Michael Misick officially charged, unable to meet bail conditions

From Atlanta BlackStar

The former premier of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Michael Misick, was denied bail when he appeared at a magistrate’s court in Grand Turk on Tuesday. His application was accepted on appeal by the Turks and Caicos Supreme Court later in the afternoon.

Misick was unable to meet the bail conditions on Tuesday evening and was remanded in custody. He has been formally charged with conspiracy to bribe.
Misick was extradited from Brazil on Tuesday and is represented by attorney Oliver Smith, who is to be joined by a high-powered team of international lawyers.

The former premier reportedly kissed the ground after he arrived back in the country from Brazil.

The newspaper says the 47-year-old Misick arrived on what appeared to be a military plane and was quickly taken to the police headquarters in the capital, Cockburn Town, where he was questioned by the Special Investigation and Prosecution Team following allegations of corruption and mismanagement.

If Misick can meet the bail conditions before Monday, Jan. 13, the former premier could be released earlier, a spokesperson for the Governor’s Office said in a statement.

For more on this story go to:

http://atlantablackstar.com/2014/01/08/michael-misick-officially-charged-unable-meet-bail-conditions/

US Navy helicopter crashes off Norfolk, Virginia

PHOTO: The MH-53E Sea Dragon is used to search for seaborne mines and also for heavy-lift missions

One of four crew members rescued after a US Navy helicopter crashed off Norfolk, Virginia, has died, officials say, while a fifth is still missing.

The US Navy MH-53E Sea Dragon was on a routine training mission.

US Coast Guard officials said they responded to a downed aircraft report at about 11:00 (16:00 GMT).

In a bizarre coincidence, the incident came a day after another US military helicopter crashed in the county of Norfolk, England, killing four people.

The helicopter involved in Tuesday’s crash in the UK was a HH-60G Pave Hawk helicopter that belonged to the US Air Force.

Naval Station Norfolk

The aircraft in Wednesday’s incident went down 18 nautical miles (33km) east of the Virginia coast. The cause of the crash is not yet known.

One of the four people rescued and flown to a hospital in Norfolk later died.

Petty Officer David Weydert said that the missing fifth person was still being sought.

The Coast Guard cutter Shearwater and two MH-60S helicopters are taking part in the search.

The condition of the three remaining personnel in hospital has not been given.

The downed helicopter was assigned to Helicopter Mine Countermeasures Squadron 14 (HM-14), the commander of Naval Air Force Atlantic said in a statement.

Norfolk, Virginia, is an important hub for the US military, and is home to Naval Station Norfolk, the largest naval complex in the world.

The water temperature there is about 42F (6C), according to US weather officials.

The helicopter is typically used in deliveries and in mine countermeasures.

The same model of helicopter crashed in 2012 in Oman, killing two Navy crewmembers.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-25659531

Helicopter crash Norfolk England: Four dead US air crew named

From BBC

The four US crew members who died in a helicopter crash in Cley next the Sea, north Norfolk, have been named.

The US Air Force said the crew of the helicopter were Capt Christopher S. Stover, Capt Sean M. Ruane, Technical Sergeant Dale E. Mathews and Staff Sergeant Afton M. Ponce.

The HH-60G Pave Hawk from the 48th Fighter Wing was based RAF Lakenheath in Suffolk and came down on Tuesday.

It was on a low-level night training mission carrying live ammunition.
Ammunition hunt

Tributes have been paid online to Capt Ruane, who leaves a wife Rachel and their young son Liam.

His cousin Brian Meyer tweeted: “My cousin died in a helicopter crash tonight. Pretty tore up about this.

“Everyone: thanks for all the kindness. I’ll pass it along to his wife and child when we see each other soon.”

Authorities have said that the bodies of those killed in the crash are unlikely to be recovered until Thursday.

Air accident, RAF and US investigators have spent the day at the scene of the crash.

A statement from 48th Fighter Wing said the helicopter was performing a low-level training mission along the coast when the crash took place.

The investigation is being hampered because it was carrying munitions, meaning that ordnance has been scattered around the scene, investigators said.

A spokesman said they were aware of how much ammunition was on board and are attempting to account for it all.

A 400-metre police cordon is expected to remain in place at the scene until Monday and the public have been asked to stay away.

A derivative of the more famous Black Hawk helicopter, the Pave Hawk gets its name from the acronym for Precision Avionics Vectoring Equipment.

They are used for combat search and rescue, recovering downed aircrew or other isolated personnel in combat situations.

RAF Lakenheath, where US Airforce 48th Fighter Wing is based, said that Captains Stover and Ruane were pilots, while Tech. Sgt. Mathews and SSgt Ponce were acting as special mission aviators.

Col Kyle Robinson, 48th Fighter Wing commander, said: “We continue to think of the loved ones who are experiencing such a tragic, sudden loss.

“The Liberty Wing feels as though it has lost members of its family, and we stand by to support one another and these airmen’s families during this difficult time.

For more on this story go to:

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-25661782