Tradie killed by fallen power line in Randwick, Sydney
A tradie has been killed after he was electrocuted by fallen power lines and went into cardiac arrest on a suburban street.
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- ABC News
Alleged victim defends calling NSW MP Gareth Ward 'love' after alleged sexual assault
A political staffer has told a trial he was "overcompensating" when he referred to former NSW minister Gareth Ward as "love", more than a year after he was allegedly sexually assaulted by Mr Ward. The member for the NSW South Coast seat of Kiama Gareth Ward is standing trial accused of sexually abusing two men, aged 18 and 24, during two separate incidents in 2015 and 2013. Last week the court heard from the 24-year-old man who alleged he was raped by Mr Ward inside the politician's Potts Point apartment in September 2015. At the start of the second week of the trial in the NSW District Court in Sydney, defence barrister David Campbell SC cross-examined the man. He told the court about messages exchanged between the alleged victim and ward in 2016 and 2017. The court heard the complainant sent a text message to the accused in early 2017, in which he referred to the MP as "love". "Why did you use the word 'love?" Mr Campbell asked. "I often use words like 'love' and 'dear' to everyone in my circle … it's just something that I do. It's not love as in physical love," he responded. Mr Campbell told the term was a "form of endearment". "This is not the language used when feeling uncomfortable, or someone who said they had been sexually assaulted without consent," he said. The complainant responded that "they may have been words used by somebody who is overcompensating". The court heard the complainant had only brief encounters with Mr Ward following the alleged assault. The man was also asked about whether he recalled attending a party. "I don't recall," the man responded. "What I want to suggest is it's the sort of occurrence that wouldn't slip from your mind later. Do you have a problem with your memory?" Mr Campbell asked. "I don't think so, this was nine years ago," the man replied. The trial continues.
ABC News
24 minutes ago
- ABC News
Failed senate candidate Raina Cruise has suspended sentence overturned for Adelaide CBD assault
An anti-vaccine protester who assaulted a pregnant police officer and two security guards in October 2021, has been taken into custody after her suspended sentence was overturned on appeal. Raina Cruise, 42, was jailed on Monday after the South Australia's Court of Appeal found there was good reason to set aside the three-year suspended sentence and good behaviour bond handed to her in December last year. Instead, it ordered her to serve an immediate term of imprisonment for three years, nine months and two weeks. She will be eligible to apply for parole in two years. Upon hearing the new sentence, Cruise asked to say goodbye to her family, but was told she could not leave the dock. "See ya darling, keep the plants watered and the dog. Love you," she said to her daughter. Cruise previously pleaded guilty to two counts of aggravated assault and was found guilty of intentionally causing harm to Constable Anthea Beck. The court preciously heard Cruise became aggressive to security guards at a Rundle Street hotel as the two men she was with were ejected from the venue. Cruise and the two men left the venue and were stopped by Constable Beck and another officer who were investigating the assault of the security guards. "During this conversation, a sudden violent altercation ensued between you and Constable Beck, which ultimately led to you grabbing her and dragging her to the ground," Judge Joanne Deuter said. Constable Beck suffered multiple injuries during the altercation, including two patches of her hair being torn from her scalp. In a victim impact statement previously delivered to the court, Constable Beck revealed she had been pregnant at the time of the assault. "When you kicked me, you kicked my baby," she said. There were widespread demands for legislation changes following her initial sentence last year, with the government saying it would consider them. "I think many in the community will be very supportive of the decision to appeal the sentence that was handed down. That appeal will be heard early next year," Attorney-General Kyam Maher said. Outside court on Monday, defence lawyer Nick Vadasz, for Cruise, said his client was shocked by today's outcome.
ABC News
24 minutes ago
- ABC News
Prisoner Michael Rennie at large after fleeing Lotus Glen prison farm on red tractor
A prisoner remains at large after absconding from a prison farm in rural Queensland aboard a stolen tractor. Police believe Michael Graeme Rennie, 43, left Lotus Glen Low Custody Correctional Centre, about 100 kilometres west of Cairns, during a 90-minute window on Sunday. Rennie, serving a sentence of more than six years and three months for serious assault, theft, burglary, drugs, weapons and driving offences, was last seen at 10:20am on Sunday. At the time he was working at the prison farm driving a red Massey Ferguson tractor. By midday, when a head count was conducted, Rennie was gone, police said. "There have obviously been prisoners abscond from the correctional centre there in the past but I don't think anyone has left on a tractor before, " Detective Inspector Jason Chetham said. "We certainly think he's likely to have left on it. "We don't have specific concerns about what he might do in the community, not targeting anyone, but we certainly ask people not to approach him and to call us immediately if they have any information." Detective Inspector Chetham said there had been "a number of sightings" of the tractor "but nothing is confirmed at this point in time". Rennie was from far north Queensland and "doesn't have far to go to get to family", Detective Inspector Chetham said. "We're looking at all his antecedents and who he might be keen to contact or attempt to contact," he said. The Lotus Glen prison farm is part of a correctional centre located between the agricultural service towns of Mareeba and Atherton. The low security facility is one of six prison farms in Queensland and accommodates 134 prisoners. Prisoners undertake training programs at the farm to develop skills to help them find work once they are released. Detective Inspector Chetham said he did not know the tractor's maximum speed but said it would not "turn a lot of heads" if seen on the road in the Atherton Tablelands. Detective Inspector Chetham said police could call in its air wing to help find Rennie, although he declined to go into specifics of the search. He also declined to comment on security arrangements and prisoner classification at the prison farm. "They're not familiar to me and I'm not part of that department so that's probably a question for Corrective Services to answer," Detective Inspector Chetham said. Queensland Corrective Services has been contacted for comment. In February 2023, a 28-year-old man serving a two-year sentence absconded from the Lotus Glen prison farm. He was arrested more than three days later. There were also previous instances of prisoners escaping in 2020 and 2022.
