AP Top News at 6:20 p.m. EDT

Associated Press

Updated April 19, 2024 at 6:20 p.m.·1 min read

Final jurors seated for Trump's hush money case, with opening statements set for Monday

NEW YORK (AP) — The final jurors were seated Friday in Donald Trump’s hush money trial, and an appellate judge rejected the former president’s latest bid to halt the case as a hectic day in court set the stage for opening statements to begin Monday. The panel of New Yorkers who will decide the first criminal trial of a former U.S. president took final shape after lawyers spent days quizzing dozens of potential jurors on whether they can impartially judge Trump in the city where he built his real estate empire before being elected in 2016. The trial thrusts Trump's legal problems into the heart of his hotly contested race against President Joe Biden, with Trump's opponent likely to seize on unflattering and salacious testimony to make the case that the presumptive Republican nominee is unfit to return as commander in chief.

People
Girl, 12, Was Missing for 2 Months. She Was Just Found with a 31-Year-Old Man She Met Online
Maria Gomez-Perez disappeared from Georgia in May and was found with 31-year-old Antonio Agustin in a different state on July 25
CBC
Missing 3-year-old boy found dead in Mississauga creek: police
A three-year-old boy has been found dead in a Mississauga creek a day after he was reported missing, Peel police say.The body of boy, named Zaid, was found in the water at about 5:40 p.m. on Friday.Zaid was last seen in Erindale Park at about 6:20 p.m. Thursday. He was in the popular park with his parents when he wandered off, police said. Police described him on Thursday as "vulnerable" and possibly non-verbal."They were enjoying their time in the park and this is the end result," he said.Polic
LA Times
Fresno County man sentenced to 29 years for sexually assaulting children, dog
Gage Mason pleaded guilty to all counts and 'aggravating factors' against him on June 5, according to the Fresno County district attorney's office.
CBC
Ontario police officer shot colleague 10 times in violent dispute in 2018. Both walk away conviction free
Years after two Ontario police officers got into a violent altercation in broad daylight that ended in one shooting the other 10 times, both have walked away with no convictions. Det.-Sgt. Shane Donovan, who was with the Niagara Regional Police Service (NRPS), was acquitted this spring of perjury — the last charge linked to the six-year saga with Const. Nathan Parker that involved multiple police agencies, investigations and trials."The law is quite clear," Justice Joseph Nadel told a Hamilton c
CBC
Russian fraudster uses 19 aliases to defraud Sask. government of $150K
Alex Alexidze's sophisticated government fraud scheme fell apart in January 2023 when he walked out of the Riverbend Co-op in Outlook, Sask., with $300 worth of stolen groceries.That misstep would eventually lead to the Russian national being convicted of defrauding the Saskatchewan government of more than $150,000.The Co-op's manager confronted Alexidze, who claimed he lived close by and had the receipt at home. The manager didn't force the issue, instead taking down the licence from the Ford E
PA Media: UK News
Gang jailed for life for ammonia attack which killed ‘gentle, funny, caring’ man
The murder of Andy Foster in his home in Gateshead was one of a series of ammonia attacks designed to enforce a gang’s drugs trade, a judge said.
PA Media: UK News
Father who drove van into group out of ‘revenge’ guilty of murder
Victim Brian Darby, 60, had enjoyed a night out with friends when he was mown down on a footpath.
BBC
Victim shown explicit video of herself in rape trial
Sgt Richard Heard faces three charges of rape and three of voyeurism against a female police officer.
BBC
Rapist who threw victim's brother off cliff jailed
Anthony Stocks was trying to silence the brother of a girl he had been sexually abusing.
CBC
Police ID 2 victims in Scarborough 'gun battle'
Toronto police have identified two people killed in a shooting in Scarborough early Wednesday morning. In a news release Thursday, police said they responded to a shooting call near Ellesmere Road and Midland Avenue around 2:30 a.m. They found four people with gunshot wounds.A man was pronounced dead at the scene, police said Wednesday. A woman was taken to hospital where she later died, they said.The victims are Braydon McCann, 22, of Toronto, and Sarah Prehay, 23, of Toronto, the news release
The Canadian Press
US arrests 2 leaders of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel: ‘El Mayo’ Zambada and son of 'El Chapo'
WASHINGTON (AP) — Ismael “El Mayo” Zambada, a longtime leader of Mexico’s Sinaloa cartel, and Joaquín Guzmán López, a son of another infamous cartel leader, were arrested by U.S. authorities in Texas on Thursday, the U.S. Justice Department said.
People
Pregnant Teen’s Body Found in Wooded Area. Her Ex-Boyfriend Is Now Charged With Her Murder
Jesus Monroy, 20, was charged with murder, felony murder, feticide and aggravated assault in relation to the homicide of his pregnant ex-girlfriend, Mia Campos, 16
CBC
Woman sues Bell, customer service rep who allegedly shared phone number with harassers
A Cape Breton woman whose video defending a transgender rights advocate made her the target of online vitriol and threats is suing her cellphone provider and a customer service agent she alleges shared her number and home address with harassers. Richelle McCormick said the bullying began after her video, which she posted in February 2023 on TikTok, was shared and criticized by an account with more than seven million followers."After this, the plaintiff became the subject of a harassment campaign
PA Media: UK News
Four teenagers sentenced for killing 16-year-old schoolboy out of revenge
Kennie Carter was killed in a group attack near his home in Stretford, Manchester.
People
Missing Woman's 2-Year-Old Told Family 'Momma Was in Blood.' Months Later, Police Believe They Found Her Remains
Gabriella Dixon, 18, disappeared in October 2023
CBC
Ontario megachurch pauses programming in wake of sex abuse allegations
Warning: This story contains references to sexual assault.An Ontario megachurch has been forced to pause programming as its insurer won't renew abuse liability insurance in the wake of sexual abuse allegations against a former pastor.In a statement on its website, The Meeting House said it was unable to secure parts of the insurance coverage it needs to continue normal operations beyond June 30. Specifically, it said it has been unable to find options for abuse liability or employment practices
People
8-Year-Old Calif. Girl Was Raped and Murdered in 2015. Will Her Killer Go Free?
Adrian Jerry Gonzalez was 15 when he lured 8-year-old Madyson "Maddy" Middleton into his parent’s apartment, then killed her in 2015
Reuters
Shooter in deadly Oslo Pride gay bar attack appeals conviction
An Iranian-born Norwegian man convicted of murder and terrorism over a deadly shooting rampage at an Oslo gay bar in 2022 has appealed his case, a lawyer for the victims said on Thursday. An Oslo court this month convicted Zaniar Matapour, 45, described by police as a radicalised Islamist with a history of mental illness, of murder and terrorism over the shooting during Oslo's annual Pride celebrations. "My clients are disappointed because they would hope to get closure of the legal aspect of the case," Hege Salomonsen, a lawyer for the victims, told Reuters on Thursday.
CBC
Colin Tweedie sentenced to more than 4 years in hit-and-run that killed girl
Colin Tweedie has been sentenced to 4½ years in prison in the hit-and-run death of 10-year-old Talia Forrest.The decision came down on Friday afternoon, about five years after Talia was struck by an SUV while out for a bike ride on Black Rock Road in Big Bras d'Or in 2019.After the decision was read, Samantha Williams, Talia's sister, told reporters the result was bittersweet."I don't think it's long enough, of course. But I'm also really glad that he didn't walk away free, which he almost did,"
The Canadian Press
Russia detains former deputy defense minister on corruption charges in the latest military arrest
MOSCOW (AP) — A former Russian defense ministry official was arrested on corruption charges, the Russian security services said Friday, the latest in a series of high-profile military arrests.

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