Latest news with #DavidColeman
BBC News
4 days ago
- Politics
- BBC News
David Coleman sentenced over Ballymena knife and hatchet attack
A man has been sentenced to 11 years for a "sustained, brutal attack" on a man who was stabbed in the chest, slashed on the face, hit with a hatchet and dumped in a field in County victim, who was found by binmen outside Broughshane in October 2021, suffered permanent and life-changing injuries including a brain Coleman, 39, whose address was given as HMP Maghaberry, pleaded guilty to kidnapping and grievous bodily harm and was sentenced at Belfast Crown Court on will serve half of his 11-year term in prison and half on licence. Four other men involved in the attack were jailed last said throughout the "nightmarish attack", the victim was kicked and continually forced to wipe up his own blood as his attackers court was told the victim was asked to bag cocaine at Coleman's Ballymena flat before he was accused of stealing was repeatedly punched in the face by Coleman who then took a large knife and stabbed him in the chest before putting it in his Coleman, who was laughing throughout, slashed the blade across the victim's then called someone and asked "where do I get rid of somebody?" The victim was later bundled into the back of a car by other men and dumped in a field on the Lisnamurrican Road near was there that he was assaulted with a hatchet. 'Association with paramilitaries' During sentencing Judge Gordon Kerr KC said the fracture to the victim's skull caused by the hatchet was not caused by Coleman but said he "used a knife in a cruel way" and that the victim was subjected to a "sustained, brutal attack".A Crown barrister previously told the court Coleman encouraged and directed others involved in the also said he had a "long-standing association with paramilitaries".At an earlier hearing, Coleman's barrister said his client had already served more than three years in custody and did not inflict the skull fracture which caused significant and permanent was given a nine-year sentence with a further two years added due to him being considered Kerr said Coleman's record contains violence including links to paramilitary offences and that he is assessed as being a high-risk offender by the Probation Board NI."The most significant matter is that he has a history of dealing in drugs and that this incident arose from that," the judge said."His total indifference to his victim shows a mindsight that he does and will pose a significant risk of causing serious harm." 'Shocking level of violence' Police described the attack as "barbaric and depraved" and said "the level of violence inflicted is shocking"."The defenceless victim was viciously beaten, stabbed in the chest with a knife and sliced on both sides of his face," Det Insp McCoy said. "Throughout the nightmarish attack, he was kicked and continually forced to wipe up the blood. Meanwhile, the defendants laughed."He added: "This man, somehow, survived. His journey, however, has been traumatic and for the first number of weeks he remained in intensive care under sedation. "Injuries included a stab wound to his chest, fracture and detachment of the jaw, injuries to his face and mouth, and a fracture to the base of the skull. He has in fact sustained a permanent brain injury."Today, with the support of colleagues in the Public Prosecution Service, David Coleman has been held accountable for his actions."
The Age
03-05-2025
- Politics
- The Age
Liberal Party losses could see it reduced to just five of Sydney's 29 electorates
Follow our live coverage of the 2025 federal election here. The Liberal Party could be reduced to just five of Sydney's 29 electorates after Labor decisively swept back to power in Saturday's federal election. The Liberals are projected to lose the southern Sydney seat of Hughes to Labor and the north shore electorate of Bradfield to the teal independent Nicolette Boele. The Liberals were also projected to lose the southern Sydney electorate of Banks - held by Coalition frontbencher David Coleman - to Labor. The Nationals also failed to regain the central NSW seat of Calare, which has been won by the former National-turned independent Andrew Gee. Labor's two party preferred vote in NSW rose 4 points compared to the last election, to 56 per cent, allowing the party to hold on to all its seats in the state. Labor also remains in contention to win the western Sydney electorate of Fowler where the independent MP Dai Le is marginally ahead of Labor challenger Tu Le. The Coalition's primary vote in NSW slumped by 5 percentage points to just 31 per cent. Sydney's electoral map has been transformed during the past decade. When Tony Abbott led the Coalition to power in 2013 the Liberal Party held more than half the federal seats in Greater Sydney. After this election that share is set to fall below a quarter. A key reason for that shift has been the rise of teal independents and the political footprint of that group grew in the 2025 election.
Sydney Morning Herald
03-05-2025
- Politics
- Sydney Morning Herald
Liberal Party losses could see it reduced to just five of Sydney's 29 electorates
Follow our live coverage of the 2025 federal election here. The Liberal Party could be reduced to just five of Sydney's 29 electorates after Labor decisively swept back to power in Saturday's federal election. The Liberals are projected to lose the southern Sydney seat of Hughes to Labor and the north shore electorate of Bradfield to the teal independent Nicolette Boele. The Liberals were also projected to lose the southern Sydney electorate of Banks - held by Coalition frontbencher David Coleman - to Labor. The Nationals also failed to regain the central NSW seat of Calare, which has been won by the former National-turned independent Andrew Gee. Labor's two party preferred vote in NSW rose 4 points compared to the last election, to 56 per cent, allowing the party to hold on to all its seats in the state. Labor also remains in contention to win the western Sydney electorate of Fowler where the independent MP Dai Le is marginally ahead of Labor challenger Tu Le. The Coalition's primary vote in NSW slumped by 5 percentage points to just 31 per cent. Sydney's electoral map has been transformed during the past decade. When Tony Abbott led the Coalition to power in 2013 the Liberal Party held more than half the federal seats in Greater Sydney. After this election that share is set to fall below a quarter. A key reason for that shift has been the rise of teal independents and the political footprint of that group grew in the 2025 election.
Perth Now
30-04-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Pacific aid pledge not a move to block China: Dutton
The coalition will place infrastructure needs at the heart of a revamped development strategy in the Pacific, pledging an extra $2 billion in loans and grants to the region. Australia invests deeply in the blue continent, both to assist with developmental and humanitarian projects, and in an attempt to hold strategic sway over the region, rather than China. On Wednesday, the coalition said it would lift the funding available from the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific to $6 billion. "The economic prosperity of our region is fundamental to our shared vision for an open, inclusive and prosperous Indo-Pacific," shadow foreign minister David Coleman said. The pledge to prioritise infrastructure comes after last month's budget, when the Labor government confirmed $5.1b in overall aid, including $2.1b to the Pacific. The financing facility was created by Scott Morrison in 2018 to deliver projects in the region and has funded or committed to projects worth roughly $2b to date. That includes renewable energy in Papua New Guinea and Palau, several port rebuilds, electricity transmission in the Solomon Islands, airport upgrades in Nauru, and undersea cables providing connectivity across the whole Pacific. On the campaign trail, Peter Dutton said the new funding should not be seen as an attempt to stymie China. "We are good partners and good friends and particularly in the support of family as we demonstrated over the course of COVID," he said. "Either side of that we've invested a lot into relationships in the Pacific and with near island nations and we want those good relations to continue." The announcement comes ahead of the release of the coalition's costings for its election campaign, expected on Thursday. With the coalition looking to balance the books to pay for election promises, many in the development sector expect foreign aid to be cut. The Australian reports any cuts will not impact the Pacific. ANU Development Policy Centre director Stephen Howe said the region's geopolitical significance was understood by both major parties. "There is a bipartisan consensus that protects and promotes aid to the Pacific, based on the belief that aid cuts to this region could lead to greater influence for China," he said.
SBS Australia
30-04-2025
- Business
- SBS Australia
Why the Coalition is promising to spend billions in this 'battleground for influence'
The Coalition has pledged $2 billion towards infrastructure in the Indo-Pacific, hoping to sway voters concerned about national security, as regional development becomes a "battleground for influence". In its latest election bid, the Coalition announced on Wednesday it would boost the Australian Infrastructure Financing Facility for the Pacific (AIFFP) to increase defence and security in the region. If elected, the Coalition would increase its funding for the AIFFP from $4 billion to $6 billion to support finance infrastructure projects like port upgrades in Papua New Guinea. The body partners with governments and private businesses in the region through grants and loans and has been running since 2019. Opposition foreign affairs spokesperson David Coleman said a prosperous Indo-Pacific is "fundamental". "Infrastructure financing has become yet another battleground for influence in our region," he said, referencing longstanding cross-party efforts to ensure China — or any other potentially hostile power — does not exert influence or gain a security foothold in Australia's backyard. "A larger AIFFP under a future Coalition government will work to further strengthen Australia's partnerships with nations across the Pacific and Timor-Leste," Coleman said. "It will complement the defence, security, and other economic ties which were at the core of the Coalition's Pacific Step-up when last in government." The announcement follows criticism from Labor frontbenchers, who have accused Opposition leader Peter Dutton and former prime minister Scott Morrison of leaving a "vacuum" in the Pacific during their last term in government. Since taking office in 2022, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has made several policies and announcements in an attempt to bolster ties with the Pacific. The government has made a defence pact with PNG, created regional policing and national security initiatives, and established a new visa for Pacific Islanders. While the Indo-Pacific may not be top of mind for voters this election campaign, both major parties have continued to reference growing geopolitical uncertainty, including stock market crashes and potential threats to Australia's national security, as major concerns. China spends billions on projects in the Indo-Pacific and while the Albanese government has worked to restore ties with China, their relationship remains under scrutiny, particularly after a Chinese "spy ship" circumnavigated Australia in March. Albanese said at the time he would "prefer if it wasn't there". "What our task is to do is to make sure that we represent Australia's national interests. We do that each and every day. And I have every confidence in our defence force and our security agencies to do just that," he said. Improving economic ties with the Indo-Pacific could also be viewed as a way to shore up Australia's trade interests, in the wake of Trump's tariff announcements and an expected global economic downturn . Both Dutton and Albanese's relationships with Trump have been in the spotlight this election, as Trump's decisions continue to impact markets around the world and in Australia. Visit the to access articles, podcasts and videos from SBS News, NITV and our teams covering more than 60 languages.-
