The News Matrix: Monday 10 February 2014

Roache: I thought the jury said guilty

Coronation Street actor Bill Roache said he misheard the jury at the end of his rape trial. The 81-year-old said it was not until the judge ordered him to be released from the dock that he realised he had been acquitted on two counts of rape and four counts of indecent assault last week.

Man arrested after protest explosion

Police in Rio de Janeiro have arrested a man in connection with an explosion during a protest on Friday, which seriously injured a journalist. Fabio Raposo reportedly told investigators he found an explosive device on the floor but another person set it off.

Cricketer Bernard Hedges dies aged 86

Former Glamorgan cricketer Bernard Hedges has died at his home in the Mumbles, Swansea, aged 86, the club has announced. During his career in first-class cricket he amassed 17,733 runs in 422 appearances for the Welsh county, and struck 21 centuries.

Jewish boycott of Holocaust events

The Federation of Hungarian Jewish Communities has voted to boycott all government events commemorating the 70th anniversary of the Holocaust in Hungary. The dispute stems from ideological differences between the federation and the government. MORE

Prince makes plea in support of wildlife

Prince William has urged the world to unite against the illegal wildlife trade. He and Prince Charles both called for an end to the slaughter of endangered animals such as rhinos and elephants by gangs.

Officers will not face charges over porn

Three Downing Street police officers arrested on suspicion of accessing extreme pornography on their mobile phones will not face charges, Scotland Yard said. The constables, from the Metropolitan Police’s SO6 Diplomatic Protection Group, are from the same unit that was at the centre of the so-called Plebgate affair, which led to the resignation of chief whip Andrew Mitchell.

Explosive device found on beach

A beach on the Isle of Lewis has been cordoned off after the discovery of a rusting explosive device. The historic item washed up on Gress Beach yesterday morning. Police and disposal teams were sent to deal with it and the public has been asked to stay away from the area while the device is destroyed.

Hundreds flee Homs as violence rages

Hundreds of civilians were evacuated yesterday from the besieged Syrian city of Homs, reportedly braving gunmen spraying bullets and lobbing mortar shells to flee as part of a three-day truce to bring aid to the war-torn city. Dozens were reportedly wounded as they fled according to activists. MORE

10,000 sign up for God particle course

More than 10,000 people have signed up for a free online course on the work of Nobel Prize-winning physicist Peter Higgs. It’s being run by the University of Edinburgh, where Higgs worked on the “God particle” theory.

Thief is hungry to destroy evidence

A woman tried to destroy the evidence after allegedly taking 20 rolls from a bakery before police could arrive. The woman, 62, who ate three of the rolls, was arrested on suspicion of assaulting a police officer, common assault and theft.

Cheeky monkeys evicted from Rock

Authorities in Gibraltar are to export some of the wild Barbary macaque monkeys, that are present on the rock, with environment minister, John Cortes, saying that their numbers had been “allowed to get out of control”.

Catholics stray from church’s teachings

A survey of Catholics has highlighted separation from the teachings of the church. The majority of respondents supported contraception and abortion.

Michelangelo ‘was a forger’ claim

Michelangelo made forged copies of major works before “ageing” them with smoke in order to obtain the originals from their owners, it has been claimed. MORE