Latest news with #JonathanMartin
ABC News
12-08-2025
- ABC News
Dale Hamilton found not guilty of murder of Jonathan Martin
A Western Downs man has been found not guilty of murdering a man who died from a knife attack. A jury has found Dale Joram Edward Hamilton, 29, not guilty of the murder of 44-year-old Jonathan Clarence Martin. The jury also found Mr Hamilton not guilty of manslaughter following one hour of deliberation in the Toowoomba Supreme Court on Tuesday. As the verdict was announced, Mr Hamilton worked hard to control his emotions with his lawyer's support. He left the court with family and supporters without commenting. Mr Martin died following an incident at a Hawkins Street property in Miles, west of Brisbane, on March 21, 2023. The Crown alleged he died from a knife wound to the chest moments before Mr Hamilton's dog attacked him. Throughout the seven-day trial in the Toowoomba Supreme Court, the jury was told Mr Martin had arrived at a block of units armed with a tomahawk and accompanied by his friend Gary Mitchell. The pair had been looking for Mr Hamilton, who they believed had damaged Mr Martin's car. Mr Mitchell testified he had not seen anyone with a knife the night his friend died, but he did take the tomahawk away from the scene, returning it to Mr Martin's home. The jury heard the tomahawk blade was not tested by forensics, but traces of Mr Martin's blood and DNA were found on its handle. While the court was told the fatal blade was never discovered by police, Crown prosecutor David Finch said the tomahawk, which Mr Martin was carrying with him the night he died, could not be the instrument that caused the fatal blow, despite it being the "elephant in the room". Mr Finch said the weapon used, which the Crown alleged was a knife, had a sharp enough edge to "penetrate the sternum … without any tearing or crushing". "I suggest to you that having examined these photographs [of the tomahawk] that you'll have no difficulty in concluding that this object, this tomahawk, does not have a sharp edge and a sharp point," Mr Finch said. Mr Hamilton's defence barrister, David Jones, said the Crown was relying on inferences and failed to prove any direct cause of death. Mr Jones said there was no evidence his client was ever armed with a knife, and there were no traces of blood found as he made his way back to his friend's unit following the incident. Mr Finch had argued Mr Hamilton was the "only person" who could have inflicted the fatal chest wound. He said Mr Mitchell had been behind Mr Martin when he fell backwards after Mr Hamilton's dog jumped towards him. Mr Jones added that Mr Martin's death could be deemed a "morbid coincidence" and could have resulted in him possibly falling on the tomahawk. "Things happen, people slip and fall on bottles [or] champagne glasses," he said. "Freak accidents do happen, people can be impaled on farm equipment … [or] on anything." He said the jury must find his client not guilty if they cannot "exclude that this just wasn't a freak accident". Justice Peter Callaghan discharged Mr Hamilton of all charges.
Yahoo
09-08-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Scientists make concerning discovery after analyzing melted glaciers: 'An important future question'
Scientists make concerning discovery after analyzing melted glaciers: 'An important future question' For years, scientists have monitored the close relationship between rising carbon pollution and the melting of glaciers in the Arctic. According to a new study from researchers from the University of Florida and the University of Maryland, there may be a new dimension to the relationship that requires a closer look. What's happening? As noted in the study, the team of researchers theorized that as glaciers melt and uncover land, the fresh sediments first trigger chemical reactions that actually help suppress greenhouse gases. The team explained its findings in an article published by Jonathan Martin, a professor of geological sciences at UF and the lead author of the study, revealed the core principle behind the research. "Our central hypothesis was that the transfer of greenhouse gases between landscapes and the atmosphere has changed since the Last Glacial Maximum about 15,000 years ago, as the landscapes are exposed following loss of continental ice sheets," noted Martin. To test this theory, the team conducted field research at a "partially deglaciated watershed" in southwest Greenland. It was able to collect fresh glacial meltwater samples that contained low concentrations of reactive dissolved organic carbon. The researchers also pulled soil water that had been exposed to atmospheric conditions since the glacier first began retreating thousands of years ago. Why is this glacier study important? When newly crushed rock from melting glaciers breaks down through chemical reactions, it pulls carbon dioxide out of the air and stores it. This helps reduce the amount of greenhouse gases released into the atmosphere, at least temporarily. The team suggests that the meltwater was reacting with the fine, crushed rock left behind by the moving glaciers, which helped limit greenhouse gas release at first. But over thousands of years, as soil started to form on the exposed land, new chemical reactions began. These reactions in the soil started to produce methane, another powerful greenhouse gas. "These results imply that the loss of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere during deglaciation after the Last Glacial Maximum reduced the heat-trapping capacity of the atmosphere and provided a negative feedback on natural global warming associated with the transition out of an ice age," explained Martin. The increase in global temperature has significantly impacted the environment by causing shifts in weather patterns, rising sea levels, disruptions to ecosystems, and other critical climate issues. These changes lead to more frequent and intense extreme weather events that threaten both wildlife and human populations. What's being done about carbon emissions? The researchers believe that the exposed land ultimately produced more methane. Since methane is a strong greenhouse gas, this would make the atmosphere better at trapping heat, which in turn would lead to the continued increase of the global temperature. While researchers have detailed the impacts of gases like methane and carbon dioxide, Martin is now eyeing a new study that focuses more on nitrous oxide. Even though nitrous oxide represents just 6% of all gas emissions, its ability to trap heat in the atmosphere hasn't gone unnoticed. "An important future question would be to evaluate how the relative magnitudes of production and loss of these three greenhouse gases relate to each other to regulate warming and cooling during the loss of glacial ice," Martin added. Do you worry about the longevity of EV batteries? For sure Not really Not at all I've never thought about it Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Join our free newsletter for weekly updates on the latest innovations improving our lives and shaping our future, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet. Solve the daily Crossword
ABC News
06-08-2025
- ABC News
Undercover officer placed in murder accused Dale Hamilton's cell, court hears
An undercover police officer was placed into the cell of murder accused Dale Joram Edward Hamilton the day after he was arrested, a Queensland court has heard. Mr Hamilton, 28, is facing one charge of murder for the stabbing death of Jonathan Clarence Martin, 44, at a Hawkins Street property in Miles, west of Brisbane, on March 21, 2023. The Supreme Court trial in Toowoomba on Tuesday heard recorded audio of Mr Hamilton telling the undercover officer that he thought police would charge him with manslaughter, and that three men had arrived at his house armed with metal bars. "If it wasn't him [Mr Martin], it would have been me," Mr Hamilton told the officer. "He folded pretty quick," he said, referring to Mr Martin being stabbed. The jury also heard a second audio recording obtained during Mr Hamilton's arrest. In the audio, Mr Hamilton — who the jury was told was unaware that officers were recording at the time — said he got into a struggle with Mr Martin over a knife while trying to flee three men who came to his home. The court heard Mr Hamilton was trying to get the knife away from Mr Martin and was not sure when the 44-year-old was stabbed as it all happened very quickly. It was the third different account the court heard Mr Hamilton had told police, with Mr Hamilton not mentioning a knife in either of the previous statements. Gary Mitchell, who was with his friend at the Hawkins Street home, gave evidence on Tuesday that Mr Martin had been carrying a tomahawk when they went to Mr Hamilton's home looking for someone they believed had damaged Mr Martin's car. "I said [to Mr Martin], 'Why are you taking that?'" Mr Mitchell told the court. Mr Mitchell told the court he accompanied Mr Martin to unit complex in order to be a witness if "something went sour". The jury heard Mr Martin was knocked over by a dog, while the pair walked around the home. He then got up a stumbled a short distance before collapsing, the court was told. "He was just moaning, that's when I've rolled him over and saw all the blood … on his chest," Mr Mitchell told the court. He said he did not see anyone else around the home or a knife before the dog attacked. After Mr Martin was taken away by paramedics, Mr Mitchell took a number of his friend's belongings, including the tomahawk, back to Mr Martin's home on Daisy Street, the court heard. Mr Hamilton's neighbour, Ethan Ingham, told the court on Wednesday that Mr Martin and Mr Mitchell stopped at his home next to the units when they first arrived at the address. He told the court that as the trio was talking, Mr Hamilton walked past and into Mr Ingham's house. "[Johnathan Martin] was asking me questions like 'Who was that? Does he have a dog? Does he wear a cowboy hat?'" Mr Ingham told the court. "[Johnathan] just directly asked me outright, 'Where does he live?', I pointed [to Mr Hamilton's unit]." The court heard Mr Hamilton re-emerged from Mr Ingham's home after Mr Martin and Mr Mitchell walked in the direction of his home. Mr Ingham told the court that soon after the pair heard loud banging coming from Mr Hamilton's home. The court heard Mr Hamilton ran towards his home with his dog. The trial continues tomorrow.
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Florida bill would shift responsibility when a tree falls on a neighbor's home
Florida has a lot of hurricanes and even more trees. But if your neighbor's tree falls on your house, you could be responsible for the damage. It's called the Massachusetts rule, and State Senator Jonathan Martin (R-Fort Myers) believes it's outlived its usefulness. 'This Massachusetts Rule is hundreds of years old, and it was put in place back when everyone lived on farms. Nobody had houses on their property lines and if a tree fell on your property, that was free wood,' said Martin during a committee hearing in early April. Martin is sponsoring legislation that would make homeowners responsible for damage caused by trees on their property. Mark Friedlander with the Insurance Information Institute argues the 'Fallen Tree Act' would more or less codify what courts have already held in litigation involving trees falling on neighbors' homes. 'Courts in Florida have typically ruled in favor of the impacted homeowner. Meaning, they have ruled that the party responsible for the tree must pay the damages,' said Friedlander. But the idea got some pushback in its first committee stop. Read: Florida democrats fear new legislation would set the stage for 'fetal personhood' ruling George Feijoo with the Florida Insurance Council expressed concern over the lack of distinction between healthy and unhealthy trees. 'We're particularly concerned that the bill will lead to increased litigation specifically between neighbors, which is not sound public policy to incentivize, in our opinion,' said Feijoo. But Martin argued neighbors are already suing each other, and clarifying who is liable would only stand to reduce litigation. 'This is a solution to a problem that will bring down insurance costs and it'll keep our communities safer during hurricanes and shortly after hurricanes,' said Martin. The bill still has two more committee stops in both chambers. With only three weeks left in session, it seems the Fallen Tree Act may be falling on deaf ears. [DOWNLOAD: Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks] [SIGN UP: Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter] Click here to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, click here to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and click here to stream Action News Jax live.
USA Today
30-03-2025
- Business
- USA Today
Want to make less money? Florida GOP undermines voters with minimum wage scheme.
The minimum wage in Florida is under attack – and this time in a very dishonest way. After years of purposeful inaction by state lawmakers, Florida voters took matters into their own hands five years ago by passing a constitutional amendment that raised the minimum wage in the state. The voter initiative increased the then-paltry minimum wage of $8.65 per hour for nontipped workers, by putting it on a schedule of yearly increases that tops out at $15 an hour by Sept. 30, 2026. This year, the graduated minimum wage is $13 an hour in Florida. The constitutional amendment passed despite a well-funded opposition led by several business groups, including the Associated Builders and Contractors of Florida, the Associated Industries of Florida, the Florida Farm Bureau, the Florida Home Builders Association and the Florida Restaurant and Lodging Association. And it didn't sit well with the Republican-led state legislature, either. GOP lawmakers apparently have decided to disregard the state's constitution and the will of the voters expressed through that referendum. It took them five years to find a new way to circumvent the voters' wishes. What they've come up with is a real doozy. Need a break? Play the USA TODAY Daily Crossword Puzzle. A new Florida bill would let employers pay below minimum wage A bill (SB 676) working through the Florida Legislature this session rewrites labor laws in the state to allow workers to voluntarily request to get paid less than the minimum wage. Yes, I know. It sounds crazy. Who goes into a job asking to be underpaid? Or hopes to get a job that makes an instant pay cut sound like an exciting new opportunity? I guess the conversation will go something like this: 'Good news! You're hired. Now, just sign here on the line that says you have agreed to participate in our floor-sweeping apprenticeship opportunity at $7.25 an hour. 'If you do well there, you'll be eligible for a french fries work-based learning opportunity as soon as you complete your restroom internship.' Under this bill, reclassifying low-wage jobs as internships, apprenticeships or work-based learning opportunities would allow employers to sidestep the state's minimum wage law by hiring workers willing to sign away their absolute right to a minimum salary. The bill's sponsor in the Senate, Jonathan Martin, R-Fort Myers, tried to make this Dickensian dystopia sound like a noble gesture by calling it 'trading pay for a marketable skill.' By Martin's reckoning, Florida is full of people who don't deserve to be paid a day's pay for a day's work. The bill doesn't define what a 'skill' is. There's also no definition in state law that defines an 'internship.' Tellingly, the bill purposefully allows the subminimum pay to apply to workers of all ages – not just teenagers. And it is being forwarded despite clear language in the Fair Labor Standards Act and Florida case law that employees can't waive their rights to minimum pay. We need fair wages. This is the opposite. In the end, this bill is just a legally flawed gift to businesses looking to cut labor costs at the expense of their poorest, unskilled workers. 'If we think that $13 an hour is what a bag boy at a grocery store should be making in rural Florida, then I think we have a misconception of either what's reasonable or we're not relating that to the cost of goods and services anymore,' Martin said. Reality check: A living wage in Florida for an adult with no children is $23.41 an hour, according to MIT's Living Wage Calculator. And there are about 1.5 million Floridians working in jobs that pay less than $15 per hour, according to data compiled by the Florida Policy Institute. The problem in Florida isn't that wages are too high and corporate profits are too low. This bill is a monumental step in the wrong direction. It lends a hand to those who need it least at the expense of those who are most in need. Here's how Jackson Oberlink, the legislative director for the social justice group Florida For All, put it. 'Let's be honest, no worker truly opts out of fair wages. There is zero protections in this bill against coercion, fraud, or employer intimidation, meaning bad actors can and will exploit it,' Oberlink told lawmakers at a committee meeting earlier this month. 'Under this bill," he added, "a fast-food worker, a grocery store cashier or a construction apprentice could suddenly find themselves reclassified as an intern and making far less than the legal minimum wage.' 'If this bill becomes law, it won't just hurt individual workers. It will drive down wages across entire industries as more and more businesses push workers into these bogus exemptions to cut costs,' Oberlink said. 'All we're asking for is fair pay for a hard day's work without loopholes, without carve-outs and without games,' he said. Is that too much to ask? We'll soon find out. Frank Cerabino is a news columnist with The Palm Beach Post, where this column originally published. He can be reached at fcerabino@
