Arcticterntalk.org

The blog of a travelling psychiatrist and football lover. Who happens to be a halfway decent photographer. Takes a cynical view of the world

Archive for the day “February 5, 2016”

The Murder in Motspur Park One Year On Nothing Resolved


On Feb 9th 2015 a year ago, Ray Mills, aged 66 years,  was arrested on suspicion of killing his wife Linda Mills with knives and a hammer.  Both were “known” to the local community in that residents saw them out and about, but both rarely spoke to anyone other than their next door neighbour. On June 8th 2015 Ray Mills died in Wandworth prison however this never was  reported until 14th July.

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Ray Mills

Ray Mills never came to trial as three court hearings were adjourned as psychiatric reports were not available. Ray Mills thus had been in custody for four months before his death.

The news of his death  came four days after coroner Dr Fiona Wilcox called for a formal investigation into the alarming number of deaths at Wandsworth Prison.

During a pre-inquest hearing into the suicides of two men who shared the same cell and hung themselves months apart, she said the inquest could not go on because of various “themes and common issues” of deaths at the UK’s largest prison.

Eleven men died at the category B prison last year – which she said was three times more than would be expected at a prison. It is not clear whether she knew about Mr Mills and whether his death was included in that figure.

The Ministry of Justice has yet to comment on how Mr Mills died in prison. And that is essentially where we are now.

The house remains in the same condition with a small padlock on the door and no signs of any activity or potential sale. One wonders as what might be happening inside of course.

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Ray and Linda Mills House where the murder took place

An inquest into his death has been opened at Westminster Coroners’ Court. The case was due to be reviewed by a coroner on December 7. There is nothing reported regarding this inquest.

So one year on, Ray Mills must be presumed to have murdered his wife, however in the absence of a trial details and proof are unlikely to ever be known. The local residents are not so happy that the house remains closed and uncared for, and details of the cause of death of Ray Mills remain unknown, however one suspects that suicide must be one of the more likely possibilities. 00000268

Motspur Park remains a sleepy suburb, half in borough of Merton and the other half in the borough of Kingston. We must await further information.

Mills was awaiting trial at Isleworth Crown Court when he died at Wandsworth Prison on 8 June 2015. An inquest is to take place at Westminster Coroners Court on a date yet to be decided.00000223

Motspur Park Train Station 2016

Early Arrival of Egyptian Goose Goslings 2016


Winter 2015-16 has been a strange one with varying temperatures almost daily. Painshill park in Cobham has always been home to many types of ducks and fowl including Egyptian Geese.

Egyptian Goose and Goslings .Painshill Park in Cobham. Copyright Chris Bushe 2016

Egyptian Goose and Goslings .Painshill Park in Cobham. Copyright Chris Bushe 2016

A few facts worth knowing about them are that they are not actually geese at all but a cross between a goose and a duck. It has many duck-like characteristics, but it also has some external goose-like traits. It is the most widespread of all the African waterfowl. These old-world shelducks were domesticated by the ancient Egyptians, and were considered sacred , and appeared in much of their artwork. The Romans and the Greeks also kept Egyptian Geese in domestic flocks.They can breed all  year around, but usually breed in the spring or at the end of a dry season. It thus is somewhat surprising to see baby goslings in early February.The British population dates back to the 18th century, though only formally added to the British list in 1971 and are found mainly in East Anglia, in parkland with lakes. It was officially declared a pest in the U.K. in 2009. There is little surprise that Painshill Park has become home to them over very many years.

Egyptian Goose and Goslings .Painshill Park in Cobham. Copyright Chris Bushe 2016

Egyptian Goose and Goslings .Painshill Park in Cobham. Copyright Chris Bushe 2016

 

Egyptian Goose and Goslings .Painshill Park in Cobham. Copyright Chris Bushe 2016

Egyptian Goose and Goslings .Painshill Park in Cobham. Copyright Chris Bushe 2016

Egyptian Goose and Goslings .Painshill Park in Cobham. Copyright Chris Bushe 2016

Egyptian Goose and Goslings .Painshill Park in Cobham. Copyright Chris Bushe 2016

 

 

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