‘I still have trouble sleeping': The impact of ‘relentless' online defamation
Whittington, a self-styled child recovery expert, was at the heart of a bungled 60 Minutes attempt to reunite two Australian children with their mother that led to the crew spending two weeks in a Beirut prison. He undertook a years-long online campaign that characterised Newman as variously sympathetic to paedophiles, a fraudster and misrepresenting her qualifications.
60 Minutes is broadcast by Nine, owner of this masthead.
'The harassment began in 2019, and as of the 13th February, he hasn't stopped,' she told the Herald, speaking for the first time after the NSW Supreme Court in March concluded Whittington must pay more than $300,000 in aggravated damages and costs for the six years of inflammatory posts that spanned Facebook, Twitter and WordPress.
Newman came to Whittington's attention when she wrote a book about international family-child abduction cases, including what she called 'the Lebanon debacle', drawing on her expertise in mediating family conflicts.
'The purpose was to bring attention to these kinds of matters and the complex nature of intercultural marriages and difficulties of different jurisdictions in parenting matters,' she said.
When Whittington learnt of the book, his response was swift and brutal.
'He called me a paedophile sympathiser, a fraudster, a scammer,' she said. None of these allegations are true.
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Perth Now
an hour ago
- Perth Now
Judge ruled to split Patterson trial to avoid prejudice
Triple murderer Erin Patterson would have been unfairly prejudiced if a jury heard allegations she tried to kill her ex-husband in the years before a deadly mushroom lunch. Victorian Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale made the decision on March 14, ruling Patterson would have to face a separate trial for the three attempted murder offences. Prosecutors ultimately dropped the charges in relation to Simon Patterson just before the triple-murder trial started in Morwell. Patterson was on July 7 found guilty of killing Simon's parents, Don and Gail, 70, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66, along with the attempted murder of her husband Ian Wilkinson. Justice Beale's redacted pre-trial rulings were released to media on Monday evening after Patterson lost her bid to keep the evidence a secret to preserve her appeal rights. The details around the alleged attempted murders of Simon Patterson were revealed for the first time on Friday. Prosecutors had alleged Patterson tried to poison Simon several times between 2021 and 2022. The first was a penne pasta Patterson cooked him before leaving for a camping trip in November 2021, which led to a five-day hospital stay for Simon. He also ended up in a coma after a camping trip in late May 2022 where he allegedly ate a chicken korma curry Patterson had made him. Simon had to undergo surgery to remove a large portion of his bowel after eating the curry, he told the Supreme Court during pre-trial hearings. It was also alleged he fell ill in September 2022 after eating a wrap Patterson prepared for him while camping together at Wilsons Promontory. The prosecution claimed the allegations could be used as coincidence evidence to show the similarities between what allegedly happened to Simon and the mushroom lunch guests. But Justice Beale ruled the charges should be heard in a separate trial to prevent jurors from "misusing or overvaluing" the evidence in relation to Simon. He determined if a jury found Patterson had deliberately poisoned her four lunch guests in July 2023, there was a risk they would wrongly assess the charges relating to Simon. "I am not persuaded that its probative value substantially outweighs the significant danger or risk of unfair prejudice to the accused," Justice Beale said in his written reasons. The judge also made pre-trial rulings in relation to documents about poisoning found on devices police seized from Patterson's home. Justice Beale ruled the documents failed the relevance test because the evidence could only go as high as Patterson possibly accessed the file. The judge also stopped the jury from seeing a Facebook post Patterson made to a poisons page, where she claimed her cat had chewed on a mushroom and was vomiting. Justice Beale noted the post was made 18 months before the first allegation in relation to Simon. "In my view, even if the evidence of this post shows an interest in poisons, it is temporally remote," the judge said in his reasons. Patterson will face a two-day pre-sentence hearing later in August, during which she will listen to statements from the Pattersons and Wilkinsons. She will have 28 days to appeal after she is sentenced.
The Advertiser
an hour ago
- The Advertiser
Judge ruled to split Patterson trial to avoid prejudice
Triple murderer Erin Patterson would have been unfairly prejudiced if a jury heard allegations she tried to kill her ex-husband in the years before a deadly mushroom lunch. Victorian Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale made the decision on March 14, ruling Patterson would have to face a separate trial for the three attempted murder offences. Prosecutors ultimately dropped the charges in relation to Simon Patterson just before the triple-murder trial started in Morwell. Patterson was on July 7 found guilty of killing Simon's parents, Don and Gail, 70, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66, along with the attempted murder of her husband Ian Wilkinson. Justice Beale's redacted pre-trial rulings were released to media on Monday evening after Patterson lost her bid to keep the evidence a secret to preserve her appeal rights. The details around the alleged attempted murders of Simon Patterson were revealed for the first time on Friday. Prosecutors had alleged Patterson tried to poison Simon several times between 2021 and 2022. The first was a penne pasta Patterson cooked him before leaving for a camping trip in November 2021, which led to a five-day hospital stay for Simon. He also ended up in a coma after a camping trip in late May 2022 where he allegedly ate a chicken korma curry Patterson had made him. Simon had to undergo surgery to remove a large portion of his bowel after eating the curry, he told the Supreme Court during pre-trial hearings. It was also alleged he fell ill in September 2022 after eating a wrap Patterson prepared for him while camping together at Wilsons Promontory. The prosecution claimed the allegations could be used as coincidence evidence to show the similarities between what allegedly happened to Simon and the mushroom lunch guests. But Justice Beale ruled the charges should be heard in a separate trial to prevent jurors from "misusing or overvaluing" the evidence in relation to Simon. He determined if a jury found Patterson had deliberately poisoned her four lunch guests in July 2023, there was a risk they would wrongly assess the charges relating to Simon. "I am not persuaded that its probative value substantially outweighs the significant danger or risk of unfair prejudice to the accused," Justice Beale said in his written reasons. The judge also made pre-trial rulings in relation to documents about poisoning found on devices police seized from Patterson's home. Justice Beale ruled the documents failed the relevance test because the evidence could only go as high as Patterson possibly accessed the file. The judge also stopped the jury from seeing a Facebook post Patterson made to a poisons page, where she claimed her cat had chewed on a mushroom and was vomiting. Justice Beale noted the post was made 18 months before the first allegation in relation to Simon. "In my view, even if the evidence of this post shows an interest in poisons, it is temporally remote," the judge said in his reasons. Patterson will face a two-day pre-sentence hearing later in August, during which she will listen to statements from the Pattersons and Wilkinsons. She will have 28 days to appeal after she is sentenced. Triple murderer Erin Patterson would have been unfairly prejudiced if a jury heard allegations she tried to kill her ex-husband in the years before a deadly mushroom lunch. Victorian Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale made the decision on March 14, ruling Patterson would have to face a separate trial for the three attempted murder offences. Prosecutors ultimately dropped the charges in relation to Simon Patterson just before the triple-murder trial started in Morwell. Patterson was on July 7 found guilty of killing Simon's parents, Don and Gail, 70, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66, along with the attempted murder of her husband Ian Wilkinson. Justice Beale's redacted pre-trial rulings were released to media on Monday evening after Patterson lost her bid to keep the evidence a secret to preserve her appeal rights. The details around the alleged attempted murders of Simon Patterson were revealed for the first time on Friday. Prosecutors had alleged Patterson tried to poison Simon several times between 2021 and 2022. The first was a penne pasta Patterson cooked him before leaving for a camping trip in November 2021, which led to a five-day hospital stay for Simon. He also ended up in a coma after a camping trip in late May 2022 where he allegedly ate a chicken korma curry Patterson had made him. Simon had to undergo surgery to remove a large portion of his bowel after eating the curry, he told the Supreme Court during pre-trial hearings. It was also alleged he fell ill in September 2022 after eating a wrap Patterson prepared for him while camping together at Wilsons Promontory. The prosecution claimed the allegations could be used as coincidence evidence to show the similarities between what allegedly happened to Simon and the mushroom lunch guests. But Justice Beale ruled the charges should be heard in a separate trial to prevent jurors from "misusing or overvaluing" the evidence in relation to Simon. He determined if a jury found Patterson had deliberately poisoned her four lunch guests in July 2023, there was a risk they would wrongly assess the charges relating to Simon. "I am not persuaded that its probative value substantially outweighs the significant danger or risk of unfair prejudice to the accused," Justice Beale said in his written reasons. The judge also made pre-trial rulings in relation to documents about poisoning found on devices police seized from Patterson's home. Justice Beale ruled the documents failed the relevance test because the evidence could only go as high as Patterson possibly accessed the file. The judge also stopped the jury from seeing a Facebook post Patterson made to a poisons page, where she claimed her cat had chewed on a mushroom and was vomiting. Justice Beale noted the post was made 18 months before the first allegation in relation to Simon. "In my view, even if the evidence of this post shows an interest in poisons, it is temporally remote," the judge said in his reasons. Patterson will face a two-day pre-sentence hearing later in August, during which she will listen to statements from the Pattersons and Wilkinsons. She will have 28 days to appeal after she is sentenced. Triple murderer Erin Patterson would have been unfairly prejudiced if a jury heard allegations she tried to kill her ex-husband in the years before a deadly mushroom lunch. Victorian Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale made the decision on March 14, ruling Patterson would have to face a separate trial for the three attempted murder offences. Prosecutors ultimately dropped the charges in relation to Simon Patterson just before the triple-murder trial started in Morwell. Patterson was on July 7 found guilty of killing Simon's parents, Don and Gail, 70, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66, along with the attempted murder of her husband Ian Wilkinson. Justice Beale's redacted pre-trial rulings were released to media on Monday evening after Patterson lost her bid to keep the evidence a secret to preserve her appeal rights. The details around the alleged attempted murders of Simon Patterson were revealed for the first time on Friday. Prosecutors had alleged Patterson tried to poison Simon several times between 2021 and 2022. The first was a penne pasta Patterson cooked him before leaving for a camping trip in November 2021, which led to a five-day hospital stay for Simon. He also ended up in a coma after a camping trip in late May 2022 where he allegedly ate a chicken korma curry Patterson had made him. Simon had to undergo surgery to remove a large portion of his bowel after eating the curry, he told the Supreme Court during pre-trial hearings. It was also alleged he fell ill in September 2022 after eating a wrap Patterson prepared for him while camping together at Wilsons Promontory. The prosecution claimed the allegations could be used as coincidence evidence to show the similarities between what allegedly happened to Simon and the mushroom lunch guests. But Justice Beale ruled the charges should be heard in a separate trial to prevent jurors from "misusing or overvaluing" the evidence in relation to Simon. He determined if a jury found Patterson had deliberately poisoned her four lunch guests in July 2023, there was a risk they would wrongly assess the charges relating to Simon. "I am not persuaded that its probative value substantially outweighs the significant danger or risk of unfair prejudice to the accused," Justice Beale said in his written reasons. The judge also made pre-trial rulings in relation to documents about poisoning found on devices police seized from Patterson's home. Justice Beale ruled the documents failed the relevance test because the evidence could only go as high as Patterson possibly accessed the file. The judge also stopped the jury from seeing a Facebook post Patterson made to a poisons page, where she claimed her cat had chewed on a mushroom and was vomiting. Justice Beale noted the post was made 18 months before the first allegation in relation to Simon. "In my view, even if the evidence of this post shows an interest in poisons, it is temporally remote," the judge said in his reasons. Patterson will face a two-day pre-sentence hearing later in August, during which she will listen to statements from the Pattersons and Wilkinsons. She will have 28 days to appeal after she is sentenced. Triple murderer Erin Patterson would have been unfairly prejudiced if a jury heard allegations she tried to kill her ex-husband in the years before a deadly mushroom lunch. Victorian Supreme Court Justice Christopher Beale made the decision on March 14, ruling Patterson would have to face a separate trial for the three attempted murder offences. Prosecutors ultimately dropped the charges in relation to Simon Patterson just before the triple-murder trial started in Morwell. Patterson was on July 7 found guilty of killing Simon's parents, Don and Gail, 70, and his aunt Heather Wilkinson, 66, along with the attempted murder of her husband Ian Wilkinson. Justice Beale's redacted pre-trial rulings were released to media on Monday evening after Patterson lost her bid to keep the evidence a secret to preserve her appeal rights. The details around the alleged attempted murders of Simon Patterson were revealed for the first time on Friday. Prosecutors had alleged Patterson tried to poison Simon several times between 2021 and 2022. The first was a penne pasta Patterson cooked him before leaving for a camping trip in November 2021, which led to a five-day hospital stay for Simon. He also ended up in a coma after a camping trip in late May 2022 where he allegedly ate a chicken korma curry Patterson had made him. Simon had to undergo surgery to remove a large portion of his bowel after eating the curry, he told the Supreme Court during pre-trial hearings. It was also alleged he fell ill in September 2022 after eating a wrap Patterson prepared for him while camping together at Wilsons Promontory. The prosecution claimed the allegations could be used as coincidence evidence to show the similarities between what allegedly happened to Simon and the mushroom lunch guests. But Justice Beale ruled the charges should be heard in a separate trial to prevent jurors from "misusing or overvaluing" the evidence in relation to Simon. He determined if a jury found Patterson had deliberately poisoned her four lunch guests in July 2023, there was a risk they would wrongly assess the charges relating to Simon. "I am not persuaded that its probative value substantially outweighs the significant danger or risk of unfair prejudice to the accused," Justice Beale said in his written reasons. The judge also made pre-trial rulings in relation to documents about poisoning found on devices police seized from Patterson's home. Justice Beale ruled the documents failed the relevance test because the evidence could only go as high as Patterson possibly accessed the file. The judge also stopped the jury from seeing a Facebook post Patterson made to a poisons page, where she claimed her cat had chewed on a mushroom and was vomiting. Justice Beale noted the post was made 18 months before the first allegation in relation to Simon. "In my view, even if the evidence of this post shows an interest in poisons, it is temporally remote," the judge said in his reasons. Patterson will face a two-day pre-sentence hearing later in August, during which she will listen to statements from the Pattersons and Wilkinsons. She will have 28 days to appeal after she is sentenced.
Sky News AU
2 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Court documents allege that Chinese national accused of spying was living a life of luxury prior to charges
Court documents have alleged a Chinese national accused of spying on behalf of the Chinese government was living a life of luxury while carrying out a foreign interference operation. The woman, who has not been identified, was charged with reckless foreign interference last Monday by the Australian Federal Police, who alleged she was tasked to spy on a Buddhist religious organization operating in Australia. According to court documents seen by the ACT Supreme Court, police have alleged the woman had 'unexplained wealth' - including cash, luxury handbags and a receipt for a $24,000 Rolex watch. Police have alleged the unnamed woman was part of numerous covert operations in Australia, and intended to infiltrate the religious group Guan Yin Citta Dharma Door - which is banned in China but is freely allowed to practice in Australia. The group is a branch of Buddhism, founded in Australia by the late Chinese Australian Lu Junhong. The documents allege the woman was tasked with taking images of locations of the group's chapters nationally, collecting details about the leaders, and passing on images of front doors of businesses. In the documents police said they remain concerned about other victims and suggested there may be other "persons of interest". The case, which is before the ACT Courts, comes after ASIO director Mike Burgess revealed this month the cost of foreign espionage to Australia. "Nation states are spying at unprecedented levels, with unprecedented sophistication," he said. "ASIO is seeing more Australians targeted — more aggressively — than ever before. 'In recent years, for example, defence employees travelling overseas have been subjected to covert room searches, been approached at conferences by spies in disguise and given gifts containing surveillance devices." The woman will be back in court in September.
