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Introducing the case of the croc wrangler

Introducing the case of the croc wrangler

It's the trial everyone in Darwin is talking about. In February 2022 a helicopter on a crocodile egg collection mission crashed in remote Arnhem Land, killing the egg collector and paralysing the pilot.
NT Croc Wrangler Matt Wright isn't on trial for the crash, but for what allegedly he did after. Charged with attempting to pervert the course of justice, prosecutors say he tried to interfere with the investigation. Wright, has pled not guilty and denies all the allegations.
In this first episode of The Case Of, NT Court Reporter Olivana Lathouris and Stephen Stockwell talk you through what happened in 2022, the specifics of the charges against Matt Wright and what makes this crash so tragic.
The Case Of is the follow-up to the hit podcast Mushroom Case Daily, and all episodes of that show will remain available in the back catalogue of The Case Of.
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Central Coast councillor, husband charged with assault over Wamberal Beach dispute
Central Coast councillor, husband charged with assault over Wamberal Beach dispute

ABC News

time28 minutes ago

  • ABC News

Central Coast councillor, husband charged with assault over Wamberal Beach dispute

A Central Coast councillor and her husband have been charged with assault following an alleged confrontation with a home owner undertaking unauthorised works on Wamberal Beach to protect his property from coastal erosion. Councillor Corinne Lamont and Mark Lamont, who lead the community group Wamberal Beach Save our Sand, are facing one count each of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray. The pair vocally opposes a proposal from beachfront residents for the construction of a seawall to address coastal erosion. It is alleged they clashed with Warren Hughes, a beachfront home owner, on Tuesday afternoon, while filming construction work he had ordered to reinforce his property. They were charged and granted conditional bail on Wednesday and are due to face court next month. In a statement, the Lamonts said, "We look forward to our day in court. "We are innocent victims of a prolonged violent assault on the beach by a group of men. "Violence has no place in Wamberal. No violence, no seawall." Mr Hughes declined to comment to the ABC. Acting Central Coast Mayor Doug Eaton described the situation as "distressing and quite concerning". "My personal view is she [Corinne Lamont] should stand aside pending the outcome of the charges," he said. Cr Eaton has asked the council to refer the matter to the Office of Local Government to determine whether there has been a breach of the councillor code of conduct. He said he understood residents were frustrated by the lack of action to deliver a solution for Wamberal Beach. "We've had too much talk and no action," Cr Eaton said. "It is bureaucratic inertia. It's a bureaucratic nightmare. "The Reconstruction Authority has taken over as the authority for authorising any works and in my opinion, they haven't adequately discharged that duty." Last month, Recovery Minister Janelle Saffin signed off on interim protection works to address erosion at another Central Coast beach, The Entrance North. She said she was waiting for Central Coast Council to submit a scope of works to clear the way for the same permission at Wamberal. "What I did as Minister for Recovery was give the community, through the council, a way through to protect their properties at The Entrance North and it's exactly the same with Wamberal when council puts that scope of works up to us," Ms Saffin said. However, in a statement, Central Coast Council said: "Only a terminal protective structure correctly designed in accordance with council's engineering design requirements can provide an acceptable level of further risk reduction." The ABC understands residents have been told they will not receive the same permission granted to their neighbours at The Entrance North. Central Coast Council has issued two stop work orders after unauthorised works were undertaken on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. Council officers are applying for an injunction in the Land and Environment Court to stop further unauthorised works occurring on Wamberal Beach.

Former Genius Childcare boss Darren Misquitta pleads guilty to dealing with suspected proceeds of crime
Former Genius Childcare boss Darren Misquitta pleads guilty to dealing with suspected proceeds of crime

ABC News

time28 minutes ago

  • ABC News

Former Genius Childcare boss Darren Misquitta pleads guilty to dealing with suspected proceeds of crime

Fallen childcare magnate Darren Misquitta has pleaded guilty to receiving $120,000 in suspected proceeds of crime from a business associate. On Thursday, the former Genius Childcare boss was fined $4,000 at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court after admitting the money, which he received in 2019, came from a loan drawdown obtained through forgery. Magistrate Patrick Allen did not record a conviction. It comes amid investigations into Genius by administrators who have referred Mr Misquitta to the corporate watchdog over the collapse of the group, which owes creditors more than $80 million, and lawsuits alleging the childcare empire failed to pay workers properly. Court documents show Mr Misquitta received the $120,000 from Lubna Matta, who serves on the board of another large childcare operator where Mr Misquitta is a shareholder, the ASX-listed Mayfield Childcare. 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On February 27, 2019, the bank received a drawdown request asking that $300,000 of the loan be sent to Ms Matta's account. The money was transferred and in April, Ms Matta went on to send $120,000 from her account to Mr Misquitta. But Ms Matta's sister's signatures on the form bore "no similarities to her actual signature and have since been identified as forgeries", police said in a statement. "Based on the allegedly false signature it is alleged that the $300,000 was paid into the account of Ms [Matta], of which the accused was paid $120,000, is reasonably suspected as being the proceeds of crime," police said. At hearings this week it was not alleged that either Mr Misquitta or Ms Matta forged the signatures used to obtain the money. But the police statement said he had "dealt with those funds by way of the funds being transferred to his account and the charge is made out". Ms Matta has been on and off the board of Mayfield Childcare, where Mr Misquitta has been locked in a bitter battle for control with other shareholders including Liberal Party figure Michael Kroger. She was appointed to the board in December 2021 as part of an agreement where Mayfield bought 14 childcare centres from Genius. She was a director of Mayfield, which runs 45 centres, until September 2023, when she resigned citing "external professional commitments". But in January this year she was appointed an executive director while the embattled company was between CEOs. She stepped down from that role in July but remains on the board. Mayfield chair Roseanne Healy told the ABC that Ms Matta's criminal case "had not been disclosed to the company". "As a result, the company have commenced an investigation into the matter," she said. She said Mayfield operated under strict governance frameworks and has transparent reporting and accountability measures in place. "As such, we do not condone criminal behaviour of any kind," she said. Mr Misquitta's main business for the past few years has been Genius. At its height, Genius ran more than two dozen childcare centres in Queensland, New South Wales, the ACT, Victoria and Western Australia, and was developing 17 more, while Mr Misquitta lived in a historic Toorak mansion. But in March two key companies in the group collapsed owing more than $80 million, handing control of 25 centres over to administrators. Mr Misquitta declared himself bankrupt late last month following the collapse of his childcare empire. On Monday, his barrister, Sam Tovey, told the court Mr Misquitta does not have a job, his marriage has broken down and he has moved to the Gold Coast. "At the present time he's able to support himself," Mr Tovey told the court. "He's got outstanding issues with his businesses that are going to have to be dealt with." 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Norwegian diving duo jailed over foiled 80kg cocaine smuggling plot
Norwegian diving duo jailed over foiled 80kg cocaine smuggling plot

News.com.au

timean hour ago

  • News.com.au

Norwegian diving duo jailed over foiled 80kg cocaine smuggling plot

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