Latest news with #NSWDistrictCourt
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Business
- Perth Now
Pop star to take stand in fraud trial
Guy Sebastian is expected to take the stand in a Sydney court in the coming days as his former manager battles allegations he embezzled hundreds of thousands of dollars from the Aussie pop star. Titus Emanuel Day is standing trial in the NSW District Court where he has denied he embezzled hundreds of thousands in royalties and performance fees owed to the superstar musician. On day one of Mr Day's trial on Thursday, Crown prosecutor Brett Hatfield SC told the jury that the inaugural Australian Idol winner had an arrangement with Mr Day and his company 6 Degrees to manage his career and affairs. Mr Hatfield told the court that Mr Sebastian placed a 'significant trust' in his manager and that he 'abused' that by embezzling his money. 'Through his role as Mr Sebastian's manager, and his capacity of collecting his money on behalf of Mr Sebastian, the accused is alleged to have embezzled Mr Sebastian's money and he's done that by collecting Mr Sebastian's money and failing to remit it in accordance with his agreement,' Mr Hatfield said. Guys Sebastian's former manager Titus Day is facing trial in the NSW District Court. NewsWire / John Appleyard. Credit: News Corp Australia Mr Day has pleaded not guilty to 34 counts of embezzlement as a clerk or servant and one count of attempting to dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception. Mr Sebastian is expected to be called to give evidence in the coming days. The court was told on Thursday afternoon that Mr Sebastian was previously managed by the 22 Management agency, where he first worked with Mr Day. He then agreed to join Mr Day's 6 Degrees company as a marquee client when Mr Day broke away and formed his own company in 2009. The court heard that their relationship began to deteriorate over time after he found what he alleged were irregularities in his financial records. The court heard that Mr Day worked on a commission of 20 per cent of Mr Sebastian's income after costs. It's alleged by the Crown that Mr Day failed to remit performance fees and royalties which were collected on Mr Sebastian's behalf. Titus Day and Guy Sebastian before their split. Supplied Credit: News Corp Australia The court was told that one of the charges related to an allegation that Mr Day failed to remit $187,000 to Mr Sebastian for performance fees as a support act for Taylor Swift on her 2013 tour of Australia. The court was told that in 2018 Mr Sebastian filed proceedings in the Federal Court, which prompted Mr Day and 6 Degrees to file a counterclaim. 'Mr Sebastian will tell you that this agreement reposed significant trust in the accused and the Crown case is that the accused abused this trust by dishonestly embezzling Mr Sebastian's money,' Mr Hatfield said. The trial before Judge Alister Abadee will continue with Mr Hatfield's opening submissions on Friday before Mr Day's barrister Thomas Woods will give his opening to the jury.
News.com.au
22-05-2025
- News.com.au
Woman doused friend in petrol, set him alight after sexist remark
A woman who doused a 'lifelong friend' in petrol and set him alight after being angered by his misogynistic comments has just been sentenced to seven-and-a-half-years in prison. Corbie Jean Walpole, 25, pleaded guilty in December to one charge of burning or maiming by using corrosive fluid and had hoped to receive a non-custodial sentence. However, she was told she would spend a minimum four-and-a-half-years behind bars after a judge denied her plea for mercy, according to ABC. Judge Jennifer English said she rejected the claim that Walpole was 'provoked' when she attacked her friend, Jake Loader, on a night out in January last year. 'It is never easy to send a young person, particularly a young woman, to jail,' Judge English told the NSW District Court in Albury, shortly before 10am on Thursday. 'But where appropriate, it is something that must be done.' She described the act as violence which was fuelled by alcohol and drugs. 'This is a tragic case in so many ways for the victim and his family, and the offender and her family: two young lives destroyed,' she said. As the decision was handed down, supporters of Mr Loader cheered, while Walpole, who works as an electrician, mouthed to her distressed family, 'It'll be okay, it'll be okay'. On January 7, 2024, Walpole hosted her friend of at least nine years, Mr Loader, who was 23 at the time, at her home in Howlong, in southern New South Wales. They had been out partying with friends before they returned to her backyard at around 5am to continue drinking. The majority of the group was heavily intoxicated, and Walpole had taken cocaine. She said that Mr Loader was being antagonistic towards her throughout the night and even tried to wrestle her at one point. On another occasion, he tried to wake up her boyfriend, who was asleep. 'I was feeling overwhelmed by (Mr Loader's) presence and I didn't know what to do,' she said in court, according to ABC. The court heard her anger peaked when Mr Loader suggested that she stay in the kitchen making scones, where she belonged, instead of drinking with the boys. She then left the table and headed to her garage, where she picked up a five-litre container of petrol. She returned to the group and poured it on Mr Loader before waving her lighter at him. He then teased her and goaded her to, 'Go on, do it,' before Walpole set him alight, the court heard. 'Completely lost it' Walpole abusing drugs and alcohol from late 2022, the court heard. According to her lawyer, Peter Neil SC, Mr Loader consistently antagonised Walpole throughout the evening, which ultimately 'pushed her over the edge'. 'She simply had completely lost it,' he said, adding that the incident was made worse by her drug and alcohol abuse. Crown prosecutor Max Pincott pointed out that Walpole had plenty of time to calm down and could have walked away from the situation, but didn't. He also said that Walpole's actions were so far beyond a reasonable response that there was no argument that she was provoked to act in that way. 'Horrible, remorseful, guilty' While crying on the witness stand, Walpole said she was shocked by her own actions. 'To this day I feel horrible, remorseful, guilty for what I have done to Jake, not only Jake but his family, his loved ones, his mutual friends … anyone who has been impacted in this entire case,' she said. 'I find it very hard to believe the injuries that were caused (were) from my doing. 'I would do anything to go back in time. No one deserves what happened to Jake and I can't imagine the pain — both physically and emotionally — that I've caused him and his family.' Burns to 55 per cent of his body Mr Loader didn't attend court but sent a victim impact statement that was read aloud that explained how his life had been turned upside down by the violent crime. He suffered burns covering 55 per cent of his body, spent eight days in an induced coma, and was hospitalised for 74 days in the burns unit at Melbourne's Prince Alfred Hospital, undergoing 10 surgeries and skin grafts. Mr Loader is now unable to expose his skin to sunlight and has difficulty regulating his temperature as his sweat glands were burnt off. He also lost his income, which added financial pressure on his family, who travelled to support him and pay for medical costs. A GoFundMe was set up to raise funds for his recovery and has since collected $47,456. 'This attack did not only hurt me, it hurt everyone who cared about me,' he said in his statement.
Daily Mail
20-05-2025
- Daily Mail
A vet and her friend claimed a dog owner falsely accused them of stealing her pet... here's why they're the ones who have to pay $660,000
A vet and her friend have been ordered to pay $660,000 in legal costs after losing a defamation case against a dog owner and a pet detective. Ainslee Munro and agronomist Lauren Marchant lodged the case at the NSW District Court in 2020 after they claimed they were falsely linked to the disappearance of a five-month-old puppy. Judge Judith Gibson ordered on April 24 that the two women pay $629,000 to the pet detective and $30,000 to the dog owner. The judge found they had stolen the puppy, which was a high-value Cavalier King Charles spaniel, and taken him to a breeder. The spaniel, 'Teddy', was reported missing when his owner Shannon Wheeler returned home in Young, NSW, on June 9, 2020. In a post to a Facebook group at the time, Ms Wheeler said: '(The back) gate could have been opened any time between 9.30am and 7pm. We are very worried.' She then found CCTV images of two women walking down the street with a small black dog on the day of the incident and posted them on social media. Social media users identified one woman as Munro, who had worked with Greyhound Racing NSW, The Sydney Morning Herald reported. An investigation by Ms Wheeler and pet detective Anne-Marie Curry ensued as they looked into Munro and her friend Marchant. Ms Wheeler, a beautician, then shared a 'name and shame' social media post tying them to Teddy's disappearance but, within 24 hours, she and Ms Curry were served concerns notices. Marchant and Munro claimed the posts and comments painted them as 'criminals, dog thieves, (and) liars'. But the defamation case was dismissed in NSW District Court by Judge Gibson in February after she found evidence supporting the allegation the pair stole Teddy. 'The intention to deprive the true owner was more or less instantaneous with their recognition of the value of Teddy,' Judge Gibson found. Teddy was a black and tan male, non-desexed Cavalier King Charles, with puppies valued from $1,000 to $3,000 on Gumtree. The court heard Munro and Marchant did not take Teddy to a pound when found him on the street, reported. They instead drove to a former colleague's home who was a licensed microchipper and Cavalier King Charles breeder. Teddy jumped out of the car and escaped. He has never been found. Judge Gibson told the court she was 'comfortably satisfied' Munro took Teddy to the breeder 'namely to put Teddy into his backyard'. 'I am comfortably satisfied that she did so for the purpose of seeing if he would like to keep Teddy,' she said. She added Munro took Teddy there knowing the ex colleague had the 'expertise and equipment to remove and replace Teddy's microchip if required'. Judge Gibson also said that, if Ms Wheeler and Ms Curry had not proved the pair stole the dog, she would have ordered damages of $10,000 to Munro and $15,000 to Marchant. But as a result of the judge's findings, it was the pair who were ordered to pay $629,000 to Ms Curry and $30,000 to Ms Wheeler who self-represented herself, meaning her legal costs were lower. The demand has been stayed as Munro and Marchant filed at the Court of Appeal on May 13.
Sydney Morning Herald
11-05-2025
- Sydney Morning Herald
Law firm partner accused of rape at Sydney home loses $3 million lawsuit
A law firm partner in his 50s who was charged with sexually assaulting a 21-year-old junior staffer at his Sydney home after cocaine- and alcohol-fuelled Melbourne Cup celebrations has lost a malicious prosecution case against the state of NSW. Details of the rape allegations can be revealed after the senior lawyer unsuccessfully sued the state for more than $3 million in damages for claimed false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office. The NSW Supreme Court said the man was charged with sexual assault in December 2019 along with his close friend, dubbed Mr K, who 'undertook work for the law firm'. The firm 'had a branch in Sydney and another branch or branches outside of Sydney', Supreme Court Justice Belinda Rigg said. The woman had travelled to Sydney for a Melbourne Cup function hosted by her employer in 2019. 'A joint jury trial of both men in the NSW District Court was terminated on May 11, 2021 when, during the course of the complainant's evidence, she indicated that she was not prepared to continue, and the Director [of Public Prosecutions] discontinued the proceedings.' 'She said that she, [the female solicitor], the barrister and Mr K all had cocaine.' Supreme Court Justice Belinda Rigg The law firm partner alleged as part of his malicious prosecution suit that the NSW detective who investigated the rape allegations was motivated to appease the complainant and her family because one of her relatives, whom he had never met, was 'a high-ranking … police officer' interstate. 'I never met the guy. Why would I be influenced by that?' the detective said during his evidence in the Supreme Court.
The Age
11-05-2025
- The Age
Law firm partner accused of rape at Sydney home loses $3 million lawsuit
A law firm partner in his 50s who was charged with sexually assaulting a 21-year-old junior staffer at his Sydney home after cocaine- and alcohol-fuelled Melbourne Cup celebrations has lost a malicious prosecution case against the state of NSW. Details of the rape allegations can be revealed after the senior lawyer unsuccessfully sued the state for more than $3 million in damages for claimed false imprisonment, malicious prosecution and misfeasance in public office. The NSW Supreme Court said the man was charged with sexual assault in December 2019 along with his close friend, dubbed Mr K, who 'undertook work for the law firm'. The firm 'had a branch in Sydney and another branch or branches outside of Sydney', Supreme Court Justice Belinda Rigg said. The woman had travelled to Sydney for a Melbourne Cup function hosted by her employer in 2019. 'A joint jury trial of both men in the NSW District Court was terminated on May 11, 2021 when, during the course of the complainant's evidence, she indicated that she was not prepared to continue, and the Director [of Public Prosecutions] discontinued the proceedings.' 'She said that she, [the female solicitor], the barrister and Mr K all had cocaine.' Supreme Court Justice Belinda Rigg The law firm partner alleged as part of his malicious prosecution suit that the NSW detective who investigated the rape allegations was motivated to appease the complainant and her family because one of her relatives, whom he had never met, was 'a high-ranking … police officer' interstate. 'I never met the guy. Why would I be influenced by that?' the detective said during his evidence in the Supreme Court.
