Category: Thame news

HERE is the latest Thame neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) Diane Jackson, Chris Hollis and Richard Howard. Several offenders have been brought to justice during May. These include:

ACCORDING TO Robin Gibb’s Facebook page, his fans and the people of Thame where he lived will have a chance to pay their final respects this Friday afternoon when his horse-drawn carriage will be drawn through the town of Thame, prior to his funeral at St. Mary’s Church.

Robin’s family said that: “At his wish, he will say a final goodbye to fans and his home town of Thame, Oxfordshire, this Friday prior to the funeral.”

The carriage will leave from Priest End in the town at around 1.30pm and travel along the High Street to the Town Hall. It will then return through the High Street to St Mary’s Church.

An email sent out to Thame Town Councillors, states that the cortege will include a procession of wolf hounds, a breed of dog which is a particular favourite of Robin’s widow, Dwina Murphy Gibb, who owns two Irish Wolf hounds.

The family ask wellwishers and fans who want to pay their final respects to use the full length of the High Street to avoid congestion.

The funeral service at St Mary’s is private, for close family and friends only.

IMAGE; Dwina Gibb, widow of Robin Gibb, with her beloved Irish Wolf Hounds. The breed will be part of the funeral cortegw of Robin Gibb, who died last week at the age of 62 years.

HERE is the latest Thame neighbourhood update from Police Community Support Officers (PCSOs) Diane Jackson, Chris Hollis and Richard Howard. Several offenders have been brought to justice during May. These include:

ACCORDING TO Robin Gibb’s Facebook page, his fans and the people of Thame where he lived will have a chance to pay their final respects this Friday afternoon when his horse-drawn carriage will be drawn through the town of Thame, prior to his funeral at St. Mary’s Church.

Robin’s family said that: “At his wish, he will say a final goodbye to fans and his home town of Thame, Oxfordshire, this Friday prior to the funeral.”

The carriage will leave from Priest End in the town at around 1.30pm and travel along the High Street to the Town Hall. It will then return through the High Street to St Mary’s Church.

An email sent out to Thame Town Councillors, states that the cortege will include a procession of wolf hounds, a breed of dog which is a particular favourite of Robin’s widow, Dwina Murphy Gibb, who owns two Irish Wolf hounds.

The family ask wellwishers and fans who want to pay their final respects to use the full length of the High Street to avoid congestion.

The funeral service at St Mary’s is private, for close family and friends only.

IMAGE; Dwina Gibb, widow of Robin Gibb, with her beloved Irish Wolf Hounds. The breed will be part of the funeral cortegw of Robin Gibb, who died last week at the age of 62 years.

ENSAR GOL, who was yesterday found guilty for the murders of his wife and Mother-In-Law, has been sentenced to life in prison, with minimum 36 year term.

Before sentencing, the judge, Mr Justice Supperstone, told Gol: “The pain and suffering you have caused to the family will plainly be long lasting and with them for the remainder of their lives.

“You say you were unhappy here and didn’t get on with your mother-in-law. I totally reject any suggestion that anything she said or did provides you with any mitigation.”

See LINK for background news stories

FAMILY and friends of Michala Gol and Julie Sahin have released the following statements following the sentencing of Ensar Gol to 36 years imprisonment for their murders, and for the attempted murder of their friend Casey Wilson.

Miss Wilson, who gave evidence during the trial at Oxford Crown Court, has released the following statement: “Standing up in court was the hardest thing I have ever had to do.

?I did this for my friends Julie and Michala who sadly did not live to be able to tell their story.

?Julie was my friend and confidant. She was kind and caring and nothing like the person the defence tried to portray her as.?

Julie?s husband Mehmet Sahin, who also gave evidence during the trial, said: ?My wife Julie and my step-daughter Michala were cruelly taken from me when they were brutally murdered on 4 September 2011.

?I went to work on Saturday 3 September a happy family man and this was devastatingly taken away.

?I met Julie when I was 23 years old and was so lucky to have 12 years with the one and only love of my life. I know that she loved me as much as I loved her.

?She was a wonderful and caring lady, who loved her daughter and grandchildren and it was awful to hear the lies he told about her.

?I am pleased that the jury saw through his lies and recognised he was guilty of Julie?s murder, Michala?s murder and the horrible attack on Casey.

?It breaks my heart that the children and I will never see Julie or Michala again.

?I would like to thank the police, the CPS and the barrister for all their help and helping bring him to justice.

?No sentence can bring back my wife or Michala but I can try to re-build my life knowing he has been found guilty.?

Julie Sahin?s brothers Wade and Patrick Anderson have released the following statement: ?The events of 4 September 2011 have changed the lives of our family forever.

?Our sister Julie and our niece Michala were brutally murdered by a man who was the father of Michala?s children.

?Julie was a wonderful and special daughter and sister who doted on her grandchildren. She was in a loving marriage to Mehmet and it was hard to hear the lies from Gol in court.

?Michala, our niece, was a beautiful young mother who only ever wanted the best for her young children.

?Our mother?s health has got worse since their deaths and I do not know if she will ever be able to recover from this.

?Their deaths have left a huge hole in our lives.

?He has never shown any remorse for his actions and Michala?s children will now grow up without either of their parents.

?There is no sentence that a court can give him that will ever be enough as Julie and Michala can never come back. However we are satisfied that the sentence from the judge is appropriate.

?As a family we would like to say a massive thank you to the police, CPS, barrister and the jury for their help in finding him guilty.?

SOURCE: Thames Valley Police press release

A man who killed two women with a kitchen knife in their Thame home, and attempted to murder a family friend who came to their aid, has been found guilty.

Ensar Gol, 22, murdered his own wife, 28 year-old Michala Gol, and her mother, Julie Sahin, 50, at the family house in Ireton Court, Thame, on September 4, 2011, after boasting on Facebook and to friends and relatives that he was going to kill them both.

That fateful night, Gol, fuelled up on alcohol, jealousy of rekindled romance between his wife and a former boy friend, and by a build-up of resentment against his wife and Mother-In-Law, went into the kitchen while she and a young friend, Casey Wilson, were watching TV. There he took a kitchen knife, and without say a word to them, went upstairs where his wife, Michala was asleep in bed.

Whilst there young daughter slept in the same room, Gol began a frenzied attack on his sleeping wife. Hearing the screams, Julie and Casey rushed upstairs and in their fruitless efforts to save their friend, were themselves seriously injured.

Julie died of her injuries after being chased down the stairs by Gol, stabbed again half-way down, finally dying at the foot of the stairs. Paramedics called to the house described a horrific scene of blood spattered walls and carpets.

Casey managed to get away and ran out of the house from where she called the emergency services. It later emerged that the knife had missed an artery in her neck by just 1 mm.

The jury at Oxford Crown Court today were unconvinced by Gol’s hastily put together defence that Julie had threatened to kill HIM and that SHE had attacked him with the knife first.

The subsequent carnage that ensued, according to Gol, was because it was dark in the room and he was in fear for his own life, not knowing if the women had other weapons and were going to kill him. He attributed his loss of control to fear and his alcoholic consumption.

The judge will pass sentence tomorrow morning.

One witness, a neighbour, told Thamenews.net outside the court: “This is one of the best days of my life. Whilst this result will not bring our friend back, we can now rest knowing that justice has been done.”

IMAGE: Gol is caught on CCTV in Thame town centre on the night of the murder, talking on his mobile phone to friends and family back in Turkey, still clutching the murder weapon in his right hand.

THE Senior Investigating Officer in the trial of Ensor Gol, Det Ch Insp Joe Kidman has issued the following statement: ?Throughout this trial, members of the jury have listened carefully to all the evidence put before them and have found Gol guilty of two counts of murder and one of attempted murder. He has now been brought to justice.

?Despite the numerous wounds to both Julie and Michala, and comments he made in person and on Facebook in clear contemplation of killing them, Gol attempted to claim that he acted in self-defence.

?In trying to evade responsibility for his crimes, Ensar Gol sought to attack the character of the two women he had murdered. This has only added to the terrible ordeal of the family, who have attended each day and listened to all the evidence. Despite their anguish they have shown great dignity throughout.

?Gol sought to accuse Casey Wilson, who was lucky to escape with her life, and Mehmet Sahin, the bereaved husband of Julie, of lying. Both bereaved and victim were subject to uncompromising questioning by the defence.

?Despite this, they showed great courage and composure in giving evidence to the court and this verdict strongly vindicates these two brave individuals.

?The police officers and paramedic who were the first to attend the house in Ireton Court were met with an horrific scene, which would have been distressing for anyone.

?They responded with great professionalism and did all they could to tend to the victims, but sadly Michala and Julie died from the injuries they suffered.

?Two of those police officers were then re-directed to the Market Place where Gol was still holding the murder weapon.

?Despite being unarmed, they showed great bravery and composure in arresting Gol out of concern for the safety of the public before other resources were able to get there.?

Gol had met Michala while she was on holiday in Turkey and they had a long-distance relationship before getting married in March 2011. They had two children together, and in August 2011 Gol moved to the UK and into the family home in Ireton Court with Michala and their two children, her mother and her mother?s husband Mehmet Sahin.

The relationship between Gol and Michala became strained after he arrived in the UK. Witnesses described Gol as being possessive and jealous and said he had made threats to kill Michala.

On Saturday 3 September, Gol failed to turn up to work at Prezzo in Cornmarket, where he was due to start work at 6.30pm. It was later established that at about 8pm, Gol had gone to the home of a woman, whom he had met the previous month, and that they had sexual intercourse. He left this woman?s house at just before 9pm.

At 1am on Sunday 4 September, Gol sent a text message to Mr Sahin, who worked at a pizza parlour in Market Place, and asked for a chat. Around 15 minutes later he arrived at the takeaway and asked Mr Sahin what would happen to his children if something happened to his wife and mother-in-law.

At about 2.10am, Gol returned to Ireton Court and went into the kitchen before going upstairs and attacking his wife in the bedroom with a knife. He attacked his mother-in-law and Miss Wilson when they went to her aid.

Despite being stabbed three times in the neck and arm, Miss Wilson managed to escape from the house and ran down the street calling for help.

Neighbours in Ireton Court called the emergency services after hearing screaming and loud noises coming from the property, and police officers and a paramedic were deployed to the scene.

On arrival they tended to Miss Wilson, but found that Michala was already dead and despite their best efforts her mother could not be saved.

After the attacks, Gol had left the house carrying his daughter and returned to the pizza takeaway in Market Place, where he left his daughter with Mr Sahin.

He was captured on CCTV cameras walking around Market Place, still holding the knife. Two police officers, who were among the first to attend the murder scene, were re-directed to Market Place.

After seeing a member of the public approach Gol, who was still holding the knife, the two unarmed officers, PCs David Simpkins and Wayne Griffin, decided they could not wait for other resources to arrive as they were concerned for the safety of the public, so they carried out the arrest.

As he was being arrested, Gol said to the officers: ?Yes I killed them, but you don?t know why?.

A Home Office pathologist carried out post-mortem examinations on Michala and Julie, and found they both died from multiple stab wounds.

Folllowing the verdict, Baljit Ubhey, OBE, Chief Crown Prosecutor for Thames and Chiltern Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) said: ?We have worked closely with the police since this investigation was launched. This was a tragic crime, which led to the untimely death of Michala, and Julie Sahin, and saw terrible injuries inflicted on Casey Wilson.

?The jury found that there was overwhelming evidence against Gol and the jurors were in no doubt that he caused the deaths of Michala and Julie, and the injuries to Casey, despite his denials.

?The Crown Prosecution Service praises the strength and courage of all those who gave evidence against him, particularly Casey Wilson.

?Gol will be brought back before the courts in due course for sentencing. However, whatever the sentence is, nothing can make up for the loss felt by the family and friends of Michala and Julie. Our thoughts are very much with them and Casey at this time.?

Gol is due to be sentenced at Oxford Crown Court tomorrow morning (1/6). The hearing is due to take place at 10am.

PHOTO: Ensor Gol, shortly after his arrest last September (2011)

PATSY Baker from Thame has been selected by Sainsbury’s as just one out of 100 worthy nominees to take part in the 2012 Paralympic Torch Relay on August 28 and 29.

Patsy,from Coombe Hill Crescent, and joint manager of the Barns Centre, was chosen to carry the Paralympic flame after being nominated through a scheme held at her local Sainsbury’s store in Thame High Street.

Patsy’s nomination described her as actively working in developing a sense of community and citizenship both within the Thame community and wider afield – including undertaking charity-work in both India and Africa.

Patsy has also completed over 130 marathons, raising money for many good causes, particularly Anthony Nolan Bone marrow Trust for whom she successfully donated bone marrow to in 1997.

Her love of running has led her set up a running group in Thame to encourage young mums to get fit and socialise. This has helped them to feel less isolated, but also encouraged them to take part in 10k and half marathon runs.

Patsy was also involved in helping to establish street pastors in Thame, which reach out to those who may need help or feel vulnerable.

Patsy said: “I am so excited to have been chosen to carry the Paralympic Flame as I had no idea my husband had nominated me. I am really honoured to be taking part in a momentous occasion for both the United Kingdom and Thame and can’t wait to carry the Paralympic Flame.”

Once the Flame has been lit, it will be carried by Patsy and the other torch-bearers, on a very special 24 hour relay from Stoke Mandeville in Aylesbury, the spiritual home of the Paralympic Movement, to the Olympic Park in Stratford, East London, where the Flame will be used to officially open the Paralympic Games.

To commemorate and celebrate this once-in-a-lifetime occasion, there will be a series of public events, called Flame Festivals, during the August Bank Holiday weekend, with activities and a live stage shows. By going along to a Flame Festival, people can help to light the way to the Paralympic Games with fun activities and a lantern procession.

THAME Town Council has issued more information today about arrangements for the Consultation that is now underway on the ‘preferred Option’ for the Thame Neighbourhood Plan.

Full details are available at: LINK

The council states: “The consultation, which is open until 22 June 2012, provides an opportunity for those with an interest in the future of Thame to provide feedback on the preferred option. This option has emerged from an assessment and analysis of the consultation responses submitted to the early stage consultation last Autumn, with refinement through the various forums that contribute to the Neighbourhood Plan.

“This stage of the Neighbourhood Plan process is a precursor to a formal six-week consultation on the draft Neighbourhood Plan which, subject to the responses received to the Preferred Option document, is anticipated to commence later in the summer.”