Experiments to help solve murder cases
The University of Lincoln said that decaying animal corpses found in cages near Riseholme campus are part of forensic experiments to help police solve murder cases.
The cages were found by Ryan Stroud, 30, when he was walking his dog with his children through a woodland area near to the Lincolnshire Showground.
Ryan told The Lincolnite that his dog ran through a field, chasing a bird, and was followed by his kids into the woods where they found cages.
The cages on private land are fairly close to the edge of the public woodlands. | Photo: Ryan Stroud
He said: “They shouted at me and were crying like mad because of what they found, we couldn’t believe our eyes.”
Inside the cages were decomposed animal carcasses, with signage showing that it was a scientific experiment of animal testing from the University of Lincoln.
The sign indicates that the university conducted this experiment almost seven years ago. | Photo: Ryan Stroud
Despite the sign suggesting that it had been there for seven years, the university said it is in fact an experiment from 2019, that has been fully licensed by DEFRA.
The area is private property and any interference could compromise “vital work” that is being done alongside the police force, the university has said.
This particular experiment is part of the university’s degree offering in Forensic Science, which is accredited by the Chartered Society of Forensic Science, in order to educate and train people for crime scene investigations.
The university said these are baby pigs that were already dead and acquired from an abattoir. | Photo: Ryan Stroud
A spokesperson for the University of Lincoln said: “We are working to enable swifter and more accurate crime detection and are at the forefront of crime scene forensic research.
“We offer a degree in Forensic Science which includes a module on Advanced Crime Scene Investigation.
“Importantly, this means our teaching of forensic entomology gives our students a necessary understanding of decay and decomposition, which significantly improves the accuracy of establishing the time of death at crime scenes to assist the police in solving serious crimes.
The bodies have decomposed over time, leaving just bones in some areas. | Photo: Ryan Stroud
“We don’t conduct any experiments on any live animals at the University of Lincoln.
“Our scientists have worked closely with the police and conduct research to better inform the understanding of crime scenes.
“This particular study was set up on private property in 2019 and licensed by DEFRA to support our vital work in this area.”
Ryan said he was shocked at what he saw. | Photo: Ryan Stroud
A dramatic video shows a car engulfed in flames in the car park at Lincoln County Hospital on Tuesday afternoon.
An on-call crew from Lincolnshire Fire & Rescue attended the scene on Greetwell Road shortly before 5pm on Tuesday, April 13.
The crew used one hose reel to extinguish the fire and fortunately no casualties were reported.
The car is probably a write-off. | Photo: The Lincolnite
Dramatic pictures from the scene show the severe damage that was caused to the front of the car.
Fall in county infections but a Boston spike
There have been 50 new coronavirus cases and three COVID-related deaths in Greater Lincolnshire on Tuesday — compared to 58 cases and no deaths this time last week.
The government’s COVID-19 dashboard recorded 26 new cases in Lincolnshire, 19 in North Lincolnshire and five in North East Lincolnshire.
On Tuesday, three deaths were registered in Lincolnshire, none in North East Lincolnshire and -1 in North Lincolnshire. Fluctuations in data are usually due to some deaths in those areas being reallocated to other regions across the UK or a miscount. These figures include deaths both in and out of hospitals, as well as residents in hospitals outside the county.
NHS England has reported two new local hospital deaths at United Lincolnshire Hospitals Trust hospitals.
On Tuesday, national cases increased by 2,472 to 4,375,814, while deaths rose by 23 to 127,123.
In local news, people aged over 45 can now book their COVID vaccinations on the NHS website after the government reached its target of offering a first dose to the nine most vulnerable groups.
There were recently some technical difficulties for people accessing the NHS website, but vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi said the issues have been fixed – book a vaccine online here and find out if you are eligible.
Over the weekend, Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rate has fallen, with a spike in Boston only.
Similarly, the England average has also seen a drop in infections, but still remains nearly half Greater Lincolnshire’s rates.
Lincoln has dropped by more than half over the weekend and now has one of the smallest rates in the UK, with just 9.1 per 100,000 of the population infected with COVID-19.
Here’s Greater Lincolnshire’s COVID-19 infection rates up to April 12:
Greater Lincolnshire’s infection rates from Apr 5 to Apr 12. | Data: Gov UK / Table: James Mayer for The Lincolnite
In national news, Boris Johnson has warned that the reduction in coronavirus infections, hospitalisations and deaths “has not been achieved” by the rollout of COVID vaccines.
The prime minister, speaking the day after the latest easing of lockdown restrictions, instead said it was the national shutdown that had been “overwhelmingly important” in driving down COVID rates.
England is giving out its first doses of the Moderna jab, the third COVID-19 vaccine in the nation’s rollout.
It will be available at 21 sites, included the Madejski Stadium in Reading and the Sheffield Arena.
Along with the Pfizer jab, it offers an alternative to the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine for under-30s, after concerns about a possible link to very rare blood clots.
Greater Lincolnshire includes Lincolnshire and the unitary authorities of North and North East (Northern) Lincolnshire.
58,772 cases (up 50)
2,184 deaths (up three)
of which 1,302 hospital deaths (up two)
4,375,814 UK cases, 127,123 deaths
There will be another Kill The Bill protest in Lincoln next week, rallying against a new government bill that diminishes protesting rights.
Protests have been rife across the country since the government’s proposed Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill was first discussed, with scenes turning violent in Bristol.
Over two hundred people peacefully took part in the city’s first march at Speakers’ Corner on April 3, including Extinction Rebellion activists and Socialist and Labour supporters.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Now, after a post started doing the rounds on social media, another protest has apparently been scheduled for 2pm on Monday, April 17 at the same location on Lincoln High Street, as part of a national day of action.
A poster promoting a second event has been shared across social media platforms.
Protests are lawful once again after the government eased lockdown restrictions on March 29, but organisers are required to submit a risk assessment prior to any event.
| Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite
Organisers of the last protest were in close communication with police to make the event safe, and The Lincolnite has asked Lincolnshire Police if they have been made aware of another protest, but are yet to receive a reply.
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