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Neath cllr told driver that murder victim 'deserved to die'
http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=34804
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Author:  StuartW [ Sat Sep 07, 2019 10:56 am ]
Post subject:  Neath cllr told driver that murder victim 'deserved to die'

Not really about the trade, but an interesting read if you're not a fan of councillors... :?


Councillor suspended after allegedly telling taxi drivers murder victim deserved to die

https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wale ... s-16879162

Sheila Marston allegedly made the comments about Terrie-Ann Jones who was stabbed 26 times by her ex-boyfriend

Image
Councillor Sheila Marston (left) allegedly made the comments about Terrie-Ann Jones (right) (Image: Neath Port Talbot council/South Wales Police/Wales Online)

A councillor has been suspended after allegedly telling taxi drivers that the victim of a domestic murder had deserved to be killed.

Sheila Marston has been suspended from Neath Town Council for four months after an investigation by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales.

In a statement, Ombudsman Nick Bennett said that the allegation against the Mount Pleasant councillor was that she said "a Neath resident deserved to be murdered".

He said: "The investigation found that Councillor Marston’s unsolicited comments about the victim were both disrespectful and distasteful."

He added that "many... of the citizens of Neath... believe that Councillor Marston is no longer a suitable representative".

The family of murdered Terrie-Ann Jones, who was stabbed 26 times by her ex-boyfriend , said she was the person Councillor Marston had been speaking about.

Councillor Marston lived close to the murder victim in Talbot Road in Neath and Terrie-Ann's sister said they had fallen out over an "overgrown garden bush".

A taxi driver, Edward Vaughan John, told WalesOnline he had reported Councillor Marston after she made the comments to him when he gave her a lift home.

Mr John, 57, said: "Upon arrival to her home Councillor Marston pointed out flowers that had been left at Terrie- Ann's in sympathy from neighbours and friends.

"Councillor Marston had a bee in her bonnet about her, I just ignored her comments until she said to myself that Terrie-Anne deserved to be murdered.

"After that remark I felt it my duty as a close friend to report Councillor Marston to the local authority."

He added: "I then found out that Councillor Marston had said the same thing to other drivers, these drivers agreed to testify against Councillor Marston.

"I am totally disgusted by Councillor Marston’s comments and the council's actions as a four-month suspension is not adequately enough for the comments she has made."

Councillor Marston has been suspended four months after a meeting of the Standards Committee of Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council. She did not appeal the decision, despite having 21 days to do so.

Melania Hosken, 34, Terrie-Ann's sister, said Mrs Marston lived on the same street as her sister and took a dislike to her "because of her over-grown garden bush".

She said: "Tan was the glue to our family. The day she died part of us all died and were never gonna be the same again.

"We've all lost the most important to us. We're all broken without her ."

In his statement, Public Services Ombudsman Mr Bennett said: "In view of the effect of Councillor Marston’s comments on the citizens of Neath Town Council, many of whom believe that Councillor Marston is no longer a suitable representative, and the effect on the reputation of the Town Council itself, the Ombudsman concluded that Councillor Marston may have breached paragraph 6(1)(a) of the Code of Conduct."

Mr Bennett said he had referred the matter to Neath Port Talbot County Borough Council.

Michael Shaw, deputy monitoring officer for Neath Port Talbot Council , said: " The Standards Committee met on July 26, 2019, and concluded that town councillor Sheila Marston was in breach of the code of conduct for elected members of Neath Town Council, finding that her conduct brought herself and her town council into disrepute.

"The Standards Committee imposed a sanction of a four-month suspension as a town councillor.

"Town councillor Marston had 21 days to appeal any decision of the Standards Committee and we have not been advised of any appeal being made, so the suspension took effect as of the August 21, 2019."

Councillor Marston refused to comment when approached.

Author:  edders23 [ Sat Sep 07, 2019 2:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Neath cllr told driver that murder victim 'deserved to d

a taxi driver grassing a councillor up :-k

hope her colleagues on the licensing committee aren't annoyed

Author:  Sussex [ Sat Sep 07, 2019 9:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Neath cllr told driver that murder victim 'deserved to d

edders23 wrote:
a taxi driver grassing a councillor up :-k

hope her colleagues on the licensing committee aren't annoyed

I suspect they are relieved the old bat isn't their for 4 months.

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