Deaths on April 5

Peter Tapsell (New Zealand politician)

Died on April 5, 2012

Peter Tapsell, New Zealand surgeon and politician, 30th New Zealand Minister of Defence (b. 1930)

Sir Peter Wilfred Tapsell (21 January 1930 – 5 April 2012) was Speaker of the New Zealand House of Representatives from 1993 to 1996. He was notable for being the first Māori Speaker, and for being the first Speaker since Bill Barnard in 1943 to hold office while not a member of the governing party.

He was an orthopaedic surgeon before entering politics.

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Events on 2012

13 Jan

Costa Concordia disaster
The passenger cruise ship Costa Concordia sinks off the coast of Italy due to the captain's negligence and irresponsibility. There are 32 confirmed deaths.
2 Jun

2011 Egyptian revolution
Former Egyptian President Hosni Mubarak is sentenced to life imprisonment for his role in the killing of demonstrators during the 2011 Egyptian revolution.
19 Jun

Julian Assange
WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange requested asylum in London's Ecuadorian Embassy for fear of extradition to the US after publication of previously classified documents including footage of civilian killings by the US army.
11 Sep

2012 Benghazi attack
The U.S. embassy in Benghazi, Libya is attacked, resulting in four deaths.
23 Oct

Digital switchover
After 38 years, the world's first teletext service (BBC's Ceefax) ceases broadcast due to Northern Ireland completing the digital switchover.

Deaths on April 5

Peter Tapsell (New Zealand politician)

Died on April 5, 2012

References

Choose Another Date

Events on 2012

Costa Concordia disaster

2011 Egyptian revolution

Julian Assange

2012 Benghazi attack

Digital switchover