Latest news with #KeithStevens
Otago Daily Times
7 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Teen behind hit-and-run death to be deported
The "inhumane" and "cruel" actions of a young Kiwi who killed a motorcyclist in a fiery hit-and-run have raised concerns for Australian officials and resulted in him being exiled from the country. The New Zealand-born man was 17 when he failed to give way at a Melbourne intersection in a stolen BMW he was driving and collided with a motorcycle. The bike and its rider, Keith Stevens, became trapped under the vehicle but the then-teenager continued to drive, dragging them for 85m. The friction caused the motorcycle to burst into flames, engulfing Stevens and causing burns to 80% of his body. When the driver, who had lived in Australia since he was 1, finally stopped, he reversed off the motorcycle and Stevens then drove off at speed, leaving the 33-year-old father for dead. Australian media reported the teen only paused to dislodge Stevens when his three teenage passengers begged him to do so. Stevens died in hospital the next day after his life support was turned off. Inhumane and cowardly After the November 2017 fatal crash in Mitcham, Melbourne, the car driver, who has not been named because of Australian laws around reporting youth offender matters, was sentenced in the County Court of Victoria to six years' imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of four years. In sentencing him, Judge Irene Lawson was brought to tears and needed a moment to compose herself when describing the void left by Stevens' death, according to Australian media. She described the actions of the teenager as inhumane and cowardly. As a result of his offending, his visa was cancelled in 2020 under section 501 of Australia's Migration Act. His plea to have that decision revoked was declined and he then applied to the Administrative Review Tribunal of Australia for a review. The review hearing for the now 25-year-old, who is currently detained in immigration detention, was held last month. Frequent and repeated youth offending According to the decision, he moved to Australia as a 1-year-old with his family in 2001. It stated he had a "difficult upbringing" that had, in part, influenced his offending. He began smoking marijuana at 12, drinking alcohol around 14 and progressed to methamphetamine use at 16. The decision reported he had displayed "anti-social behaviours" that had manifested into violence since he was young. His conviction history showed frequent and repeated offending and that he was on youth parole for offences including burglary when he fatally hit Stevens. Immediately after that collision, the teen ditched the stolen BMW and he and his associates ran up an embankment and jumped over a fence into a property. They tried to kick down a door at the house but a female resident threw her weight against it so they couldn't get in. They gave up but moved on to another home in the street, breaking in and stealing a car, a cellphone and a wallet. That car was later found abandoned and destroyed by fire. At his sentencing, the court heard the teen was egocentric, addicted to meth and had limited capacity for remorse at the time. Australian media reported that he had called a friend in juvenile detention after the crash and said: "Even after the accident, bro, I didn't feel anything. Like, I didn't feel no pain, no emotions about it." His friend then asked him if he cared about the life he had taken. "Yeah, bro, I f***in' murdered a f***in' innocent 33-year-old man," he responded. At the recent appeal, he told the tribunal he had not been remorseful for killing Stevens at the time but now accepted full responsibility and made no attempt to excuse his behaviour or to attribute blame to anyone else. The tribunal accepted that he had matured and was truly remorseful. 'Grave fears' if deported The man attributed several factors to his youth offending, including parental neglect, poor mental health, anti-social peers and drug use, including meth, cannabis and ecstasy. He has family support, is currently abstinent from drugs and alcohol, and has completed some educational and rehabilitative programmes while locked up. But his mental health and emotional and psychological issues have not been professionally addressed and he remains a risk of reoffending. In his plea to remain in Australia, the man said he had no family support in New Zealand and was unfamiliar with the country. His mother had "grave fears" that if deported, and without his Australian support network, he would fall into gang life and drugs and be at risk of serious physical, emotional and mental harm. The tribunal accepted that, because of being incarcerated since he was a teen, he has no experience as an adult in the community and would face difficulties in adjusting to life in New Zealand without family support. But the decision stated he was not unfamiliar with New Zealand, as movement records showed he had travelled to New Zealand 15 times during 2001 and 2015, and had a relative in Wellington. While the tribunal accepted the man has strong and enduring ties to Australia, they were diminished by his extensive criminal record and his "very limited" positive contribution to the community. In declining to revoke the cancellation of the man's visa, the tribunal stated the nature of the offending had raised serious character concerns about the man. "The nature of the applicant's offending and the harm that would result if it were repeated are so serious that the countervailing considerations are insufficient to outweigh considerations of the protection of the Australian community and the expectations of the Australian community so as to justify revoking the cancellation of the applicant's visa." - Tara Shaskey, Open Justice reporter
RNZ News
18 hours ago
- RNZ News
Kiwi who killed a Melbourne motorcyclist in a hit-and-run to be deported from Australia
By Tara Shaskey, Open Justice reporter of Melbourne man Keith Stevens was fatally struck and dragged on his motorbike by a Kiwi teenager who failed to stop the car he was driving. Photo: Open Justice / NZME The "inhumane" and "cruel" actions of a young Kiwi who killed a motorcyclist in a fiery hit-and-run have raised concerns for Australian officials and resulted in him being exiled from the country. The New Zealand-born man was 17 when he failed to give way at a Melbourne intersection in a stolen BMW he was driving and collided with a motorcycle. The bike and its rider, Keith Stevens, became trapped under the vehicle but the then-teenager continued to drive, dragging them for 85 metres. The friction caused the motorcycle to burst into flames, engulfing Stevens and causing burns to 80 percent of his body. When the driver, who had lived in Australia since he was 1, finally stopped, he reversed off the motorcycle and drove off at speed, leaving the 33-year-old father for dead. Australian media reported the teen only paused to dislodge Stevens when his three teenage passengers begged him to do so. Stevens died in hospital the next day after his life support was turned off. After the November 2017 fatal crash in Mitcham, Melbourne, the car driver, who has not been named because of Australian laws around reporting youth offender matters, was sentenced in the County Court of Victoria to six years' imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of four years. In sentencing him, Judge Irene Lawson was brought to tears and needed a moment to compose herself when describing the void left by Stevens' death, according to Australian media. She described the actions of the teenager as inhumane and cowardly. As a result of his offending, his visa was cancelled in 2020 under section 501 of Australia's Migration Act. His plea to have that decision revoked was declined and he then applied to the Administrative Review Tribunal of Australia for a review. The review hearing for the now 25-year-old, who is currently detained in immigration detention, was held last month. According to the decision, he moved to Australia as a 1-year-old with his family in 2001. It stated he had a "difficult upbringing" that had, in part, influenced his offending. He began smoking marijuana at 12, drinking alcohol around 14 and progressed to methamphetamine use at 16. The decision reported he had displayed "anti-social behaviours" that had manifested into violence since he was young. His conviction history showed frequent and repeated offending and that he was on youth parole for offences including burglary when he fatally hit Stevens. Immediately after that collision, the teen ditched the stolen BMW and he and his associates ran up an embankment and jumped over a fence into a property. They tried to kick down a door at the house but a female resident threw her weight against it so they couldn't get in. They gave up but moved on to another home in the street, breaking in and stealing a car, a cellphone and a wallet. That car was later found abandoned and destroyed by fire. At his sentencing, the court heard the teen was egocentric, addicted to meth and had limited capacity for remorse at the time. Australian media reported that he had called a friend in juvenile detention after the crash and said: "Even after the accident, bro, I didn't feel anything. Like, I didn't feel no pain, no emotions about it." His friend then asked him if he cared about the life he had taken. "Yeah, bro, I f***in' murdered a f***in' innocent 33-year-old man," he responded. At the recent appeal, he told the tribunal he had not been remorseful for killing Stevens at the time but now accepted full responsibility and made no attempt to excuse his behaviour or to attribute blame to anyone else. The tribunal accepted that he had matured and was truly remorseful. The man attributed several factors to his youth offending, including parental neglect, poor mental health, anti-social peers and drug use, including meth, cannabis and ecstasy. But his mental health and emotional and psychological issues have not been professionally addressed and he remains a risk of reoffending. In his plea to remain in Australia, the man said he had no family support in New Zealand and was unfamiliar with the country. His mother had "grave fears" that if deported, and without his Australian support network, he would fall into gang life and drugs and be at risk of serious physical, emotional and mental harm. The tribunal accepted that, because of being incarcerated since he was a teen, he has no experience as an adult in the community and would face difficulties in adjusting to life in New Zealand without family support. But the decision stated he was not unfamiliar with New Zealand, as movement records showed he had travelled to New Zealand 15 times during 2001 and 2015, and had a relative in Wellington. While the tribunal accepted the man has strong and enduring ties to Australia, they were diminished by his extensive criminal record and his "very limited" positive contribution to the community. In declining to revoke the cancellation of the man's visa, the tribunal stated the nature of the offending had raised serious character concerns about the man. "The nature of the applicant's offending and the harm that would result if it were repeated are so serious that the countervailing considerations are insufficient to outweigh considerations of the protection of the Australian community and the expectations of the Australian community so as to justify revoking the cancellation of the applicant's visa." * This story originally appeared in the New Zealand Herald . (fyi italics don't work within link brackets)
Otago Daily Times
a day ago
- Otago Daily Times
Teen behind 'inhumane' hit-and-run death to be deported to NZ
The "inhumane" and "cruel" actions of a young Kiwi who killed a motorcyclist in a fiery hit-and-run have raised concerns for Australian officials and resulted in him being exiled from the country. The New Zealand-born man was 17 when he failed to give way at a Melbourne intersection in a stolen BMW he was driving and collided with a motorcycle. The bike and its rider, Keith Stevens, became trapped under the vehicle but the then-teenager continued to drive, dragging them for 85m. The friction caused the motorcycle to burst into flames, engulfing Stevens and causing burns to 80% of his body. When the driver, who had lived in Australia since he was 1, finally stopped, he reversed off the motorcycle and Stevens then drove off at speed, leaving the 33-year-old father for dead. Australian media reported the teen only paused to dislodge Stevens when his three teenage passengers begged him to do so. Stevens died in hospital the next day after his life support was turned off. Inhumane and cowardly After the November 2017 fatal crash in Mitcham, Melbourne, the car driver, who has not been named because of Australian laws around reporting youth offender matters, was sentenced in the County Court of Victoria to six years' imprisonment, with a minimum non-parole period of four years. In sentencing him, Judge Irene Lawson was brought to tears and needed a moment to compose herself when describing the void left by Stevens' death, according to Australian media. She described the actions of the teenager as inhumane and cowardly. As a result of his offending, his visa was cancelled in 2020 under section 501 of Australia's Migration Act. His plea to have that decision revoked was declined and he then applied to the Administrative Review Tribunal of Australia for a review. The review hearing for the now 25-year-old, who is currently detained in immigration detention, was held last month. Frequent and repeated youth offending According to the decision, he moved to Australia as a 1-year-old with his family in 2001. It stated he had a "difficult upbringing" that had, in part, influenced his offending. He began smoking marijuana at 12, drinking alcohol around 14 and progressed to methamphetamine use at 16. The decision reported he had displayed "anti-social behaviours" that had manifested into violence since he was young. His conviction history showed frequent and repeated offending and that he was on youth parole for offences including burglary when he fatally hit Stevens. Immediately after that collision, the teen ditched the stolen BMW and he and his associates ran up an embankment and jumped over a fence into a property. They tried to kick down a door at the house but a female resident threw her weight against it so they couldn't get in. They gave up but moved on to another home in the street, breaking in and stealing a car, a cellphone and a wallet. That car was later found abandoned and destroyed by fire. At his sentencing, the court heard the teen was egocentric, addicted to meth and had limited capacity for remorse at the time. Australian media reported that he had called a friend in juvenile detention after the crash and said: "Even after the accident, bro, I didn't feel anything. Like, I didn't feel no pain, no emotions about it." His friend then asked him if he cared about the life he had taken. "Yeah, bro, I f***in' murdered a f***in' innocent 33-year-old man," he responded. At the recent appeal, he told the tribunal he had not been remorseful for killing Stevens at the time but now accepted full responsibility and made no attempt to excuse his behaviour or to attribute blame to anyone else. The tribunal accepted that he had matured and was truly remorseful. 'Grave fears' if deported The man attributed several factors to his youth offending, including parental neglect, poor mental health, anti-social peers and drug use, including meth, cannabis and ecstasy. He has family support, is currently abstinent from drugs and alcohol, and has completed some educational and rehabilitative programmes while locked up. But his mental health and emotional and psychological issues have not been professionally addressed and he remains a risk of reoffending. In his plea to remain in Australia, the man said he had no family support in New Zealand and was unfamiliar with the country. His mother had "grave fears" that if deported, and without his Australian support network, he would fall into gang life and drugs and be at risk of serious physical, emotional and mental harm. The tribunal accepted that, because of being incarcerated since he was a teen, he has no experience as an adult in the community and would face difficulties in adjusting to life in New Zealand without family support. But the decision stated he was not unfamiliar with New Zealand, as movement records showed he had travelled to New Zealand 15 times during 2001 and 2015, and had a relative in Wellington. While the tribunal accepted the man has strong and enduring ties to Australia, they were diminished by his extensive criminal record and his "very limited" positive contribution to the community. In declining to revoke the cancellation of the man's visa, the tribunal stated the nature of the offending had raised serious character concerns about the man. "The nature of the applicant's offending and the harm that would result if it were repeated are so serious that the countervailing considerations are insufficient to outweigh considerations of the protection of the Australian community and the expectations of the Australian community so as to justify revoking the cancellation of the applicant's visa." - Tara Shaskey, Open Justice reporter
Business Wire
29-04-2025
- Business
- Business Wire
Salem Media Reignites Partnership with KeepTheFaith, America's #1 Syndicated Faith-Based Entertainment Radio Show, Across 28 Owned and Operated Stations and 10 Translators
CAMARILLO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- Salem Media Group, Inc. (OTCQX: SALM) announced today that it has entered into a strategic new agreement with KeepTheFaith, America's #1 syndicated faith-based music and entertainment radio show, to bring the program to 38 of its owned and operated broadcast signals nationwide. This move comes in direct response to strong listener demand and continued advertiser support, reaffirming KeepTheFaith's status as a cornerstone in inspirational broadcasting. The show currently airs on more than 230 stations across the U.S. and Canada, including 19 of the top 20 radio markets. Hosted by the dynamic trio of Keith Stevens, Donna Cruz, and "Penny," along with a cast of rotating contributors, KeepTheFaith uniquely blends uplifting music with powerful, real-life stories. Its signature storytelling format is supported by a digital archive of more than 50,000 premium content pieces—featuring New York Times best-selling authors, platinum-selling recording artists, renowned motivational speakers, heroic newsmakers, and ordinary people overcoming extraordinary adversity through faith. David Santrella, CEO of Salem Media Group, shared, 'We're excited to welcome KeepTheFaith back to our airwaves. For more than a decade, they've been a vital programming partner with content that's unmatched in our industry. Listener enthusiasm and advertiser confidence played a major role in our decision to feature the show on our teach/talk stations. With over 4,000,000 monthly listeners, we're excited to continue to partner with Keep the Faith.' David Sams, CEO of KeepTheFaith Media Networks, added, 'By the grace of God, we're incredibly grateful to continue our long-standing partnership with Salem. This new chapter empowers us to serve listeners in fresh, impactful ways—on stations that are brand new to this format. We're honored to bring contagious encouragement to millions and offer advertisers an energizing new way to connect with this loyal audience.' In addition to its expansive radio presence, KeepTheFaith Radio now streams 24/7 on iHeartRadio, Audacy, TuneIn, Alexa, and Google Home, and via the company's robust digital platform at All broadcast and streaming platforms are nationally represented by Salem Media Reps for advertising sales. About KeepTheFaith Media Networks, a BigOyo, LLC company: KeepTheFaith is America's #1 syndicated faith-based radio program, airing on more than 230 stations across North America. Known as "the home of contagious encouragement," KeepTheFaith blends uplifting music, real-life stories, and practical wisdom to support and inspire millions each week. KeepTheFaith Media Networks delivers programming across multiple formats, including Contemporary Christian Music (CCM), Country, Adult Contemporary (AC), and now Teach/Talk, making it one of the most versatile and widely distributed inspirational radio brands in North America. KeepTheFaith programming includes: KeepTheFaith Sunday Morning with Keith Stevens and Donna Cruz, now in its 14th season KeepTheFaith with Penny, airing weeknights, Monday through Friday delivering premium content on demand, 24/7 through the network's digital streaming platform HDL: HyperDrive Local, daily digital syndicated content provider to stations, giving them stories and phone calls to fit into any daypart All shows are available to stations via FTP, with or without music, providing maximum flexibility for various station formats. About Salem Media Group, Inc.: Salem Media Group is America's leading multimedia company specializing in Christian and conservative content, with media properties comprising radio, digital media and book and newsletter publishing. Each day Salem serves a loyal and dedicated audience of listeners, readers and viewers numbering in the millions nationally. With its unique content focus, Salem provides compelling audio and video programming, text content, fresh commentary and relevant information from some of the most respected figures across the Christian and conservative media landscape. Learn more about Salem Media Group, Inc. at
