Latest news with #7News
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
‘Not my car': Driver's act after fatal hit
A former elite private school graduate whose 'reprehensible' driving killed a beloved grandmother in a horrific crash made a bizarre statement to witnesses before fleeing to hide in a muddy drain. Andrew Julian Stewart-Smith, 29, was behind the wheel of a Holden Commodore when he killed Yrsa Christoffersen, 72, after ploughing into her Suzuki Swift in Kippa Ring, north of Brisbane, in September 2023. Devastated members of the Christoffersen family packed out Brisbane Supreme Court on Monday as Stewart-Smith – a former graduate of the elite Nudgee College in Boondall – learnt his fate. In a heartbreaking statement, Ms Christoffersen's daughter Maria remembered her mother as the 'kindest person' she had ever known and the morning of her death was meant to be a normal morning 'like any other'. Andrew Julian Stewart-Smith caused a horrific car crash that killed Yrsa Christoffersen and seriously injured her daughter, Maria. 7News Credit: Supplied 'The next thing I knew, I woke up in a hospital bed, feeling pain like I had never known,' she said. 'I remember asking where my mum was, and they wouldn't tell me. 'The way they looked at me though, I knew. I could see it on their faces.' Maria said she felt like her 'world had been shattered' upon learning her mother had died. The court was told her recovery in hospital was difficult and she was left unable to chew food for weeks due to her fractured jaw. 'I still feel the effects today, some days I can't move the way I used to,' Maria said. 'Mum's death was sudden, violent and unexpected. 'I will always miss her. I'm trying to move forward, but it's hard. It's a daily struggle.' She questioned whether Stewart-Smith would ever take responsibility for his actions or continue to cause 'more pain' – to which the 29-year-old did not react. Stewart-Smith (centre) was reaching speeds of up to 114km/h when he struck Ms Christoffersen's Suzuki Swift in Kippa Ring. 7News Credit: Supplied The court was told Stewart-Smith was seen driving erratically – at times swerving between cars and failing to give way – while reaching speeds of more than 100km/h on the morning of September 22, 2023. At one point, he pulled over on the side of the road and stole number plates to attach to the Holden. Ms Christoffersen was driving her daughter Maria to work and turning at the intersection of Anzac Ave and Oleander St in Kippa Ring. Crown prosecutor Jordan Daniels said Stewart-Smith braked but collided with the Suzuki at up to 114km/h, throwing it into the air. He fled the scene while telling bystanders: 'You don't understand, it's not my car.' Ms Christoffersen was declared deceased at the scene, while Maria was taken to hospital with serious injuries. Police located Stewart-Smith several hours later in a storm drain, covered in mud in a bid to conceal himself. After fleeing the scene, police tracked the 29-year-old to a storm drain, where he had covered himself in mud in a bid to conceal himself. Queensland Police Credit: Supplied When searched, police located clip-seal bags containing methylamphetamine and texts on his phone indicating he supplied the drugs a week before. More than 300 animated child exploitation images were also found on his phone. The court was told Maria would have been left with lifelong issues with her jaw – which left her unable to properly eat for weeks – without surgery. Justice Tom Sullivan said Stewart-Smith's conduct was 'reprehensible' and made worse by his traffic history, which was littered with speeding offences. Stewart-Smith pleaded guilty in March to charges of dangerous operation of a vehicle causing death and grievous bodily harm while excessively speeding and leaving the scene of a crash without obtaining help, supplying and possessing dangerous drugs and possessing child exploitation material. Stewart-Smith pleaded guilty earlier this year to a raft of charges, including dangerous driving causing death and grievous bodily harm. Queensland Police Credit: Supplied He also pleaded guilty to other charges of stealing, unlawful use of motor vehicles and failing to remain at the scene of an incident and render assistance as a driver. Stewart-Smith expressed remorse to the family in a letter and was experiencing 'nightmares' of what happened that day while in custody. Defence barrister Angus Edwards said his client had 'tried to make amends' through courses, isolating himself from anti-social prisoners 'He is ashamed of what he did that day,' Mr Edwards said. 'He wasn't out to hurt anybody that day, but he did. 'He's out to change.' The court was told Stewart-Smith had developed a drug problem after his substance use as a teenager. Mr Edwards explained his client was drug-affected when he downloaded the images subject to the child exploitation material charge. Justice Sullivan will sentence Stewart-Smith later in the afternoon.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Entire WA town could be washed away, homes & lives at risk
An entire Aussie town is at risk of being completely washed away by aggressive coastal erosion, which has stripped more than 25m of land over the past year and put homes and lives at risk. The scenic coastal town of Lancelin is in crisis, with locals saying more than 10m of land has vanished since May due to the erosion process. In some of the worst-hit parts of the coastline, more than 25 metres have been lost over the past year. The once-popular fishing and holiday destination, located 125km north of Perth, is now fighting to hold onto what remains of its beachfront. Glen Trebilcock, owner of the Lancelin Sands Hotel, has launched a petition calling on the Western Australian Government to provide immediate emergency funding and technical support. 'Without immediate intervention, the safety of the foreshore and the integrity of essential coastal infrastructure remain at serious risk,' he said. 'We strongly believe that a retreat is not a viable solution.' Locals say the coastline of Lancelin, north of Perth, is at risk of disappearing. 7News Credit: Supplied Lancelin Sands Hotel owner Glen Trevilcock is worried about the coastal erosion impacting his hotel. 7News Credit: Supplied The petition, signed by more than 900 people, was submitted to the WA Legislative Council. 'The Shire of Gingin, as a small regional local government, has a limited rate base and lacks the technical capacity and financial resources required to effectively manage and mitigate the impacts of this erosion,' the petition said. 'We therefore ask the Legislative Council to urge the State Government to support the Shire of Gingin and community of Lancelin with emergency funding and specialist technical assistance in response to this urgent and unforeseen environmental challenge.' Shire of Gingin President Linda Balcombe has also appealed directly to WA Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti, though she says the shire has yet to receive a response. 'We're not asking for millions of dollars at the moment, we're just asking for a little bit of financial assistance,' Ms Balcombe told 7News. 'We're a very small shire with only about 6000 ratepayers and we've got a big coastline that we have to protect.' Locals are pushing for the state government to assist. 7News Credit: Supplied Tourism, a key part of the local economy, is also suffering. Mr Trebilcock told 7News six tour groups that once passed through daily have now stopped coming altogether. A popular seaside lookout near his hotel is also scheduled for demolition next week due to safety concerns. The WA Government told 7NEWS it is 'aware of the issues and is actively looking at options to assist'.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- General
- Perth Now
Two killed in horror plane crash
Two men have been killed after a light plane crashed into a paddock before catching on fire in Queensland's Toowoomba region. Early investigations indicate the aircraft crashed near Oakey Cooyar Rd at Devon Park, about two hours from Brisbane, shortly after 3pm on Sunday. A Queensland Fire Department spokesperson said four crews rushed to the scene just before 3.20pm and extinguished a blaze from the plane, which had caught fire. Queensland Police said the two male occupants were declared deceased at the scene and that Forensic Crash Unit were investigating the circumstances around the incident. Two people have been killed after light plane crashes at Devon Park, near Toowoomba. 7News Credit: Supplied They will assist investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau who confirmed on Sunday afternoon they would investigating the crash. The ATSB identified the aircraft as a twin turboprop Reims Cessna F406, and that officers were being deployed from Brisbane and Canberra. The investigators, who specialise in aircraft operations and maintenance, will conduct a range of 'evidence-gathering activities', including site and wreckage examination. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate the crash with support from police. 7News Credit: Supplied 'Investigators will also seek to interview involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including flight tracking data,' the ATSB said in a statement. 'As well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.' Anyone with footage of the aircraft at 'any phase of the flight' or following the crash were urged to contact the ATSB. A report will also be prepared for the information of the coroner.
Perth Now
3 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Fears entire town could be washed away
An entire Aussie town is at risk of being completely washed away by aggressive coastal erosion, which has stripped more than 25m of land over the past year and put homes and lives at risk. The scenic coastal town of Lancelin is in crisis, with locals saying more than 10m of land has vanished since May due to the erosion process. In some of the worst-hit parts of the coastline, more than 25 metres have been lost over the past year. The once-popular fishing and holiday destination, located 125km north of Perth, is now fighting to hold onto what remains of its beachfront. Glen Trebilcock, owner of the Lancelin Sands Hotel, has launched a petition calling on the Western Australian Government to provide immediate emergency funding and technical support. 'Without immediate intervention, the safety of the foreshore and the integrity of essential coastal infrastructure remain at serious risk,' he said. 'We strongly believe that a retreat is not a viable solution.' Locals say the coastline of Lancelin, north of Perth, is at risk of disappearing. 7News Credit: Supplied Lancelin Sands Hotel owner Glen Trevilcock is worried about the coastal erosion impacting his hotel. 7News Credit: Supplied The petition, signed by more than 900 people, was submitted to the WA Legislative Council. 'The Shire of Gingin, as a small regional local government, has a limited rate base and lacks the technical capacity and financial resources required to effectively manage and mitigate the impacts of this erosion,' the petition said. 'We therefore ask the Legislative Council to urge the State Government to support the Shire of Gingin and community of Lancelin with emergency funding and specialist technical assistance in response to this urgent and unforeseen environmental challenge.' Shire of Gingin President Linda Balcombe has also appealed directly to WA Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti, though she says the shire has yet to receive a response. 'We're not asking for millions of dollars at the moment, we're just asking for a little bit of financial assistance,' Ms Balcombe told 7News. 'We're a very small shire with only about 6000 ratepayers and we've got a big coastline that we have to protect.' Locals are pushing for the state government to assist. 7News Credit: Supplied Tourism, a key part of the local economy, is also suffering. Mr Trebilcock told 7News six tour groups that once passed through daily have now stopped coming altogether. A popular seaside lookout near his hotel is also scheduled for demolition next week due to safety concerns. The WA Government told 7NEWS it is 'aware of the issues and is actively looking at options to assist'.
New York Post
3 days ago
- New York Post
Australian man busted for stealing 53 individual right shoes: reports
He doesn't know right from wrong. A man was busted for stealing 53 right shoes from an Australian mall, according to reports. The half-baked heist was captured on Kenmore Village Shopping Centre security footage which showed the penny-loafer pinching perp pilfering Shoes Fashion for the remarkable amount of right shoes, according to local 7 News. Mall security camera footage caught the heel loading the half-baked haul onto a trolly. Queensland Police Store owner Tamara Shorrock said the July 7 theft was a real kick in the pants — losing $7,000 because she is unable to sell unpaired left shoes, according to the report. One week after the bizarre boot looting went viral 51 of the missing shoes were mysteriously returned to the store, Shorrock said. Gold Coast gumshoes tracked down an unidentified 49-year-old man from Mount Gravatt East who was arrested without incident on Wednesday, according to the report. One week after the July 7 theft, 51 of the shoes were anonymously returned to the store, according to the report. Queensland Police The footpad confessed to cops that he had no idea he stole solely right shoes, according to the report. He faces charges associated with trespassing and theft.
