
Was Virginia Giuffre killed? Inside the troubling trail of Epstein-related 'suicides' that ended with her body being found at home - and why her family are convinced someone 'got to her': TOM LEONARD
From the moment the news broke that the body of Virginia Giuffre had been found at her Australian farmhouse home in Neergabby, north of Perth, last Friday, dark theories started spreading online.
Her family announced that the 41-year-old, who famously accused Jeffrey Epstein of trafficking her as a teenager to have sex with Prince Andrew, had died by suicide.
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Australia's mushroom murder trial
Last week, in a trial followed all over Australia and across the world, Erin Patterson took the stand. She is accused of three counts of murder, and one of attempted murder, allegedly by poisoning her relatives with deadly mushrooms inside four separate dishes of beef wellington. As the Guardian Australia justice and courts reporter Nino Bucci explains, Patterson has always denied the charges. Though she admits the lunch she prepared in July 2023 killed her in-laws – as well as her estranged husband's aunt – she maintains it was a tragic accident. As Michael Safi hears, it is a case that has drawn worldwide attention – from daily news reports to dozens of podcast series – and one that is due to reach a verdict soon.


Daily Mail
5 hours ago
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Controversial Ezra Mam State of Origin selection is slammed by Queensland fans, but now Maroons coach Billy Slater has hit back
Billy Slater has defended picking Ezra Mam for State of Origin just three games after his return from a drug-driving ban, adamant the Brisbane star will add to Queensland 's squad. Mam is expected to be rolled out as 18th man for next Wednesday's must-win clash at Optus Stadium in Perth, after being named in Slater's 20-man squad. The uncapped Maroon will undergo scans on his knee before entering camp on Monday, after copping a knock in the Broncos' win over Gold Coast on Saturday night. Queensland are confident he will be fit to line up, with Slater describing the injury as a 'bump' when he unveiled his squad on Monday morning. But footy fans have erupted on social media, after he was previously banned from the NRL following his car crash while with drugs in his system last year. 'People always say [Reece] Walsh is [a] bad role model for the young kids but then you get Ezra Mam who did what he did and only gets a 9 game suspension & put back into the big league comp games basically straight away,' one fan fumed. QLD ARE LOCKED IN 🚨 Representing the state for #Origin II. — NRL (@NRL) June 8, 2025 Queensland fans were not happy with Mam's selection in the Maroons squad for game two 'IDC [I don't care] how good of a player Ezra Mam can be, I don't think he should be playing for Queensland right now,' posted another. 'Picking Ezra Mam is a disgrace and embarrassment to the game,' another angry fan commented. It was always going to be contentious, with Slater dropping captain Daly Cherry-Evans and picking Tom Dearden to wear the No.7 jersey. But Mam's selection has added to the headlines. The Brisbane five-eighth copped a nine-match ban for crashing a car while driving unlicensed and with drugs in his system last October. Three occupants of the Uber he collided with were injured, including a woman and her young daughter. Mam was fined $120,000 by the NRL and subsequently attended a rehabilitation facility and worked on a job site before returning to pre-season training in January. Slater said he had not had a chance to sense how remorseful Mam was, having only spoken to the 22-year-old on Sunday night to inform him of his selection. 'He's the right person for that position right now,' Slater said. 'I am sure people will have their speculation around all the people selected. That is OK, everyone is entitled to their opinion. 'He has been doing a great job since he returned. We feel the squad will benefit from him being here.' Mam has played three NRL games since his return to the playing arena and was booed repeatedly by the Brookvale Oval crowd in the recent 34-6 loss to Manly. But Slater said there was no question over whether the Indigenous star had done enough to prove his worth to the Maroons squad. 'Have you watched the couple of games back? He has been pretty good, I don't think he has skipped a beat,' Slater said. 'By all reports he has been doing a lot of training through the first half of the year while he was sitting out. 'He has been in this position before and been part of this squad before. I am sure he will take his opportunity if presented.' On one level Mam's inclusion should come as no surprise. After his three-try display in the 2023 grand final he was brought into his first pre-season Maroons camp in February of 2024. Slater then invited him into camp ahead of game one of the 2024 Origin series as a player identified as a potential long-term in Queensland player.


Daily Mail
5 hours ago
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Andrew Bolt demands an investigation into Brittany Higgins' $2.4million payout after she announced her return to the workforce
Andrew Bolt has called for an investigation into Brittany Higgins ' $2.4million compensation payment from the federal government after she got a new job despite being 'diagnosed as medically unfit for any form of employment'. The former Liberal staffer made a compensation claim for damages in March 2022 after alleging she was raped in parliament by her former colleague, Bruce Lehrmann. He has always denied the claims but was found to have raped Ms Higgins on the balance of probabilities by Justice Michael Lee in April last year - a decision Lehrmann is currently appealing. In Ms Higgins' draft statement of claim, first reported by The Australian newspaper, she had been 'diagnosed as medically unfit for any form of employment, and has been given a very poor prognosis for future employment'. The claim suggested she was therefore due over $2.5 million in economic loss for 40 years' of missed earnings. These claims were untested in court given Ms Higgins was awarded the $2.4 million by payout after one day of mediation talks. Now, Sky News host Andrew Bolt has called for a 'hearing' into the decision. 'I feel taxpayers were taken for a ride by both Higgins and by the government. Shouldn't this payout be investigated?' he asked in a column for Newscorp. 'Indeed, it's now nearly two years since Linda Reynolds (former Defence Minister and Ms Higgins' former boss) rightly referred it to Labor's new National Anti-Corruption Commission for investigation. 'It's still deciding what to do, but Reynolds isn't giving up.' A decision in Senator Reynolds' defamation action against Ms Higgins and her husband David Sharaz is expected later this month. The couple were forced to sell their French chateau they bought in 2023 to pay for their legal bills. Despite once claiming not to be able to work again, Ms Higgins last week revealed she is returning to the workforce, joining the same company where her husband is employed. The 30-year-old is now the director of public affairs at the public relations agency Third Hemisphere, the Australian Financial Review first reported. Her appointment came soon after her husband David Sharaz announced in March he had taken on the role of director at the agency. The pair are working from home as they juggle their roles with looking after their son Freddie who was born on March 2. Ms Higgins shared the news of her appointment on Instagram with the caption: 'Your girl is finally back in the workforce!' It is the first full-time job for Ms Higgins since she was a ministerial media adviser and was thrust into the limelight when she made rape claims against Lehrmann. Following the trials, Ms Higgins became an advocate for survivors of sexual assault and has interned at the United Nations and has done work for Queensland's Human Rights Commission. Ms Higgins explained her move to Third Hemisphere came after fostering a connection with the firm's founder and CEO Hannah Moreno. Ms Moreno was also a rape and domestic violence survivor who campaigns for gender equality and fights against sexual harassment. 'There was this general feeling of "how long do I have to be the story for?" At what point do I get to put it to rest... and have my own identity outside this narrative of Brittany Higgins,' Ms Higgins said. 'I also have a brand reputation and I don't want to align myself in a corporate sense with someone that could be doing something untoward. 'I had to join a team that I fundamentally believe in and which believes in the same things that I do.' Ms Higgins said the role would be her first step in following her role models, including Governor-General Samantha Mostyn, Indigenous social activist and business executive Tanya Hosch and business executive Christine Holgate. In her new position, Ms Higgins will work with clients on reputation management and strategic advocacy. She will also handle stakeholder engagement, media relations and public affairs initiatives which create public discussion. Ms Higgins shared the news of her appointment to Instagram on Wednesday with the caption: 'Your girl is finally back in the workforce!' In August 2021, Mr Lehrmann was identified as the Liberal Party staffer accused of raping Ms Higgins inside Parliament House in 2019. Ms Higgins shared her alleged sexual assault ordeal with Channel 10 journalist Lisa Wilkinson in an interview aired on The Project. Lehrmann has always denied the allegations. Lehrmann faced the ACT Supreme Court in late 2022 but the case was dropped after a juror brought outside research into the deliberation room. Another criminal trial did not happen, with prosecutors citing concern for Ms Higgins' mental health. In 2023, Lehrmann launched legal proceedings against Wilkinson and Channel 10, claiming he'd been defamed by The Project episode. The ruling in that lawsuit left Lehrmann's reputation in ruins with Justice Michael Lee finding that, on the balance of probabilities, he raped Ms Higgins. He has appealed the ruling with the case to go before the Federal Court of Australia in August. After quitting her role as Liberal Party media adviser, Ms Higgins worked on short-term contracts at the First Peoples' Assembly of Victoria and the Queensland Human Rights Commission. She also signed a book deal with Penguin Random House in 2021 for a tell-all memoir about her time in Parliament and the moment Lehrmann allegedly raped her. The final 90,000-word autobiography was meant to hit shelves in 2022, but publishers placed it on indefinite hold due to legal issues - namely, because the trial against Mr Lehrmann fell over and he was never convicted. It emerged this week that Mr Lehrmann is working unpaid as a live-in nanny to the children of a close friend as he awaits further trials.