Train driver minimum age to be lowered to 18 in UK
United Kingdom correspondent Alice Wilkins spoke to Lisa Owen about a tariff deal between the UK and the United States, how criminals in the UK could face sanctions for refusing to attend court for their sentencing and how train drivers in the UK could soon be teenagers.
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Australian man jailed for sexual abuse that led daughter to develop multiple personalities
The child abuse trial heard from multiple personalities. Photo: ABC News/Sharon Gordon A Newcastle man, whose sexual abuse of his children led to one developing dissociative identity disorder (DID), has been sentenced to 21 years in jail. In December, a Newcastle District Court jury found the man, who can only be named as SN, guilty of the child sexual abuse of siblings, known to the court as LN and AB. During a five-week trial LN, who has been diagnosed with DID, was sworn in as separate identities, known as alters. She gave evidence as a woman in her 30s, a five-year-old child and a 13-year-old girl. She called her identities "system members", created in response to severe, prolonged trauma. The jury accepted LN's DID diagnosis and found SN guilty of 23 charges involving child sexual abuse. LN today condemned her father in a victim impact statement, describing a life of horror and isolation. "The whole scenario seems like the blurb on the back of a book," she said. "It is a book of horror though and not one I would choose to read." LN said each of her "system members" had suffered. "I don't think our experiences can ever be put into words by me for the suffering our system holds in different ways," she said. "I don't feel words can cover the profound and enduring suffering we have been left with." Newcastle District Court heard LN created alters to survive alleged abuse by her father, spanning several years. Photo: ABC News/Michael Parfitt LN today also paid tribute to other alters who did not speak during the trial. "I hope what I say also gives a nod to system members who cannot openly communicate at this time," she said. After giving a victim impact statement today as herself, LN switched to her 13-year-old alter. Her voice changed pitch, she sobbed and paused, her vocabulary filled with attitude and slang. "I used to be happy. I did used to be happy, you know. I am not happy no more. "I can't do it no more, I don't want to be touched no more. "You took away everything that made me happy. "You just keep lying and you don't even say sorry." She ended firmly and abruptly. "I am done … that's all you got." In sentencing, Judge Ian Bourke said the father's behaviour was depraved and not "isolated aberrations". "All of the offences involved a grave breach of trust and authority, given that the offender was their father," the judge said. "It has been said that sex abuse by a father of their own child involves a breach of trust of the highest order. District Court Judge Ian Bourke presided over the trial where the same witness was sworn in under different personalities. Photo: ABC News "All of the offences occurred in a location that was the victim's home, where she was entitled to feel safe. "I have no doubt the offender had actual knowledge his sexual acts with LN were without her consent." Justice Bourke said both children were subjected to intimidation, physical and emotional abuse, and isolation. He also referred to alleged offending in Western Australia and Queensland saying "proceedings are either on foot or maybe commenced" in those states. The case was the first of its kind in Australia. There was a case in 2019 involving a woman given permission to give evidence as different personalities against her father, but no alters were sworn in after her father pleaded guilty mid-trial. That woman delivered victim impact statements as different alters - a different process to giving evidence. During the trial of SN, LN told the court she had at least 22 alternate identities and there could be more. SN has maintained his innocence. Their father will be eligible for release in 2038. - ABC
RNZ News
6 hours ago
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Parliament debates punishment for Te Pati Maori MPs
te ao Maori politics 20 minutes ago Parliament has been debating the proposed punishment for Te Pati Maori MPs who stood in front of ACT MPs and performed a haka in protest of the Treaty Principles Bill during its first reading. The proposed suspension is 21 days for the co-leaders, and 7 days for Hana-Rawhiti Maipi-Clarke. Last month's debate was cut short and delayed when Chris Bishop moved to postpone it until after the Budget. Political reporter Lillian Hanly spoke to Lisa Owen.
RNZ News
7 hours ago
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Legal expert weighs in on Michael Forbes allegations
crime politics 27 minutes ago The Prime Minister has ordered a review of vetting processes for parliamentary staff after his Deputy chief press secretary quit following allegations he recorded intimate audio of sessions with sex workers and was in possession of intrusive photos of women. Dozens of photos and footage were found on the staffers phone and some appear to have been recorded in public places and shot through windows at night. The police investigated a complaint in July last year and spoke to Michael Forbes, but said the case was filed because it didnt meet the threshold for criminal prosecution. So what are laws and do they go far enough to protect victims? Senior lecturer in law at AUT Paulette Benton-Greig spoke to Lisa Owen.
