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REMEMBER the monkey who became Hartlepools Mayor? Now meet Birminghams very own gorilla candidate.Retired policeman Ray Egan, the citys self-styled John Bull protester, launched his campaign to become elected mayor from the roof of the Big Peg in the Jewellery Quarter in March  dressed as King Kong.Now Ray has scaled the heights of the Rotunda in the city centre to launch his manifesto on April Fools Day, again in the guise of the famous ape.

But he insisted his bid for political power was no laughing matter as he got in ahead of other candidates for Brums top job with an eye-catching publicity campaign.The 71-year-old arch-patriot, a familiar figure on the citys streets during industrial battles over Longbridge, LDV, Cadbury, HP Sauce and others, has drawn up a unique manifesto to woo the voters.Top of the list is the return from Penrith in Cumbria of the giant King Kong statue which once overlooked the Bull Ring markets.

And Ray, who pounded the beat for years on the streets of Handsworth, Ladywood and Winson Green, also plans to fight for a Red Light Tolerance Zone in the Jewellery Quarter and a cannabis cafe in Broad Street.

People might think Im a bit mad, but Im deadly serious, he said.

If the people of Birmingham decide in a referendum that they want an elected mayor, then I will pay my deposit and have a go.

They elected a monkey in Hartlepool. Why cant they elect a gorilla in Birmingham?

I may be launching my manifesto on April Fools Day but its nice to think I might end up having the last laugh.

Rays rivals in the race for Birminghams top job could be former Erdington MP Sion Simon, veteran Central news presenter Bob Warman who confirmed that he was considering standing and other potential candidates such as Birmingham Mail columnist Prof Carl Chinn or Sir Digby Jones.

Rays manifesto also includes supplying Union flags to every manufacturing site in the city and getting prisoners to paint neglected road signs.

Authorities released new details Friday about the Giants fan who allegedly was severely beaten by two apparent Dodgers fans at the end of the Dodgers opening day game.

According to the Los Angeles Police Department, the assailants, clad in Dodgers attire, began taunting the victim with expletives. As the victim, 41, and his friends attempted to walk away from the assailants, the victim was hit from behind and fell to the ground, police said.

The two men then kicked and punched the victim as he lay on the ground. The victim’s friends attempted to help him and they too were hit by the assailants.

“The man suffered a serious head injury during the assault after the game,” said LAPD Sgt. Sanford Rosenberg, watch commander at the Northeast Division station.

The attack occurred about 8:30 p.m. Thursday in Parking Lot 2 when the two assailants approached three people wearing Giants apparel.

The incident was witnessed by several fans in the area, Rosenberg said. The assailants fled as people tried to assist the injured man, Rosenberg said.

Police said the incident was captured on a security video camera, and witnesses have provided details about the assailants, including a distinctive tattoo.

Because Dodgers opening day is known for its heavy drinking and rowdy crowds, the LAPD was out in full force to try to avoid a repeat of unruly behavior of past years.

“It was much quieter this year than previous years,” said Capt. Dave Lindsay.

Opening day this year saw 72 people arrested, he said. Most of those arrests were related to intoxication or illegal consumption of alcohol, Lindsay said.

Many of those arrests were done by cite and release with a court date, he said. In addition to those arrests, 48 citations were issued for various offenses, including traffic infractions.

But the number of overall arrests was markedly down from last year’s opening day, when 132 arrests were made, police said.

RELATED:

2 men sought in Dodger Stadium beating of Giants fan

Giants fan seriously beaten, 25 people arrested at Dodgers home opener

Photos: Scenes from the Dodgers home opener

Photo: Pregame warm-ups at Elysian Park on opening day.

Credit: Allen J. Schaben /Los Angeles Times

Skeptical that wrongful convictions ever take place? Then watch Mississippi Innocence.

John Grisham

The documentary can be seen at 6:50 p.m. today (Friday, April 1) at the Crossroads Film Festival at the Malco Grandview in Madison, Miss.

John Grisham recently gave his opinion on the case.

“Every story of a wrongful conviction and exoneration, from a storytelling point of view, is incredible,” said Grisham, whose nonfiction book, The Innocent Man, details a man’s wrongful conviction in Oklahoma. “They’re great stories. They’re tragic. They’re sad. If we’re lucky, there’s a happy ending; the guy gets out of prison. They’re all fantastic stories. But the one in Noxubee County, Mississippi, has got to be one of the best.”

Joe York from the University of Mississippi, who made the film, said if the criminal justice system had truly worked, Christine Jackson would be alive. She was the second of two 3-year-old girls raped and killed in Noxubee County in the early 1990s.

Levon Brooks, second from left, and Kennedy Brewer, second from right, celebrate their freedom with Innocence Project attorneys, Vanessa Potkin, left, and co-director Peter Neufeld, after being exonerated and freed in 2008.

Instead, two men, Levon Brooks and Kennedy Brewer were convicted of capital murder in those crimes.

Brooks served 15 years of a life sentence, and Brewer served nine years of his time on death row. The Innocence Project pushed for DNA tests that helped free both men and also helped lead authorities to the real killer.

York said the most amazing aspect of the story is any resentment Brewer and Brooks may have felt, they left behind in prison.

“Both of these men had their lives taken away, but neither of them are bitter,” York said. “They don’t carry hate. They don’t carry anger. They’ve gone through hell and somehow have managed to live their lives again. It’s amazing to witness that peace. It’s a true testament to the human spirit.”

Birmingham city councillor Salma Yaqoob has welcomed an apology from fellow councillor Martin Mullaney after he accused her of being a Muslim extremist, even if it only came after the involvement of the Standards Board.

Coun Mullaney, Liberal Democrat councillor for Moseley and Kings Heath, said he apologised unreservedly for stating that the Respect councillor for Sparkbrook supported stoning people to death and wanted to see Britain become an Islamic republic.The back-down came after a stormy council meeting which saw Coun Yaqoob refuse to join a standing ovation for war hero Lance Corporal Matt Croucher, who won the George Cross for bravery in Afghanistan.The snub led Coun Mullaney, the city’s Cabinet Member for Leisure Sport and Culture, to suggest Coun Yaqoob would have stood to applaud a suicide bomber.

He wrote on a website: I can only assume that if one of the failed 21/7 London suicide bombers had been in the council chamber, Coun Yaqoob would have been demanding the council applaud the failed suicide bomber for their past heroic actions.

If Coun Yaqoob had her way, she would be implementing Hadood Law, with hands cut off and stonings.

Coun Mullaneys comments were described at the time as malicious and extremely damaging by Coun Yaqoob, who demanded an apology.

At least two councillors reported Coun Mullaney over the incident to the citys Standards Committee, which could suspend him from the council.

His conduct was also criticised by Birmingham Lib Dem leader Paul Tilsley, although the party is not taking disciplinary action against him.

Coun Mullaney published the following apology to Coun Yaqoob: I have been made aware of a couple of formal complaints to the city councils Standards Committee about comments that I recently made relating to you which could potentially have been damaging to you.

I recognise that my comments were unfounded, insensitive and overstepped the mark in terms of the code of conduct for members.

As such, I apologise, unreservedly, to you, the complainants and the members of the Standards Committee for those remarks and the hurt that they, undoubtedly, caused.

I hope this draws a line under the matter.

Coun Yaqoob said: I accept the apology, but it is a shame that it has come in grudging manner after the Standards Board became involved.

“It proves that I do not have the views attributed to me in the statements by Councillor Mullaney.

“People may ask why he remains a Cabinet member after this episode. There should be no place in Birmingham for the politics of bigotry and malice.

Police were investigating two unrelated shootings in South Los Angeles on Saturday, one of them fatal. The first occurred shortly before 5 a.m. at 106th Street and Wadsworth Avenue. A 35-year-old man driving near the intersection was shot and his car then crashed against the curb, Los Angeles Police Department Officer Gregory Baek said. Paramedics pronounced him dead at the scene. His name was not released, pending notification of next of kin. Baek said detectives had no information on how or why the shooting occurred.About five hours later, a 28-year-old man was shot in the leg near the corner of Vermont Avenue and 46th Street. He was taken to a local hospital, where was listed in stable condition late Saturday, said LAPD Lt. Aaron McCraney, 77th Street Division watch commander.The victim was uncooperative with investigators, McCraney said. “It’s probably gang-related,” said McCraney, though “we have no information, no witnesses and no information as to how it occurred.”Anyone wishing to report information anonymously may call (213) 485-4161.– Sam Quinones