Updates from Monday 16 April to Sunday 22 April
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A 16-year-old boy has been remanded in custody after appearing in court charged with the murder and rape of a 14-year-old girl.
The teenager appeared at Dudley Magistrates accused of the murder of Vicktorija Sokolova, 14, whose body was discovered in West Park, Wolverhampton on Thursday.
Two men have been jailed for life after being found guilty of murdering a 26-year-old father.
Image source, Warwickshire PoliceWarickshire men Robert Keavey (left), 39, of Princess Road, Atherstone, and Phillip Picken, (right), 56, of Manor Road, Mancetter, attacked and killed Greg Kelly on 25 March 2017 "in a row over money," the jury heard.
A hearing at Warwick Crown Court on Friday heard the two would each serve a minimum of 18 years.
Image source, Warwickshire PoliceAndrew Gay, (left) 41, of Manor Road, Atherstone, was jailed for four years after being found guilty of perverting the course of justice.
A sentence of 27 months was handed to Nicholas Casey, (right), 57, of Victoria Road, Tamworth, Staffordshire, for the same offence.
John Acres
Journalist, BBC Radio Stoke
A half marathon in Staffordshire's been hailed a success despite having to be delayed for a month due to snow.
The Stafford Half Marathon took place on Sunday following the postponement in March. , external
More 3,000 runners pounded the streets of the county town, watched by large crowds.
Quote MessageWe had a large majority come back for the race. There were probably a couple of hundred were unfortunately not able to race but we were able to open it up for new runners and actually filled those spots."
Geoff Beadle, One of the race organisers
BBC News England
The trial starts today of the owner of a fireworks factory that was destroyed in a blaze which killed two men.
Image source, JodiphotographyRichard Pearson, 43, owned SP Plastics in Baswich, Stafford, which caught fire on 30 October 2014.
Simon Hillier, 41, and Stewart Staples, 57, both of Hednesford, died in the blaze.
Mr Pearson has previously denied two counts of gross negligence manslaughter at Stafford Crown Court.
Charges against two men, accused of raping a 15-year-old girl in Birmingham, have been dropped and they will not be prosecuted, said British Transport Police (BTP).
An investigation was launched after separate attacks were reported in the Witton area of Birmingham last July.
Image source, GoogleA BTP statement said: "Officers have been working with prosecutors at the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to prepare this case for trial.
"However following extensive consultation and review of the evidence with prosecutors at the CPS it has been decided that this case will be discontinued.
"Two men who were each arrested and charged with rape following the two incidents, have now been released with no further action being taken."
The Sentinel's covering these stories today, among others:
A crash in which a man died during a police pursuit, has been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct, said Staffordshire Police.
Image source, Lyz Sweetland StubbsA woman was also left in a critical condition after the collision on the A50 near Longton in Staffordshire.
The pair were being followed by police after failing to stop on the eastbound carriageway on Sunday, the force said.
A spokesman for Staffordshire Police said: "Due to our involvement before the collision, we have voluntarily referred ourselves to the Independent Office for Police Conduct."
Stephanie Barnard
BBC News
What a weekend it's been for Birmingham - it's now got four years to prepare for the 2022 Commonwealth Games.
If you missed it - see some of it here... A cracking tune - some of Birmingham's finest youngsters and a splash of colour - what's not to love?
Commonwealth Games: Next host city Birmingham puts on a show in Gold Coast ceremony
I have no idea how that was filmed with one big long camera but it made me smile!
Here's some of the reaction on social media #Brum, external.
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Get in touch and share your views on the handover ceremony - email, Twitter, external and Facebook., external
BBC Sport
Worcestershire require another 265 runs to beat Hampshire on the final day today, with seven wickets left, after a rain-affected third day at Southampton.
The visitors closed on 59-3 having already lost Brett D'Oliveira, Tom Fell and Joe Clarke.
Image source, Getty ImagesWhile in Division Two, Warwickshire are unlikely to get anything but a draw today after rain's affected almost every day's play so far.
However, the Bears are celebrating the resurgence of fast bowler Olly Stone (pictured) who claimed a career-best 6-52 on day three, with Sussex 194-6 at the close.
You can get coverage on local radio commentary of today's final play in both matches or via the BBC Sport website.
Phil McCann
Cheshire Political Reporter, BBC News
The Chief Constable of Cheshire Police is due to face a gross misconduct hearing today which is expected to hear allegations he bullied and humiliated staff over a four-year period.
Simon Byrne has been suspended since last August and says he welcomes the opportunity to give his account.
Mr Byrne is accused of "discreditable conduct" and breaching police professional standards relating to "authority, respect and courtesy".
Over 100 alleged incidents and rule breaches are listed in the charge against him.
Cash and jewellery was stolen from the house of an 85-year-old Birmingham woman after four men broke in and crept around the house as she was sleeping, police say., external
Image source, West Midlands PoliceOfficers said she was "horrified" to wake up and discover the four men in her house, and has been left "traumatised".
CCTV footage of the four climbing over a fence, close to her property on Silvercroft Avenue, Handsworth Wood, on 15 February has been released.
Here are some of the stories making the headlines on the Express & Star website this morning:
Scaffolding is being removed from the Abbey in Shrewsbury as a major repair project nears its conclusion.
The £300,000 scheme, backed by the Heritage Lottery Fund, is due to be completed by the summer and has seen stonework and windows repaired.
The black soot covering the stones is thought to have been caused by vehicle pollution that’s built up since World War Two.
Specialists say the new stones will probably never get that black as the air quality is so much better these days.
A man's due in court today charged with murder after his wife was stabbed to death.
Tracy Stonehouse, 51, died at an address in Coralin Close, Chelmsley Wood, Solihull, on 6 April.
Image source, Family HandoutA post-mortem examination revealed she had suffered multiple stab wounds and other injuries to her head and neck.
Arthur Stonehouse, 73, of Coralin Close is due to appear before magistrates in Birmingham, a West Midlands Police spokesman said.
New Road in Worcester is back open to traffic after being shut for roadworks over the weekend, designed to prevent flooding.
Closing all three lanes over the weekend allowed contractors to catch up on work which was delayed earlier this year because of the bad weather.
The project to raise the road and paths by 38cm (15 inches) is expected to be finished by the end of May, but there will be ongoing lane closures until then.
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BBC WM Sport
Newly promoted Wolverhampton Wanderers have set their sights on finishing the season as champions.
Wolves players celebrate promotion to Premier League
Just under 30,000 fans saw Wolves beat Birmingham City 2-0 yesterday at Molineux.
They will be champions if they avoid defeat at lowly Bolton next week.
Promotion was confirmed on Saturday after Fulham failed to beat Brentford.
Two men have been questioned by police investigating an incident involving a gun in Leamington Spa, external.
Officers were called to Buckley Road after a report of two men trying to get into a property on Friday.
Two 19-year-old men from the town were arrested on suspicion of possession of a firearm.
Police say it was targeted incident.
England's Commonwealth Games team return to the UK this morning- with the last of the Gold medals going to the netballers in a thrilling one-point win in the final against Australia.
Wasps pair Nathalie Haythornthwaite and Jade Clarke were part of the squad that recorded the greatest result in their history, beating overwhelming favourites Australia 52-51.
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Wasps' director of netball, Tamsin Greenway told BBC Sport, it ensured netball had a "new world order".
A giant mechanical puppet visits the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution.
Read MoreA 16-year-old boy, accused of murdering a girl found dead in a park in Wolverhampton last week, has also been charged with rape.
Viktorija Sokolova, 14, was discovered in West Park, Wolverhampton, on Thurday.
She died from blunt force trauma to the head, police said.
The boy is due before Dudley magistrates later.
