Cops probe witness claims missing tot was killed

[TansyT]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/be ... irror_main

[sidmouth]

Not good news

[Alibongo]

That's just dreadful absolutely dreadful, someone has stayed silent all these years knowing where he was.
Poor Kerry and her family!

[catkins]

All these years and Kerry Needham was so sure he was still alive..... These poor families of the missing....all they have to keep them going is HOPE !

I agree with you Bonkers.....How could someone sit on this information all these years?

http://news.sky.com/story/ben-needham-t ... r-10579729

Ben Needham: Toddler 'may have been crushed by digger'
British detectives are told a digger driver may be responsible for Ben's death as excavation is set to begin at two new sites.
07:21, UK,
Friday 16 September 2016
Ben Needham
Image Caption:
Ben Needham disappeared on 24 July, 1991
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The mother of missing toddler Ben Needham has been told her son may have been killed as detectives are set to begin excavating at two sites close to where the toddler vanished 25 years ago.

British investigators on Kos believe Ben may have been crushed to death by a digger, Kerry Needham said.

A friend of digger driver Konstantinos Barkas - known as Dino - came forward following an appeal on Greek TV and said he believed the workman was responsible for the 21-month-old boy's death, the Daily Mirror reported.

The death is said to have been accidental.

Mr Barkas reportedly died from stomach cancer in 2015, just months before South Yorkshire Police detectives renewed the investigation on the island.

Forensic officers search near where Ben disappeared in 2012
Image Caption:
Forensic officers search near where Ben disappeared in 2012
He apparently had not told detectives he had been working on the two sites which are due to be searched.

Ms Needham had been hoping she would be reunited with her son, but said her worst fears appeared to have been confirmed following a visit by police officers.

She told the newspaper: "What they had to tell me was the last thing they would have ever wanted to. They think my Ben could be dead and buried.

"They are no longer looking for a missing person. How do I cope with that? My mother's instinct has always told me he was alive.

"What if I've been wrong all this time?"

Ben, from Sheffield, disappeared from outside Ms Needham's parents' home on Kos on 24 July, 1991.

Mr Barkas had reportedly been helping to clear land for a local builder near the property.

Experts have apparently tested soil and surveyed the site using drones.

[scoobydoo]

This is so so sad.

But the man, who has now died, spoke to English police four years ago about this possibility so its more about checking a different area. I don't see why he would have covered it up. He was on a building site it was not his fault if a toddler suddenly appeared. I can imagine he has been worried for years, maybe he thought he say movement or something out of the corner of his eye and dismissed it as an animal etc until he heard about the missing child.

What I cannot understand is why these areas were not searched at the time. It seems the most obvious thing to have happened. Toddler who likes cars ended up wandering around o is own for four hour close to a site where a truck was being used to move rubble. I would have thought that was an obvious possibility.

I think the idea Ben was kidnapped by gypsies was wishful thinking that gained traction. No onee was seen in the area that day, Ben just happened to be wandering about there. It was not likely that someone just happened to come along there at the exact same time as Ben and decide to bring him up as their own for years. It was always more likely that in the four hours he was out there he met with an accident.

I know Madeleine McCann is also believed to be possibly alive but the differences are different. Madeleine disappeared in the space of less than an hour from a holiday flat in a populated area. It's unlike?y she opened the window herself of shut the patio door an two gates herself even if she could open them. And a child on their own would have been seen and if not there was no where she could ha stone by herself where she would not now have been found. So a third party adult was involved and as her parents did not have the time e or ability to hide her body let alone get everyone else to agree to cover it up (my friends and I took over an hour to get a take away order agreed on so doubt twenty minutes is enough time to convince several others to hide a child death) and no motive then it's a stranger. This is supported by the spare of home intrusions with child victims in the area. As there I no evidence, it not unreasonable to think there is a possibility, albeit on the slim side, she was kidnapped but not killed.

[sidmouth]

This is so so sad.

But the man, who has now died, spoke to English police four years ago about this possibility so its more about checking a different area. I don't see why he would have covered it up. He was on a building site it was not his fault if a toddler suddenly appeared. I can imagine he has been worried for years, maybe he thought he say movement or something out of the corner of his eye and dismissed it as an animal etc until he heard about the missing child.

What I cannot understand is why these areas were not searched at the time. It seems the most obvious thing to have happened. Toddler who likes cars ended up wandering around o is own for four hour close to a site where a truck was being used to move rubble. I would have thought that was an obvious possibility.

They had already checked the area. I heard they were moving to another area to search. Trucks movements i guess

[Carana]

So far, this is an unconfirmed hearsay report.

It does seem to be a plausible explanation, however. Those machines can be big.

It's possible that he didn't think it likely until he was dying, or felt too guilty to own up.

Whatever the outcome, I hope that the family gets some form of closure.

[Whiterose]

So sad, what awful news, 25 years of searching for Ben

[sal]

Excavations will begin on the Greek island of Kos next week in the search for Ben Needham, who went missing 25 years ago.

Ben, from Sheffield, was 21 months old when he disappeared while on holiday with his mother and grandparents on 24 July 1991.

Last week, police told his family to prepare for the worst after new evidence suggested Ben could have been crushed to death by a digger.


Home Office agrees to fund search for Ben Needham
Read more
A statement from police said the new lines of inquiry had been “explored and investigated over the last three months” and would result in digs at two sites on the island, close to where Ben was last seen.

“It is anticipated the first dig will take the team 10 to 12 days to complete,” said the police statement. “A cordon will be in place at the scene to protect the forensic work [...] to allow the team of officers to get on with the important task at hand.

“Please be aware that it is entirely expected that the team will regularly come across bones in the ground as the site is former farmland. Any unusual items recovered will be subject to forensic testing.”

In January last year, the Home Office agreed to give special grant funding to a team of British detectives to help search for Ben following a number of possible sightings and theories about what might have happened to him. Needham’s mother, Kerry, has never given up hope that Ben could still be alive.

A spokesperson from the Find Ben Needham campaignsaid the group was feeling “nervous, scared and anxious”, adding: “As the dig for Ben’s remains starts next week, we are supporting the Needham family and each other as much as we can. The campaign has received thousands of comments, emails and messages of support which is simply overwhelming and goes to show Ben and the Needhams [are] in the heart of the nation at this time.

“A few people have asked what is next for the Find Ben Needham campaign and the answer is the same as it always has been – to find Ben and, until the day he is found, we will never stop.”

[catkins]

The wait must be horrendous for the poor Needhams....

[catkins]

http://news.sky.com/story/ben-needham-p ... s-10593675

Ben Needham: Police begin excavation of new search area in Kos

British detectives and an archaeological team from Kos are searching land where the toddler was last seen in 1991.
09:39, UK,
Monday 26 September 2016
A new search for the possible remains of Ben Needham
Image Caption:
Police begin searching land near where Ben was last seen
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Police have begun detailed excavation work in the hope of finally solving the 25-year-old mystery surrounding the disappearance of Ben Needham.

A team from South Yorkshire Police, supported by colleagues from Greece, are digging on farmland on the Greek island of Kos near where Ben was last seen on 24 July, 1991.

Detective Inspector Jon Cousins said his officers would work with an archaeological team from the island to focus efforts on a particular patch of land.

Ben Needham was 21 months old when he vanished from the Greek island of Kos


Video:
Ben Needham 'may have been crushed by digger'
"This has been my life for the past 18 months, I can hardly begin to imagine what it's been like for the Needham family," he said.

Ben's mother, Kerry Needham, has been told to "prepare for the worst" by investigators, who now suspect her son may have died in an accident on the day he vanished.

Kos resident Konstantinos 'Dino' Barkas was clearing land with an excavator close to where Ben was playing on the day he went missing and may be responsible for his death, a friend of the builder reportedly told police.

KOS, GREECE - OCTOBER 22: Kerry Grist (C) and her mother Christine Needham make a statement to the media as British police continue the search for Mrs Grist's son Ben Needham, who went missing 21 years ago, on October 22, 2012 in Kos, Greece. The toddler from Sheffield was 21 months old when he vanished on the Greek island in July, 1991. Specialist British search teams and Greek police started excavating the site last week. (Photo by Milos Bicanski/Getty Images)
Image Caption:
Ben's mother (right) has been told to expect the worst. Pic: File
Mr Barkas died of cancer last year, months before police arrived on the island for a renewed investigation.

Ben, who was 21-months-old at the time he disappeared, was on holiday with his mother and grandparents, who were renovating an old farmhouse in the village of Iraklise.

DI Cousins warned progress could be slow, with the first dig expected to last up to 12 days.

"There has been a lot of myth and legend gathered over 25 years as to what has happened to Ben," he said.

"This site is of great archaeological interest and we have with us an archaeological team with us from the island of Kos. As a result of which there may be some delay during the period we are here."

Ms Needham, from Sheffield, told the Daily Mirror: "Not even in my worst nightmares has Ben ever been dead ... until now. I've been waking up and finding my pillow wet with tears."

Mr Barkas' widow has strongly dismissed the claims her late husband accidentally killed the toddler.


So very sad....... on the one hand I so hope Ben and Madeleine are still alive and simply growing up not knowing who they really are .....but at the same time the poor Needhams and McCanns need to know and need closure....A horrible dilemma.

[Carana]

They already did a ground search a few years ago... I wonder what's different?

[Whiterose]

They already did a ground search a few years ago... I wonder what's different?

Different sites.

My heart goes out to the Kerry and her family, this waiting must be horrendous

[Alibongo]

I do wish the media would lay off covering these ground searches, it must be horrendous for Kerry and her family every news bulletin.

[Whiterose]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -body.html

[honestbroker1]

I'm, frankly not very impressed with the police, either, warning Kerry to prepare for the worst UNLESS they have VERY sound reason to suppose this dig will unearth her son's remains.

If the dig reveals nothing that will be (yet another) emotional roller-coaster of emotions Kerry might have been spared.

[catkins]

I'm, frankly not very impressed with the police, either, warning Kerry to prepare for the worst UNLESS they have VERY sound reason to suppose this dig will unearth her son's remains.

If the dig reveals nothing that will be (yet another) emotional roller-coaster of emotions Kerry might have been spared.

That thought crossed my mind too HB....

[catkins]

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... -body.html

"Miss Needham is understood to be at a secret location close to Kos, where she is being updated by police. After years spent campaigning for fresh searches for her son, she is said to be in a 'highly emotional state' and is angry the witness took so long to come forward."

And who could blame the poor woman.....

[sidmouth]

They evidence must be strong. They must be sure

[Alibongo]

Must be absolutely agonising for Kerry
All that time spent searching and hoping that one day shed be reunited with Ben.
Why on earth couldn't these people of just admitted there had been an accident?
Health and safety wasn't a priority back then so I'm led to believe they just didn't want the build to be held up

[catkins]

Must be absolutely agonising for Kerry
All that time spent searching and hoping that one day shed be reunited with Ben.
Why on earth couldn't these people of just admitted there had been an accident?
Health and safety wasn't a priority back then so I'm led to believe they just didn't want the build to be held up

Or even an anonymous tip off......

[sal]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/be ... ig-8937974

[catkins]

I don't know how Kerry and her family are coping...

[Whiterose]

They said they had found decomposition on other sites but it turned out to be a dead dog, a bat and a cesspit, so wonder why they have reported finding this, unless they are more or less sure what they have found. I really can't imagine what Kerry and her family must be going through, every time they find something. Hopefully it will come to an end one way or another very soon.

[Alibongo]

I wish they wouldn't report on anything till they know for definite one way or the other.