Rape by Baby P man shocks papers

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The papers express horror at the testimony given by a young girl who was raped by the boyfriend of Baby P's mother.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/uk/crime/article6207765.ece">front page of the Times features a court sketch of the young girl</a> giving evidence against him via video link.

The blandness of the artist's drawing is in stark contrast to the sickening content of the child's testimony which is retold by nearly all the papers.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.thesun.co.uk/sol/homepage/news/article2408716.ece">Sun says no-one who listened will ever forget her harrowing account.</a>

Many of the papers reflect concern as to why the little girl was subjected to the ordeal of giving evidence.

'End of regime'

One commentator in the Daily Telegraph says the week was <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/comment/columnists/simonheffer/5259028/Theres-one-more-thing-Gordon-Brown-can-do.html">Labour's most lamentable</a> since the party came to power in 1997.

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/labour/5260005/Labour-MPs-plot-Lib-Dem-defection-due-to-doubts-about-Gordon-Brown.html">paper leads on claims that up to a dozen Labour MPs are considering leaving the party</a> to join the Liberal Democrats.

The Independent senses an <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/leading-articles/leading-article-a-sorry-lack-of-authority-and-judgement-at-the-top-1677673.html">"end-of-regime feel"</a> to the past seven days.

It refers not just to the gaffes and public recriminations, but what it says is the conspicuous absence of judgement and authority at the top.

Two years of torment

The <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2009/05/01/madeleine-mccann-aged-6-new-picture-released-showing-how-missing-maddy-would-look-today-115875-21324213/">Daily Mirror</a> and the <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1176009/Madeleine-Two-years-startling-image-rekindle-McCanns-hope.html">Daily Mail</a> both give front page coverage to a computer-generated image of how Madeleine McCann might look aged six.

The Mail says it is the picture Kate and Gerry McCann hope may bring an end to their two years of torment.

The Daily Express calls the image <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.dailyexpress.co.uk/posts/view/98452">"extraordinary"</a> while the Mirror urges its readers to study the new picture and remember that face.

We must not give up on Madeleine McCann, the paper insists.

Trapping hedgehogs

Finally, as a job description it might not sound like much - traipsing around a remote and boggy island in the Outer Hebrides for £7.50-an-hour.

But, according to the <a class="inlineText" href="http://www.independent.co.uk/">Independent</a> , there has been a surge in the number of people applying to be hedgehog trappers on North Uist.

The animals are being transported to the mainland because they are a threat to the island's birdlife.

It says almost 100 people have applied from as far afield as Africa and Canada.