(Reuters) - Italian police seized a rare albino python in Rome Wednesday in a raid on a group of drug traffickers who used the snake to guard cocaine and intimidate customers who owed them money. The three-meter (10-foot) long reptile attacked police when they burst into the dealers' apartment where they were preparing the cocaine for distribution. The specialist forest police had to be called in to capture the python."When we went in, we found the animal right behind the door waiting for us, just like a proper guard dog," said Lieutenant Luca Gelormino.
(Reuters) - Italian police seized a rare albino python in Rome Wednesday in a raid on a group of drug traffickers who used the snake to guard cocaine and intimidate customers who owed them money.
The three-meter (10-foot) long reptile attacked police when they burst into the dealers' apartment where they were preparing the cocaine for distribution. The specialist forest police had to be called in to capture the python.
"When we went in, we found the animal right behind the door waiting for us, just like a proper guard dog," said Lieutenant Luca Gelormino.
Detectives discovered the frozen corpse of Jean-Francois Poinard after his girlfriend Guylene Collober, 51, told her daughter "something unfortunate" had happened to him. The 71-year-old's body is believed to have been secreted in a freezer at their home in Lyon for up to two years. He was found in the foetal position and covered with plastic bags. Ms Collober is said to have made the revelation to her daughter during a night out. Her daughter told police, who found Mr Poinard's body at the flat.
Detectives discovered the frozen corpse of Jean-Francois Poinard after his girlfriend Guylene Collober, 51, told her daughter "something unfortunate" had happened to him.
The 71-year-old's body is believed to have been secreted in a freezer at their home in Lyon for up to two years.
He was found in the foetal position and covered with plastic bags.
Ms Collober is said to have made the revelation to her daughter during a night out.
Her daughter told police, who found Mr Poinard's body at the flat.
However I'll need a) no comment upon smoking habits and b) a 24/7 taxi driver on stand-by with a citröen, boina and an aggressive poodle on the front passenger seat. But as long as I get good coffee and a decent Calvados, I'm a pussycat. You can't be me, I'm taken
I'll probably stay in Paris with an old colleague over the weekend, then leave south on Sunday. The francophile daughter has to sign in to her new school in Aix on 13.9 - so that might not be the best day to arrive there. You can't be me, I'm taken
As today's Google doodle celebrates 71 years of The Wizard of Oz, we present 71 things you might not know about the musical classic starring Judy Garland
The jury in the Chicago corruption trial of Rod Blagojevich may be deadlocked on some of the counts against the former Illinois governor.... Zagel denied [!] the jury's request for transcripts of the lawyers' closing arguments at the outset [!] of deliberations. On July 30, jurors asked if transcripts of testimony were available without specifying whose testimony they wanted to review. Zagel told the panel that, while it was possible to get such transcripts [!], it could take time to prepare them [!]. The jurors didn't submit a follow-up request. Read more...
Zagel denied [!] the jury's request for transcripts of the lawyers' closing arguments at the outset [!] of deliberations.
On July 30, jurors asked if transcripts of testimony were available without specifying whose testimony they wanted to review. Zagel told the panel that, while it was possible to get such transcripts [!], it could take time to prepare them [!]. The jurors didn't submit a follow-up request.
Read more...
Rod to Reid: Say, Missssssstrial, mofo. Diversity is the key to economic and political evolution.
