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The Australian
29-07-2025
- Politics
- The Australian
Annabel Digance files $2.3m lawsuit against Peter Malinauskas
Former Labor parliamentarian Annabel Digance has dropped a bombshell $2.3m lawsuit on South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, claiming he orchestrated a 'malicious prosecution' against her. The lawsuit, filed with the SA Supreme Court, alleges Mr Malinauskas conspired with the SA Police to prosecute Mrs Digance in order to crush her political future and prevent a parliamentary inquiry she supported on alleged bullying in the Labor Party. The police arrested and charged Mr and Mrs Digance for blackmail in April 2021 for alleged conduct against Mr Malinauskas. The conduct centred on secret recordings between Mr Malinauskas and Mr Digance in February 2020 and Mr and Mrs Digance in March 2020. The blackmail charge was dropped in 2023 after the Digances agreed to refrain from any further contact with Mr Malinauskas. The claim, submitted by Carroll and O'Dea Solicitors, states the arrest and prosecution caused Mrs Digance 'injury, loss, damage and harm'. 'The circumstances giving rise to the causes of action immediately caused the cancellation of Mrs Digance's employment, permanently damaged Mrs Digance's prospects of further employment, required Mrs Digance to incur substantial legal expenses in defending herself against the prosecution and required Mrs Digance to incur medical expenses,' the claim states. The lawsuit is directed against both the premier and the South Australian police. 'The members of SA Police conducting the arrest, the search and seizure, the detention, the first bail decision and pursuing the malicious prosecution knew each action was unnecessary, unjustified, unlawful,' the claim states. Mrs Digance is asking for $2.3m in damages. In separate defence claims, both Mr Malinauskas and the SA Police and Prosecution deny Mrs Digance is entitled to the relief claimed and request the court dismiss her suit and cover costs of the proceedings. Mr Malinauskas' defence statement flatly denies allegations that he 'requested' the police pursue a prosecution or that he was acting to suppress the parliamentary inquiry. 'The first respondent (Malinauskas) admits only that on or about April 9, 2021, he contacted SA Police and told them that if SA Police were of the view that a prosecution of the applicant (Digance) and or her husband was justified, he would co-operate to the extent necessary in that prosecution whenever it was to occur,' the defence claim states. The claim submitted on behalf of the SA Police also rejects Mrs Digance's assertions. 'The investigation undertaken by SAPOL into the blackmail offence was appropriate,' the claim states. The blackmail offence was laid based on information available to SAPOL including the complaint made by the first respondent, the recorded conversations … and other witness and documentary evidence obtained by SAPOL during the course of its investigation. 'The sole purpose for initiating and maintaining the blackmail offence was the proper invocation of the criminal law.' The matter will be heard at the South Australian Supreme Court on Wednesday. Duncan Evans is a reporter for News Corp's NewsWire service, based in Adelaide. Before NewsWire, he worked as a resources and politics reporter for The Daily Mercury in Mackay, Queensland and as a reporter at CQ Today, an independent newspaper based in Rockhampton. He was raised in Emerald and Brisbane and studied English Literature and American Studies at the University of Sydney. He began his career in journalism working for the Jakarta Post in Indonesia for over two years as an editor, translator and writer. He is fluent in Indonesian. NewsWire After months of mounting pressure, the Albanese government has confirmed YouTube will not be wriggling out of Australia's social media ban. NewsWire Younger Aussies are being warned to expect bigger and more frequent hail into the future, with a new study revealing which cities are most at risk.
Perth Now
29-07-2025
- Politics
- Perth Now
Bombshell $2.3m lawsuit hits popular premier
Former Labor parliamentarian Annabel Digance has dropped a bombshell $2.3m lawsuit on South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas, claiming he orchestrated a 'malicious prosecution' against her. The lawsuit, filed with the SA Supreme Court, alleges Mr Malinauskas conspired with the SA Police to prosecute Mrs Digance in order to crush her political future and prevent a parliamentary inquiry she supported on alleged bullying in the Labor Party. The police arrested and charged Mr and Mrs Digance for blackmail in April 2021 for alleged conduct against Mr Malinauskas. The conduct centred on secret recordings between Mr Malinauskas and Mr Digance in February 2020 and Mr and Mrs Digance in March 2020. The blackmail charge was dropped in 2023 after the Digances agreed to refrain from any further contact with Mr Malinauskas. The claim, submitted by Carroll and O'Dea Solicitors, states the arrest and prosecution caused Mrs Digance 'injury, loss, damage and harm'. Premier Peter Malinauskas will fight the lawsuit from Mrs Digance in the South Australian Supreme Court. NewsWire / David Beach Credit: NewsWire 'The circumstances giving rise to the causes of action immediately caused the cancellation of Mrs Digance's employment, permanently damaged Mrs Digance's prospects of further employment, required Mrs Digance to incur substantial legal expenses in defending herself against the prosecution and required Mrs Digance to incur medical expenses,' the claim states. The lawsuit is directed against both the premier and the South Australian police. 'The members of SA Police conducting the arrest, the search and seizure, the detention, the first bail decision and pursuing the malicious prosecution knew each action was unnecessary, unjustified, unlawful,' the claim states. Mrs Digance is asking for $2.3m in damages. In separate defence claims, both Mr Malinauskas and the SA Police and Prosecution deny Mrs Digance is entitled to the relief claimed and request the court dismiss her suit and cover costs of the proceedings. Mr Malinauskas' defence statement flatly denies allegations that he 'requested' the police pursue a prosecution or that he was acting to suppress the parliamentary inquiry. Annabel Digance wants $2.3m in damages from Mr Malinauskas and the South Australian Police. Supplied Credit: NCA NewsWire 'The first respondent (Malinauskas) admits only that on or about April 9, 2021, he contacted SA Police and told them that if SA Police were of the view that a prosecution of the applicant (Digance) and or her husband was justified, he would co-operate to the extent necessary in that prosecution whenever it was to occur,' the defence claim states. The claim submitted on behalf of the SA Police also rejects Mrs Digance's assertions. 'The investigation undertaken by SAPOL into the blackmail offence was appropriate,' the claim states. The blackmail offence was laid based on information available to SAPOL including the complaint made by the first respondent, the recorded conversations … and other witness and documentary evidence obtained by SAPOL during the course of its investigation. 'The sole purpose for initiating and maintaining the blackmail offence was the proper invocation of the criminal law.' The matter will be heard at the South Australian Supreme Court on Wednesday.
ABC News
23-07-2025
- ABC News
Police seize items for testing during Port Lincoln search for remains of alleged murder victim Julian Story
South Australian Police have seized several items in the resumed search for the remains of Port Lincoln man Julian Story. Warning: This story contains details of an alleged crime that may be distressing to some readers. Major Crime investigators, STAR Group and local police spent Wednesday morning searching Happy Valley cemetery and the dense scrubland nearby, around a kilometre from the Flinders Highway property where Mr Story's body was found in June. The 39-year-old's beheaded and dismembered body was found on June 19, but searches have so far failed to find the local man's head. The search was paused on July 1, but police decided to resume their efforts on Tuesday following the development of new "investigational leads". Police have told the ABC that they seized an Elvis T-shirt, a drink bottle and a wristband from the scrubland today. In a statement, SAPOL said police found "several items of interest". "Further enquiries and forensic examination will be conducted to determine if they are connected with the murder investigation," it said. "No human remains have been located at this time. "Further enquiries will continue on Thursday." After the scrublands and cemetery, police continued their search in the area around Winter Hill lookout before concluding for the day. Wednesday's search follows the excavation of a small area off the Lincoln Highway on Tuesday. Former Beauty and the Geek contestant Tamika Chesser, 34, was charged with the alleged murder of her partner Mr Story, and appeared in court last month. Police believe Mr Story died sometime around midnight on Tuesday, June 17.
ABC News
22-07-2025
- ABC News
Search resumes for remains of alleged murdered Port Lincoln man Julian Story
South Australian Police are set to resume the search for the missing remains of alleged murder victim Julian Story, following the development of new "investigational leads". Warning: This story contains details of an alleged crime that some readers may find distressing. Port Lincoln woman and former Beauty and the Geek contestant Tamika Chesser, 34, was charged with the alleged murder of her partner Mr Story and appeared in court last month. Mr Story's beheaded and dismembered body was found by emergency services on Thursday, June 19. SAPOL believe the 39-year-old died sometime around midnight on Tuesday, June 17. In the days following the discovery of Mr Story's body, major crime detectives, local police and emergency services all conducted extensive searches around Port Lincoln for his unrecovered head, without success. That search was paused on July 1, but will now reopen. "Police have reviewed a significant amount of CCTV footage since the incident which has provided a number of investigational leads," Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said. "We appreciate the ongoing assistance the community of Port Lincoln has provided throughout the investigation. "New search areas have been identified and, by undertaking these renewed searches, we hope to find Julian's missing remains, which will give comfort to his family and allow them to peacefully lay him to rest." On Tuesday afternoon SAPOL were seen using an excavator to clear dense bamboo at a site near the Lincoln Highway, but police have not commented on whether this is related to their investigation or where they plan to search. The Flinders Highway property where the murder is alleged to have taken place is located about 800 metres uphill from Boston Bay's waters. Early searches were conducted around neighbouring streets and in the areas surrounding the nearby Axel Stenross boat ramp. Emergency services assisted police in searching reserves, parks, bushland and the ocean around the pier and bay area. Authorities earlier released footage of the accused, Tamika Chesser, seeking to track her movements between midnight on June 17 and the discovery of Mr Story's body around 3:30pm two days later. Mr Story was a Port Lincoln local, whose family are prominent volunteers in the community. The grisly nature of the alleged crime has generated significant media interest — both locally and abroad. Ms Chesser appeared in Adelaide Magistrates Court on June 27, via video link from James Nash House psychiatric facility. She is yet to enter a plea and will next front court in December.
ABC News
02-07-2025
- ABC News
Police pause search for remains of alleged Port Lincoln murder victim Julian Story
Police have suspended an "intensive" search for the remains of alleged murder victim Julian Story, with investigators to review CCTV footage before starting the search again. Warning: This story contains details some readers may find distressing. State Emergency Service volunteers, SAPOL's Water Operations Unit and local patrols had been searching the Port Lincoln area over the last week for Mr Story's remains following his alleged murder on June 17. The search has covered reserves, parks, bushland and the ocean around Port Lincoln's pier and bay area, police said. In a statement on Tuesday afternoon, police said the "intensive searching" has been "paused for now but may resume at a later stage". "Investigators are now in the process of reviewing a significant amount of CCTV footage to determine any other areas for searching and may return to Port Lincoln," SAPOL said. SA Police Commissioner Grant Stevens said there was "absolutely" a chance the search will be resumed once investigators review more footage. "We're just reassessing where the best opportunities are for us to locate Julian's remains and provide that level of closure to the people who care about him," he told ABC Radio Adelaide. Last Friday, a suppression order was lifted on the identity of Mr Story's accused murderer, 34-year-old Tamika Chesser. Chesser, who was a contestant on Beauty and the Geek in 2010, appeared in the Adelaide Magistrates Court on Friday via video link from psychiatric facility James Nash House. The case has generated widespread media attention, which Commissioner Stevens said can generate "a lot more work" for police. "We focus on doing the job and being as thorough as possible," he said. "But when you do have a case that attracts the level of public interest and media interest, it can generate a lot more work for us in terms of people who are reaching in to provide information because of the awareness of the individuals concerns or the graphic circumstances." Investigators believe Mr Story was killed around midnight on Tuesday, June 17. Police said some of Mr Story's remains were found at a Port Lincoln property after a neighbour raised the alarm about a fire at the unit on June 19. Police also said that Mr Story had been dismembered and officers were yet to locate his head. After releasing CCTV images of Ms Chesser last week, police have also urged residents to review any CCTV or dashcam footage which may assist the investigation. "We know that Tamika did not drive a vehicle and regularly walked around the township of Port Lincoln," Detective Superintendent Darren Fielke said in a statement. "We are appealing to anyone who can help us to identify Tamika's movements to please contact police." In a statement provided to police last week, Mr Story's family thanked emergency services for their assistance and the broader community. Ms Chesser will next appear in court in December.
