Mushroom poisoning accused cries as daughter gives evidence
Erin Patterson, the Australian woman accused of poisoning her husband's parents and aunt by serving a lunch laced with deadly mushrooms, broke down in tears as her nine-year-old daughter described events surrounding the meal that is suspected of killing three guests.
Clutching a tissue, Patterson watched a video of her daughter, sitting on a green armchair with some coloured pencils, being interviewed by a police officer. Her daughter said she did not know why she was being interviewed, before saying she thought it must be about the lunch at her mother's house.
'What did your mum make for lunch?' a police officer asked. 'Um, I don't know exactly what they had,' she replied, explaining that she and her older brother ate some of the leftovers
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Reuters
2 hours ago
- Reuters
Australian Olympian suspended after video of horse whipping emerges
SYDNEY, June 13 (Reuters) - Dressage rider Heath Ryan, who competed for Australia at the 2008 Olympics, has been suspended by Equestrian Australia after video of him whipping a horse during training was posted on social media. In echoes of the incident that resulted in six-times Olympic medallist Charlotte Dujardin being barred from the Paris Games last year, the two-year-old video showed Ryan whipping the horse repeatedly. "Equestrian Australia is extremely alarmed and concerned by the treatment of the horse shown in this footage," the governing body said in a statement. "Equestrian Australia has imposed a provisional suspension of this person's membership (which) means they may take no part in competitions or events as competitor or Official or in the organisation of, or participation in, any event under (our) jurisdiction." The 66-year-old rider will remain suspended until an investigation into the video is completed, Equestrian Australia added. Ryan released a lengthy statement on social media defending his actions, saying he had saved the six-year-old horse from being destroyed after it had attacked its owner. "The most awful video of me on a young horse has just surfaced. This horse was dropped off at my place on his way to the knackery," he wrote. "I felt obliged to the horse to just have a look and see if it was possibly salvageable. Well did I get a shock and so the video. I have never ridden anything like it. I am so sad this was caught on video." Ryan said the video had been placed online by an "unhappy ex-employee" and posted another which he said showed the horse thriving in a new home. "If you think I did that flippantly you are wrong. I hated reaching out in those moments to (it) and asking the hard questions," he added. "All I can say is that this awful video was collateral damage of me from the bottom of my heart launching a rescue mission." After last year's Dujardin ban, the global governing body for showjumping and dressage pledged it would be uncompromising in enforcing animal welfare. "Equestrian Australia takes matters of animal welfare very seriously," the local governing body added in its statement.
Telegraph
2 hours ago
- Telegraph
Rioters attack police on fourth night of Northern Ireland unrest
Rioters attacked police with missiles on the fourth night of unrest in Northern Ireland. Masked youths in Portadown, County Armagh, launched masonry at riot police as a week of disorder continued. The unrest came despite Northern Ireland's police chief vowing to arrest and prosecute the 'bigots and racists' behind the violence. A total of 41 police officers have been injured in the riots and the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has made 15 arrests so far. Chief Constable Jon Boutcher said on Thursday that the girl whose alleged attempted rape triggered the riots had been 'traumatised' by the violence. 'This girl's family and this girl want it to end,' he said. 'Our communities want it to end. We need it to end. So please don't come out on the streets tonight. If you do, we will police you and we will deal with you through the criminal justice system.' He said foreign families had been forced to hide in attics and wardrobes in their homes in Ballymena as rioters went on the rampage on Monday. Thursday's disorder appeared less intense than earlier in the week. There was no repeat of unrest in Ballymena for the first time since the riots started in the County Antrim town on Monday. Police said a separate protest in east Belfast also ended early in the evening. The PSNI has drafted in 80 officers from Scotland to assist in its crackdown on the riots. Earlier, a judge said the courts would deal 'robustly' with those involved in the violence in Ballymena. District Judge Nigel Broderick said that young people who got involved were risking a significant custodial sentence, as three teenagers faced rioting charges at the town's magistrates' court on Thursday. Michael Elliot, 18, of Lanntara, Ballymena, and two youths, were the first defendants to appear in court since the sustained violence erupted on Monday. On Thursday, there was an arson attack on a leisure centre in Larne, 30 minutes from Ballymena, after it was temporarily used as an emergency shelter for those in urgent need after disturbances in the town earlier in the week. The unrest was triggered when two Romanian-speaking 14-year-old boys appeared in court charged with the attempted rape of a girl in Ballymena. It prompted a peaceful protest against sexual crime on Monday which was followed by violence later that evening.
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Pheobe Bishop's mum's incredible act of kindness after her daughter's tragic death
A fundraiser backed by Pheobe's family has been organised to support local volunteer groups in what they hope creates a fitting legacy for the 17-year-old. Pheobe went missing on her way to Bundaberg airport in southern Queensland on May 15. Her housemates James Wood, 34, and Tanika Bromley, 33, were charged with her murder on June 6, more than three weeks after Pheobe disappeared. Officers discovered what were believed to be the teenager's remains later that day near a national park, an hour's drive from Bundaberg airport. The community rallied around Pheobe's family, with hundreds attending two emotional candlelight vigils. Family friend Tracey Berends hoped the fundraiser would help return the love. She organised the GoFundMe campaign that has received the family's backing, with money to be raised for local volunteer and not-for-profit groups. More than $7,000 had been donated by Friday morning, with the local SES volunteer group and Pheobe's former school set to benefit. 'The GoFundMe was created after speaking with Pheobe's family with the sole purpose of supporting local charities and volunteer organisations that were involved in the search for her, particularly the SES,' Ms Berends told AAP. 'These volunteers worked tirelessly on their hands and knees through difficult terrain and did so without expecting anything in return. 'It's important to the family that these selfless efforts are acknowledged and supported in Pheobe's name.' Pheobe's former school - the not-for-profit learning centre Y School in Bundaberg that is assisted by volunteers - has also been targeted for the fundraiser. 'There is absolutely no financial gain being taken by the family,' Ms Berends said. 'Their only hope is to create something beautiful and lasting in remembrance of Pheobe, a way to honour her kind, gentle spirit and the impact she had on so many lives.' Pheobe's mother Kylie Johnson said the fundraiser was a way to acknowledge a school where her daughter thrived as well as the SES volunteers who helped 'bring our baby home'. 'I've even had a few (SES volunteers) approach me with hugs and sorrys that they couldn't get her home sooner to us. They didn't give up and they got her back to us!' she posted on Facebook.
