of Appeal in London quashed his conviction in May. Speaking from a secret location, and with his face obscured and voice changed to hide his current appearance, Mr Sullivan said he wanted an apology from Merseyside Police. Mr Sullivan said being denied legal representation at his initial police interviews had been 'very daunting'. He told the broadcaster he was beaten in his cell on two occasions. 'They threw a blanket over the top of me and they were hitting me on top of the blanket with the truncheons to try and get me to co-operate with them,' he said.
'It really hurt, they were leathering me.'
Asked why he would confess to a murder he did not commit, Mr Sullivan told the BBC: 'All I can say, it was the bullying that forced me to throw my hands in, because I couldn't take it anymore.'
He said he felt 'sorry' for Miss Sindall's family, who are 'back at square one and not knowing who the person is that killed their daughter'.
Quashing his murder conviction in May, Lord Justice Holroyde said: 'Strong though the circumstantial evidence undoubtedly seemed at the trial, it is now necessary to take into account the new scientific evidence pointing to someone else the unknown man.'
The new suspect identified by new DNA techniques does not appear on the national database, nor is he linked to any other unsolved offences. Police have confirmed the DNA does not belong to any of Miss Sindall's family or her then fiancé, David Beattie, who has since moved to Australia.