Latest news with #ACTSupremeCourt
ABC News
5 days ago
- ABC News
Canberra man accused of attempted murder with machete denied bail
A man accused of using a 25-inch machete to sever three fingers from an associate's hand has had his bid for freedom refused by the ACT Supreme Court. Zachery Norton, 30, is facing a charge of attempted murder over a violent altercation in September last year at a Wanniassa home, where police allege he had been a squatter. It is alleged Mr Norton used a machete from beside his bed to attack the man, who he had discovered going to the toilet in a cardboard box in the kitchen of the property. Court documents show the alleged victim was first struck in the back of the head, causing a 15-centimetre cut and a fracture. He was then struck on the hand twice, severing three fingers on his left hand and severely injuring his wrist, the documents show. The man underwent a 14-hour surgery and was in a coma for four days. On Thursday, the ACT Supreme Court heard the man's fingers have now been reattached but have limited function. Mr Norton has been in custody since he was arrested by police while trying to board a bus headed from Canberra to Yass in November last year. At the time, he told police he did not have the option of calling police about the alleged victim, because he feared the man. Chief Justice Lucy McCallum said she was aware of a moral code among a certain social milieu that applied the principle of "we don't call the police" and a fear of being labelled "a dog". Mr Norton applied for bail arguing that three special circumstances applied to his case, including that he should be freed to care for his mother, who the court heard was of poor health. He also argued there would be an unreasonable delay before his future trial and that his actions could in part be explained by self-defence. Chief Justice McCallum said that despite court restraints, effort was made to prioritise matters involving young Aboriginal men and that any delay would not be significant. She said Mr Norton's arguments did not amount to special circumstances and refused his application for bail. He will remain in custody until his next court appearance in July.
The Advertiser
27-05-2025
- The Advertiser
War crime whistleblower waits on prison appeal verdict
A man jailed for leaking top secret information that led to accusations of Australian soldiers committing war crimes will learn his fate after appealing his sentence. David McBride was jailed for at least two years and three months after pleading guilty to obtaining and disseminating classified defence information. The result of his appeal will be handed down in the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday. McBride's legal team has already flagged a High Court bid if the appeal doesn't go their way. McBride took 235 documents, 207 of which were classified as secret, and shared them with journalists. The documents led to a series of reports that uncovered allegations Australian special forces soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan. A subsequent inquiry found credible information about 23 incidents of potential war crimes, which involved the killing of 39 Afghans between 2005 and 2016. ACT Justice David Mossop said the prison sentence reflected some concessions such as McBride's early plea and mental health but needed to deter people from leaking classified information. McBride's lawyer Eddie Lloyd said there was a reasonable prospect of success. She argued his sentence was too severe and not enough weight was given to his guilty plea. Human rights advocates have called for the Commonwealth to drop the prosecution and for McBride to be freed, saying his jailing deters whistleblowing on wrongdoing. A man jailed for leaking top secret information that led to accusations of Australian soldiers committing war crimes will learn his fate after appealing his sentence. David McBride was jailed for at least two years and three months after pleading guilty to obtaining and disseminating classified defence information. The result of his appeal will be handed down in the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday. McBride's legal team has already flagged a High Court bid if the appeal doesn't go their way. McBride took 235 documents, 207 of which were classified as secret, and shared them with journalists. The documents led to a series of reports that uncovered allegations Australian special forces soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan. A subsequent inquiry found credible information about 23 incidents of potential war crimes, which involved the killing of 39 Afghans between 2005 and 2016. ACT Justice David Mossop said the prison sentence reflected some concessions such as McBride's early plea and mental health but needed to deter people from leaking classified information. McBride's lawyer Eddie Lloyd said there was a reasonable prospect of success. She argued his sentence was too severe and not enough weight was given to his guilty plea. Human rights advocates have called for the Commonwealth to drop the prosecution and for McBride to be freed, saying his jailing deters whistleblowing on wrongdoing. A man jailed for leaking top secret information that led to accusations of Australian soldiers committing war crimes will learn his fate after appealing his sentence. David McBride was jailed for at least two years and three months after pleading guilty to obtaining and disseminating classified defence information. The result of his appeal will be handed down in the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday. McBride's legal team has already flagged a High Court bid if the appeal doesn't go their way. McBride took 235 documents, 207 of which were classified as secret, and shared them with journalists. The documents led to a series of reports that uncovered allegations Australian special forces soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan. A subsequent inquiry found credible information about 23 incidents of potential war crimes, which involved the killing of 39 Afghans between 2005 and 2016. ACT Justice David Mossop said the prison sentence reflected some concessions such as McBride's early plea and mental health but needed to deter people from leaking classified information. McBride's lawyer Eddie Lloyd said there was a reasonable prospect of success. She argued his sentence was too severe and not enough weight was given to his guilty plea. Human rights advocates have called for the Commonwealth to drop the prosecution and for McBride to be freed, saying his jailing deters whistleblowing on wrongdoing. A man jailed for leaking top secret information that led to accusations of Australian soldiers committing war crimes will learn his fate after appealing his sentence. David McBride was jailed for at least two years and three months after pleading guilty to obtaining and disseminating classified defence information. The result of his appeal will be handed down in the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday. McBride's legal team has already flagged a High Court bid if the appeal doesn't go their way. McBride took 235 documents, 207 of which were classified as secret, and shared them with journalists. The documents led to a series of reports that uncovered allegations Australian special forces soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan. A subsequent inquiry found credible information about 23 incidents of potential war crimes, which involved the killing of 39 Afghans between 2005 and 2016. ACT Justice David Mossop said the prison sentence reflected some concessions such as McBride's early plea and mental health but needed to deter people from leaking classified information. McBride's lawyer Eddie Lloyd said there was a reasonable prospect of success. She argued his sentence was too severe and not enough weight was given to his guilty plea. Human rights advocates have called for the Commonwealth to drop the prosecution and for McBride to be freed, saying his jailing deters whistleblowing on wrongdoing.
Perth Now
27-05-2025
- Perth Now
War crime whistleblower waits on prison appeal verdict
A man jailed for leaking top secret information that led to accusations of Australian soldiers committing war crimes will learn his fate after appealing his sentence. David McBride was jailed for at least two years and three months after pleading guilty to obtaining and disseminating classified defence information. The result of his appeal will be handed down in the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday. McBride's legal team has already flagged a High Court bid if the appeal doesn't go their way. McBride took 235 documents, 207 of which were classified as secret, and shared them with journalists. The documents led to a series of reports that uncovered allegations Australian special forces soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan. A subsequent inquiry found credible information about 23 incidents of potential war crimes, which involved the killing of 39 Afghans between 2005 and 2016. ACT Justice David Mossop said the prison sentence reflected some concessions such as McBride's early plea and mental health but needed to deter people from leaking classified information. McBride's lawyer Eddie Lloyd said there was a reasonable prospect of success. She argued his sentence was too severe and not enough weight was given to his guilty plea. Human rights advocates have called for the Commonwealth to drop the prosecution and for McBride to be freed, saying his jailing deters whistleblowing on wrongdoing.
West Australian
27-05-2025
- West Australian
War crime whistleblower waits on prison appeal verdict
A man jailed for leaking top secret information that led to accusations of Australian soldiers committing war crimes will learn his fate after appealing his sentence. David McBride was jailed for at least two years and three months after pleading guilty to obtaining and disseminating classified defence information. The result of his appeal will be handed down in the ACT Supreme Court on Wednesday. McBride's legal team has already flagged a High Court bid if the appeal doesn't go their way. McBride took 235 documents, 207 of which were classified as secret, and shared them with journalists. The documents led to a series of reports that uncovered allegations Australian special forces soldiers committed war crimes in Afghanistan. A subsequent inquiry found credible information about 23 incidents of potential war crimes, which involved the killing of 39 Afghans between 2005 and 2016. ACT Justice David Mossop said the prison sentence reflected some concessions such as McBride's early plea and mental health but needed to deter people from leaking classified information. McBride's lawyer Eddie Lloyd said there was a reasonable prospect of success. She argued his sentence was too severe and not enough weight was given to his guilty plea. Human rights advocates have called for the Commonwealth to drop the prosecution and for McBride to be freed, saying his jailing deters whistleblowing on wrongdoing.
ABC News
27-05-2025
- ABC News
Canberra man who stabbed partner to death in family kitchen pleads guilty to murder
A 72-year-old Canberra man has pleaded guilty to murdering his partner at their north Canberra home during a brief appearance in the ACT Supreme Court today. Van Thanh Vu was helped by an interpreter as he told the court "I plead guilty". Police and emergency services had rushed to the couple's house in the suburb of Bruce in October 2023 after they were alerted by family. If you need help immediately call emergency services on triple-0 They found Thi Thuy Huong Nguyen, 65, unresponsive on the kitchen floor. She had been stabbed multiple times and was pronounced dead at the scene. Vu was also injured and rushed to hospital where he was revived. Days later he appeared in court via video link from his hospital bed, and was formally charged with murder. He was to face trial this week. But that has now been abandoned because Vu has pleaded guilty. Before the guilty plea, prosecutor Trent Hickey told the court he had flagged a plea of not guilty by reason of mental impairment. Mr Hickey said each side had already received psychiatric reports, with Vu likely to seek a further report ahead of sentencing. Vu's lawyers told the court he had received a diagnosis about his health, and his health records would also need to be subpoenaed before the sentence. The court has set aside October 20 for sentencing to allow time for any experts to be examined.
