Cops probe witness claims missing tot was killed

[sal]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/be ... t--8940932

[sal]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/be ... ig-8946192

[Alibongo]

Poor family, it really does sound like the police are confident that they have solved Ben's disappearance.
God knows how Kerry and Ben's Dad are supposed to get their head around this.

[sal]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... ig-8946430

[catkins]

Oh for heavens sake !!...I can understand being very careful re ancient finds.....but as for farmland..

The poor Needhams don't need any more pain.

[Whiterose]

I thought the search had resumed?

Sorry just read the recent link.

How disgusting!! The owner of the land is afraid that the land will be not good as farmland!!! Well surely Archaeologists would take everything of interest away from there. It's not being farmed now is it? It is more important to find a missing little boy surely.

[catkins]

I thought the search had resumed?

Sorry just read the recent link.

How disgusting!! The owner of the land is afraid that the land will be not good as farmland!!! Well surely Archaeologists would take everything of interest away from there. It's not being farmed now is it? It is more important to find a missing little boy surely.

I think he is confused....it won't be the search for Ben that's the problem....it'll be the government taking over his land ...

[sal]

The search for the remains of Ben Needham dramatically resumed this afternoon after a chaotic few hours.

Police chief Jon Cousins said the dispute between searchers and the landowner had been resolved.



He said it had cost them "two or three" hours.

Earlier the landowner, Stefano Troumouhis, 33, and his lawyer arrived at the farmland, saying that there are "issues" over police carrying on digging.

The lawyer who was accompanying Mr Troumouhis this morning left the site after raising concerns, and was "not happy".

Officers were forced to leave the site while the row was settled.

A magistrate "ordered" them to stop work immediately.

Later after negotiations between the two parties the diggers started work again.

Forensic specialists and an archaeologist have been combing an arid stretch of farmland where 21-month-old Ben was playing a quarter of a century ago.

[Whiterose]

Thank god for that!! Thanks sal

[sal]

Kids who vanished

http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/latest- ... en-nettles

[Hael]

IF the forensics team are going to be searching for a body, would part of the preparations for the area not have been research into whether it was or could have been a known burial ground? That of course would influence any findings.

[catkins]

http://news.sky.com/story/ben-needham-p ... d-10604114

Ben Needham police want part of Kos farmhouse demolished
Newspaper photographs from 1991 prove an extension has since been added to a building near where Ben disappeared.
10:45, UK,
Monday 03 October 2016
The farmhouse on the site in Kos

Police searching for missing toddler Ben Needham want to knock down part of a farmhouse built after he disappeared on the Greek island of Kos.

A second week of excavations are under way near the spot where 21-month-old Ben went missing in 1991.

Detective Inspector Jon Cousins said a newspaper photograph from the time showed part of a nearby farmhouse had not yet been built.

"I'm in negotiation with the family that owns the farmhouse," he said.

A digger searches farmland for missing toddler Ben Needham. Pic: Mark White
Image Caption:
A digger searches farmland for the missing toddler. Pic: Mark White
"There is reason for me to consider removing a small part of this farmhouse in order that I can be sure that I have not missed any opportunity to find the answers that I need to."

Mr Cousins said talks with the owners were difficult as many family members had grown up there.

"I fully understand the concern that the family has," he said.

He added that the operation was back on track after a delay caused when a suspected ancient burial site was discovered.

A 19-strong team of experts is taking part in the search


Video:
Forensic experts from McCann case help in the hunt for clues
Lawyers for the landowner asked police to stop their dig while they sought certain assurances.

A team of 19 officers from South Yorkshire Police are on the island to investigate claims the toddler might have been killed by a digger driver who had been working on the site.

Ben's mother, Kerry Needham, was warned to "prepare for the worst".

Konstantinos Barkas, also known as Dino, was clearing land with an excavator close to where Ben was playing on the day he vanished.

[Whiterose]

Thanks cat

I'll say that for them they are dedicated to finding Ben, and lovely that the public are helping too.

[catkins]

Seems the owners have agreed and that part of the building is being demolished this morning..

http://www.itv.com/news/calendar/2016-1 ... am-search/

[sal]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... rk-8980373

[catkins]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news ... rk-8980373

On the day Ben vanished, Eddie’s wife Christine, 64, had brought the toddler to visit his grandad at work at the farmhouse.

Eddie has found coping with the guilt of being in charge of Ben when he disappeared almost unbearable.

He said: “At the end of the day he was with me and his grandma and he went missing in our care.

So sad that they have lived with this guilt........The amount of times that they must have thought "If only"......

I think I'd be the same...

[sal]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/be ... e-ch%20p$7

[sal]

As Kerry prepares for the 'worst', Kate offered her 'strength and solidarity'.
A close friend of the former GP told MailOnline: 'This brings back dreadful memories for Kate. She went through a similar horrendous experience a few years back when the authorities were digging for Madeleine.
'Not knowing if they are going to unearth the remains of your child as you wait helplessly is the worst thing imaginable. It is galling.
'Kate's says her heart goes out to Kerry Needham at such a traumatic time. She is very sympathetic and wants to offer her strength and solidarity.
'They have met up in the past as fellow mums of high profile missing children and share a seemingly never ending pain and anguish.'
The new search area in Kos is believed to be a dumping ground for rubble taken from the farmhouse where Ben went missing.
Officers believe stone and earth was taken from the farmhouse on the day or day after Ben vanished on July 24, 1991.


Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article ... z4MJHirSfG
Follow us: @MailOnline on Twitter | DailyMail on Facebook

[Rob1]

It is very sad.
Are the police in Greece using cadaver dogs?

[sal]

http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/be ... ed-8995046

[Alibongo]

Awful just awful!
For God's sake accidents happen all the time what this man has done to Kerry and her family is beyond cruel.

[catkins]

I know ....and if he did accidentally knock him down.....he could have owned up....a toddler on a building site...

If he is guilty .....he must have had a heart of stone !

[catkins]

http://news.sky.com/story/detectives-se ... y-10609457

Detectives searching for Ben Needham extend their stay in Kos
The detective leading the search says he has spoken to Ben's mother Kerry Needham and she remains supportive of the operation.
10:29, UK,
Saturday 08 October 2016
A bulldozer demolishes the last room of the farmhouse at the search site of missing toddler Ben Needham

Detectives searching for missing British toddler Ben Needham are extending their two-week stay on the Greek island of Kos.

Detective Inspector Jon Cousins told reporters it will enable officers to continue examining another site close to the farmhouse where Ben, then 21 months old, disappeared in 1991.

He said initial work at the site revealed the underlying ground consisted of compacted material deposited over the last 30 years.

A digger searches farmland for missing toddler Ben Needham. Pic: Mark White

Mr Cousins said: "We are going to be doing this to give me the confidence that I've done everything I can.

"I am lifting all the earth behind us. We're going to work through it in similar fashion to what we've done up at the farmhouse."

He added: "The team are 100% behind this. And every single one of them, including the volunteers, are adamant that they are staying for this period of time. It's got to be done."

Asked how much longer the team would stay, he said: "Probably at least two or three days."

A 19-strong team of experts is taking part in the search


Video:
Forensic experts from the Madeleine McCann case help in the hunt for clues
Mr Cousins said there was no truth to rumours his officers were searching a third site in Kos.

He confirmed he had been given information about another area where digger driver Konstantinos Barkas deposited rubble 25 years ago, but said he would not be acting on it.

The current operation was prompted by information that Mr Barkas was clearing land with an excavator close to where Ben, from Sheffield, was playing on the day he vanished - and that he may be responsible for his death.

But Mr Cousins said that while his team was taking the new information seriously, it was not based on specific intelligence like the current searches.

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:
Kerry Needham (R) has been told to expect the worst
Mr Barkas, who was also known as Dino, reportedly died of stomach cancer last year.

Ben's mother, Kerry Needham, has been warned to "prepare for the worst".

Mr Cousins said he had updated her on the latest developments and he was encouraged that the family was still supportive of what his team are doing.

[sal]

Ben Needham: Mum says toddler is likely to be dead
3 hours ago


Kerry Needham said the family were all "extremely tired and distressed"
The mother of missing toddler Ben Needham has said she now believes her son is likely to be found dead after disappearing on Kos 25 years ago.
Ben, from Sheffield, South Yorkshire, was 21 months old when he disappeared on the Greek island on 24 July 1991.
Speaking on ITV's Good Morning Britain, Kerry Needham said she had been warned to "prepare for the worst".
Police searches have entered a third week after it emerged he may have been accidentally killed by a digger driver.


The search on Kos has been extended into the third week to concentrate on a second site
Mrs Needham said: "I think it really now is a case of finding him not alive.
"We can't live another 25 years like this, my parents can't and I can't.
"It's not the best solution but it will eventually lay it to rest for us, we're all extremely tired and distressed."

Ben Needham went missing on the Greek island of Kos in July 1991 when he was 21 months old
She added: "Twenty-five years living and not knowing where your child is is torment.
"I don't like to say it, but then at least we would know and it would be closure and he can be laid to rest and we can remember him as he was."

Mrs Needham said it was an "agonising wait every day" for news from the police.
She said: "Unfortunately it looks like it's going to be a bad outcome but we'll just try to get on with everything."
About 60 items found in the search are being sent back to the UK for analysis, with police extending their stay to search a second site 750m away from where he was last seen.

[catkins]

Aww wonder what has made her so sure.......