Category: Thame news

THE jury in a murder case described by the Prosecution as ‘jaw dropping,’ today heard a summing up for both the Defence and the Prosecution in the case of Ensar Gol, who allegedly murdered his wife and mother-in-law with a knife, in Thame, in September last year.

The case for the Prosecution is that Gol, an ex Turkish soldier, declared his intention to ‘cut’ his wife, British-born Michala, and his Mother-In-Law, Julie Sahin, both on Facebook and to Julie’s husband, Mehmer Sahin, and in the hearing of other witnesses.

“There is overwhelming evidence from Casey Wilson,” said Prosecution Barrister, Dafydd Enoch, “..the only eye-witness and survivor of this carnage, who came within 1 mm of death..” that you(Gol) perpetrated this act.”

Mr Enoch maintained that the wounds received by the two dead women and the injured Casey, were predominantly to their necks and therefore consistent with someone deliberately aiming to kill, rather than randomly stabbing out in self-defence. Gol’s claim is that he was attacked in his and his wife’s bedroom by Julie Sahin, and that he grabbed the knife from her and used it in self defence when he found himself being attacked by her and Casey Wilson.

Mr Enoch said that the expert blood spatter evidence and wounds to Julie Sahin’s back, proved that she was running down the stairs when she was attacked again.

For the Defence, part of Mr Richard Benson’s case was that Ensar Gol was a foreigner who found himself living in Thame, with no friends to confide in, “..yearning for the warmth of his family and friends at home (in Turkey), living in a household where the atmosphere was poisonous, with a Mother-In-Law who hated him so much that she would not go to her daughter’s wedding in Turkey, who sent ‘horrid’ texts to him and who would not sit at the same table as him to eat.”

“Julie had had enough,” said Mr Benson. “If you look at her behaviour and attitude, it is not out of the question, that she took the knife out of the block.

“She was at the end of her tether. She had it as a priority to get rid of Gol and have her daughter and granddaughter to herself.”

Mr Benson continued that it was ‘reasonable’ if, when Gol saw Julie Sahin had a knife in an apparent attacking stance, he was entitled to defend himself, and that if he lashed out in fear, “in the perception of drink” that this would be the end of his life, he would be entitled to fight back.

Ensar Gol is charged with two counts of murder and one of attempted murder. The case continues tomorrow when the judge will deliver his summing up to the jury of seven women and five men, before they retire to consider their verdict.

PHOTO: Michala Gol (left) and her mother, Julie Sahin

THERE’S to be comedy, fashion, magic, music and dance all rolled in to one at an amazing British Red Cross fundraising event in Abingdon (well worth the journey!) on June 13.

Unplugged and Undressed is a fund-raiser for The British Red cross, featuring students from Oxford and Cherwell Valley College who have been busy shopping in local Red Cross charity shops looking for items with catwalk potential. Right now, they are using their technical skills and creative flair to transform these garments into fashionable outfits ready for their ?Make Do and Mend? fashion show. Their outfits will be judged by a panel of local fashion experts including top Oxfordshire fashion designer Feng Ho.

Unplugged and Undressed will featuring top magic, comedy double act, Young & Strange, who featured last year on ?Penn & Teller:Fool us? on ITV. They will be
interrupting their current tour dates to make an appearance and wow the audience with their skills in magic and illusion.

This fun filled night will also feature music from Rock Choir and local professional acoustic duo, Kiki. Illusion dance company will also be on the stage performing the dance that won them a place in the area final of the youth dance competition, Dance:Make Your
Move.

Red Cross Intern, Vicky Greenhalgh, who has been helping to organise the event, said: “This event has got something for everyone. It?s going to be a great evening. We were so pleased that Young & Strange agreed to be involved! Having them has made it a really incredible night full of variety.

“Money raised will go towards our Red Cross Appeal Week funds which enable the continuation of our local services here in Oxfordshire and also our work further afield. It promises to be an extremely entertaining evening not to be missed!”

Unplugged and Undressed is on Wednesday, June 13, at Amey Theatre, Abingdon School, Abingdon, OX14 1DE. Tickets are currently available on 01235 552680 or
cwheatcroft@redcross.org.uk or on the door on the night.

FOLLOWING extensive work over the last few months, the preferred options for some of the key elements of the Thame Neighbourhood Plan will be the subject of a four-week public consultation that started yesterday.

The consultation will centre on proposals for the distribution of the 775 new homes to be built in Thame in the next 15 years as required by the South Oxfordshire Core Strategy. It will also include the preferred option for the allocation of employment land, together with other key sites across the town.

The consultation represents the next stage in the preparation of the Neighbourhood Plan. Once responses to the preferred options have been reviewed and assessed, Thame Town Council anticipates that a draft version of the Neighbourhood Plan will be the subject of a more formal, six-week consultation across August and September, before then being submitted to South Oxfordshire District Council.

The plan will then be the subject of a local referendum and will adopted if 50% or more of those who take part, vote for the plan.

If all goes to the council’s Work Programme LINK the plan will be published by April 2013

For details about how to take part in the consultation, contact: clerk@thametowncouncil.gov.uk

THE husband of a Thame woman, murdered alongside her married daughter, has today been describing the night the man accused of their killing came banging on the door of his shop with a knife in his hand.

Thame Pizza Parlour owner, Mehmer Sahin, with his wife, victim Julie Sahin, shared a home in Ireton Court, Thame, with Julie?s daughter, Michala and her husband, the accused, Ensar Gol. Mehner described how relations between the mother-in-law and her new son-in-law had been turbulent from the start, Julie not happy with his ?macho attitude to women,? and at one time had called Gol ‘a psycho’. He went on to describe how Ensar tried to dominate Mickala, ?telling her she can?t do this, mustn?t go there.? But Michaela was ?a free spirit,? continued Mehmer. The couple?s rows would often wake him up, he said.

THREATS

Ensar had become visibly more jealous lately, continued Mehmer, since he had discovered that Michaela had been in touch with an old flame in Turkey, and had said to him (Mehmer) that he ?might end up killing them (Julie and Michaela)?. He had not taken this, and two other similar threats seriously, he explained because: ?Lads in Turkey say these things to show they are a big man.?
He had been puzzled by a question posed earlier in the evening by a quiet and ?slightly drunk? Ensar, who had called in briefly at the Pizza Parlour, with the news that his grandfather had died: ?If he, (Ensar) Julie and Michaela disappeared, what would happen to the kids?? Mehmer said he told Ensar that they would probably stay with him.

BLOOD-STAINED TROUSERS

Mehmer Sahin continued with his evidence. Under questioning, he told the Prosecution Barrister, Dafydd Enoch, that the next time he saw Ensar was at around 2.30am the next morning when he was cashing up, and he heard Ensar kicking at the door, swearing at him to open it. ?He had a knife in his hand. I could see blood stains on his trousers. I opened the door and Ensar shouted: ?I?ve done it!?

DISPUTED EVIDENCE

Mehmer Sahin?s evidence was later thrown into doubt by the Defence Barrister, Richard Benson, who had suggested through questioning that Julia Sahin was herself prone to anger, and had thrown plates at her husband and on another occasion, had waved a knife around and threatened to kill Ensar Gol. Mehmer denied that any of this was true. ?It just didn?t happen,? he said.

Mr Benson suggested that in fact, the threats ?never happened? after Mehmer Sahin failed to satisfy him of the reasons why he, Sahin, had neither warned his wife of the threats made by Gol nor reported them to the police.

WITNESS IN TEARS

?We didn?t get a chance to talk to each other. I was working 80 hours a week,? he replied. Later, he read from his statement the following: ?I feel lost. The only thing that gets me up are the kids and their welfare. I want answers. I can?t think. The loss of my family and not being able to be with them in the same way ever again, hurts me.?

When asked why there were some inconsistencies between his statement to the police and his evidence today in court, he explained: ?I had not slept (when the statement was made) – I was lost. I was tired.?
Mehmer was visibly distressed at this point, while the accused sat unshaven, impassively, looking like a different man to the cocky individual who had grinned for the cameras after his court appearance on September 6, last year.

?I CUT THEM ALL IN THEIR SLEEP?

Today?s other witness was Ali Aka, who worked in the Pizza Parlour in Thame, and was working on the night Ensor Gol made his dramatic arrival. Aka claimed that it was he who let Gol into the shop after hearing him banging on the locked door. He said that when he asked Gol what he had done, Gol replied that he had ?cut them all.?

Aka then related a telephone call he heard Gol making outside the shop, still holding the knife, in which he said to his cousin: ?If someone is married to me, they must listen to me. I cut them all in their sleep. Don?t leave my kids here. (Sell everything?) Come and get my kids. If I get heavy sentence here, I will ask to be transferred to Turkey.? He then apparently repeated: ?Why don?t you believe me? I did cut them.?

CONFUSION OVER INTERPRETATION

There then followed a lot of debate over the whether the word ?cut? translated into Turkish, could mean ?to cut off contact with?, to actually cut someone or to ?butcher? someone, with questions from the Defence and Gol?s interpreter about the efficacy of Aka?s interpreter, adding to the confusion.

In the end the Judge, Mr Justice Supperstone, cleared the court for the day so that the lawyers could meet in Chambers to discuss the empasse.

The case resumes tomorrow at 10am

PHOTO: Ensar Gol

NB Reporting restrictions (some voluntary) have been applied to certain aspects of this case to protect the identity of any minor involved

CHILDREN from John Hampden Primary School, Thame, will help form Guard of Honour at start of Athletes? Parade for the 2012 London Olympics.

The School has been selected as a ‘Get Set network’ school and will join 249 other schools from across the UK in the network to line the route as the athletes make their way through the Olympic Park into the Olympic Stadium, for the London 2012 Olympic Games Opening Ceremony.

At the start of the Athletes? Parade, the students from John Hampden school will join 249 other schools from across the UK, making up the 2,000 student Guard of Honour, holding lanterns and banners they have created to support one of the 204 competing teams. For many of the 10,500 athletes the Guard of Honour will be their first experience of the London 2012 Games.

The children have been preparing to provide a vibrant and diverse welcome for athletes competing at the Games. The Thame students are already learning about the cultures and athletes of the Honduras team as part of their celebrations for London 2012 World Sport Day, taking place next month on June 25. World Sport Day, presented by Lloyds TSB, will see schools across the UK join together in celebrating how sport can bring the cultures of the world together.

John Hampden Primary School have been selected through the reward and recognition programme of the Get Set network, the official London 2012 education programme. They have demonstrated a commitment to living the Olympic and Paralympic Values and incorporating them into their school lives and curriculum.

The pupils at John Hampden School are looking forward to taking part in the Guard of Honour: “I?m feeling really nervous because there are going to be loads of people,? said Jamie Howard Green.

?I will be overwhelmed at seeing the athletes,? commented Clayton Ford, and Alex Buchanan added: “It?s nerve racking knowing that we are going to have a once a life time opportunity.?

?I am stunned that I got chosen to go,? said Nadia Pedley.

The school’s plans for World Sport Day and what they have learnt about their chosen teams include:

– Opening Ceremony including march past with flags of
our school houses and Honduras
– Whole school participation in the Mascot Dance
– Track and field finals
– Medal ceremony

LOCOG Chair, Seb Coe said: “The presence of so many young people at the start of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony will continue to show London 2012?s commitment to put young people at the heart of the Games. For athletes, the Guard of Honour will provide a stunning welcome to the Games and the perfect curtain raiser for the Athletes? Parade.”

As well as having the opportunity to cheer on the world?s best athletes and be part of a global moment, the school children will also get the exciting chance to tour the Olympic Park and see some of the London 2012 venues before the world turns its attention to Danny Boyle?s Olympic Games Opening Ceremony in the Olympic Stadium later that day.

The Athletes? Parade will see the participating teams enter the Stadium, nation by nation. Teams enter in alphabetical order, according to the language of the Host Country and IOC protocol order, apart from the Greek team which enters first for the Olympic Games, and the team of the Host Nation (Team GB), who enter last.

PHOTO: Pupils from John Hampden School, Thame, with the flag of Honduras

THE family of Robin Gibb have asked fans to donate to the Isle of Man?s Rebecca House hospice instead of sending flowers.

The 62 year old singer died on Sunday evening following a long battle with cancer and a bout of pneumonia which left him in a coma for 12 days.

A message posted on his official Facebook page states that his wife Dwina, would appreciate a donation to the charity instead of floral tributes.

Robin was born on the Isle of Man and opened the children?s hospice in the Spring in 2008.

Tributes from local people continue, including from the Mayor of Thame, Nigel Champken Woods, on behalf of Thame Town Council. He said: “We are sorry to hear about the passing of Robin and we send our condolences to his friends and family. He was a great singer and songwriter and he leaves behind a legacy of beautiful songs.?

Jon Littler, one of the founders of The First Thursday Music Club that runs open mic nights to showcase local musical talent, told Thamenews.net: “I was very saddened to hear of Robin Gibbs death. Together with his brothers he has seemed a pretty constant presence in music my whole life. It’s amazing how often you hear a melody you really like to find out it was a Bee Gees composition. Robin’s choosing to live in our Thame gave us all a little proprietary pride.”

JUST One day after handing over as Mayor of the town, (May 16,) David Bretherton was elected by the members of The Oxfordshire County and Thame Show, as its Chairman.

David, who remains as a Town Councillor, has long been a supporter of the Show, and has been the Domestic Classes chief steward for many years. He brings a wealth of organisational knowledge to the show management.

The show is not being held this year (2012) but will be back in 2013.

David said: “I am delighted to take up the challenge of fronting the show. It is a Thame institution which I am determined will continue. We have a lot of experienced and dedicated stewards who put on a great show last year and we cannot let them down. We can now start to plan the next Thame Show which will take place in late summer 2013.”

This year’s show was cancelled after it made a loss in 2011, and because of concerns over a clash with the London Olympics and the Queen’s Diaomond Jubilee celebrations.

Although the show made a small profit in 2010 of

FOLLOWING his death yesterday, floral tributes have been left outside Robin Gibb’s home in Thame today.

One card, left with flowers from Thame & District Round Table, read: “Our deepest sympathies for your loss. Robin’s influence will continue to be felt for generations to come – through his music and his charitable works.”

AFTER astounding doctors with his recovery from a coma, and his on-going determination to fight his illness, Robin Gibb died of cancer earlier today.

Robin has lived in the 13th Century Prebendal in Thame, with his wife Dwina, for many years, making very few appearances in public in the town, one main exception being when he turned on the town’s Christmas lights in 2004.

On another occassion Robin went to the home of a young handicapped boy to present a cheque for a sum of money raised by Thame’s carnival committee for special treatment for the boy.

More recently, he and Dwina had expressed their concern about a decision to choose the old pig farm in Oxford Road, Thame, as its preferred site for a new housing development.

Robin was born in the Isle of Man in 1949, the third eldest of five. After the family emigrated to Australia, Robin formed the Bee Gees with his twin brother Maurice and his older brother Barry.

The Bee Gees became one of the most successful pop acts of all time with estimated record sales of more than

AS well as the huge success of Thame?s Music In The Park on Sunday, the town?s golden weekend had begun on Friday evening when a group of friends from Thame?s twin town of Montesson, arrived for the weekend, welcomed by the then Deputy Mayor, Nigel Champken Woods.

Hosted by local families, the visitors were blessed with fine weather for a visitor to the Guildhall in the City area of London, a picnic lunch in a little park that used to be a church before it was bombed in WW11. Here a bust of Shakespeare stands on a plinth in memory of John Heminge and Henry Condell who had the foresight to publish Shakespeare’s works following his early death. The pair were fellow actors and personal friends of the bard and had been co-partners with him in the Globe Theatre, Southwark.

The tour ended on the roof terrace restaurant of the new shopping mall, 1 New Change, London?s newist shopping destination, in Cheapide by St Paul?s Cathedral, designed by French architect, Jean Nouvel. From here the view across London is breathtaking and the eye is level with the dome of St Paul’s – a perspective of his masterpiece that Sir Christopher Wren could never have known anyone would have!

The evening was spent with host families, where family news and the Euro crisis dominated the dinner table conversation. The general view seemed to be that French people had voted against Sarkozey rather than for Monsieur Hollande but most remain concerned about the economic future of the Eurozone.

Once again four young people with special needs from ?le Courlis? in Montesson, were included in the weekend visit, staying at the Spread Eagle Hotel, and joining their friends from Safari (The Wombles) in Thame, to ‘let their hair down’ for a disco and party at the Barns Centre on the Saturday evening.

The weekend culminated in a two-course lunch for the 65 French visitors and hosts, in St Mary?s Church, which had been transformed into a banqueting hall for the occasion.

At around 3pm, after a tour of Thame shops for many of the guests ? admiring the many Jubilee window displays on their way round (anyone know where you can buy lemon jelly in Thame?) – to replenish medicines, which are apparently more expensive in France, to buy cupcake stands, mint sauce and Marmelade making kits, the French coach was waved off, with hopes that Thame ?twinners? will be making the return journey to Montesson themselves in September.