Boston council leader resigns after ‘conspiracy’ against him

More than 20 stab wounds were inflicted on 12-year-old Roberts Buncis, a murder trial jury heard on Tuesday.

Pathologist Professor Guy Rutty told the jury at Lincoln Crown Court that Roberts died from stab wounds to the neck, chest and abdomen.

Prof Rutty spent over an hour detailing the injuries he found while conducting a post-mortem examination on the 12-year-old.

Roberts suffered a gaping wound to his neck as well as a “life-threatening” injury from a stab wound which went into his left chest cavity before entering his left lung.

Prof Rutty said a further potentially life-threatening injury was caused when Roberts was stabbed in the abdomen causing damage to internal organs.

“The knife has gone into the back of the abdomen where it cut through the top of the left kidney. It has then come partly out and gone back in again.”

He said the second blow cut Roberts’ liver and entered his lung. Damage was also caused to his spleen, colon and lumbar spine.

Prof Rutty said a scan showed the tip of the knife blade embedded in Roberts’ skull.

A further wound to the top of Roberts’ head was inflicted when he was approached from behind.

The pathologist said the injury would have been caused at a time when the person being stabbed was either going to the ground, on their knees or lying on the ground.

Prof Rutty said he also found injuries to both of Roberts’ hands, some of which were what he referred to as defensive injuries.

Describing injuries to the boy’s left hand he said: “I don’t think I have seen this particular pattern (of injury) before. The knife has been drawn across the hand.

“I’m of the opinion that the knife has been drawn across the hand at least four times. The only thing I can think of is that they were trying to remove the hand or fingers.”

A 14-year-old defendant, who cannot be identified because of a court order, denies the murder of Roberts Buncis.

The prosecution say that the 14-year-old lured Roberts’ out of his home in the middle of the night and then stabbed him “again and again”.

Roberts’ body was found on the morning of December 12, 2020 in a wooded area near to Alcorn Green in Fishtoft.

The trial continues tomorrow.

More from the Roberts Buncis murder trial:

• Jury hears how neighbour found ‘lifeless’ body of Roberts Buncis, 12
• Friend of teen accused of Roberts Buncis murder speaks out in court
• Teen admitted to killing Roberts Buncis to friend, jury told
• Roberts Buncis murder accused used drugs daily and carried knife at school, jury told
• Roberts Buncis, 12, savagely killed over snitch fears, court hears
• Trial details savage murder of Roberts Buncis, 12

There have been 124 new coronavirus cases in Greater Lincolnshire on Tuesday — almost double compared to last Tuesday (90.77% rise from 65), as government bosses continue to hold out for July 19 lockdown easing.

The government’s COVID-19 dashboard on Tuesday recorded 63 new cases in Lincolnshire, 50 in North East Lincolnshire and 11 in North Lincolnshire.

The dashboard reported one further death of a North East Lincolnshire resident, while NHS figures confirmed one death at a Northern Lincolnshire and Goole Hospitals Trust facility.

Nationally on Tuesday, cases increased by 11,625 to 4,651,988 — the highest since mid-February — while a further 27 deaths took the tally to 128,008.

Boston and Lincoln have seen infection rates double over the past seven days, however, North East Lincolnshire still tops the Greater Lincolnshire table.

According to the latest data, in the seven days up to June 21, Boston saw its infection rate jump from 28.5 per 100,000 population to 62.7 with an extra 44 cases overall. Nationally it went from 249th highest to 163rd.

Meanwhile, Lincoln moved from the bottom of the Lincolnshire table and 315th nationally to third and 220th respectively. A further 48 cases in the city saw its infection rate jump from 25.5 to 62.7.

There are also fears people could be at higher risk of getting flu this winter after last year’s lockdown led to “effectively” no respiratory viruses.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Monday did not rule out further lockdowns in the winter, warning that it could be a “rough” season.

Andy Fox, deputy director of public health at Lincolnshire County Council said there were concerns that “we didn’t have a flu season, essentially, last year, simply because of self-isolation.”

People have until Thursday to make the most of walk-in COVID-19 vaccinations in Lincoln and Boston.

Depending on age and eligibility, people can attend one of the county’s two Mass Vaccination Centres for a first or second dose, without an appointment.

Meanwhile, the next three locations in Lincoln for the mobile vaccination unit have been revealed, including the local mosque and The Arboretum, for people to receive their first COVID-19 jab on a Saturday without needing an advance booking.

The jab bus was set up in Lincoln temporarily to help with the COVID-19 vaccine rollout and started in the car park of Bridge Central on Saturday, June 19.

Over the next three weekends, it will allow for anyone who has not yet had their first dose, and is eligible to do so, to turn up and get jabbed without needing to book.

Nationally, government bosses have been attempting to reassure people that COVID restrictions will end on July 19.

Chancellor Rishi Sunak said in the House of Commons that it was his “hope and expectation”.

“We will have done what we set out to do, which is to get extra jabs in more people’s arms to provide us with that extra level of protection we were seeking,” he said.

Meanwhile, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the data was encouraging and that the growth in cases seemed to be slowing – with hospitalisations and deaths staying low.

The UK government has also confirmed that the crowd capacity at Wembley will be increased to more than 60,000 for the semi-finals and final of Euro 2020. It will mean the stadium will be able to be three-quarters full.

However, Scotland’s First Minister Nicola Sturgeon this afternoon confirmed delays to the nation’s own COVID restrictions.

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Coronavirus data for Greater Lincolnshire on Tuesday, June 22

61,997 cases (up 124)

• 42,819 in Lincolnshire (up 63)
• 9,892 in North Lincolnshire (up 11)
• 9,286 in North East Lincolnshire (up 50)

2,195 deaths (up one)

• 1,622 from Lincolnshire (no change)
• 302 from North Lincolnshire (no change)
• 271 from North East Lincolnshire (up one)

of which 1,313 hospital deaths (up one)

• 816 at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust (no change)
• 42 at Lincolnshire Community Health Service hospitals (no change)
• 1 at Lincolnshire Partnership Foundation Trust (no change)
• 454 in Northern Lincolnshire (NLAG) (up one)

4,651,988 UK cases, 128,008 deaths

DATA SOURCE — FIGURES CORRECT AT THE TIME OF THE LATEST UPDATE. POSTCODE DATA INCLUDES DEATHS NOT IN HEALTHCARE FACILITIES OR IN HOSPITALS OUTSIDE AUTHORITY BOUNDARIES.

Lincoln will be getting a royal visit next week, as Princess Anne comes to officially open Lincoln’s joint ambulance fire and police station.

The £21 million station at South Park in Lincoln will be opened by her royal highness on Monday, June 28, after the COVID-19 pandemic delayed an official opening date.

It has been operational since late 2019, but now the chance will arise to declare the station open at last.

TOUR INSIDE the Lincoln Blue Lights Hub

Princess Anne will also be visiting staff involved with the response to the pandemic at the County Emergency Centre, before having lunch there.

She will be greeted by representatives from all emergency services, as well as county councillors and staff members at the station.

An escorted tour of the building will guide Princess Anne around the new facilities, and HRH will even get a chance to meet police dog Frankie from Lincolnshire Police’s dog unit.