Latest news with #LocalCourt
Sky News AU
2 days ago
- Sky News AU
Third charged in fatal shooting of Sydney grandmother Kim Duncan
A third person has been charged in relation to the fatal shooting of Sydney grandmother Kim Duncan in April. Police allege three men, including Manase Fakahau, 19 and Jesse Evans, 34, approached the southwestern Sydney home of Ms Duncan, 65, about 11pm on Monday, April 14, before several shots were fired in the direction of the house. Ms Duncan was inside the house at the time, as were her 34-year-old son and a 21-year-old woman. She was shot in the leg and died at the scene while bing worked on by paramedics. Her son and the woman were uninjured. Police charged Mr Fakahau and Mr Evans with murder last Wednesday and their matters remain before the courts. At about 9.25am on Wednesday, a 34-year-old man was also arrested and charged with murder. He was refused bail and is scheduled to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday. As part of the ongoing investigation, strike force detectives searched a Parsons St, Ashcroft residence about 4pm on Tuesday and arrested a 40-year-old man. During the search, police seized 11.3kg of cannabis, $91,600 in cash, 31 mobile phones, a laptop, and a knuckle duster. The man was charged with recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime, supplying a prohibited drug in an indictable but non-commercial quantity, and possessing suspected stolen goods. He was granted conditional bail and is set to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday, August 23, 2025. Investigations under Strike Force Apslawn are ongoing. More to come Originally published as Third charged in fatal shooting of Sydney grandmother
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Third charged over grandmother's fatal shooting
A third person has been charged in relation to the fatal shooting of Sydney grandmother Kim Duncan in April. Police allege three men, including Manase Fakahau, 19 and Jesse Evans, 34, approached the southwestern Sydney home of Ms Duncan, 65, about 11pm on Monday, April 14, before several shots were fired in the direction of the house. Ms Duncan was inside the house at the time, as were her 34-year-old son and a 21-year-old woman. She was shot in the leg and died at the scene while bing worked on by paramedics. Her son and the woman were uninjured. Police charged Mr Fakahau and Mr Evans with murder last Wednesday and their matters remain before the courts. At about 9.25am on Wednesday, a 34-year-old man was also arrested and charged with murder. Grandmother Kim Duncan was fatally shot on Monday, April 14. Facebook Credit: Supplied He was refused bail and is scheduled to appear before Parramatta Local Court on Wednesday. As part of the ongoing investigation, strike force detectives searched a Parsons St, Ashcroft residence about 4pm on Tuesday and arrested a 40-year-old man. During the search, police seized 11.3kg of cannabis, $91,600 in cash, 31 mobile phones, a laptop, and a knuckle duster. The man was charged with recklessly dealing with proceeds of crime, supplying a prohibited drug in an indictable but non-commercial quantity, and possessing suspected stolen goods. He was granted conditional bail and is set to appear at Liverpool Local Court on Wednesday, August 23, 2025. Investigations under Strike Force Apslawn are ongoing. More to come
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- The Advertiser
Second man pleads guilty to murder over home invasion shooting of Zachery Davies-Scott
TWO weeks after Gino Ricardo Delpiero admitted to executing Zachery Davies-Scott in front of his family at Heddon Greta in 2022, a second man has pleaded guilty to murder over the bungled home invasion shooting. Talon Dean, 26, beamed into Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday via audio visual link from jail where Mr Davies-Scott's mother and father watched as he pleaded guilty to his role in the 25-year-old's senseless shooting death. Mr Davies-Scott, known to many as Donnie, was shot dead in his home in Traders Way about 10.50pm on December 27, 2022. Detectives have been told a group of people forced their way into the home and executed Mr Davies-Scott in what is alleged to have been a "home invasion gone wrong". A 52-year-old woman also sustained minor injuries after attempting to fight off the alleged intruders. Other family members home at the time - including two children, aged two and four, and Mr Davies-Scott's pregnant partner - witnessed the shooting, but were uninjured, police have said. The group fled the scene in a white SUV, and detectives in February, 2023 seized a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander at Boolaroo. Homicide Squad detectives under Strike Force Roslyn have since arrested and charged five people over Mr Davies-Scott's death, including charging four men with murder and a woman with hindering the investigation. Two of the men - Dean and Jarryd Nickerson - were arrested and charged within the space of a few days in late October and early November 2023, while Delpiero was arrested at Elermore Vale in January, 2024. Delpeiro earlier this month became the first person to plead guilty to murder, admitting he was the gunman who shot Mr Davies-Scott during the home invasion. Delpiero claimed he had "no intention to kill or inflict grievous bodily harm on the unfortunate victim", but acknowledged he was guilty of murder on the basis that he had participated in an armed robbery during which Mr Davies-Scott had died, the court heard. Delpiero and Dean will both appear in NSW Supreme Court in September to get a sentence date. Nickerson has not entered a plea to murder and will next appear in Newcastle Local Court next week. A fourth man, 45-year-old Mathew Robert Houghton, was arrested earlier this year and charged with murder, detectives alleging he was part of a joint criminal enterprise to murder Mr Davies-Scott, assisting the group before and after the home invasion. It had been nearly two-and-a-half years after the alleged murder and more than a year after the last of the accused killers were charged when detectives raided a house at Lambton on May 15 and arrested the 45-year-old. During the search, police allegedly seized a replica pistol, knuckle dusters, prohibited drugs and a stolen vehicle. Houghton's matter is next listed in September for prosecutors to finalise the charges against the 45-year-old. A fifth person, Sarah Jane Stackman, pleaded guilty to hindering the investigation into Mr Davies-Scott's murder and was last year ordered to serve a 15-month home detention order. Stackman, acting out of loyalty to Nickerson, who the court heard was her "on-and-off-again partner", had admitted to lying to police and hiding potential evidence from investigators. The court heard Stackman had moved Mr Nickerson's clothing, instructed others to help remove clues that he had been at her house and deleted possible evidence from her phone between June 2023 and when she was arrested in January 2024. TWO weeks after Gino Ricardo Delpiero admitted to executing Zachery Davies-Scott in front of his family at Heddon Greta in 2022, a second man has pleaded guilty to murder over the bungled home invasion shooting. Talon Dean, 26, beamed into Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday via audio visual link from jail where Mr Davies-Scott's mother and father watched as he pleaded guilty to his role in the 25-year-old's senseless shooting death. Mr Davies-Scott, known to many as Donnie, was shot dead in his home in Traders Way about 10.50pm on December 27, 2022. Detectives have been told a group of people forced their way into the home and executed Mr Davies-Scott in what is alleged to have been a "home invasion gone wrong". A 52-year-old woman also sustained minor injuries after attempting to fight off the alleged intruders. Other family members home at the time - including two children, aged two and four, and Mr Davies-Scott's pregnant partner - witnessed the shooting, but were uninjured, police have said. The group fled the scene in a white SUV, and detectives in February, 2023 seized a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander at Boolaroo. Homicide Squad detectives under Strike Force Roslyn have since arrested and charged five people over Mr Davies-Scott's death, including charging four men with murder and a woman with hindering the investigation. Two of the men - Dean and Jarryd Nickerson - were arrested and charged within the space of a few days in late October and early November 2023, while Delpiero was arrested at Elermore Vale in January, 2024. Delpeiro earlier this month became the first person to plead guilty to murder, admitting he was the gunman who shot Mr Davies-Scott during the home invasion. Delpiero claimed he had "no intention to kill or inflict grievous bodily harm on the unfortunate victim", but acknowledged he was guilty of murder on the basis that he had participated in an armed robbery during which Mr Davies-Scott had died, the court heard. Delpiero and Dean will both appear in NSW Supreme Court in September to get a sentence date. Nickerson has not entered a plea to murder and will next appear in Newcastle Local Court next week. A fourth man, 45-year-old Mathew Robert Houghton, was arrested earlier this year and charged with murder, detectives alleging he was part of a joint criminal enterprise to murder Mr Davies-Scott, assisting the group before and after the home invasion. It had been nearly two-and-a-half years after the alleged murder and more than a year after the last of the accused killers were charged when detectives raided a house at Lambton on May 15 and arrested the 45-year-old. During the search, police allegedly seized a replica pistol, knuckle dusters, prohibited drugs and a stolen vehicle. Houghton's matter is next listed in September for prosecutors to finalise the charges against the 45-year-old. A fifth person, Sarah Jane Stackman, pleaded guilty to hindering the investigation into Mr Davies-Scott's murder and was last year ordered to serve a 15-month home detention order. Stackman, acting out of loyalty to Nickerson, who the court heard was her "on-and-off-again partner", had admitted to lying to police and hiding potential evidence from investigators. The court heard Stackman had moved Mr Nickerson's clothing, instructed others to help remove clues that he had been at her house and deleted possible evidence from her phone between June 2023 and when she was arrested in January 2024. TWO weeks after Gino Ricardo Delpiero admitted to executing Zachery Davies-Scott in front of his family at Heddon Greta in 2022, a second man has pleaded guilty to murder over the bungled home invasion shooting. Talon Dean, 26, beamed into Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday via audio visual link from jail where Mr Davies-Scott's mother and father watched as he pleaded guilty to his role in the 25-year-old's senseless shooting death. Mr Davies-Scott, known to many as Donnie, was shot dead in his home in Traders Way about 10.50pm on December 27, 2022. Detectives have been told a group of people forced their way into the home and executed Mr Davies-Scott in what is alleged to have been a "home invasion gone wrong". A 52-year-old woman also sustained minor injuries after attempting to fight off the alleged intruders. Other family members home at the time - including two children, aged two and four, and Mr Davies-Scott's pregnant partner - witnessed the shooting, but were uninjured, police have said. The group fled the scene in a white SUV, and detectives in February, 2023 seized a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander at Boolaroo. Homicide Squad detectives under Strike Force Roslyn have since arrested and charged five people over Mr Davies-Scott's death, including charging four men with murder and a woman with hindering the investigation. Two of the men - Dean and Jarryd Nickerson - were arrested and charged within the space of a few days in late October and early November 2023, while Delpiero was arrested at Elermore Vale in January, 2024. Delpeiro earlier this month became the first person to plead guilty to murder, admitting he was the gunman who shot Mr Davies-Scott during the home invasion. Delpiero claimed he had "no intention to kill or inflict grievous bodily harm on the unfortunate victim", but acknowledged he was guilty of murder on the basis that he had participated in an armed robbery during which Mr Davies-Scott had died, the court heard. Delpiero and Dean will both appear in NSW Supreme Court in September to get a sentence date. Nickerson has not entered a plea to murder and will next appear in Newcastle Local Court next week. A fourth man, 45-year-old Mathew Robert Houghton, was arrested earlier this year and charged with murder, detectives alleging he was part of a joint criminal enterprise to murder Mr Davies-Scott, assisting the group before and after the home invasion. It had been nearly two-and-a-half years after the alleged murder and more than a year after the last of the accused killers were charged when detectives raided a house at Lambton on May 15 and arrested the 45-year-old. During the search, police allegedly seized a replica pistol, knuckle dusters, prohibited drugs and a stolen vehicle. Houghton's matter is next listed in September for prosecutors to finalise the charges against the 45-year-old. A fifth person, Sarah Jane Stackman, pleaded guilty to hindering the investigation into Mr Davies-Scott's murder and was last year ordered to serve a 15-month home detention order. Stackman, acting out of loyalty to Nickerson, who the court heard was her "on-and-off-again partner", had admitted to lying to police and hiding potential evidence from investigators. The court heard Stackman had moved Mr Nickerson's clothing, instructed others to help remove clues that he had been at her house and deleted possible evidence from her phone between June 2023 and when she was arrested in January 2024. TWO weeks after Gino Ricardo Delpiero admitted to executing Zachery Davies-Scott in front of his family at Heddon Greta in 2022, a second man has pleaded guilty to murder over the bungled home invasion shooting. Talon Dean, 26, beamed into Newcastle Local Court on Wednesday via audio visual link from jail where Mr Davies-Scott's mother and father watched as he pleaded guilty to his role in the 25-year-old's senseless shooting death. Mr Davies-Scott, known to many as Donnie, was shot dead in his home in Traders Way about 10.50pm on December 27, 2022. Detectives have been told a group of people forced their way into the home and executed Mr Davies-Scott in what is alleged to have been a "home invasion gone wrong". A 52-year-old woman also sustained minor injuries after attempting to fight off the alleged intruders. Other family members home at the time - including two children, aged two and four, and Mr Davies-Scott's pregnant partner - witnessed the shooting, but were uninjured, police have said. The group fled the scene in a white SUV, and detectives in February, 2023 seized a 2015 Mitsubishi Outlander at Boolaroo. Homicide Squad detectives under Strike Force Roslyn have since arrested and charged five people over Mr Davies-Scott's death, including charging four men with murder and a woman with hindering the investigation. Two of the men - Dean and Jarryd Nickerson - were arrested and charged within the space of a few days in late October and early November 2023, while Delpiero was arrested at Elermore Vale in January, 2024. Delpeiro earlier this month became the first person to plead guilty to murder, admitting he was the gunman who shot Mr Davies-Scott during the home invasion. Delpiero claimed he had "no intention to kill or inflict grievous bodily harm on the unfortunate victim", but acknowledged he was guilty of murder on the basis that he had participated in an armed robbery during which Mr Davies-Scott had died, the court heard. Delpiero and Dean will both appear in NSW Supreme Court in September to get a sentence date. Nickerson has not entered a plea to murder and will next appear in Newcastle Local Court next week. A fourth man, 45-year-old Mathew Robert Houghton, was arrested earlier this year and charged with murder, detectives alleging he was part of a joint criminal enterprise to murder Mr Davies-Scott, assisting the group before and after the home invasion. It had been nearly two-and-a-half years after the alleged murder and more than a year after the last of the accused killers were charged when detectives raided a house at Lambton on May 15 and arrested the 45-year-old. During the search, police allegedly seized a replica pistol, knuckle dusters, prohibited drugs and a stolen vehicle. Houghton's matter is next listed in September for prosecutors to finalise the charges against the 45-year-old. A fifth person, Sarah Jane Stackman, pleaded guilty to hindering the investigation into Mr Davies-Scott's murder and was last year ordered to serve a 15-month home detention order. Stackman, acting out of loyalty to Nickerson, who the court heard was her "on-and-off-again partner", had admitted to lying to police and hiding potential evidence from investigators. The court heard Stackman had moved Mr Nickerson's clothing, instructed others to help remove clues that he had been at her house and deleted possible evidence from her phone between June 2023 and when she was arrested in January 2024.
7NEWS
3 days ago
- 7NEWS
Woman charged after allegedly interfering in police arrest of wanted man in Blue Mountains
A woman has been charged after allegedly interfering with police as they attempted to arrest a wanted man. Police began chasing a 34-year-old man along Railway Parade in Hazelbrook, a town about 15 minutes east of Katoomba, just before 10.20am on Monday in connection with a pursuit through the Blue Mountains last week. Officers deployed a Taser during the attempted arrest, but the 40-year-old woman allegedly intervened, leading to a confrontation between the man and police. The man allegedly punched both officers in the head before fleeing, prompting a police helicopter to circle overhead and broadcast urgent appeal messages. Following inquiries, the woman was arrested in Blackheath later that day and charged with hindering police in the execution of their duty. She was granted conditional bail to appear before Katoomba Local Court on August 11. The search for the man remains ongoing. On Monday, PolAir could be heard describing the man over loudspeakers as it hovered above the quiet town, leaving some residents feeling frightened. Some took to social media to express their fears and frustrations about the police operation. 'Should we lock up? Stay inside until they have a handle on the situation? I'm a little terrified,' one resident wrote on social media. 'They are circling my block it's all we can hear right now. My eight-year-old is freaked,' another added. 'Police should update their (Facebook) page instead of scaring people. Is this guy dangerous?,' a third comment read. The man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 175cm to 180cm tall, of thin build, with blond hair and a ginger beard. He was last seen wearing black pants and a black hoodie. 'Anyone who sees him is urged not to approach him but to contact Triple Zero (000) immediately,' police said.
The Advertiser
17-07-2025
- Politics
- The Advertiser
Skipper plans to appeal conviction for creating waves at Labor Party fundraiser
A power boat skipper who targeted a century-old passenger ferry carrying Labor Party MPs as part of a protest against the party's offshore wind policy has been convicted and fined $500. Jared Luke Banek, 47, who previously pleaded guilty to interfering with the use of the Port Stephens waterway, indicated that he would appeal the sentence. Labor senator Deborah O'Neill, Port Stephens MP Kate Washington and about 50 Labor party supporters were aboard the 102-year-old Wangi Queen in waters off Lemon Tree Passage to raise money for then Port Stephens mayoral candidate Leah Anderson on August 11 last year. Two federal police officers were also on board. A number of anti-wind farm protesters were in the vicinity when the ferry left the Lemon Tree Passage wharf at about 10.30am. Facts tendered to the court said Mr Banek attended the area to protest in his 17.5m power boat, Reel Issues. Mr Banek, who had three passengers on board, made the first of three passes of the Wangi Queen at 11.33am The first two passes created wakes of about a metre while the third wake was less than a metre. The skipper was forced to take evasive action on each occasion in order to minimise the wakes' impact. Several of those on board the ferry said they were alarmed as the vessel rolled when the waves struck. The Wangi Queen skipper contacted the water police following the first pass to complain about the conduct of Reel Issues and a number of smaller vessels that were swarming the vessel. Reel Issues was intercepted, and Mr Banek was spoken to. He was later charged with menacing navigation, reckless navigation and negligent navigation. Mr Banek pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were subsequently withdrawn in June. Instead, he pleaded guilty to the lesser, rarely used charge of operating a vessel in a manner that interferes with the use of waters under the Marine Safety Act 1998. The maximum penalty for the offence is a $5500 fine. Raymond Terrace Local Court heard on Thursday that Mr Banek was of prior good character and had held a maritime licence for 32 years. Seven references attested to his volunteer work in the community and involvement in maritime rescue operations. Despite that, Magistrate Gregory Moore said Mr Banek's actions towards Wangi Queen were not a trivial matter. "I do not regard it as trivial. I regard it as a serious example of this type of offending," he said. Mr Banek told the Newcastle Herald that he planned to appeal the sentence because an expert maritime report, which showed the Wangi Queen had not been placed in danger during the protest, had not been taken into account. "The truth is going to come out," he said. Mr Banek's boating licence, which was suspended following the incident, was reinstated in June. A power boat skipper who targeted a century-old passenger ferry carrying Labor Party MPs as part of a protest against the party's offshore wind policy has been convicted and fined $500. Jared Luke Banek, 47, who previously pleaded guilty to interfering with the use of the Port Stephens waterway, indicated that he would appeal the sentence. Labor senator Deborah O'Neill, Port Stephens MP Kate Washington and about 50 Labor party supporters were aboard the 102-year-old Wangi Queen in waters off Lemon Tree Passage to raise money for then Port Stephens mayoral candidate Leah Anderson on August 11 last year. Two federal police officers were also on board. A number of anti-wind farm protesters were in the vicinity when the ferry left the Lemon Tree Passage wharf at about 10.30am. Facts tendered to the court said Mr Banek attended the area to protest in his 17.5m power boat, Reel Issues. Mr Banek, who had three passengers on board, made the first of three passes of the Wangi Queen at 11.33am The first two passes created wakes of about a metre while the third wake was less than a metre. The skipper was forced to take evasive action on each occasion in order to minimise the wakes' impact. Several of those on board the ferry said they were alarmed as the vessel rolled when the waves struck. The Wangi Queen skipper contacted the water police following the first pass to complain about the conduct of Reel Issues and a number of smaller vessels that were swarming the vessel. Reel Issues was intercepted, and Mr Banek was spoken to. He was later charged with menacing navigation, reckless navigation and negligent navigation. Mr Banek pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were subsequently withdrawn in June. Instead, he pleaded guilty to the lesser, rarely used charge of operating a vessel in a manner that interferes with the use of waters under the Marine Safety Act 1998. The maximum penalty for the offence is a $5500 fine. Raymond Terrace Local Court heard on Thursday that Mr Banek was of prior good character and had held a maritime licence for 32 years. Seven references attested to his volunteer work in the community and involvement in maritime rescue operations. Despite that, Magistrate Gregory Moore said Mr Banek's actions towards Wangi Queen were not a trivial matter. "I do not regard it as trivial. I regard it as a serious example of this type of offending," he said. Mr Banek told the Newcastle Herald that he planned to appeal the sentence because an expert maritime report, which showed the Wangi Queen had not been placed in danger during the protest, had not been taken into account. "The truth is going to come out," he said. Mr Banek's boating licence, which was suspended following the incident, was reinstated in June. A power boat skipper who targeted a century-old passenger ferry carrying Labor Party MPs as part of a protest against the party's offshore wind policy has been convicted and fined $500. Jared Luke Banek, 47, who previously pleaded guilty to interfering with the use of the Port Stephens waterway, indicated that he would appeal the sentence. Labor senator Deborah O'Neill, Port Stephens MP Kate Washington and about 50 Labor party supporters were aboard the 102-year-old Wangi Queen in waters off Lemon Tree Passage to raise money for then Port Stephens mayoral candidate Leah Anderson on August 11 last year. Two federal police officers were also on board. A number of anti-wind farm protesters were in the vicinity when the ferry left the Lemon Tree Passage wharf at about 10.30am. Facts tendered to the court said Mr Banek attended the area to protest in his 17.5m power boat, Reel Issues. Mr Banek, who had three passengers on board, made the first of three passes of the Wangi Queen at 11.33am The first two passes created wakes of about a metre while the third wake was less than a metre. The skipper was forced to take evasive action on each occasion in order to minimise the wakes' impact. Several of those on board the ferry said they were alarmed as the vessel rolled when the waves struck. The Wangi Queen skipper contacted the water police following the first pass to complain about the conduct of Reel Issues and a number of smaller vessels that were swarming the vessel. Reel Issues was intercepted, and Mr Banek was spoken to. He was later charged with menacing navigation, reckless navigation and negligent navigation. Mr Banek pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were subsequently withdrawn in June. Instead, he pleaded guilty to the lesser, rarely used charge of operating a vessel in a manner that interferes with the use of waters under the Marine Safety Act 1998. The maximum penalty for the offence is a $5500 fine. Raymond Terrace Local Court heard on Thursday that Mr Banek was of prior good character and had held a maritime licence for 32 years. Seven references attested to his volunteer work in the community and involvement in maritime rescue operations. Despite that, Magistrate Gregory Moore said Mr Banek's actions towards Wangi Queen were not a trivial matter. "I do not regard it as trivial. I regard it as a serious example of this type of offending," he said. Mr Banek told the Newcastle Herald that he planned to appeal the sentence because an expert maritime report, which showed the Wangi Queen had not been placed in danger during the protest, had not been taken into account. "The truth is going to come out," he said. Mr Banek's boating licence, which was suspended following the incident, was reinstated in June. A power boat skipper who targeted a century-old passenger ferry carrying Labor Party MPs as part of a protest against the party's offshore wind policy has been convicted and fined $500. Jared Luke Banek, 47, who previously pleaded guilty to interfering with the use of the Port Stephens waterway, indicated that he would appeal the sentence. Labor senator Deborah O'Neill, Port Stephens MP Kate Washington and about 50 Labor party supporters were aboard the 102-year-old Wangi Queen in waters off Lemon Tree Passage to raise money for then Port Stephens mayoral candidate Leah Anderson on August 11 last year. Two federal police officers were also on board. A number of anti-wind farm protesters were in the vicinity when the ferry left the Lemon Tree Passage wharf at about 10.30am. Facts tendered to the court said Mr Banek attended the area to protest in his 17.5m power boat, Reel Issues. Mr Banek, who had three passengers on board, made the first of three passes of the Wangi Queen at 11.33am The first two passes created wakes of about a metre while the third wake was less than a metre. The skipper was forced to take evasive action on each occasion in order to minimise the wakes' impact. Several of those on board the ferry said they were alarmed as the vessel rolled when the waves struck. The Wangi Queen skipper contacted the water police following the first pass to complain about the conduct of Reel Issues and a number of smaller vessels that were swarming the vessel. Reel Issues was intercepted, and Mr Banek was spoken to. He was later charged with menacing navigation, reckless navigation and negligent navigation. Mr Banek pleaded not guilty to the charges, which were subsequently withdrawn in June. Instead, he pleaded guilty to the lesser, rarely used charge of operating a vessel in a manner that interferes with the use of waters under the Marine Safety Act 1998. The maximum penalty for the offence is a $5500 fine. Raymond Terrace Local Court heard on Thursday that Mr Banek was of prior good character and had held a maritime licence for 32 years. Seven references attested to his volunteer work in the community and involvement in maritime rescue operations. Despite that, Magistrate Gregory Moore said Mr Banek's actions towards Wangi Queen were not a trivial matter. "I do not regard it as trivial. I regard it as a serious example of this type of offending," he said. Mr Banek told the Newcastle Herald that he planned to appeal the sentence because an expert maritime report, which showed the Wangi Queen had not been placed in danger during the protest, had not been taken into account. "The truth is going to come out," he said. Mr Banek's boating licence, which was suspended following the incident, was reinstated in June.
