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Michael Slater hit with 19 charges over alleged domestic violence

<p>Michael Slater, a former Australian Test cricketer is being held in police custody after being charged with more than a dozen offences over alleged domestic violence. </p> <p>Slater, 54, had his case briefly heard in Maroochydore Magistrates Court on Monday.</p> <p>It was reported by the <em>ABC </em>that he did not appear and no plea was entered.</p> <p>The charges include domestic violence offences of unlawful stalking or intimidation, breaking into a dwelling with intent at night, common assault, assault occasioning bodily harm and choking or suffocation.</p> <p>The 19 charges relate to offences allegedly committed on Queensland’s Sunshine Coast between December 5, 2023 and April 12 2024.</p> <p>Slater was also charged with breaching bail and and 10 counts of contravening a domestic violence order. </p> <p>He was then remanded in custody, with his case mentioned in the same court on Tuesday afternoon.</p> <p>During that second hearing, Slater <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">collapsed in court after failing in his bid for freedom over an alleged domestic violence incident. </span>Upon learning that his bid for bail had been refused, the former cricket great placed his head in his hands then collapsed while being led back to the cells by Corrective Services staff.</p> <p>Slater made his debut during the 1993 Ashes tour and played 74 tests for Australia. </p> <p>He amassed 5,312 runs and played 42 one-day internationals. </p> <p>Since retiring from cricket in 2004, he has had a successful TV commentary career. </p> <p><em>Image: Getty</em></p>

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Sunrise rocked by allegation of "fraud"

<p><em>Sunrise</em> and the Seven Network have been rocked by an investigation by their biggest competitor, who exposed both allegations of "fraud", as well as threatening emails to a young journalist at Nine who was chasing the story. </p> <p>The scandal began when a reporter for the <em><a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/new-seven-expenses-affair-rocks-sunrise-top-network-executives-20240408-p5fi6w.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sydney Morning Herald</a></em> was alerted to an investigation being conducted by an independent law firm into the Sunrise program. </p> <p>According to reports by Nine, the law firm began an investigation, which was also conducted by a financial and corporate auditor, into reports that Sunrise staff members had grossly misused travel benefits. </p> <p>The allegations claimed that a small number of Sunrise staffers, as well as some of their friends and family, had taken flights and stayed in hotels on trips not related to their work duties, using benefits provided to the network by Qantas as part of a multimillion-dollar advertising and sponsorship deal.</p> <p>When business reporter for the<em> Australian Financial Review</em> Zoe Samios, a publication owned by Nine, reached out to Seven’s long-time commercial director Bruce McWilliam to chase the story, she was allegedly met with threatening emails saying her probes into the allegations had caused Seven’s star executive producer Michael Pell to self-harm.</p> <p>“This is what your unfounded reports have caused Michael to do,” Mr McWilliam wrote to Ms Samios in October last year.</p> <p>Attached to the email was a graphic image of him, bloodied and in a hospital gown, with a noticeable head wound.</p> <p>“Why don’t you keep it up so he kills himself. You are a complete disgrace. That law firm you name didn’t conduct any investigation. If you publish untrue allegations … and he tops himself. It’s on you. We are determined to protect him,” the email read.</p> <p>Speaking exclusively to <em><a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/media/sunrise-rocked-by-fraud-investigations-that-top-tv-exec-tried-to-keep-secret/news-story/4b755d82167f825140c63b6e07107745" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a></em> on Thursday as the investigations were made public for the first time, Mr McWilliam defended the email and said he was defending a colleague and “friend” against “false allegations”.</p> <p>However, several months before the email, Mr Pell had stepped down as the boss of Sunrise and was appointed Seven's Senior Vice President of Entertainment Content in North America, and he moved to Los Angeles shortly after.</p> <p>On Thursday, Mr McWilliam told <em>news.com.au</em> that he became incensed when Mr Pell’s name was linked to the investigation, prompting his fiery email to Samios.</p> <p>“The accusations against Michael were exaggerated,” he told <em>news.com.au</em>.</p> <p>“I make no excuse for having acted to protect a colleague, against whom false allegations were being made. Michael Pell has been a friend of mine for many years.”</p> <p>The newspaper subsequently agreed to kill the story over concerns for Mr Pell’s mental health and wellbeing.</p> <p>While the findings of the alleged expenses investigation were delivered to Seven and described as "serious", a source close to the investigation insists that while the accusations are significant, they do not constitute "fraud" in the legal sense. </p> <p>Despite that, it’s understood that a small number of staff left the network following the findings being delivered to Seven, with the staffers signing nondisclosure agreements upon their departure.</p> <p>The scandal's reemergence comes 18 moths after the initial allegations, as Seven finds itself in another controversy over its flagship current affairs program <em>Spotlight</em> and its handling of an exclusive interview with Bruce Lehrmann.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Sunrise</em></p>

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"You were our whole damn sky": Tributes flow after alleged murder of young teacher

<p>The family of a young teacher from Victoria are in mourning after the body of 23-year-old was found in a burnt-out car just hours after she was reported missing. </p> <p>Hannah McGuire was found near State Forest Rd in Scarsdale, an area near Ballarat surrounded by bushland, on Friday after her family had reported her missing just before. </p> <p>On Sunday, two young men were arrested over her death, and on Monday, a 21-year-old was charged with one count of murder.</p> <p>The young man is believed to be Hannah's ex-boyfriend, who had been living with Ms McGuire for about a year before their recent separation.</p> <p>Police will allege the man drove her body to a remote national park and set the car on fire, before posting a loving tribute on social media and telling her friends she had taken her own life. </p> <p>The man will appear in Ballarat Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.</p> <p>As news of Hannah's untimely death broke, her parents shared a heart-wrenching tribute to their daughter on Facebook. </p> <p>Her parents run the National Hotel in the regional town of Clunes, and shared their tribute on their business Facebook page to inform patrons that the pub will remain closed until Wednesday. </p> <p>"Thank you everyone for your love, support and kind words. Our hearts are broken," the post read."</p> <p>"You weren’t just a star to us. You were our whole damn sky. Miss you Princess!"</p> <p>A <a href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/in-memory-of-hannah-mcguire" target="_blank" rel="noopener">GoFundMe</a> page has been set up by the Clunes Cricket Club supporting McGuire’s family, and has already raised over $45,000. </p> <p>“As a community we send our deepest love and condolences to Glenn, Debbie, Jude and Fletcher,” the club said.</p> <p>“Hannah was known by many as a bright young woman and had a heart of gold.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / GoFundMe</em></p>

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New details shed light on Rebel Wilson's allegations against actor

<p>New details have emerged of Rebel Wilson's allegations against Sacha Baron-Cohen, with the Aussie actress claiming he acted inappropriately towards her while filming a movie in 2014. </p> <p>In the days after Rebel took to Instagram to expose Baron-Cohen for allegedly "<a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/rebel-wilson-exposes-a-lister-who-threatened-her-over-book-release" target="_blank" rel="noopener">threatening</a>" her about the publishing of her tell-all memoir, excerpts of Rebel Rising have been published to further detail when the actors worked together on the film <em>Grimsby</em>. </p> <p>The pair both starred in the comedy film 10 years ago, with Rebel detailing in her book how the Hollywood actor, known for his controversial roles as Borat and Ali G, acted inappropriately towards her on set. </p> <p>Once filming began for the movie, Wilson claims that Cohen (SBC) would keep requesting her to go “naked” in a scene, according excerpts of the book obtained by <em><a href="https://people.com/rebel-wilson-details-allegations-about-sacha-baron-cohen-he-calls-false-exclusive-8620597" target="_blank" rel="noopener">People</a></em> magazine. </p> <p>She wrote, “It felt like every time I’d speak to SBC, he’d mention that he wanted me to go naked in a future scene. I was like, ‘Ha, I don’t do nudity, Sacha.’ ”</p> <p>Wilson alleges that Baron-Cohen's behaviour and strange requests only intensified throughout the shoot, coming to a head while they were filming a scene in Cape Town at a soccer stadium. </p> <p>“SBC summons me via a production assistant saying that I’m needed to film an additional scene. ‘Okay, well, we’re gonna film this extra scene,’ SBC says. Then he pulls his pants down … SBC says very matter-of-factly: ‘Okay, now I want you to stick your finger up my a**.’ And I’m like, ‘What?? … No!'”</p> <p>Wilson then continues to allege in the book, “I was now scared. I wanted to get out of there, so I finally compromised: I slapped him on the ass and improvised a few lines as the character.”</p> <p>Sacha Baron-Cohen released a statement via his representatives saying the claims are "demonstrably false", denying the pair had any tension while working together. </p> <p>“While we appreciate the importance of speaking out, these demonstrably false claims are directly contradicted by extensive detailed evidence, including contemporaneous documents, film footage and eyewitness accounts from those present before, during and after the production of The Brothers Grimsby,” a statement from Cohen’s team said in response to Wilson’s allegations.</p> <p>On Tuesday, Rebel took to Instagram to say she was being "threatened" by Baron-Cohen over the release of such information in her book, which is set for release on April 2nd. </p> <p>Rebel named and shamed the actor, writing, “I will not be bullied or silenced with high priced lawyer or PR crisis managers. The ‘a**hole’ that I am talking about in ONE CHAPTER of my book is Sacha Baron Cohen.”</p> <p>"Now the a**hole is trying to threaten me. He’s trying to stop press coming out about my new book. But the book WILL come out and you will all know the truth.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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"How could he do it to me?": Grandmother broken over grandson's alleged fraud

<p>In a courtroom in Perth, emotions ran high as a heartbroken grandmother awaited a reunion with her grandson, Jack Endersby. But this wasn't a typical family gathering. It was a courtroom confrontation, where Lyn Newby hoped her grandson would look her in the eye and confront the pain he allegedly caused by defrauding her of more than $320,000.</p> <p>Endersby, a 24-year-old <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/perth-news-grandmother-lost-320000-after-investing-in-grandson-business-alleged-ponzi-scheme/e3ea6396-750c-452c-8e87-c0ef53d65ede" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused of orchestrating a Ponzi-style scheme</a> that allegedly swindled around $2 million from victims across Australia, faced the scrutiny of the law and the anguish of his own family. The accusations against him span from February 2021 to February 2024, a period during which he allegedly promised lucrative returns to investors, only to leave them empty-handed and disillusioned.</p> <p>For Newby, the betrayal cut deep. She had entrusted her grandson with a substantial sum, believing it to be an investment in his trading business, Codex Investments. His promises of monthly returns seemed enticing, but when the payments abruptly ceased, Newby's world shattered.</p> <p>"He has ruined our lives," she lamented. "How could he do it to me? I'm his grandmother." </p> <p>Endersby's arrest earlier this month marked a turning point in the unravelling of his alleged scheme. Facing 11 charges of fraud, he appeared in Perth Magistrates Court, where his family, including his mother, sought answers and reconciliation. However, Endersby remained aloof, ignoring their attempts at communication.</p> <p>In the lead-up to his court appearance, Newby expressed her desire for her grandson to acknowledge the pain he caused. "He will feel terrible when he sees me, and I want him to look me in the eye and know how much he's hurt me," she said, her anguish palpable.</p> <p>The allegations against Endersby paint a stark contrast to his earlier life. Once a telesales consultant and labourer, he purportedly transformed into a "self-taught investor" with a multimillion-dollar portfolio and a lifestyle of luxury. Flashy holidays, upscale accommodations and a Maserati adorned his newfound prosperity, allegedly funded by the deceitful machinations of a Ponzi scheme.</p> <p>As the details of Endersby's alleged deception emerged, more victims came forward, each recounting their own stories of financial loss and shattered trust. Michael Dawson, who invested in Endersby's business 18 months prior, described initial returns followed by a troubling silence. Others spoke of referral schemes that seemingly built trust but ultimately ensnared unsuspecting investors in a web of deceit.</p> <p>Amid the courtroom drama and legal proceedings, questions linger about the true extent of Endersby's alleged scheme and the lives it impacted. As he awaits his next court appearance on April 19, the echoes of broken trust and shattered dreams serve as a stark reminder of the devastating consequences of financial fraud.</p> <p><em>Images: Nine News</em></p>

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Inside the alleged hide out of Samantha Murphy's accused killer

<p>The Scotsburn property where Samantha Murphy's <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/everything-we-know-about-samantha-murphy-s-accused-killer" target="_blank" rel="noopener">accused killer</a> allegedly hid in is up for sale with a $1million-plus price tag. </p> <p>Patrick Orren Stephenson was staying at the property when he arrested on March 6, after police stormed in with a search warrant. </p> <p>The 5.46 hectare property is located about 18km away from central Ballarat, where Stephenson was believed to have been partying the night before he was accused of murdering Murphy. </p> <p>Stephenson is believed to have been living between this property and another one located less than 100m away on Yendon No 2 Road with his girlfriend prior to his arrest. </p> <p><em>The Daily Mail </em>reported that a for sale sign was recently spotted at the property, which has four bedrooms and is advertised as featuring "a renovated galley-style kitchen, a generous lounge room with plenty of natural light, two living areas including a family/rumpus room for shared moments."</p> <p>"A school bus passing the front door adds to the convenience for families," the ad read. </p> <p>The property is also described as practically off-grid, with solar power and an underground bore water supply. </p> <p>It remains unknown how long Stephenson had lived at the home. </p> <p><em>Images: McGrath Ballarat/ InsideLook- Real Estate Media</em></p>

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Man charged over alleged hit-and-run of Mitch East

<p>Last weekend, news broke of the <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/police-investigate-after-young-lawyer-killed-in-cowardly-act" target="_blank" rel="noopener">tragic death</a> of 28-year-old lawyer Mitch East in an alleged hit-and-run crash. The incident, which occurred in the early hours of Sunday, March 17, sent shockwaves through the community and left loved ones grappling with profound grief and disbelief.</p> <p>Now, <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-13226237/Breakthrough-alleged-hit-run-killed-Sydney-lawyer-Mitch-East-Tamarama.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">according to reports</a>, the alleged perpetrator, a 63-year-old man, has turned himself in to authorities and has been charged with a litany of driving offences, including failing to stop and assist after the crash, dangerous driving occasioning death, negligent driving occasioning death, and the use of a mobile phone when not permitted. The arrest, which took place at Granville Police Station, marks a significant development in the ongoing pursuit of justice for East and his grieving family.</p> <p>East, a native of New Zealand, had embarked on a promising legal career that took him across continents. Having studied at prestigious institutions such as Harvard University in the United States, his recent relocation to Australia was met with excitement and anticipation for the opportunities that lay ahead. Tragically, his journey was cut short just moments away from the Tamarama home he shared with his partner, as he was struck down in the early hours of the morning.</p> <p>For East's family, the loss is immeasurable. His mother, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/lifestyle/family-pets/find-that-car-mother-of-fallen-young-lawyer-speaks-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">speaking in the wake of the tragedy</a>, described her son as her "reason for living". Beyond familial ties, East's impact extended far and wide, touching the lives of friends, mentors and peers who were drawn to his charisma and dedication to justice.</p> <p>Employed at the esteemed law firm Arnold Bloch Leibler in Sydney's CBD, East was celebrated not only for his legal acumen but also for his warmth and camaraderie among colleagues. In a heartfelt message addressed to staff, the firm paid tribute to East as a "highly talented lawyer and popular and valued member", acknowledging the irreplaceable void left by his loss.</p> <p><em>Images: GoFundMe | NSW Police</em></p>

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Sam Kerr’s alleged comments may have had a racial element, but they were not ‘racist’

<p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mario-peucker-192086">Mario Peucker</a>, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-1175">Victoria University</a></em></p> <p>Footballer Sam Kerr has been charged with “racially aggravated harassment” over a January 2023 incident in which she allegedly insulted a London police officer. According to <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/mar/06/sam-kerr-allegedly-called-police-officer-a-stupid-white-bastard-source-says">widespread media reports</a>, she is said to have called the officer a “stupid white bastard”.</p> <p>Kerr has pleaded not guilty to the charge and has <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/world/sam-kerr-legal-team-reportedly-challenge-allegations-of-police-harassment/744598ef-75f9-4e03-acb5-7b37aecde8d1">reportedly denied</a> using the word “bastard”.</p> <p>According to section 33 of the British Crime and Disorder Act, to be found guilty of such an offence, the conduct would have had to cause – or have intended to cause – alarm or distress.</p> <p>Regardless of the court’s ultimate verdict, one big question seems to occupy the minds of many: does the phrase attributed to Kerr constitute racism?</p> <p>Kerr was born in Western Australia, and has Indian ancestry on her father’s side. Can she be racist towards a white person, and more specifically to a white police officer?</p> <p>Assuming it is true Kerr used the term “white”, there is a racial element. But “racial” is not the same as “racist”.</p> <h2>Definitions of racism</h2> <p>It is important to note here that “race” is not a biological category (there is only one human race). Race is a <a href="https://www.scientificamerican.com/article/race-is-a-social-construct-scientists-argue/">social construct</a>, invented and cemented centuries ago to legitimise colonial atrocities, oppression and forms of subjugation including slavery.</p> <p>There are many definitions of racism, but there has been a broad consensus for decades that racism is more than “just” prejudice and discriminatory behaviour. It is not simply a matter of less favourable treatment of an individual or group of people based on their actual or ascribed ethnic background, skin colour, origin or related characteristics.</p> <p>Racism also reflects and manifests as systemic exclusion and marginalisation based on historically rooted power imbalances and racial hierarchies that put white people at the top.</p> <p>To put it very simply, the scholarly (if not the legal) definition is that “<a href="https://psycnet.apa.org/record/1998-07453-002">racism equals power plus prejudice</a>”.</p> <p>In a vicious cycle, everyday racism and discrimination are shaped and justified by racial hierarchies, while they operate continuously in a way that cements power imbalances and racial marginalisation.</p> <p>This may sound a bit abstract, but if we do not recognise this power dynamic, we trivialise racism as little more than name-calling. We will fail to understand how racism operates and how it continues to affect people from racially marginalised groups in their daily lives.</p> <p>One way to illustrate the systemic nature of racism is to look at the persistent lack of representation of people of colour in leadership positions in the corporate sector, the media and governments in Australia and elsewhere.</p> <p>In the United Kingdom, where the alleged incident occurred, institutional racism – including within the police force – has been recognised since the release of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-stephen-lawrence-inquiry">Macpherson report</a> in 1999. It was reaffirmed in 2023 by the <a href="https://www.met.police.uk/SysSiteAssets/media/downloads/met/about-us/baroness-casey-review/update-march-2023/baroness-casey-review-march-2023a.pdf">Baroness Casey Review</a>, despite some political pushback.</p> <p>The review found “Met officers are 82% White and 71% male, and the majority do not live in the city they police. As such, the Met does not look like the majority of Londoners.”</p> <h2>Reverse racism?</h2> <p>Anti-discrimination legislation in the UK and Australia usually does not speak explicitly of “racism”. It outlaws certain acts that are motivated, partially or wholly, by a person’s race (or other personal identity markers).</p> <p>Legislators introduced these laws with the intention of enhancing the legal protections for those who were considered vulnerable to racism. In Australia, for example, the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2004A00274/latest/text">Racial Discrimination Act</a> (1975) is often celebrated as a legal cornerstone in the country’s journey away from its racist “White Australia” history towards a modern multicultural society.</p> <p>The United Nations’ <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/instruments-mechanisms/instruments/international-convention-elimination-all-forms-racial">International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination</a> (1965), ratified by Australia in 1975 and the UK in 1969, makes its intention explicit when it calls on all state parties to make it an offence to disseminate “ideas based on racial superiority”.</p> <p>The issue of power structures should also be seen through an institutional lens. It is difficult to imagine a person on the streets of London with more institutional power than a white police officer.</p> <p>Being called a “stupid bastard” might hurt someone’s feelings. But while I’m in no position to judge whether Sam Kerr’s alleged actions have caused “distress” to the officer – as the law would require – labelling the incident as racist is clearly not in line with what racism means.</p> <p>Such a definition would not align with the concept’s institutional and systemic dimensions. It is not what anti-discrimination laws were intended to outlaw.</p> <p>Claims of anti-white or “reverse” racism are based on a shallow, misguided and inaccurate understanding of what racism really constitutes.</p> <p>If Kerr’s court case fails to acknowledge the deeper purpose of anti-racism legislation by equating “racial” with “racist”, it risks setting a highly problematic precedent that would undermine efforts to acknowledge and tackle racism in all its forms.</p> <p>What would be the message to those millions of people in the UK, Australia and elsewhere who have to face racism every day without recognition of the harm it causes and without the support and capacity to sue the perpetrators?</p> <p>What would they think about their right to equality and their place in society?<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/225267/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/mario-peucker-192086">Mario Peucker</a>, Associate Professor and Principal Research Fellow, Institute for Sustainable Industries and Liveable Cities, <em><a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/victoria-university-1175">Victoria University</a></em></p> <p>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/sam-kerrs-alleged-comments-may-have-had-a-racial-element-but-they-were-not-racist-225267">original article</a>.</p>

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Sam Kerr's alleged racial comments revealed by UK paper

<p>The legal controversy surrounding <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">Matildas star Sam Kerr </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">following allegations of racially charged remarks directed towards a police officer in London continues to unfold, after a UK newspaper published those alleged remarks. </span></p> <p>According to <a href="https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/26401266/sam-kerr-football-charge-crime-police-fifa/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Sun</a>, Kerr allegedly called a police officer a "stupid white bastard" during a dispute over a taxi fare. The details emerged as Kerr faced charges for using insulting, threatening or abusive words towards the officer, causing alarm or distress. The seriousness of the allegations is underscored by the potential consequences, with Kerr facing a maximum sentence of two years' imprisonment if convicted.</p> <p>The incident is said to have taken place in January 2023 shortly after Kerr's remarkable performance in a Chelsea FA Cup victory, and Kerr has maintained her innocence, pleading not guilty to the charges brought against her.</p> <p>The delayed prosecution in Kerr's case has sparked speculation, with reports suggesting that determining the appropriate charge was a complex process for the Crown Prosecution Service. However, as the trial approaches, the focus shifts towards the legal proceedings and the evidence that will be presented in court.</p> <p>Throughout her career, Kerr has been a prominent figure in the fight against racism in sport. Her past actions, including posing with an Aboriginal flag alongside her Matildas teammates, reflect a commitment to promoting inclusivity and unity. Kerr's accolades both on and off the field have solidified her iconic status, making the allegations against her all the more surprising.</p> <p>In response to the controversy, Matildas coach Tony Gustavsson and Football Australia CEO James Johnson expressed their lack of prior knowledge regarding the incident. </p> <p>Prime Minister Anthony Albanese declined to comment directly on the matter, but said that Kerr's actions during her tenure as the national flag bearer exemplified pride and dignity. </p> <p>“I don’t comment on legal matters before Australian courts, let alone other ones,” Albanese said. “I will say this about my contact with Sam Kerr, she was our flag bearer at the coronation. My contact with her was exemplary. She did Australia proud at that time and I think that my contact with her has been nothing but delightful.”</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

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Shocking new claims on alleged double murder

<p>Shocking new claims about senior constable Beau Lamarre-Condon, who <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/police-officer-arrested-amid-search-for-missing-men" target="_blank" rel="noopener">was accused of murdering</a> Sydney couple Jesse Baird and Luke Davies, have been made by police.</p> <p>The accusations were revealed by Ben Fordham on <em>2GB radio</em> on Thursday.</p> <p>Fordham revealed that police allege Constable Lamarre-Condon fired three shots at the Sydney couple from his police-issued gun.  </p> <p>The number of shots was reportedly confirmed by one of Baird’s neighbours, whose CCTV security cameras recording the sound of three shots being fired just after 9.30am on Monday, February 19 in Paddington. </p> <p>The neighbour reportedly reviewed their security cameras a few days after the alleged murders, when news of the couple's disappearance hit the media. </p> <p>Fordham added that police will further allege Constable Lamarre-Condon used bullets stolen from a firing range a fortnight before the killing to refill his gun, to not raise suspicious from his superiors when the gun was returned. </p> <p>Police have alleged that the  gun was taken from Miranda police station on Friday night and was stored Balmain police station the night after the alleged murders. </p> <p>The gun was then allegedly returned Miranda police station on Tuesday, fully loaded as if no shots were fired. </p> <p>Police Commissioner Karen Webb told <em>ABC’s 7.30 </em>on Wednesday night that officers could store a weapon overnight at a police station or inside an approved safe at home, but would need to gain permission to do so from their superiors. </p> <p>She did not comment on the claims surrounding  Constable Lamarre-Condon’s gun storage, as it would form a part of the investigation. </p> <p><em>Images: news.com.au</em></p>

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Family of Jesse Baird break silence after alleged double murder

<p>As the search for Jesse Baird and his partner Luke Davies continues, the heart-wrenching silence of their absence has been punctuated by the poignant words of family left behind.</p> <p>In a moving tribute that speaks volumes about the bond they shared, Austin Baird, Jesse's cousin, took to social media to share cherished memories of a life intertwined with laughter, adventure and unwavering friendship.</p> <p>In a heartfelt post on Instagram, Austin poured out his grief, painting a picture of a childhood filled with shared adventures and moments of unfiltered camaraderie.</p> <p>"Jesse, my first ever best friend, I am beyond devastated. I still can’t believe it," Austin wrote. "Most of my favourite memories in life were me Luke Brendan and you riding motorbikes, skiing, boating and camping</p> <p>"I’ll never forget our chats, all the times we would hang out on the weekends and go away with family and friends. I told you things I’d never tell anyone I trusted you, I’ve laughed and cried infront of you!</p> <p>"You were one in a million, you cared about everyone and left such an impact on every person you met!</p> <p>I’m so glad we got to have such a grouse night together at Rikki’s the other Weekend! I’ll love and remember you forever mate. It is an honour to be your cousin. Till we meet again ❤️"</p> <blockquote class="instagram-media" style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3uGiehyLxq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"> </div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <div style="padding: 12.5% 0;"> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; margin-bottom: 14px; align-items: center;"> <div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(0px) translateY(7px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; height: 12.5px; transform: rotate(-45deg) translateX(3px) translateY(1px); width: 12.5px; flex-grow: 0; margin-right: 14px; margin-left: 2px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; height: 12.5px; width: 12.5px; transform: translateX(9px) translateY(-18px);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: 8px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 20px; width: 20px;"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 2px solid transparent; border-left: 6px solid #f4f4f4; border-bottom: 2px solid transparent; transform: translateX(16px) translateY(-4px) rotate(30deg);"> </div> </div> <div style="margin-left: auto;"> <div style="width: 0px; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-right: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(16px);"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; flex-grow: 0; height: 12px; width: 16px; transform: translateY(-4px);"> </div> <div style="width: 0; height: 0; border-top: 8px solid #F4F4F4; border-left: 8px solid transparent; transform: translateY(-4px) translateX(8px);"> </div> </div> </div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center; margin-bottom: 24px;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 224px;"> </div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 144px;"> </div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/C3uGiehyLxq/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Austin Baird (@austinnbaird)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p>Austin's tribute paints a portrait of Jesse as more than just a cousin but a confidant, a kindred spirit with whom he shared his deepest hopes and fears. </p> <p>In the midst of their grief, the Baird family has found some solace in the outpouring of support from friends and strangers alike.</p> <p>The revelation of a "gap in the timeline" in the investigation into Jesse and Luke's alleged murders has cast a shadow over the search for closure. Specialist police units, including divers and the Riot Squad, have been deployed to scour remote rural properties in a desperate bid to uncover the truth.</p> <p>NSW Police Deputy Commissioner David Hudson's acknowledgment of the possibility that the accused, Beau Lamarre-Condon, may have returned to the scene of the crime to dispose of the bodies only adds to the anguish of those left behind. "We believe that it is possible the accused, in that gap in the timeline, has returned to that property and retrieved the bodies and disposed of them somewhere else," Hudson stated, his words a stark reminder of the grim reality confronting investigators.</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram</em></p>

Caring

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Mother of Vyleen White's alleged killer speaks out

<p>The mother of the teenager who allegedly stabbed Vyleen White has spoken out, sending her condolences to White's family. </p> <p>The woman's 16-year-old son has been accused of the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/grandmother-fatally-stabbed-in-front-of-granddaughter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">deadly stabbing</a> of the 70-year-old Queensland grandmother, who was fatally injured at a shopping centre while on an outing with her 6-year-old granddaughter. </p> <p>The mother, who cannot be identified, apologised to the victim's family, along with the greater community for what happened. </p> <p>"I'm sorry to the community because I didn't know that the kids do that," the mother said.</p> <p>She said her son told her "I love you mum" as police put him in handcuffs and led him away.</p> <p>The mother also apologised to White's family, saying, "I feel sorry about that, yeah, because it's so bad."</p> <p>It is believed the teenager was out on bail when he allegedly committed the stabbing, after being charged last year with stealing a car and three counts of armed robbery.</p> <p>Four other teenagers have also faced court in relation to the alleged murder of Ms White, all charged with unlawful use of a motor vehicle.</p> <p>The mother's statement comes after Vyleen's <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/tragic-new-details-emerge-as-vyleen-white-s-husband-speaks-out" target="_blank" rel="noopener">husband</a> shared that they were preparing celebrations for their 50th wedding anniversary when his wife was brutally murdered. </p> <p>He told <em>7News</em>, “I’m dealing with it the best way I can at the moment. When they stabbed her, they stabbed me.”</p> <p><em>Image credits: 9News</em></p>

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Teen arrested over alleged stabbing of grandmother

<p>A 15-year-old boy has handed himself in amid the investigation into the alleged murder of Vyleen White, who was <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/grandmother-fatally-stabbed-in-front-of-granddaughter" target="_blank" rel="noopener">fatally stabbed</a> in front of her six-year-old granddaughter while on a grocery run in Ipswich. </p> <p>The boy, who was allegedly one of four males shown in CCTV footage released by police, has not been charged in relation to the 70-year-old’s death.</p> <p>Instead, he was charged with one count of unlawful use of a motor vehicle for allegedly stealing the car used by the attackers to flee Redbank Plains Shopping Village on Saturday evening. </p> <p>The boy handed himself into Ipswich Police Station at around 9.30pm on Sunday, and is due to appear at Ipswich Children’s Court on Monday. </p> <p>The 2009 Hyundai Getz the boys used to escape was found in Springfield Lakes on Sunday morning and is being forensically examined.</p> <p>The other four males have not yet been found. </p> <p>White had just finished grocery shopping with her six-year-old granddaughter at Redbank Plains  when she was stabbed in the chest in the centre’s underground carpark at about 6pm on Saturday.</p> <p>The young girl was unharmed but left traumatised after witnessing the violent incident, and was reportedly screaming and crying for help. </p> <p>White died at the scene a short time later, after attempts to revive her failed. </p> <p>While police are still looking for the other attackers, Detective Acting Superintendent Heath McQueen said one man was responsible for the alleged murder. </p> <p>“There is still one person involved in the attack,” he told a media conference on Sunday, and said that robbery was the motive. </p> <p>They are appealing for anyone who might have seen the car between 6pm and 7pm on Saturday to contact them. </p> <p>“It’s a cowardly crime like I’ve not seen in my time as a detective,” McQueen said.</p> <p>“This is a (alleged) murder of a 70-year-old grandmother in front of her six-year-old granddaughter.</p> <p>“Now is not the time to remain tight-lipped. Now is the time ... to provide us with the information we need to identify the offenders who are responsible for this (alleged) murder.”</p> <p><em>Image: Facebook/ Queensland Police</em></p>

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Amid allegations of price gouging, it’s time for big supermarkets to come clean on how they price their products

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sanjoy-paul-1141384">Sanjoy Paul</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a></em></p> <p>With inflation driving up the cost of living, many are dreading not just the hassle of a big grocery shop, but also the bruising cost.</p> <p>But while Australians struggle with their budget and spending, several major supermarkets made large profits in 2022–23. Coles and Woolworths, for example, made net profits of <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/business/2023/aug/23/woolworths-posts-162bn-profit-with-dramatic-lift-in-margins-despite-cost-of-living-crisis">A$1.1 billion and A$1.62 billion</a>, respectively.</p> <p><a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/money/costs/coles-and-woolworths-chief-executives-to-face-senate-inquiry-into-supermarket-price-hikes/news-story/0f74b6d4cac20ee65b818642f4f554ba">Allegations of price gouging</a> by Australian supermarkets have even led to a <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-03/greens-move-to-establish-senate-inquiry-into-supermarkets/103179656">Senate inquiry</a> into supermarket pricing.</p> <p>Coles chief executive Leah Weckert has <a href="https://www.colesgroup.com.au/media-releases/?page=coles-group-statement-on-senate-inquiry-into-supermarket-prices">promised</a> to appear at the inquiry, saying the company “works hard to keep prices affordable for Australian households […]” and is ready to “engage in an informed discussion on the factors that influence supermarket pricing.”</p> <p>Woolworths Group chief executive Brad Banducci, meanwhile, <a href="https://www.woolworthsgroup.com.au/au/en/media/latest-news/2023/woolworths-group-confirms-ceo-will-appear-at-senate-inquiry-on-s.html">said</a> he welcomes the chance to explain to the Senate “how we are working to balance the needs of our customers, our team and our suppliers in the context of economy-wide inflationary pressure”.</p> <p>But why wait until a Senate inquiry to explain all that? There’s an opportunity <em>now</em> for the big supermarkets to be more transparent about how they decide what prices to put on products.</p> <h2>Allegations of price gouging</h2> <p>It’s not just <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-12-03/greens-move-to-establish-senate-inquiry-into-supermarkets/103179656">politicians</a> and <a href="https://au.finance.yahoo.com/news/woolworths-photo-exposes-everything-wrong-with-supermarkets-002726485.html">customers</a> complaining about supermarket prices.</p> <p>Australian farmers have also accused Coles and Woolworths of price gouging for <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/aussie-farmer-shipping-beautiful-melons-to-japan-rather-than-deal-with-coles-and-woolworths/news-story/bd685cd91f934f31c02c764097f496ae">fruits and vegetables</a>, claiming supermarkets profit too much from their crops.</p> <p>The National Farmers’ Federation has <a href="https://www.freshplaza.com/oceania/article/9583132/farmers-call-for-price-transparency-beyond-supermarket-inquiry/">called</a> for greater transparency from the supermarkets on how they decide prices.</p> <p>A recent <a href="https://www.freshplaza.com/oceania/article/9583132/farmers-call-for-price-transparency-beyond-supermarket-inquiry/">survey</a> by AUSVEG (the peak industry body for the Australian vegetable and potato industries) found 34% of vegetable growers are considering leaving the industry in the next 12 months as they <a href="https://www.news.com.au/finance/business/retail/aussie-farmer-shipping-beautiful-melons-to-japan-rather-than-deal-with-coles-and-woolworths/news-story/bd685cd91f934f31c02c764097f496ae">struggle</a> to turn a profit.</p> <p>When asked about calls for more transparent pricing, a Woolworths spokesperson told The Conversation:</p> <blockquote> <p>We publish both our average gross margin and EBIT (earnings before interest and taxes) margin transparently in our public financial reports.</p> <p>Supply chain costs are different for every product and they are constantly fluctuating, as are our buying costs in the case of fresh food like fruit and vegetables.</p> <p>Shoppers are very savvy. We operate in a highly competitive industry and we know our customers will – and do – shop around to find the best value.</p> <p>As we start to see the rate of inflation ease, we will continue to focus on delivering savings to our customers.</p> </blockquote> <p>Coles was also contacted for comment but did not reply before publication deadline.</p> <h2>Factoring in many costs</h2> <p>When a retailer buys products from their suppliers, it involves a supply chain that includes supply, manufacturing, transportation and distribution, warehouse and storage.</p> <p>There are several costs – such as product costs, transportation fees, labour, rent, inventory and more – involved at every step of the process.</p> <p>The supermarket must factor in all costs, as well as its profit margin, when it sets the selling price for a product.</p> <p>Organisations usually have these cost breakdowns as part of their internal decision-making – but they don’t typically disclose these calculations to their customers.</p> <h2>Not disclosing the cost breakdowns</h2> <p>The problem for supermarkets is that when they don’t disclose details such as their buying price or supply chain costs, it can contribute to anger among customers and suppliers.</p> <p>Apple and Pear Australia Limited – the national peak industry body for apple and pear growers – has <a href="https://apal.org.au/retailers-need-to-demonstrate-greater-price-transparency/">called for</a> retailers to demonstrate greater price transparency, saying, “frustration at the behaviour of the major retailers has again angered many growers”.</p> <p>Of course, supermarkets use several pricing strategies to win customer support – such as locking in prices for a certain period of time, everyday low prices on key products, specials, price-matching and discounts.</p> <p>Supermarkets spend millions of dollars on these price-related advertisements, but perhaps they would get more community support by simply disclosing cost breakdowns on their websites and in-store to show their commitment to transparent and fair pricing.</p> <h2>Transparent and fair pricing</h2> <p>Research shows price transparency helps businesses build trust with their <a href="https://fastercapital.com/content/The-Importance-of-Price-Transparency-in-Pricing-Psychology.html">customers</a>.</p> <p>Many major retailers already have this information for internal decision-making, so could display this online and in stores.</p> <p>Yes, prices change constantly due to factors outside their control – such as fuel prices, shipping problems or even supply chain issues linked to global conflict. But being more open with customers about these issues could help repair relationships and their public image.</p> <p>Perhaps there may even be a role for government, which could collaborate with supermarkets and retailers to develop policies for transparent and fair pricing.</p> <p>Everyday Australians deserve to be treated fairly and given the information they need about how major supermarkets price their products, so they can make informed decisions at the checkout.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/219316/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/sanjoy-paul-1141384"><em>Sanjoy Paul</em></a><em>, Associate Professor, UTS Business School, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-technology-sydney-936">University of Technology Sydney</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/amid-allegations-of-price-gouging-its-time-for-big-supermarkets-to-come-clean-on-how-they-price-their-products-219316">original article</a>.</em></p>

Money & Banking

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Alan Jones vehemently denies bombshell allegations

<p>Veteran Australian broadcaster Alan Jones has found himself at the centre of serious allegations involving indecent assault on multiple young men during the peak of his illustrious radio career. The accusations suggest that Jones exploited his influential position to prey on individuals, engaging in inappropriate behaviour without their consent.</p> <p>Former employees and acquaintances have come forward with disturbing accounts of alleged indecent assaults by Jones. One ex-2GB employee revealed to Nine Newspapers that he was "repeatedly indecently assaulted" during work-related activities, including instances when he drove Jones home. The accuser described a disturbing pattern of escalating misconduct, highlighting the power dynamics at play.</p> <p>Another individual, Odin Childs, <a href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/he-d-go-the-grope-alan-jones-accused-of-indecently-assaulting-young-men-20231205-p5epai.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">claimed that Jones allegedly groped him in 2008</a> while he was working as a waiter at a restaurant. Fearful of repercussions in his professional life, Childs chose not to report the incident at the time, underscoring the perceived influence that Jones held in the Australian media landscape.</p> <p>A third man recounted an unsettling experience in 2008 when he was invited to what he believed was a dinner party at Jones' apartment near the Sydney Opera House. The alleged victim described feeling "scared sh*tless" after an encounter where Jones purportedly "just grabs you and kisses you all over".</p> <p>Jones vehemently denies all accusations, with his legal representatives from Mark O'Brien Legal dismissing the allegations as "scandalous, grossly offensive, and seriously defamatory". Jones' successor on 2GB, Ben Fordham, addressed the sensitive topic on the radio show, acknowledging the gravity of the allegations but emphasising that they remain unproven: "We don't hide around here from tough topics," Fordham said. "The allegations have come from multiple people. But they have not been proven."</p> <p>The allegations against Jones have sent shockwaves through the media landscape, prompting a reassessment of power dynamics within the industry. As the controversy surrounding Jones unfolds, the broader conversation about workplace harassment and abuse of power within the media industry continues to gain momentum.</p> <p><em>Images: Getty</em></p>

Legal

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“That’s insulting”: Brittany Higgins grilled over "fabricated" allegations

<p>Brittany Higgins has denied she lied when she accused Bruce Lehrmann of sexually assaulting her in Parliament House. </p> <p>Higgins was called to give evidence on Thursday, as part of Lehrmann's defamation suit against Lisa Wilkinson and Channel Ten, when she was grilled during cross-examination by Lehrmann’s barrister Steven Whybrow SC.</p> <p>“That is a fabrication that you were sexually assaulted,” Whybrow said.</p> <p>“I understand that is your assertion. It’s insulting but I understand it,” Higgins replied. </p> <p>Whybrow’s questioning revolved around how Higgins’ recollection of events changed between statements she gave to the police, in court, to journalists from Ten and a news website, and in the first draft of a book she sent to publisher Penguin Random House.</p> <p>One example was that the location of a box of chocolates eaten after the alleged rape had changed between versions.</p> <p>“I want to suggest to you that is an example of your evidence evolving as you find out new information,” Whybrow said.</p> <p>“No, I don’t accept that,” Higgins answered.</p> <p>She admitted giving incorrect statements to Wilkinson and Ten producer Angus Llewellyn during a five-hour interview conducted in January 2021, before she was filmed for bombshell <em>The Project</em> broadcast that first aired Brittany's story. </p> <p>These claims, which included what security did and what she was wearing after the alleged rape, were based on her beliefs at the time, the court was told.</p> <p>Lehrmann has also already given evidence in which he admitted to a number of lies and false statements he gave to police, Parliament House security, his employer and supervisor, and the media.</p> <p>Lehrmann is suing Lisa Wilkinson and Channel Ten for defamation, specifically citing a February 2021 report on <em>The Project</em> in which Higgins was interviewed and her sexual assault story made national headlines. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images </em></p>

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Shocking new details in alleged hit and run that killed Police Commissioner's son

<p>Shocking details have emerged from the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/health/caring/police-commissioner-s-son-killed-during-schoolies-week" target="_blank" rel="noopener">alleged hit-and-run</a> crash that killed South Australia's Police Commissioner's son Charlie Stevens. </p> <p>At Christies Beach Magistrates Court on Wednesday, three witnesses of the incident claimed accused hit-and-run driver Dhirren Randhawa, 18, did a U-turn in his car and drove into 18-year-old Charlie, while he was waiting for a Schoolies shuttle bus. </p> <p>The witnesses, who were waiting with Charlie, say they flagged down Mr Randhawa to see if they could hitch a ride. </p> <p>However, the driver realised he didn't have enough room in the car for the whole group, and drove away before doing a U-turn, according to the witnesses. </p> <p>Court documents revealed that he then allegedly sped up and started travelling on the wrong side of the road before hitting Charlie and driving away. </p> <p>The witness states Mr Randhawa then drove a short distance before calling his mother and asking whether he should turn himself into a police station or call the police.</p> <p>As he was talking to her, the police arrived and arrested him, the witness said.</p> <p>However, another witness told a different version of events, saying Charlie ran in front of Mr Randhawa's car. </p> <p>Mr Randhawa left the courtroom with his mother by his side after being granted bail. </p> <p>Randhawa has been charged with causing death by dangerous driving, aggravated driving without due care, leaving the scene of a crash after causing death and failing to truly answer questions.</p> <p>Charlie sustained irreversible brain damage from the incident, and died 24 hours later in hospital <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/health/caring/nat-barr-overwhelmed-by-police-commissioner-s-heartbreaking-letter-to-his-fallen-son" target="_blank" rel="noopener">surrounded by his family</a>. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Legal

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Brittany Higgins' powerful message of solidarity to Bruce Lehrmann's alleged victim

<p>Brittany Higgins has shared a powerful statement of solidarity to Bruce Lehrmann's alleged victim. </p> <p>Former Liberal staffer Bruce Lehrmann has been charged with two counts of rape, relating to an incident alleged to have occurred in Queensland in October 2021.</p> <p>Lehrmann was only <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/bruce-lehrmann-revealed-as-high-profile-figure-accused-of-rape-in-queensland" target="_blank" rel="noopener">recently named</a> as the "high-profile figure" accused of the crime, after a judge made the decision to reject his suppression order, which kept his name out of the press and not related to the incident. </p> <p>Once Lehrmann was named as the defendant in the sexual assault case, Brittany Higgins was quick to share a passionate message to his alleged victim. </p> <p>Taking to Instagram stories, Brittany wrote, "When I first found out about the alleged sexual assault my heart broke for you." </p> <p>"To know that this has allegedly taken place while he was out on bail in 2021 is devastating."</p> <p>"I note the fact you've decided to come forward despite seeing the horrific championing of this individual in the media all year."</p> <p>"I am so, so sorry this allegedly happened to you". </p> <p>After Brittany's post garnered widespread attention, Lehrmann was quick to point out a crucial mistake in her statement. </p> <p>Mr Lehrmann was not on any kind of bail in the lead-up to his aborted trial in October 2022, as he was only on bail after the mistrial in relation to the Queensland matter.</p> <p>Lehrmann told <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12684925/Brittany-Higgins-message-Bruce-Lehrmann-Toowoomba.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><em>Daily Mail Australia</em></a>, "I'd just note if Ms Higgins is going to try and kibosh the human right of a fair trial again and also further defame me, at least get your facts right before you post."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

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Tragic new details emerge in alleged murder of Lilie James

<p>After the prestigious St Andrew's Cathedral School in Sydney was been rocked by the alleged murder of a young water polo instructor, Lilie James, new details about the discovery of a possible murder weapon have been revealed.</p> <p>James was found dead in a gym bathroom within the school, with "serious head injuries" that were <a href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-12674723/Lilie-James-murder-Paul-Thijssen-St-Andrews-Cathedral.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener">reportedly inflicted with a hammer</a>. The circumstances surrounding her death are both puzzling and distressing, leaving the community in shock and disbelief.</p> <p>James, who had been romantically involved with her colleague, 24-year-old sports coach Paul Thijssen, met a tragic end in the place where she had dedicated her time and passion. The two had recently ended their five-week relationship, and the events of that night have left investigators piecing together a disturbing puzzle.</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">CCTV footage obtained by the police revealed that Thijssen followed James into the school's gym bathroom, only to exit more than an hour later. Four hours after leaving the scene, he called the authorities to report a body on the school grounds – police were then able to trace that call to "The Gap" clifftop at Diamond Bay Reserve in Vaucluse, </span><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">a notorious suicide spot, where they found </span>Thijssen's backpack, <span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">along with an item that has been linked to the homicide.</span></p> <p>The investigation has taken a tragic turn, as authorities are now trying to determine whether Thijssen had taken his own life. Detectives are grappling with the shocking and heartbreaking details of this case, with no prior indication of a history of domestic violence between the two individuals.</p> <p>Thijssen, a former student of St Andrew's Cathedral School, was part of a privileged family that had moved to Australia from the Netherlands in 2015. He excelled as a sports captain during his student years and later returned to the school as a cricket and hockey coach after graduating in 2017.</p> <p>The school, in the wake of this tragic incident, took immediate action to inform parents of the situation via text messages. The message indicated that the school would be closed, except for Year 12 exams, and a "critical incident" had occurred. It assured parents that no students were involved and that there was no ongoing threat to the school community.</p> <p><span style="font-family: -apple-system, BlinkMacSystemFont, 'Segoe UI', Roboto, Oxygen, Ubuntu, Cantarell, 'Open Sans', 'Helvetica Neue', sans-serif;">NSW Premier Chris Minns described it as a “horrible, horrible” crime. “One of the worst that I’ve seen in my public life", while </span>Detective Superintendent Martin Fileman described the crime scene as "quite confronting" for first responders, reflecting the severity and gravity of the situation. The school is working closely with the police to gather more information and provide a safe environment for students and staff members.</p> <p>As the investigation continues, the hope is that it will shed light on the circumstances surrounding her untimely death and provide answers to the many lingering questions.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook / LinkedIn</em></p>

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Can Israel and Hamas be held to account for alleged crimes against civilians?

<p><em><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amy-maguire-129609">Amy Maguire</a>, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a></em></p> <p><a href="https://www.redcross.org.au/ihl/">International humanitarian law</a> – the law of armed conflict – aims to constrain how wars are fought. It is designed to protect noncombatants and limit the means of warfare.</p> <p>As each hour brings news of further horror in the Israel-Hamas conflict, what role should international law be playing? And does it actually have any capacity to constrain the behaviour of the combatants?</p> <h2>A humanitarian nightmare is unfolding</h2> <p>On <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2023/10/16/middleeast/israel-hamas-gaza-war-explained-week-2-mime-intl/index.html">October 7</a>, the Hamas militant group launched thousands of rockets against Israel in advance of a ground attack. Militants <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/?id=103804516#:%7E:text=ABC%20News%20Chief%20Global%20Affairs,war%20in%20Israel%20and%20Gaza.&amp;text=At%20least%201%2C400%20people%20have,7%2C%20Israeli%20authorities%20said.">killed</a> more than 1,400 people and wounded 3,400 others in towns and kibbutzim across southern Israel. It was the <a href="https://theconversation.com/deadliest-day-for-jews-since-the-holocaust-spurs-a-crisis-of-confidence-in-the-idea-of-israel-and-its-possible-renewal-215507">deadliest day</a> for Jewish people since the Holocaust.</p> <p>Most of those killed were civilians, including many <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/horror-israeli-authorities-show-footage-hamas-atrocities-reporters-notebook/story?id=104015431#:%7E:text=It%20was%20part%20of%20the,injured%20in%20Israel%2C%20authorities%20said.">children</a> who were shot, blown up or burned to death. Hundreds of young people were also <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/08/israel-festival-attack-gaza-militants/">massacred</a> at a music festival, and Hamas took around 200 <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/former-hamas-chief-meshaal-says-israeli-captives-include-high-ranking-officers-2023-10-16/">hostages</a> back to Gaza.</p> <p>Israel is responding to this attack with <a href="https://abcnews.go.com/International/live-updates/israel-gaza-hamas/?id=103804516#:%7E:text=ABC%20News%20Chief%20Global%20Affairs,war%20in%20Israel%20and%20Gaza.&amp;text=At%20least%201%2C400%20people%20have,7%2C%20Israeli%20authorities%20said.">airstrikes</a>, which have to date <a href="https://www.wsj.com/livecoverage/israel-hamas-war-gaza-palestinians/card/latest-death-tolls-in-gaza-and-israel-xJRhBt04VQMocRuYUtsA">killed</a> at least 4,000 people in Gaza and injured thousands more. The vast majority of these casualties are Palestinian civilians.</p> <p>Israel has also rapidly mobilised around <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2023/10/10/israel-military-draft-reservists/">360,000 reservists</a> in preparation for an anticipated ground offensive on Gaza.</p> <p>In recent days, a blast at a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/17/world/middleeast/gaza-hospital-explosion-israel.html">Gaza hospital</a> killed hundreds, including patients and displaced people seeking sanctuary. Hamas and several Arab states have <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/18/israel-faces-blame-from-regional-allies-over-gaza-hospital-deaths">blamed</a> Israel for the explosion, while Israel has <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/17/world/middleeast/islamic-jihad-gaza-hospital-israel.html">blamed</a> Palestinian Islamic Jihad.</p> <p>The situation in Gaza is dire for people with urgent needs, including <a href="https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-10-18/israel-gaza-war-live-updates-october-18/102989182?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&amp;utm_content=link&amp;utm_medium=content_shared&amp;utm_source=abc_news_web#live-blog-post-55243">5,000 women</a> due to give birth this month and <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/10/16/world/middleeast/gaza-evacuation-twin-babies-hospital.html#:%7E:text=The%20babies%2C%20Nuha%20and%20Fatin,of%20an%20Israeli%20ground%20invasion.">newborn babies</a> whose families cannot find drinking water to prepare formula.</p> <p>Meanwhile, Israel has <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2023/oct/12/no-power-water-or-fuel-to-gaza-until-hostages-freed-says-israeli-minister">cut off</a> water, electricity and fuel supplies to Gaza and ordered a <a href="https://theconversation.com/gaza-is-being-strangled-why-israels-evacuation-order-violates-international-law-215787">total siege</a> of the territory. Israel has also ordered residents of northern Gaza to <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2023/10/16/why-israels-gaza-evacuation-order-so-alarming">evacuate</a> to the south. Aid agencies have been unable to provide desperately needed <a href="https://time.com/6324539/israel-gaza-humanitarian-aid-egypt-border/">humanitarian assistance</a> to civilians through the border crossing with Egypt.</p> <p>Prior to this latest horrific escalation, Gaza was already entrenched in a <a href="https://theconversation.com/gaza-has-been-blockaded-for-16-years-heres-what-a-complete-siege-and-invasion-could-mean-for-vital-supplies-215359">humanitarian crisis</a>. The situation now is beyond comprehension.</p> <p><a href="https://www.abc.net.au/listen/programs/radionational-breakfast/gaza-610/102983118">Léo Cans</a>, the head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in Palestine, said hospitals are being overwhelmed and hundreds will die without electricity being restored: "This is something that is known and could be prevented just by letting fuel and supplies inside Gaza. What is ahead of us is beyond words […] at the end of the road it’s a big wall, and this big wall is full of dead people."</p> <h2>Principles governing the conduct of war</h2> <p>International humanitarian law is a pragmatic body of law. Its existence acknowledges the inevitability of armed conflict and it aims to mitigate war’s impact on people.</p> <p>International humanitarian law is not, in itself, concerned with the justifications for why combatants engage in war. It applies even in situations where a state is entitled to act in self-defence under broader international law.</p> <p>We are witnessing gross violations of fundamental humanitarian law principles in the conflict. Here are some examples:</p> <p><strong>Distinction between civilians and combatants</strong></p> <p>Attacks are considered <a href="https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/api-1977/article-51">unlawful</a> if they are:</p> <ul> <li> <p>directed specifically against civilians</p> </li> <li> <p>launched indiscriminately without distinction between civilians and combatants</p> </li> <li> <p>or directed at military targets but anticipated to cause harm to civilians disproportionate to the military advantage being sought.</p> </li> </ul> <p><strong>Methods of warfare</strong></p> <p>It is <a href="https://casebook.icrc.org/law/conduct-hostilities#iii_1">unlawful</a> to conduct war in a manner that causes unnecessary suffering. Attacks targeting civilians are fundamentally unnecessary and, therefore, illegal.</p> <p><strong>Collective punishment</strong></p> <p>The fourth Geneva Convention prohibits <a href="https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/gciv-1949/article-33">collective punishment</a>: "No protected person may be punished for an offence he or she has not personally committed. Collective penalties and likewise all measures of intimidation or of terrorism are prohibited."</p> <p>This prohibition reflects the idea of <a href="https://guide-humanitarian-law.org/content/article/3/collective-punishment/">individual criminal responsibility</a> under international criminal law. Prosecutions for breaches of humanitarian law are directed towards individuals who can be proven responsible, rather than against states or populations.</p> <p><strong>Humanitarian protection</strong></p> <p>Common Article 3 of the Geneva Conventions requires <a href="https://www.icrc.org/en/doc/war-and-law/treaties-customary-law/geneva-conventions/overview-geneva-conventions.htm">humane protection</a> for all people in enemy hands. It prohibits murder and hostage-taking. It also requires the provision of humanitarian assistance to all people without distinction.</p> <p><strong>Obligations of occupying powers</strong></p> <p>It is arguable Israel is a de facto occupying power of the Gaza Strip because it has such a <a href="https://theconversation.com/gaza-is-being-strangled-why-israels-evacuation-order-violates-international-law-215787">high level of control</a> over people’s lives. For example, it has the ability to shut off supplies of essential life services. The argument Israel is occupying Gaza will be strengthened should Israel launch a ground invasion.</p> <p>As such, the rules of international humanitarian law on occupiers are also relevant. These include an obligation to <a href="https://ihl-databases.icrc.org/en/ihl-treaties/hague-conv-iv-1907/regulations-art-43#:%7E:text=Regulations%3A%20Art.-,43,in%20force%20in%20the%20country.">protect</a> civilians from attacks and <a href="https://humanrights.gov.au/our-work/commission-general/international-covenant-civil-and-political-rights-human-rights-your#:%7E:text=opinions%20without%20interference.-,2.,other%20media%20of%20his%20choice.">respect their human rights</a>.</p> <h2>Hamas and humanitarian law</h2> <p>International humanitarian law applies to all combatants, whether they are state or non-state actors. UN independent experts say Hamas has clearly committed <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/israeloccupied-palestinian-territory-un-experts-deplore-attacks-civilians">war crimes</a>, including the murders and hostage-taking of Israeli civilians.</p> <p>Hamas also put Palestinian civilians in harm’s way by <a href="https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/hamas-tells-gaza-residents-stay-home-israel-ground-offensive-looms-2023-10-13/#:%7E:text=Eyad%20Al%2DBozom%2C%20spokesman%20for,your%20homes%2C%20and%20your%20places.">telling them</a> not to evacuate to southern Gaza, as ordered by Israel. The group has a history of using civilians as <a href="https://theconversation.com/how-the-laws-of-war-apply-to-the-conflict-between-israel-and-hamas-215493">human shields</a> as a <a href="https://stratcomcoe.org/cuploads/pfiles/hamas_human_shields.pdf">strategic tool</a> in conflicts with Israel.</p> <p>However, holding Hamas accountable for violating international humanitarian law is very challenging. As a non-state actor, Hamas is not a member of forums like the United Nations, where pressure may be brought to bear on member states.</p> <p>If individual Hamas militants are apprehended, they could be charged with <a href="https://www.thenewhumanitarian.org/interview/2023/10/17/how-have-israel-and-hamas-broken-laws-war">war crimes</a> and tried in Israeli courts or the International Criminal Court. Even though Hamas is a non-state actor, <a href="https://www.icc-cpi.int/victims/state-palestine">Palestine</a> has accepted the court’s jurisdiction.</p> <p>In fact, the International Criminal Court opened an <a href="https://www.lawfaremedia.org/article/where-does-the-icc-palestine-investigation-stand">investigation</a> into alleged war crimes in Palestine in 2021. The current Gaza conflict would fall within the court’s mandate and could lead it to direct greater energy to that ongoing investigation.</p> <p>The court’s chief prosecutor, Karim Khan, said on October 13: "We have jurisdiction for any Rome Statute crimes […] committed by Palestinians in Israel and also we have clear jurisdiction for any crimes committed by the forces of Israel in Palestine."</p> <h2>Israel and humanitarian law</h2> <p>Israel and its allies also have a complex relationship with international humanitarian law.</p> <p>One key issue is Israel’s right to self-defence in response to the October 7 attack by Hamas. International law confirms a state may use force to <a href="https://casebook.icrc.org/a_to_z/glossary/self-defence#:%7E:text=Self%2Ddefense%20in%20international%20law,Charter%20and%20customary%20international%20law.">defend</a> itself in response to an armed attack. Israel, the United States and other allies <a href="https://www.whitehouse.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2023/10/10/remarks-by-president-biden-on-the-terrorist-attacks-in-israel-2/">contend</a> the Hamas attack triggered Israel’s <a href="https://www.foreignminister.gov.au/minister/penny-wong/speech/speech-senate-hamas-attacks-israel-senate-motion-parliament-house">right to self-defence</a>.</p> <p>But there is a distinction to be drawn between a state’s right to self-defence and what that right permits, in the sense of how war is conducted.</p> <p>For example, UN independent experts have <a href="https://www.ohchr.org/en/press-releases/2023/10/israeloccupied-palestinian-territory-un-experts-deplore-attacks-civilians">condemned</a> Israel’s “indiscriminate military attacks” against Palestinian civilians: "This amounts to collective punishment. There is no justification for violence that indiscriminately targets innocent civilians, whether by Hamas or Israeli forces. This is absolutely prohibited under international law and amounts to a war crime."</p> <p>Neither <a href="https://arabcenterdc.org/resource/the-international-criminal-courts-failure-to-hold-israel-accountable/">Israel</a> nor the <a href="https://www.hrw.org/news/2020/09/02/qa-international-criminal-court-and-united-states">United States</a> is a party to the International Criminal Court. Neither state would accept the court’s jurisdiction over its nationals. Indeed, the United States has <a href="https://www.state.gov/the-united-states-opposes-the-icc-investigation-into-the-palestinian-situation/">condemned</a> the court’s decision to open its investigation into alleged war crimes in Palestine.</p> <p>In time, the court may seek to hold Israeli nationals accountable for war crimes, but its capacity to do so seems very limited.</p> <h2>What about the United Nations?</h2> <p>UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres has <a href="https://www.voanews.com/a/un-s-guterres-denounces-collective-punishment-of-palestinians/7315616.html">called</a> for an immediate ceasefire.</p> <p>He said the grievances of the Palestinian people after more than 50 years of occupation do not “justify the acts of terror committed by Hamas”. And he said the Hamas attack on October 7 does not “justify the collective punishment of the Palestinian people”.</p> <p>UN human rights chief Volker Türk has also <a href="https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/un-human-rights-lead-warns-of-consequences-for-breaching-humanitarian-law-amid-israel-hamas-war-1.6605453">warned</a> all parties that violations of humanitarian law will have consequences, and those who commit war crimes will be held accountable.</p> <p>But the <a href="https://www.un.org/securitycouncil/#:%7E:text=The%20Security%20Council%20has%20primary,to%20comply%20with%20Council%20decisions.">UN Security Council</a>, which is charged with maintaining international peace and security, has yet to agree on a <a href="https://news.un.org/en/story/2023/10/1142467">statement</a> on the conflict.</p> <p>The <a href="https://reliefweb.int/report/occupied-palestinian-territory/4-members-favour-5-against-security-council-rejects-russian-federations-resolution-calling-immediate-humanitarian-ceasefire-israel-palestine-crisis">debate</a> in the council since the latest escalation in this perpetual conflict demonstrates the deep diplomatic fault lines between the key global players and the warring parties.</p> <p>At this point, a sad reality is that international law and global institutions can do little to constrain the actions of the combatants on both sides or provide assistance to the millions at grave risk of harm.<!-- Below is The Conversation's page counter tag. Please DO NOT REMOVE. --><img style="border: none !important; box-shadow: none !important; margin: 0 !important; max-height: 1px !important; max-width: 1px !important; min-height: 1px !important; min-width: 1px !important; opacity: 0 !important; outline: none !important; padding: 0 !important;" src="https://counter.theconversation.com/content/215705/count.gif?distributor=republish-lightbox-basic" alt="The Conversation" width="1" height="1" /><!-- End of code. If you don't see any code above, please get new code from the Advanced tab after you click the republish button. The page counter does not collect any personal data. More info: https://theconversation.com/republishing-guidelines --></p> <p><a href="https://theconversation.com/profiles/amy-maguire-129609"><em>Amy Maguire</em></a><em>, Associate Professor in Human Rights and International Law, <a href="https://theconversation.com/institutions/university-of-newcastle-1060">University of Newcastle</a></em></p> <p><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p> <p><em>This article is republished from <a href="https://theconversation.com">The Conversation</a> under a Creative Commons license. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/can-israel-and-hamas-be-held-to-account-for-alleged-crimes-against-civilians-215705">original article</a>.</em></p>

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