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Charlise Mutten's mum breaks silence

<p>Kallista Mutten, the mother of murdered schoolgirl Charlise Mutten, has broken her silence in her first ever television interview. </p> <p>Nine-year-old Charlise was brutally murdered by her mother's then fiancée Justin Stein at his family home in the Blue Mountains, Sydney in January 2022. </p> <p>In August, Stein was sentenced to life in jail without parole, after he was <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/jury-decides-fate-of-accused-murderer-justin-stein" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found guilty</a> of Charlise's murder, having shot the little girl twice before dumping her body in a barrel. </p> <p>Since Charlise's murder, Kallista had been harassed in public and abused by people on public transport to the extent she could no longer go outside. </p> <p>In an upcoming interview for <em>60 Minutes</em> that will air this Sunday night, Kallista broke her silence. </p> <p>"I'm not this monster, this unfit mother," she told reporter Dimity Clancey in a newly released preview. </p> <p>"Charlise deserved more."</p> <p>"I miss her so much, she believed in me," she continued through tears. </p> <p>Many have blamed her for the horrific murder that happened while Charlise was in her care. At the time, Charlise was visiting her mum and Stein in Sydney for Christmas from the Gold, where she lived with her grandparents. </p> <p>She spent the night of January 11 alone with Stein at his property in the Blue Mountains, while her mother stayed at a caravan about a 90-minute drive away. </p> <p>"I hate myself for it, I really do," Kallista said. </p> <p>The preview also showed footage of an agitated Stein pacing around the police interview room, while blaming Charlise's mum for the murder. </p> <p>"It was all her. I can't sit here and cover for her," he said. </p> <p>Kallista denied having any involvement in her daughter's death and broke down in tears during a hearing, where she read a victim's impact statement via audio video link. </p> <p>"(Charlise) just longed for you to be her dad. I just hate myself for being so wrong about you," she said at the time. </p> <p>"I am forced to live with fact I trusted someone and because of my trust I put my daughter in harm's way."</p> <p>In the <em>60 Minutes</em> preview, a police detective said that Stein "weaved a web of wicked lies and deception", with Kallista describing her former partner as "pure evil". </p> <p><em>Images: Nine</em></p>

Family & Pets

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"Unspeakably vicious": Judge hands down verdict to Justin Stein

<p>After a lengthy trial into the murder of nine-year-old Charlise Mutten, 33-year-old Justin Stein has had his fate read in court. </p> <p>At the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney on Monday, Stein was sentenced to life in jail without parole after he was found guilty of fatally shooting the schoolgirl in the face before dumping her body in a barrel.</p> <p>Justice Helen Wilson delivered the sentence and unleashed on Stein, saying he was "completely without remorse" and "without humanity or morality".</p> <p>Justice Wilson said the shooting that took place at Stein's lavish family home in the Blue Mountains in January 2022 was "unspeakably vicious and murderous", saying, "These were deliberate acts, and the second shot was an execution shot. He undertook these actions intending to kill her."</p> <p>"He sought to blame Charlise's mother for his own indecent conduct. Charlise was not just a child; she was a very young child at nine years and five months of age."</p> <p>"Charlise had come to refer to the offender as 'Daddy'. This crime represents an egregious breach of that trust."</p> <p>Wilson explained that Charlise was murdered after she was drugged with Stein's schizophrenia medication, as she said, "She would have been in a state of pronounced drowsiness; she had even less capacity to defend herself and flee from danger."</p> <p>Justice Wilson described Stein's supposedly tearful account of Charlise's death during the trial as "false" and said the tissue he used was dry.</p> <p>"From where I sat I could see very clearly, he was completely dry-eyed and did not shed a single tear," Justice Wilson said in disgust. "It might have been called theatre if it wasn't so calculated."</p> <p>"Some instances of murder are so grave that the maximum penalty is the only appropriate penalty."</p> <p>In a recent hearing, Charlise's mother Kallista Mutten broke down in tears and told her former fiancé, "I hate myself for trusting you."</p> <p>Ms Mutten read a victim's impact statement via audio video link as she told Stein. "[Charlise] just longed for you to be her dad. I just hate myself for being so wrong about you."</p> <p>"I am forced to live with fact I trusted someone and because of my trust I put my daughter in harm’s way."</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook / NSW Supreme Court</em></p>

Legal

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Haunting last pictures of Charlise Mutten revealed

<p>The haunting last photos of nine-year-old Charlise Mutten have been released just hours after her step-father was found guilty of her murder. </p> <p>On Wednesday, Justin Stein was <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/jury-decides-fate-of-accused-murderer-justin-stein" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found guilty</a> for the murder of Charlise, who was killed in January 2022 while visiting her mother and step-father for Christmas. </p> <p>The jury reached their conclusion of Stein's guilt in just shy of two weeks following the four week trial, finding that Stein had killed Charlise at a Mount Wilson property owned by his parents before he wrapped her body and dumped it in a barrel down near the Colo River.</p> <p>Following the guilty verdict, a series of photos were released by the court, which document some of the final days of Charlise's life. </p> <p>In the photos, Charlise can be seen holding a pair of dolls and smiling for the camera as her mother, Kallista, snapped the image of her daughter. </p> <p>Kallista then sent the photo to her mother and Charlise's grandmother Deborah on Christmas morning 2021. </p> <p>“Thanks for the present and Merry Christmas from us all,” Kallista said to Deborah via Facebook.“Thanks for the present and Merry Christmas from us all,” Kallista said to Deborah via Facebook.</p> <p>Deborah and her husband Clinton were Charlise's main guardians, as Charlise had been living with them on the Gold Coast.</p> <p>Charlise can also be seen in a picture on January 8th, just days before she was killed, swimming in a pool, and on January 10th, she was photographed by her mother poking a face next to a broken window.</p> <p>The photo was sent to Stein by Kallista along with a message saying, “I’m sorry I’m such a screw up can we still get married”.</p> <p>Just two days later on January 12th, Charlise was killed. </p> <p>Stein will face a sentence hearing in August, where he faced life in prison for murder. </p> <p><em>Image credits: NSW Police / Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Jury decides fate of accused murderer Justin Stein

<p>The jury has handed down their verdict to Justin Stein after a lengthy trial into the murder of schoolgirl Charlise Mutten. </p> <p>Stein, Mutten's stepfather, was found guilty of murdering the nine-year-old and disposing of her body in barrel in the Blue Mountains. </p> <p>Charlise's body was found near the Colo River, northwest of Sydney on January 18th 2022, with gunshot wounds to her face and lower back.</p> <p>The jury deliberated for almost two weeks before delivering its verdict on Wednesday morning, following a four-week trial.</p> <p>Throughout the trial, Stein admitted to disposing of Charlise's body after her death in January 2022, but maintained that the young girl's mother, Kallista Mutten, had been the one to murder the child. </p> <p>Kallista denied having any involvement in her daughter's death and broke down in tears when faced with the accusation in court.</p> <p>As she dismissed the jurors, Justice Helen Wilson thanked them for their service.</p> <p>She said "quite a lot of people" had told her at the beginning of the proceedings that they did not feel they could listen to evidence about the death of a child.</p> <div data-component="EmphasisedText"> <p>"It's not an easy thing to hear evidence about something as distressing as the violent death of, particularly, a child," she said.</p> </div> <p>"That's upsetting, I think, for most people. It's also difficult to sit in judgement on a fellow member of the community."</p> <p>"In being willing to do both those things, you've played a very important role in our criminal justice system."</p> <p>Stein will now face a sentence hearing on August 23rd, where is he faced with life in prison for the murder charge. </p> <p><em>Image credits: 9News / NSW Police</em></p>

Legal

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Justin Timberlake arrested

<p>Justin Timberlake, the acclaimed singer and actor, has spent the night behind bars on charges of driving while intoxicated (DWI) in New York's Long Island. The incident took place in the upscale seaside village of Sag Harbor, a well-known summer retreat for the affluent.</p> <p>Timberlake, 43, was reportedly driving a BMW around 12:30am when he failed to stop at a stop sign and veered out of his lane. An officer pulled him over and noticed signs of intoxication. According to the court documents, the officer observed that Timberlake had bloodshot and glassy eyes, smelled strongly of alcohol, had slowed speech and was unsteady on his feet. He performed poorly on all standard field sobriety tests administered at the scene.</p> <p>Despite Timberlake's assertion that he had only consumed one martini and was following friends home, he was arrested and taken to a police station in East Hampton. There, he refused a breath test. The court documents list his occupation as "professional" and noted that he is "self-employed".</p> <p>According to a report from <a href="https://pagesix.com/2024/06/18/entertainment/justin-timberlake-dwi-refused-breathalyzer-cop-didnt-recognize/" target="_blank" rel="noopener">the New York Post</a>, the arresting officer was so young he did not recognise the world-famous singer, even after Timberlake told him his name. “He didn’t recognise him or his name,” an insider claimed, with a second source adding, “Justin said under his breath, ‘This is going to ruin the tour.’ The policeman replied, ‘What tour?’ Justin said, ‘The world tour.’”</p> <p>After spending the night in custody, Timberlake was formally charged and released later on Tuesday morning (Wednesday AEST). He faces one count of DWI and is scheduled to appear in court on July 26, according to the Suffolk County district attorney's office. Timberlake's lawyer and representatives have not yet commented on the incident.</p> <p>Timberlake's journey to fame began as a Disney Mouseketeer, where he shared the stage with future pop stars like Britney Spears. He gained widespread recognition as a member of the boy band NSYNC before launching a successful solo career in 2002. Timberlake has since won 10 Grammy Awards and four Primetime Emmy Awards. His acting credits include acclaimed performances in movies such as <em>The Social Network</em> and <em>Friends With Benefits</em>.</p> <p>Sag Harbor, located about 160km from New York City, is a part of the Hamptons, a popular destination for wealthy visitors during the summer. The village is known for its picturesque views and luxurious lifestyle, attracting celebrities and high-profile individuals.</p> <p>This incident marks a rare brush with the law for Timberlake, who has largely maintained a positive public image throughout his career. As the legal process unfolds, more details are likely to emerge, shedding light on the circumstances of his arrest and the potential consequences he may face.</p> <p><em>Images: Sag County Police | Today show</em></p>

Legal

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Superstar couple's top secret wedding

<p dir="ltr">Hollywood couple Justin Long and Kate Bosworth have reportedly tied the knot in a secret New York ceremony last month.</p> <p dir="ltr">New details of the “spontaneous” nuptials have been revealed, after Long previously let slip that the pair were now wed, referring to Bosworth as his “now-wife”.</p> <p dir="ltr">According to <em>Page Six</em>, an insider shared that the couple married in an intimate ceremony at The Rockaway Hotel in Queens.</p> <p dir="ltr">"It was a very low-key ceremony. Onlookers thought it was an engagement photo shoot of some sort – not an actual wedding," the source told the outlet.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair had stayed at the venue after attending an event hosted by fashion brand Roxy, which Bosworth is in collaboration with, and fell in love with the location.</p> <p dir="ltr">"They fell in love with the vibe of the hotel, and they decided to get married the next day right then and there!" the source explained.</p> <p dir="ltr">While appearing on a podcast in early May, Long let the news of his marriage status slip, as he discussed how Bosworth would come and visit his sets while they were falling in love.</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/CqnupN_pal6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;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/CqnupN_pal6/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank" rel="noopener">A post shared by Kate Bosworth (@katebosworth)</a></p> </div> </blockquote> <p dir="ltr">"I was there while I was like really falling in love with my now-wife," he said on the <em>Life is Short</em> podcast.</p> <p dir="ltr">"She came to visit and I had never been comfortable with…set visits. I like separating the relationship... But, yeah, I loved having her there and we just had the most magical time."</p> <p dir="ltr">Bosworth announced the couple’s engagement on Instagram in early April with a series of adorable snaps from their year-long romance, writing in the caption, “If life is short, find the one who brings you endless peace and radical wonder. I am so grateful it’s you.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image credits: Getty Images</em></p>

Relationships

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Major update in the murder case of Charlise Mutten

<p>The stepfather of schoolgirl Charlise Mutten will fight the charges of Charlise's murder after pleading not guilty in court. </p> <p>Justin Stein, 32, appeared at Penrith Local Court via audiovisual link on Friday morning, facing a range of charges including murder, interfering with a corpse, and possession of child abuse material.</p> <p>Stein is accused of <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/devastated-more-details-released-on-charlise-mutten-as-community-mourns" target="_blank" rel="noopener">murdering</a> nine-year-old Charlise, the daughter of his fiancé, in January 2022 and dumping her body in a plastic barrel. </p> <p>Charlise's body was found with gunshot wounds in bushland near the Colo River in NSW’s Central Tablelands, after she was staying in Blue Mountains on a family holiday. </p> <p>Mr Stein’s lawyer Peter Katsoolis entered not guilty pleas to the <a href="https://oversixty.com.au/news/news/charlise-mutten-s-alleged-killer-facing-fresh-charges" target="_blank" rel="noopener">charges</a> of murder, interfering with a corpse and possession of child abuse material.</p> <p>When asked by Magistrate Fiona Toose whether he was pleading not guilty, Mr Stein said, “Yes, that’s correct”.</p> <p>He will be arraigned in the Supreme Court in July.</p> <p>Outside the courtroom, Mr Katsoolis told reporters Mr Stein will be defending the charges.</p> <p>“He’s maintained his innocence from the outset in relation to these charges, and they’ll be vigorously defended,” Mr Katsoolis said.</p> <p>Charlise had been visiting her mother and Mr Stein at a Blue Mountains property, where police allege she was killed.</p> <p>There is no suggestion that Charlise’s mother was involved in her death, and she has never been accused of any wrongdoing in regards to her death. </p> <p>Prior to her death, Charlise had been living in Coolangatta, QLD, with her grandparents. </p> <p>Mr Stein was arrested in January 2022 and has remained behind bars on remand ever since.</p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

Legal

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“I like looking in the mirror”: Justine Bateman on ageing in the public eye

<p>Justine Bateman has gotten candid while discussing the reality of ageing in the public eye, and her experience with negative opinion on her surgery-free complexion. </p> <p>The actress turned director - and sister of actor Jason Bateman - was chatting to <em>60 Minutes</em> when she confessed she didn’t know anyone was that interested in her looks until she happened to be googling herself for her book and encountered a popular autofill suggestion. </p> <p>“I needed to google something, and I googled my name Justine Bateman, and an autocomplete came up which said ‘looks old’,” she explained, before adding that it’d taken her aback. </p> <p>After browsing the pictures that the search provided - those Justine believed the internet considered “evidence” - she couldn’t see what it was that they were talking about. Her face was a natural face, not an ‘old’ one. </p> <p>And Justine had one very clear message for anyone who had any different to say - to her, or to anyone else embracing the ageing process - when she said, “I just don’t give a sh*t. I think I look rad, I think my face represents who I am, and I like it.”</p> <p>That isn’t to say Justine has never considered what cosmetic intervention may do for her, with the 57-year-old admitting that she has wondered how she might look - though she’s never followed up on it, too happy with how she’s evolving to risk losing any part of herself. </p> <p>“You can certainly look in the mirror and you can go ‘oh, well, if I just had like a lower face lift, I would get rid of this skin that catches the light, and then I could have that operation where you go in to the eyelid - or you know - take some of the skin out, and this that’s hanging over now over the eyelid, you can get that removed’. Sure, you can do all of that,” she explained. </p> <p>“But even then I would just be like ‘okay, so now I look like this’, and then I would erase … I feel like I would erase not only all my authority that I have now, but also I like feeling that I’m a different person now, than I was when I was 20.</p> <p>“I like looking in the mirror and seeing that evidence.”</p> <p>Many took the opportunity to thank Justine for her words, and her stance during the interview, with some even opening up about their own experiences while commenting on her social media. </p> <p>“It was a powerful share. Ageing in a culture of anti-aging isn’t particularly easy, but it’s heartening to hear from other women who recognise that our worth is not determined by our appearance,” said one. “We’re objectified in our teens and twenties, only to be discarded by society by the time we reach our forties for the ‘crime’ of ageing. Aka staying alive. It’s patriarchal BS and we deserve better. Thank you for your voice.”</p> <p>“Thank you Justine. I just wish your interview segments were longer,” wrote another. “I appreciate you so much for speaking out about this issue and know you will be helping so many women navigate all of the distractions. So much oppressive ageism [is] wrapped up in teaching women to hate and fix their ageing bodies.”</p> <p>“Those lines, wrinkles and grey hairs are details to a rich and storied existence,” someone else declared, “wear them like badges of honour.”</p> <p>And as Justine herself put it, “forget about your face! That is what I’m saying. Get rid of the fear that your face being wrinkled is going to ruin a bunch of opportunities for you.”</p> <p><em>Images: Instagram, Getty, Vimeo, 60 Minutes</em></p>

Beauty & Style

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Murdered schoolgirl’s mum charged with home invasion

<p dir="ltr">The mother of murdered school girl Charlise Mutten has been charged for allegedly breaking into a home in the Blue Mountains. </p> <p dir="ltr">Police will allege Kallista Mutten, 39, accompanied her fiancé Justin Stein with breaking into a home in the Blue Mountains and taking firearms. </p> <p dir="ltr">Stein, 31, is accused of murdering Kallista’s daughter Charlise and is in custody where he maintains his innocence. </p> <p dir="ltr">The nine-year-old schoolgirl was staying with Stein over the summer holidays and was reported missing on January 14. </p> <p dir="ltr">Four days later, her body was found stuffed inside a barrel near the Colo River with a gunshot wound.</p> <p dir="ltr">There is no suggestion that her mother had anything to do with the murder.</p> <p dir="ltr">However, as investigations ensued, police found two firearms and ammunition near where Charlise was brutally murdered. </p> <p dir="ltr">Police are yet to confirm whether or not the firearms were used in Charlise’s murder.</p> <p dir="ltr">Police will further allege that Stein broke into a home in the Blue Mountains and stole the firearms in August last year. </p> <p dir="ltr">In May, police charged Stein with acquiring the two weapons during a home invasion in Mount Wilson.</p> <p dir="ltr">On July 26, police charged Kallista with allegedly accompanying Stein, with the break and entering of the property. </p> <p dir="ltr">“A woman’s been charged over her alleged role in a home invasion that was uncovered as part of ongoing investigations into the alleged murder of a girl in the Blue Mountains earlier this year,” NSW police said in a statement.</p> <p dir="ltr">“A 39-year-old woman attended Campbelltown Police Station on Tuesday where she was charged with aggravated break and enter in company.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: NSW Police/ABC</em></p>

News

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Prince Andrew working on amends following sexual abuse allegations

<p dir="ltr">Prince Andrew is reportedly working on making amends following allegations he sexually abused a teenager. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Duke of York, 62, was accused by Virginia Giuffre, 38, of sexually assaulting her on three occasions when she was 17 at Ghislaine Maxwell's home in London, in Epstein's mansion in New York and on Epstein's private island in the US Virgin Islands.</p> <p dir="ltr">The pair reached an out-of-court settlement of £12 million with Prince Andrew now looking to make amends according to the ​​Archbishop of Canterbury, the Most Reverend Justin Welby. </p> <p dir="ltr">The Archbishop said society has become “very unforgiving” and that we should take a step back and see that the Duke of York is looking to make improvements. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Forgiveness really does matter. I think we have become a very, very unforgiving society. There's a difference between consequences and forgiveness,” Reverend Justin said in an interview on ITV.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I think for all of us, one of the ways that we celebrate when we come together is in learning to be a more open and forgiving society. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Now with Prince Andrew, I think we all have to step back a bit. He's seeking to make amends and I think that's a very good thing. </p> <p dir="ltr">“But you can't tell people how they're supposed to respond about this. And the issues of the past in the area of abuse are so intensely personal and private for so many people. </p> <p dir="ltr">“It's not surprising. There's very deep feelings, indeed.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The Archbishop also defended the Queen’s decision to walk with Prince Andrew at Prince Philip’s memorial service in March, saying she was “fully entitled” to do so.</p> <p dir="ltr">He however received backlash for his comments, forcing him to backtrack and release a statement clarifying what he meant about consequences and forgiveness.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I was asked a question about forgiveness, and I said that there is a difference between consequences and forgiveness,” the statement read. </p> <p dir="ltr">“Both are essential elements of the Christian understanding of justice, mercy and reconciliation.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I also made the broader point that I hope we can become a more forgiving society. These are complex issues that are difficult to address in a short media interview and I hope they do not distract from this week's joyful celebration of Her Majesty The Queen's Platinum Jubilee.”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: Getty </em></p>

Family & Pets

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Why men should always pay on the first date

<p dir="ltr">A break-up lawyer has sparked debate by saying men should always pay for the first date.</p> <p dir="ltr">Justin Lee took to <a href="https://www.tiktok.com/@jleejd/video/7085515338791587078?is_copy_url=1&amp;is_from_webapp=v1&amp;lang=en" target="_blank" rel="noopener">TikTok</a> to explain why men should always pay on the first date - as that person could be the person you are going to marry.</p> <p dir="ltr">He explained that the amount of money the date costs is not the problem, but rather that the person sitting in front of them is blindly allowing a stranger to pay for them without offering.</p> <p dir="ltr">“The issue is when we end up with someone who has this real sense of entitlement, like this expectation that we will pay. That’s why we must always pay,” he begins.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Your date, whoever that is, may very well be the person you end up marrying. And trust me when I say, as a divorce lawyer, who you end up marrying is so, so important.</p> <p dir="ltr">“So let’s say at the end of the date you pull out your wallet and offer your pay and your date just sits there expecting you to pay as if that is the obvious course of action</p> <p dir="ltr">“At that moment, what did you just learn? You learned that the person in front of you is entitled and has the audacity to expect a near stranger to pay for them.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Then imagine how that person could end up treating their significant other, their spouse for a low cost of $20/30 or $40.</p> <p dir="ltr">“You learned that the person in front of you does not have the basic courtesy to pretend to offer to pay and therefore you should never go on another date with them.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The video, which has raked in more than 540,000 views, sparked a debate in the comment section with many saying the men should pay for the first date regardless. </p> <p dir="ltr">“If that man lets you pay on the first date.. ladies…. Imagine what being married to him for the rest of your life will be,” one comment read.</p> <p dir="ltr">“Ladies should really be selective when dating. If he is crying over a $30 date then he isn’t financially stable and shouldn’t be dating,” another person wrote.</p> <p dir="ltr">“That’s fine - someone who invites me out and expects me to offer on *their* invite has zero manners and probably wouldn’t make a great husband,” someone else commented.</p> <p dir="ltr">Justin however had to reiterate his position in the comment section, explaining that many people misunderstood the video and was not gender based.</p> <p dir="ltr">He explained that “The issue is when women perceive the payment as an obligation as opposed to a kind gesture. Entitled vs Appreciative. No one owes anybody anything!”</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: TikTok</em></p>

Relationships

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New messages between Charlise Mutten’s mum and Justin Stein emerge

<p dir="ltr">Messages sent by the mother of Charlise Mutten about her fiancé have emerged as investigations continue into the young girl’s death.</p> <p dir="ltr">Kallista Mutten messaged a friend through Facebook, telling them how she had fallen in love with Justin Stein and that he treated her “so good”.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s amazing and treats me so good,” she told her friend, according to<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.smh.com.au/national/nsw/before-her-daughter-was-allegedly-murdered-kallista-mutten-was-getting-life-on-track-20220121-p59q85.html" target="_blank"><em>The Sydney Morning Herald</em></a>.</p> <p dir="ltr">“He’s completely loyal and I have no worries, I know his heart is with me.”</p> <p dir="ltr">The couple met while Ms Mutten was serving a three-year sentence in prison for causing a car crash that killed her passenger in 2017. She was high on ice at the time of the crash.</p> <p dir="ltr">After exchanging letters for the final two years of her sentence, the pair were engaged shortly after her release. They had plans to move to North Queensland and start their lives together, with Ms Mutten recently getting her driver’s licence after a long suspension.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Mutten also shared her excitement over her daughter coming to visit her at her fiancé’s family property in the NSW Blue Mountains for Christmas.</p> <p dir="ltr">“My daughter comes on the 21st, so I’m looking forward to that,” she wrote on December 5, as reported by the<span> </span><em>Herald</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">One month later, Charlise’s remains were found inside a barrel in bushland by the Colo River, with police alleging that Mr Stein has murdered her at his family’s property.</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Stein has been remanded in Silverwater Prison, while Ms Mutten remains in hospital. Police are yet to have a chance to speak to her but are keen to do so to aid their investigation.</p> <p dir="ltr">The<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10433165/Charlise-Muttens-mother-sent-friends-Facebook-messages-doting-fiance-alleged-murder.html" target="_blank"><em>Daily Mail</em></a><span> </span>reported that Ms Mutten stayed at Sydney Clinic last November - which has treated Andrew O’Keefe, AFL player Ben Cousins, and reality TV star Suzi Taylor - and was housed in the clinic’s substance abuse unit.</p> <p dir="ltr">A fellow patient told the publication that Ms Mutten was visited by Mr Stein during her stay at the clinic, describing her as “over the top” and “very attention seeking”.</p> <p dir="ltr">The patient said Ms Mutten spoke about her upcoming wedding to Mr Stein in 2022 and claimed that she and Mr Stein “had sex in the back of the ute” after one of his visits.</p> <p dir="ltr">Though Sydney Clinic holds three-step group therapy sessions for patients, Ms Mutten’s fellow patients said she seemed uninterested in participating, according to the<span> </span><em>Daily Mail</em>.</p> <p dir="ltr">Ms Mutten was convicted in November 2017 of dangerous driving occasioning death and driving with an illicit substance in her system, serving over two years in prison for the incident that killed her 53-year-old friend and passenger Karen ‘Kaz’ Bunch.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: The Daily Mail</em></p>

News

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"Rot in hell": Charlise Mutten's alleged killer attacked online

<p>A Facebook post from 2020 announcing the engagement of Charlise Mutten's alleged killer, Justin Stein, and her mother, <span>Kallista Mutten, has been inundated with death threats and violent messages. </span><span></span></p> <p><span>After a five-day </span>search for nine-year-old Charlise, NSW Police confirmed the worst when her body was found in a barrel in bushland near the Blue Mountains where she went missing. </p> <p>Shortly after her body was found, Justin Stein was arrested for murder, but major questions still linger about the case. </p> <p>Police have been unable to interview Charlise's mother Kallista, who remains under medical supervision and remains "difficult to approach", according to police. </p> <p>As news of Justin Stein's arrest broke, a Facebook post from December 2020 sharing news of Justin and Kallista's engagement has been flooded with hateful messages, with many telling the 31-year-old man to "rot in hell".</p> <p>The post has attracted over 2,000 comments with people sending death threats and photos of nooses, all while seeking vengeance for the slain nine-year-old girl. </p> <p>One person wrote, <span>“I hope you only know pure hell for the rest of your days!”, while another said, “Monster! Hope you rot in jail.”</span></p> <p><span>Others shared their sadness and </span>disbelief over Charlise's death, with one person saying, <span>“What a broken world! That poor precious girl deserved so much better in this world! Rest easy little one, no one will ever hurt you again.”</span></p> <p>A milestone post announcing the couple's new relationship, which began just one month before their engagement, has attracted a slew of similar comments.</p> <p>Charlise usually lives with her grandmother in the Queensland town of Coolangatta, but was spending time with her mother and step-father over the school holidays. </p> <p><em>Image credits: Facebook</em></p>

News

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Billionaire Justin Hemmes makes tidy profit on Pittwater retreat

<p dir="ltr">Billionaire restaurateur Justin Hemmes has<span> </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.realestate.com.au/news/hotelier-justin-hemmes-sells-his-morning-bay-pittwater-retreat-for-55m/?rsf=syn:news:nca:news:spa:strap" target="_blank">sold</a><span> </span>a slice of his assets for a tidy price, after selling his Sydney waterfront retreat for $5.5 million this week.</p> <p dir="ltr">Set in Pittwater, Hemmes first bought the four-bedroom, two-bathroom home in 2016 for just $2.75 million from its creator, acclaimed theatre production designer and architect Laurence Eastwood.</p> <p dir="ltr">Eastwood built the bushland waterfront house with a vast floating roof, post-and-beam design, and large stainless steel gutters that feed into a 50,000-litre tank, earning himself a number of awards.</p> <p dir="ltr">The house features wide decks at the front and rear of the living area, taking full advantage of the surrounding bush and water views.</p> <p dir="ltr"><a rel="noopener" href="https://monavale.ljhooker.com.au/house-in-newport-nsw-2106-au-2kcsf6k?search=%2fsearch%2fproperty-sold%2fpage-1#.YblzFL1ByUk" target="_blank">LJ Hooker Mona Vale</a><span> </span>agent Lachlan Elder handled the sale off-market, with Hemmes instructing him to “sell it to people who will give it more love”.</p> <p dir="ltr">With the sale of the Pittwater home, it seems that Hemmes is spending more of his time expanding his reach in Narooma, having spent an estimated $30 million in the area.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I love Narooma with a deep passion,” he said recently.</p> <p dir="ltr">He expects Narooma will one day be a strong competitor against Noosa as a getaway paradise.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: @justinhemmes (Instagram), LJ Hooker Mona Vale</em></p>

Real Estate

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Sneak peek inside Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel's mega mansion up for sale

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Star couple Justin Timberlake and Jessica Biel </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dirt.com/gallery/entertainers/musicians/justin-timberlake-house-hollywood-hills-1203428497/justintimb-erlakehouse_hh14/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">have listed</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> their swanky Hollywood Hills home for sale with the eye-watering price tag of $USD 35 million ($AUD 48 million).</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Timberlake first bought the sprawling Los Angeles property from actress Helen Hunt 20 years ago, dropping $USD 8.3 million at the time.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Since then, Biel and Timberlake have undertaken a complete renovation of the 10.2-acre property, with LA designer Estee Stanley designing the new rustic-modern interiors.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Inside, the home includes nine bedrooms and eleven bathrooms, as well as four fireplaces, a master bedroom with its own dressing room and bathroom, a gym, and an indoor cinema.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">An outdoor living area wraps around the outside of the house, offering views of the San Fernando Valley skyline.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The 13,500-square-feet home initially sat on a 3-acre lot, until the pop star acquired a vacant 7-acre lot behind the main residence for extra privacy.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The expanded grounds include a sweeping lawn, an 85-foot swimming pool and plunge pool, a lighted sports court, a vegetable garden, and a guesthouse.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Timberlake and Biel own several other properties across New York City, Nashville, and Montana.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Justin Paul Huchel and Drew Fenton of Hilton &amp; Hyland are the listing agents for the property, with the </span><a rel="noopener" href="https://www.hiltonhyland.com/property/3100-torreyson-pl-los-angeles-ca-90046/" target="_blank"><span style="font-weight: 400;">listing</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> describing the home as a “one of a kind stately residence”.</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Images: @jessicabiel / Instagram, Hilton &amp; Hyland</span></em></p>

Real Estate

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No more Justin Bieber: New rules for Marty Sheargold's return

<p>Marty Sheargold is back after quitting from his gig on<span> </span><em>Kate, Tim and Marty</em><span> </span>last year.</p> <p>Sheargold claimed he no longer found the show “challenging” and went on to become a full-time stand-up community along with setting up his own podcast.</p> <p>He said the podcast set up eventually “couldn’t work out how to make any money out of it.”</p> <p>The radio star returned to his radio star gig not too long after, this time with his own breakfast show on Triple M Melbourne.</p> <p>Four months in, Marty told <em>news.com.au</em>: “I’m really enjoying coming to work and that hasn’t always been the way, but it certainly is now,”</p> <p>“If you can’t get up and about for this kind of opportunity then you shouldn’t be looking for it in the first place.”</p> <p>Marty now hosts<span> </span><em>The Marty Sheargold Show</em><span> </span>by himself, but often has supporting co-hosts to provide banter and good entertainment for fans.</p> <p>“I love that idea of getting the whole team in the studio and that always takes time for people to find their own rhythm naturally, and I think that’s happening now which is great. And it’s great having young people around because you can vicariously live through their lives and still go to bed early,” Marty said.</p> <p>“We’re having genuine fun and I think that’s the most important thing in a team. Content will always look after itself but if you’ve got a great energy and attitude within the group then it’s just a joy to be a part of,” he added.</p> <p>Marty also admitted he loves his new audience at Triple M now.</p> <p>“I don’t have to talk about Justin Bieber anymore, which is good,” he revealed.</p> <p>He also made it clear he will never speak about reality programs on his show as its “lazy”.</p> <p>“When you look at the clock of these (breakfast radio) shows and you give someone from<span> </span><em>MAFS</em><span> </span>half an hour of your show, that’s because<span> </span><em>you</em><span> </span>don’t want to do half and hour of your show,” he said.</p> <p>“It’s awful radio and it should be outlawed. And as a listener you shouldn’t put up with it, you should find somebody that’s not doing that, because it’s patronising to treat the audience that way. Who could give a f**k about a bloke from<span> </span><em>MAFS</em>?”</p> <p>Marty revealed he has rejected a number of offers to appear on reality shows.</p> <p>“All of those reality ones I’ve said no to,” he told news.com.au.</p> <p>“They even wanted me to go and do the<span> </span><em>Dirty Dancing</em><span> </span>show in the US (Channel 7’s<span> </span><em>Real Dirty Dancing</em>). I’m like, ‘You don’t know me at all. Why would you ask me to do that?’ I was quite insulted.</p> <p>“I couldn’t think of anything worse and I made the right decision, it was an awful show.”</p> <p>Marty admitted he turned down a chance to feature on<span> </span><em>I’m A Celebrity … Get Me Out Of Here</em>, saying: “It feels like end of career stuff, that stuff. It doesn’t feel like building a career.</p> <p>“You’re either starting or ending, it shouldn’t be in the middle of your career.”</p>

Music

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Shift work with Justine Tyerman

<p><em><strong>Justine Tyerman can’t wait to return to her unpaid job with two ‘bosses’ who scream at her . . .</strong></em></p> <p>Mid-60s is rather late in life for a couple to start doing shift work but we took to it like proverbial ducks to a millpond.</p> <p>The job description was extremely off-putting but we accepted the challenge with great gusto and enthusiasm. It involved up to 10-hour shifts cleaning up vomit and poo, being splattered with food, saturated with water, frequently screeched at and occasionally scratched.</p> <p>There were also regular wrestling matches involving the application and removal of sanitary items and clothing. Other tasks included daily food preparation for finicky eaters, house cleaning, endless loads of washing, ironing and folding, shopping, sewing, pushing heavy loads up and downhill, singing, dancing, playing and counselling and companionship services.</p> <p>The two youngest ‘bosses’ were the most demanding – regardless of the time of day or night, they wanted their needs met... immediately. If not, they would scream at the top of their lungs until their wishes were granted.</p> <p>One would expect such difficult work to be well-rewarded financially but we were not paid a cent. However, we were overjoyed to provide our services, free of charge, and keen to be engaged again by the same ‘employers’... as soon as possible.</p> <p>As you will have no doubt guessed, the ‘work’ involved helping to care for our grandchildren, Isabel, a newborn, and Francesca aged one year.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840366/2-justine-and-newborn-granddaughter-isabel.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/b12bf1ba6f8844b09b1938cd719270cb" /><br /><em>Justine and newborn granddaughter Isabel.</em></p> <p>The pandemic has kept us apart from our Sydney-based daughters, sons-in-law and their babies for the past year, so except for a visit at the birth of Francesca before the outbreak of Covid-19, we have not had the opportunity to practise our grandparenting skills. We weren’t even sure if Francesca would accept us, or if we were up to the task of doing 10-hour shifts with a toddler when our elder daughter returned to work after a year’s maternity leave. Nor did we have any idea how we’d cope with night shifts if our younger daughter and husband needed help with an unsettled newborn in the small hours of the morning.</p> <p>However, all our fears were completely groundless. Isabel slept well at night and boisterous Francesca loved us from the moment we started playing noisy hide and seek games, doing animal impersonations and singing Wiggles’ songs.</p> <p>She was an exceedingly cheerful and sunny-natured child until it came time to change her nappies or clothes. Then she turned into a feisty wrestler who had perfected the art of the corkscrew. It was a two-man job, one occupying her windmill hands, the other executing a lightning-fast nappy change and getting her into easy-on/off clothes. Gone were any naive ideas of dressing her in the pretty smocked outfits with many buttons I’d made for her mother.</p> <p>Mealtimes were quite a mission. She was a determined self-feeder which resulted in a monumental mess on the floor, herself and any well-meaning grandparent who attempted to streamline the process with a spoon. The trough-like silicone bibs from my young friend, Gisborne-born Emily Spear’s <span><a href="https://www.petiteeats.co.nz/collections/dinnerware">Petite Eats</a></span> range were a godsend, catching at least 50 percent of the food that was dropped.</p> <p>We were able to help with Francesca’s gradual transition to daycare, taking her for increasing time periods over a period of weeks. Being a sociable, adventurous wee soul, she adapted to the stimulating environment with great glee.</p> <p>In the afternoons when we collected her, she would spy us at the door and her little face would light up like sunshine. She’d wave vigorously and come toddling towards us. Talk about heart-melting!</p> <p>She was often tired and played-out by then so we took her for long shady walks in the pushchair until it was time for dinner, bath, stories and bed. By which time her mum or dad were home to take over.</p> <p>Our time with Isabel was radically different. She was such a tiny, wee bundle compared to her robust cousin.</p> <p>To begin with, she obligingly just slept and fed but after a couple of weeks, she ‘woke up’ and began to yell loudly and feed ravenously. She was not the easiest baby to settle, especially late in the day, but she seemed to like my over-the-shoulder burping technique and the rhythmical rocking of the pram.</p> <p>We went for long walks along the Bondi Beach promenade two or three times a day with Isabel in the pram or front pack. It was very therapeutic to get out of the house and into the fresh air when she was fractious.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 300.78125px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840350/1-justine-and-chris-pushing-granddaughter-isabel-in-her-pram-at-bondi-beach.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/f88f2737d14745b4b897b10439bea6e6" /><br /><em>Justine and Chris pushing granddaughter Isabel in her pram at Bondi Beach.</em></p> <p>I found myself gazing at her as she slept, marvelling afresh at the miracle of new life. In the time we were there, she changed from being a sleepy newborn still curled up in a foetal position, to being a lively, alert little human being, kicking vigorously, stretching her little limbs, exercising her healthy lungs and experimenting with a wide range of quizzical facial expressions.</p> <p>The new parents, in their sleep-deprived state, were so appreciative of our help with meals, housework and shopping, and our daughter also welcomed her mum’s companionship and advice during the long hours of breastfeeding.</p> <p>Being able to support them through this momentous, life-changing time brought us closer than ever. It was such a privilege to watch them discover the joys (and trials) of parenthood that no one can really prepare you for.</p> <p>None of this would have been possible without laying the groundwork in advance. Well before we left home, we organised two key components — independent accommodation and transport. Our daughters live in small apartments about 10 minutes’ drive away from each other but now they both have babies, there’s no spare room for guests. Ideally, we wanted to find our own place midway between the two. I knew the cost of a hotel or holiday rental for an extended period over summer in Sydney would be prohibitive so I resorted to my favourite accommodation site, <span><a href="https://www.lovehomeswap.com/homes">Love Home Swap.</a></span> I’ve been a member of this international home swap club for over 10 years and during that time, we’ve stayed in some wonderful private homes all around the world – Santorini, the Swiss Alps, Paris, London, Piha, Wanaka... You pay a membership fee (see footnote below) and then stay free, absolutely free.</p> <p>I searched for properties available in the Edgecliff-Bondi area, sent out a few messages and within hours, I had a positive response from a couple who live near Bondi Beach. We arranged a points swap which meant home-owners David and Imy were not locked in to a simultaneous swap with us with but could use the points or credits to stay in the home of any Love Home Swap member, anywhere, any time. Their scope is mainly limited to Australia at present due to COVID-19 but as soon as border restrictions ease, they will have the choice of thousands of homes in hundreds of countries all around the world.</p> <p><img style="width: 374.8782862706914px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840351/3-chris-cooking-dinner-in-the-well-equipped-kitchen-at-david-and-imys-apartment.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/3ac892bf7df744ed965492930cb49f92" /><br /><em>Chris cooking dinner in the well-equipped kitchen at David and Imy's apartment.</em><br /> <br />David and Imy’s compact two-bedroom, two-bathroom, open-plan apartment worked incredibly well for us. Located on the top floor of a three-storey building in a great neighbourhood with excellent cafes, restaurants, seafood, bakery and fruit shops nearby, the apartment was absolutely immaculate, and equipped with high-quality appliances and everything we needed. Above all, it provided a quiet, tranquil haven for us to escape to at the end of a busy day with the little ones. We enjoyed many a relaxed glass of wine or beer on the balcony overlooking the rugged coastline on the famous Bondi to Coogee walkway, a great track for an early morning or evening run or walk.</p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 300.78125px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840352/5-sunset-from-the-balcony-of-david-and-imys-love-home-swap-apartment-near-bondi-beach.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/46c9f67f3cf94ced9e52970fad53c717" /><br /><em>Sunset from the balcony of David and Imy's Love Home Swap apartment near Bondi Beach.</em></p> <p>Having independent accommodation also allowed our daughters and sons-in-law to have their own space, privacy and time to be together as a family.</p> <p>We met David and Imy before they headed off on a road trip in New South Wales. They left an impressive 40-page guide to the apartment covering everything from security and access to neighbourhood shopping, dining and recreation - the most comprehensive compendium I’ve ever seen. They also left us some superb local wines to sample which was a lovely hospitable touch.</p> <p>Having a secure covered carpark under the apartment building was another huge plus as parking can be a major problem around Bondi... which brings me to my next key component: securing our own means of transport so we were not dependent on family members. We organised a <span><a href="https://www.jucy.com/au/en/cars/">JUCY Rentals</a></span> vehicle before we left home which turned out to be absolutely indispensable. JUCY provides an excellent pick-up/drop-off service at Sydney Airport which was very convenient. Our zippy Toyota Corolla hatchback did umpteen trips to the supermarket, delivered supplies and home-cooked meals to three households, and transported our elder granddaughter to and from daycare in the secure, back-facing car seat that JUCY fitted for us. The vehicle was big enough to accommodate the pushchair and other toddler paraphernalia for trips to the beach and playground but small enough to squeeze into tight parking spaces. Having our own wheels literally enabled us to be in two places as once – one with Isabel and the other with Francesca. We would often swap shifts in the middle of the day to make sure we saw both grandchildren every day.</p> <p><img style="width: 374.8782862706914px; height: 500px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7840353/8-our-zippy-jucy-hatch-back-was-indispensable.png" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/ea017fe08a2e4a5aa026040fd34cc26a" /><br /><em>Our zippy JUCY hatch-back was indispensable.</em></p> <p>After six weeks, we said a tearful farewell and reluctantly returned to New Zealand to enter our compulsory two-week managed isolation period. We spent 14 days in a standard hotel room at The Grand Millennium in Auckland under the ever-watchful eyes of defence force, police and security personnel. We had great plans to do Pilates and yoga together but the room was so small only one of us could exercise at a time. We were comfortable, well-fed, thoroughly Covid-tested and kept safe from infection but two weeks in a room with windows that did not open and just 30 minutes of fresh air and sunshine a day was challenging to say the least.</p> <p>However, it was worth every minute for the joy and fulfilment we discovered as grandparents. It’s given new purpose and meaning in our lives. I just can’t wait to go back to shift work in Sydney. <br /><br /></p> <p><strong><u>Factbox:</u></strong></p> <ul> <li>In preparation for the time when we can again travel freely, check out thousands of <a href="https://www.lovehomeswap.com/homes">Love Home Swap</a> properties all around the world.</li> <li>There is a two-week free trial and then you choose from one of three membership tiers starting at around $NZ20/$AUS18 a month.</li> <li>Have a look-see at what’s available in <a href="https://www.lovehomeswap.com/homes/newzealand">New Zealand, </a><a href="https://www.lovehomeswap.com/homes/Australia">Australia</a> and the <a href="https://www.lovehomeswap.com/homes/Australia"></a><a href="https://www.lovehomeswap.com/homes/cook-islands">Cook Islands</a>.</li> <li>Rent a car or campervan from <a href="https://www.jucy.com/au/en">JUCY Rentals</a> who have been providing reliable and budget-friendly rentals in Australia for over 11 years.</li> </ul>

Domestic Travel

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Meghan Markle asks for urgent court ruling over “breach of privacy”

<p><span>Meghan Markle’s lawyers have asked a judge to settle her lawsuit against a newspaper before it goes to trial.</span><br /><br /><span>The 39-year-old Royal is suing Associated Newspapers for an invasion of privacy and copyright infringement over five articles published in the<em> Mail on Sunday</em> and the <em>MailOnline</em> through February of 2019.</span><br /><br /><span>Her legal team have asked a British judge to rule that the publication released a "deeply personal" letter to her estranged father that was "a plain and a serious breach of her rights of privacy".</span><br /><br /><span>The publications included portions of a handwritten letter to her father, Thomas Markle, after her marriage to Prince Harry in 2018.</span><br /><br /><span>Associated Newspapers is contesting the claim, and a full trial is due to be held in the autumn at the High Court.</span><br /><br /><span>It is set to be one of London's highest-profile civil court showdowns for years.</span><br /><br /><span>The Duchess is seeking a summary judgement that would find in her favour and dismiss the newspaper's defence case.</span><br /><br /><span>Her lawyer, Justin Rushbrooke, has that the publisher has "no real prospect" of winning the case.</span><br /><br /><span>"At its heart, it's a very straightforward case about the unlawful publication of a private letter," he said at the start of a two-day hearing, held remotely because of coronavirus restrictions.</span><br /><br /><span>Rushbrooke said Meghan had an understanding that "a heartfelt plea from an anguished daughter to her father" would remain private.</span><br /><br /><span>Lawyers for the Duchess say Thomas Markle, a retired television cinematographer, caused anguish for Meghan and Harry before their May 2018 wedding.</span><br /><br /><span>He gave multiple media interviews and posed for wedding-preparation shots taken by a paparazzi agency.</span><br /><br /><span>He did not attend the wedding ceremony after suffering a heart attack.</span><br /><br /><span>Rushbrooke said Meghan's letter was "a message of peace" and it’s aim was "to stop him talking to the press."</span><br /><br /><span>He said the Duchess took steps to ensure the five-page, 1,250-word letter would not be intercepted.</span><br /><br /><span>She sent it by FedEx through her accountant to her father's home.</span><br /><br /><span>The letter begged Thomas Markle to stop speaking to the media, saying: "Your actions have broken my heart into a million pieces."</span><br /><br /><span>The last sentences, read out in court, were: "I ask for nothing other than peace. And I wish the same for you."</span><br /><br /><span>Lawyers for Associated Newspapers however have argued that Meghan likely knew the letter would one day be published.</span></p>

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