Chris Flynn
BBC Essex

A murder victim's mother had a heart attack in the lead up to the trial, a court heard.

Image source, Essex Police

As we've been reporting, five people who were convicted for the roles they played in the murder of Michael Beckwith, pictured above, are being sentenced at Chelmsford Crown Court.

Mr Beckwith, 44, was killed when his ex-girlfriend Rebecca Ryan, 22, of Hilltop Rise, Weeley, lured him to a remote part of Harwich and he was attacked with metal poles.

Prosecution lawyer Amjad Malik told the court the death of her son has had a "massive impact" on Mr Beckwith's mother Iris.

The hearing continues.

A scheme to set up a recording and mixing studio in former public toilets in Walton has been given the green light.

Image source, Tendring District Council

Paul Hepworth is looking to take over the site in Station Street. 

He told Tendring District Council's planning committee he wanted to carry out the project in the area where he grew up. 

Mr Hepworth said he would carry out a conversion with measures to be put in place to keep noise levels down to an absolute minimum.

“There is a rich heritage of music in this area and I want to build on that for all ages,” he said.

“It will be something very different which will benefit the Tendring area.”

The public toilets closed in 2003 and were replaced elsewhere in the town.

The plans were approved by the planning committee. 

A man charged in connection with a fatal shooting at a travellers' site has appeared at court.

Image source, Essex Police

Levi Draper, 27, of Cranfield Park Avenue, Wickford, has been charged with murder, attempted murder, possession of a firearm with intent and possession of an offensive weapon.

The charges relate to an incident on Sunday at Cranfield Park Avenue during which 45-year-old Hugh Doherty, pictured above, died after suffering a gunshot wound.  

Mr Draper appeared via video link at Chelmsford Crown Court. He will appear at the same court on 29 June.

Harriet Crittenden, 25, of Cranfield Park Avenue, Wickford, has been charged with attempted murder and possession of an offensive weapon.

She will appear at Chelmsford Crown Court on 18 May.

The Conservative candidate for Clacton at the last General Election, Giles Watling, has said his party has been "ready for some time" to fight once again for the seat.

It comes after former UKIP - now independent - MP Douglas Carswell said he would not be standing for the 8 June election. 

BBC Sport

Essex are starting their third County Championship match of the season. 

They're playing the defending county champions, Middlesex, at Lords. 

Middlesex and Essex have not played against each other in the County Championship since 2011.

In that summer, Middlesex won a low-scoring game at Lord's by eight wickets before the return game at Chelmsford was drawn.

Now the two sides meet again after Essex won Division Two last season, but how will they fare against the 2016 champions, having achieved one win and one draw so far?

Opener Alastair Cook, fresh from his 110 in last week's win over Somerset, is likely to be a key figure at Lord's, a ground where he has made four of his 30 Test centuries - but will one Cook be enough to spoil the Middlesex broth? 

Follow live updates here. 

Image source, Getty Images

BBC Sport

On 21 April, 1997, Chigwell's Ronnie O'Sullivan notched up one of the greatest achievements in sporting history, making a maximum 147 break in the fastest time ever recorded.

It took "The Rocket" just five minutes and 20 seconds to clear the table against Mick Price in the first round of the World Championship in Sheffield, earning himself a cool £147,000 in prize money.

No-one has even come close to matching that since.

O'Sullivan is competing in this year's event, and currently leads Shaun Murphy 6-2 in the second round.  

Chris Flynn
BBC Essex

A man who was killed at a travellers' site died from a gunshot wound to the chest, an inquest has heard.

Hugh Doherty, 45, died at his home on Cranfield Park Avenue, Wickford, on 16 April. 

His sister was stabbed during the incident but is in a stable condition.

The inquest at Chelmsford Coroner's Court was adjourned for a date yet to be fixed.

Levi Draper, 27, and Harriet Crittenden, 25, both of Cranfield Park Avenue, have been charged in relation to the incident. 

Mr Draper is due to appear at Chelmsford Crown Court today. Ms Crittenden is due in court on 18 May.

It's the London Marathon this Sunday.

Tens of thousands of runners are making their final preparations ahead of tackling the 26.2-mile (42km) distance.

We want to hear from you if you're taking part.

Click "Get involved" above and tell us how you're feeling, why you wanted to take part and what you're looking forward to most about the day.

Among those taking part are:

• Joanne Reed, 43, from Chelmsford, who is running in aid of CLIC Sargent. Her daughter Jessica contracted a rare form of cancer aged one. She was given a 20% chance of survival but pulled through. 
• Judy Burston, 80, from Basildon, who is running for the Stroke Association in memory of her brother.
• Andrew Speed, 32, from Elsenham, who is running for St Clare Hospice after both of his parents passed away from cancer within two months of each other. 

Image source, PA

Clacton MP Douglas Carswell yesterday announced he was not going to seek re-election at the General Election.

He was the only UKIP candidate to be elected as an MP at the 2015 poll. He quit the party last month after falling out with its leadership. 

The 45-year-old said he would be backing the Conservative candidate for Clacton.

But how do the people in his constituency rate him?

A woman who lured her former boyfriend to his death will be sentenced for murder today.

Image source, Essex Police

Michael Beckwith, 44, was attacked by two men with metal poles after arranging to meet ex-girlfriend Rebecca Ryan, 22.

The attack took place in Barrack Lane, Harwich, last July.  

A jury at Chelmsford Crown Court found Ryan and Scott Swift, 27, (both pictured above) guilty of murder. Joseph Smith, 18, was found guilty of manslaughter.

The trio will be sentenced this morning.

Triston and Enderlein Biddlecombe, from East Street, Harwich, will also be sentenced for assisting the offenders.

They were found guilty of washing clothes and providing a false alibi, but not guilty of burning clothes. 

With three games to go, 10 League Two teams are still in with a realistic shot at the play-offs.

Elizabeth Rizzini
BBC Look East weather

Today's likely to be the warmest day of the week, although it will be rather cloudy. 

We’re into warmer air now, so it should feel pleasantly warm in any sunshine that appears. 

The cloud will gradually thin and break during the morning, and that will really help to lift the temperatures, giving us highs of about 15C (59F).

Watch my full regional forecast here:

Kate Scotter
BBC News

Good morning Essex. 

It's Friday and we're here all day with all your news, weather, sport and travel.

Today we'll have news of the sentencing of the five people convicted for their roles in the murder of 44-year-old Michael Beckwith.

The keen fisherman was attacked with metal poles in Barrack Lane, Harwich.

We'll bring you updates on that as soon as we get it.

First, let's see what the weather's got in store.

A lorry driver has been jailed for 18 months for causing a crash involving a bus and a low-loader carrying a steam engine.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

That's it from the Essex Live team today - thanks for your company.

Don't forget, if something breaks later or overnight, you'll still find it here. And we always want to hear from you - just click on the Get Involved button at the top of this page. 

We'll be back from 08:00 tomorrow to do it all again.

Meanwhile here's a summery picture of cotton wool clouds over Blackmore, taken by Simon, one of our merry band of Weather Watchers. 

Have a lovely evening.

Image source, BBC Weather Watchers/Simon

Listen to live BBC Radio London commentary as Middlesex play Essex in the County Championship Division One.

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

The South Basildon and East Thurrock MP, Stephen Metcalfe, wants an assurance from the Transport Secretary that the new Lower Thames Crossing isn't going to be pushed through during the hectic election period. 

Mr Metcalfe has written to Chris Grayling to raise his concerns, saying: "The calling of a snap General Election has taken everyone by surprise and it is crucial that no significant steps on the new Lower Thames Crossing are taken whilst MPs are away from Westminster.

"Although the General Election on 8 June is not specifically about the Lower Thames Crossing, it could potentially have an impact on any plans.

"I am determined that the views of local residents will continue to be heard."

Orla Moore
BBC Local Live

Two major developments on the edge of the village of Weeley will not now go ahead. 

Taylor Wimpey UK Ltd put forward plans for up to 380 properties on land north of Colchester Road on a field currently used for car boot sales.

The second application was for 228 homes, again on a greenfield site, with a two-form primary school, nursery and car park on a site south of Colchester Road.

Both pieces of land are outside the development settlement boundary and were unanimously rejected by Tendring District Council’s (TDC) Planning Committee at a meeting last night.

TDC planning manager Gary Guiver described it as a "disjointed and a piecemeal fashion of development".

Image source, Tendring District Council

Police have said a woman has been blinded in one eye in an attack over which they want to speak to an ex-Towie star's boyfriend.

Image source, Ferne McCann/Facebook

The 22-year-old was one of 20 people who suffered burns when the substance was sprayed at the Mangle E8 club in Hackney, east London on Monday.

Police want to question ex-Towie star Ferne McCann's boyfriend Arthur Collins, 25, from Hertfordshire, in connection with the incident.

Investigating officers have arrested three people in Hertfordshire.

Ms McCann has appealed for Mr Collins to go to a police station.