The News Matrix: Thursday 20 March 2014

Cameron pledge on sex selection

David Cameron said yesterday that he was determined to raise the matter of sex-selective abortions – where female foetuses are deliberately destroyed – with Britain’s chief medical officer, Dame Sally Davies. The Prime Minister told MPs that aborting foetuses because they were girls was “simply an appalling practice” and needed to be challenged within ethnic communities. MORE

Disabled girl ‘lost in system’ for 4 years

A girl with special needs “vanished in the system” for four years after social workers lost contact with her. She was identified as disabled in November 2006 when she was seven years old. Birmingham City Council then lost sight of the child until March 2011. MORE

Rogue trader loses appeal and faces jail

France’s highest appeal court upheld a three-year jail term for Jérôme Kerviel, the rogue trader convicted of carrying out one of the biggest frauds in history at Société Générale bank. However, the court threw out €4.9bn in civil damages he was ordered to pay back to the bank. MORE

Johnson adamant over water cannon

Boris Johnson is pressing ahead with plans to buy water cannon for the Metropolitan Police despite accusations that he has ignored public opposition to the move. The Mayor of London has insisted the majority of Londoners backed the plans. MORE

‘Serial killer’ has convictions quashed

A Swede once considered a serial killer is a free man after his eight murder convictions were overturned. A court in Falun ordered Sture Bergwall’s release from a psychiatric unit where he’s been held since 1991. Bergwall, 63, previously confessed to more than 30 killings.

Benn’s last night in Parliament

Tony Benn’s family have welcomed the chance for him to “spend his last night in Parliament” after royal permission was granted for his body to rest in the Palace of Westminster before his funeral next Thursday.

Court reverses suicide conviction

The Minnesota Supreme Court has reversed the convictions of a former nurse accused of encouraging two people whom he met online to kill themselves. The court ruled the state’s assisted-suicide law that pertains to “encouraging” suicide is unconstitutional. However, it upheld the ban on “assisting” suicide.

Train firm probes Gypsies warning

A train company has launched an investigation after passengers were told to “be aware of pickpockets and Gypsies” before disembarking at a station. London Midland is investigating the comment, which was made over the train’s public address system as it pulled into Telford Central in Shropshire. MORE