Free Republic

Teacher Linda Walker, who was jailed for firing a pellet gun during a row with youths, has been freed by the Court of Appeal. Three judges gave her a conditional discharge but refused her permission to challenge her convictions. The 48-year-old, from Urmston, Greater Manchester, was jailed for six months after she was convicted of affray and possessing a firearm on 29 March. She said she fired the gun after the youths had terrorised her family. Her trial was told she had received nuisance phone calls abusing her family, her garden shed had been broken into, and a car and...

THE grieving mother of a toddler who died after being shot with an airgun called yesterday for the weapons to be banned. Two-year-old Andrew Morton was hit in the head by a single pellet - thought to be aimed at firefighters tackling a house blaze - as he went out with his brother to buy chips. His family took the agonising decision to turn off his ventilator after doctors said there were no signs of recovery. Mum Sharon McMillan, 34, said: "Airguns should be banned and anyone who carries them should be locked up. "Andrew was a wonderful wee boy,...

Teenager shot friend dead with airgun The Evening Chronicle, 9/9/2002 A 15-year-old boy has been sent to a young offenders' institution for two years for shooting a friend dead with an airgun. Daryl John Allison was 13 when horseplay with an air rifle ended in tragedy as he shot 14-year-old Matthew Sheffield in the head. A judge said the Government should use the current session of Parliament to address legislation governing the ownership and use of air weapons. Judge Peter Fox QC said: "Such legislation is urgently needed. For Matthew not to have died in vain it would be appropriate,...