NUS anger

The National Union of Students has expressed its disappointment with the 18-month suspended sentence given to landlord Thomas Beedie, of Cottingham, near Hull, at Sheffield Crown Court on Monday. The court heard how Mr Beedie's tenant, 19-year-old Tracy Murphy, died after being overcome by carbon monoxide fumes from a gas heater. The NUS, which says that nine students have died from gas heater CO poisoning since 1991, is backing amendments to the Housing Bill, to be tabled on Monday, including the introduction of a mandatory licensing scheme for landlords.