Latest news with #OfficeofPublicProsecutions
Herald Sun
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Herald Sun
Victoria's racial vilification laws under fire as anti-Semitism soars
Victoria's Office of Public Prosecutions has not approved a single charge under the state's racial vilification laws amid soaring multicultural tensions and the worst spike in anti-Semitism Victoria has ever seen. The state's legal defence against bigots who racially or religiously vilify an individual or group has been labelled a 'catastrophic failure' after attempts by police to charge potential offenders were thwarted by the state's Director of Public Prosecutions. The Herald Sun can reveal the DPP has rejected potential charges proposed by Victoria Police under the laws over six incidents since Hamas' barbaric October 7 massacre in Israel – followed by Israel's deadly bombardment of Gaza – sparked a cultural and religious firestorm. The charges are understood to be related to the Jewish community and other multicultural communities. The Office of Public Prosecutions said another five requests for criminal charges were still being investigated. It comes as racial and religious tensions reach boiling point once again. Among the cases still being considered is a shocking neo-Nazi protest which occurred on the steps of parliament on December 20 last year – seven months ago. The black-clad white nationalists who chanted 'the Jews must go' and held up a sign reading 'Jews hate freedom' are yet to face charges. Victoria Police confirmed that they had referred charges under the act to the OPP. The group responsible, the Nationalist Socialist Network, has since gone on to stage multiple offensive protests, including one at Northland in which they promoted a racial slur towards African-Australians. Jewish community advocate Menachem Vorchheimer said the Racial and Religious Tolerance Act – which has been in place for more than two decades – was 'inoperable'. 'This is a catastrophic failure,' he said. Under the rarely used legislation, police are forced to seek approval from the DPP in order to press charges against a someone they believe has incited or encouraged hatred, serious contempt, revulsion or severe ridicule against an individual or group because of their race and/or religion. Following a last minute deal with the Greens, under the state's new anti-vilification or hate speech laws — which comes into play next month — police will also have to seek approval from the DPP in order to lay charges. The extra hurdle for police has raised concerns that the upcoming laws, regularly spruiked by the state government as the answer to the anti-Semitism crisis and rising extremism, has raised fears relevant charges may take months or be blocked altogether. Jewish Community Council of Victoria chief executive Naomi Levin said failing to lay charges meant potential offenders were given the green light to continue their offensive behaviour. 'An important aspect of the justice system is deterrence, but when no arrests are made for months and months that deterrence is eroded and individuals act with impunity,' she said. 'No one wants to see racist radicals roaming the streets and terrorising local communities.' Victoria Police's Operation Park, launched in response to increasing acts of anti-Semitism and Islamophobia, has led to 149 arrests, with some dealt prison sentences. A police spokesman said the force regularly seeks advice from the Office of Public Prosecutions in relation to potential charges under the Act. He said a number of active matters, understood to be for lower level offences, were before the courts. A spokesman for the Director of Public Prosecutions said evidence from police, including all relevant statements, footage, interviews and other evidence obtained, can take several months to collate and hand to the OPP. 'Once the evidence has been collated and provided to the OPP, a careful assessment of the prospects of conviction for the RRTA charge can be undertaken,' she said. Opposition police spokesman David Southwick said police being blocked from taken swift action was a 'fundamental failure of Labor's so-called hate crime laws'. 'At a time when anti‑Semitic and racial hate has surged, police are doing their job with one arm tied behind their back,' he said. A Victorian Government spokesperson said charges were a matter for Victoria Police and the OPP. She said the new anti vilification laws included tougher penalties, including up to five years imprisonment, which would act as a deterrent. 'This hateful, extremist behaviour and the cowards who push it have no place here in Victoria,' she said.
The Guardian
30-07-2025
- The Guardian
Mushroom lunch murderer Erin Patterson prevented from selling house by court order
The property at the centre of a deadly mushroom lunch has been restrained by the court after Erin Patterson was found guilty of triple murder. Victorian supreme court Justice Michelle Quigley granted the confiscation application over Patterson's Leongatha property on 23 July after a closed court hearing. A suppression over the restraining order was lifted at 5pm on Wednesday. Patterson was on 7 July found guilty of murdering her parents-in-law Don and Gail Patterson, 70, and Gail's sister Heather Wilkinson, 66. She was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Heather's husband, Ian Wilkinson. The jury found she deliberately served the four people beef wellingtons laced with death cap mushrooms at her Leongatha home on 29 July 29 2023. Patterson, 50, pleaded not guilty, claiming during her 11-week trial in Morwell that she did not intentionally poison her lunch guests. But 12 jurors returned the four guilty verdicts on 7 July after seven days of deliberations. On 16 July, the Victorian Director of Public Prosecutions made an application in the supreme court for the Leongatha property to be restrained under the confiscation act. The order was granted after a closed court hearing before Justice Quigley on 23 July. A spokesperson from the Office of Public Prosecutions confirmed the confiscation application was to prevent the property being sold or otherwise dealt with. 'This is to ensure that if any family members of Ms Patterson's victims apply for compensation or restitution, the property is available to satisfy any orders that are made by the court,' the OPP statement said. Patterson's lawyers have been approached for comment, while her ex-husband Simon declined a request. Patterson, who is facing the possibility of life behind bars, will return to court for a pre-sentence hearing later in 2025. After her sentence is handed down, she will have 28 days to file an appeal.
Daily Mirror
08-07-2025
- Daily Mirror
Australian radio jocks facing possible prosecution over mushroom killer comment
KIIS FM radio stars Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson could face possible prosecution over the comments made about killer Erin Patterson KIIS FM radio stars Kyle Sandilands and Jackie 'O' Henderson could face possible prosecution over the comments they made on the convicted mushroom killer Erin Patterson. On Monday, Patterson was found guilty of murdering three of her in-laws using death cap mushrooms in a beef wellington in a lunch she served them in 2023. However, KIIS FM's Kyle and Jackie O made comments on the trial before the verdict was made. They discussed the trial during an on-air segment on June 16, with Kyle at one point saying about Patterson: "Just lock that b***h up." "Like, what does the evidence point to? My question is, how strong is her case?" Jackie O asked her co-host, to which he responded: "'Not strong, not strong for her." He also added: "The rest of us already know … C'mon bro … Just lock that b***h up.| During the trial, Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria, Christopher Beale, referenced the comments. Justice Beale said he would refer the radio stars to the Office of Public Prosecutions, meaning the two could face prosecution for contempt of court. "This morning the presenters of the Kyle and Jackie O radio show commented on this case during a new segment on their show," Justice Beale said. "I have read a transcript of that commentary. I encourage all commentators to engage their brains before they open their mouths, as they may otherwise land themselves and their organisations in hot water. I will be referring this morning's matter to the Office of Public Prosecutions for contempt proceedings. "Our media unit will continue to closely monitor all media in relation to commentary on this case, whether the commentary be shock jocks, so-called influencers, social media commentators or legacy media." On July 29 2023 Erin Patterson, 50, invited her former parents-in-law, Don and Gail Patterson, both 70, and Gail Patterson's sister, Heather Wilkinson, 66, over for lunch at her home in the town of Leongatha, the court heard. The mother-of-two, from the state of Victoria in southern Australia, has been convicted at the Supreme Court trial in Victoria state after the jury returned a verdict after six days of deliberations, following a nine-week trial. Patterson, who sat in the dock between two prison officers, showed no emotion but blinked rapidly as the verdicts were read. She was also found guilty of the attempted murder of Mrs Wilkinson's husband Reverend Ian Wilkinson. All her guests fell ill following the lunch the town of Leongatha, which consisted of beef wellington, mashed potatoes and green beans the court was told. Prosecutors had alleged that the mother of two laced the meal with deadly death cap mushrooms, also known as Amanita phalloides. Mrs Wilkinson and Mrs Patterson died on Friday 4 August 2023, while Mr Patterson died a day late Reverend Wilkinson spent seven weeks in hospital but survived.
