Category Archives: headline

Andrew O'Keefe to make application under mental health laws following assault charges

Former Channel Seven host Andrew O'Keefe is being treated at Prince of Wales Hospital after being charged with assaulting his partner, a court heard today.

The 49-year-old was charged with common assault after NSW Police were called to a unit at Randwick last month during an incident involving his then-partner Orlee Lavee.

O'Keefe will try to have the matter dealt with under mental health legislation.

Andrew O'Keefe was charged with common assault over an alleged altercation with his former partner.https://twitter.com/AirlieWalsh/status/1362175344032145408

His lawyer indicated O'Keefe would enter a guilty plea to the charges if an application under section 32 of the Mental Health Act is unsuccessful.

O'Keefe did not appear at the last court mention a fortnight ago however his former lawyer, Claudette Chua, said O'Keefe was "not the aggressor" in the incident.

"I have had an opportunity to review the facts of matter and I will say this, Mr O'Keefe was certainly not the aggressor in this situation and Dr Lavee will have a lot to answer for," Ms Chua said at the time.

Key suspect in teen's 1973 murder ruled out but brother names possible killer

A third inquest into the unsolved murder of New South Wales teenager Bronwynne Richardson has heard her former boyfriend, a key suspect, is no longer thought to be involved.

Bronwynne, 17, was abducted, sexually assaulted and murdered in Albury in October 1973.

New evidence at the inquest suggests Bronwynne's ex-boyfriend Geoffrey Brown is not the killer as previously suspected.

READ MORE: Key suspect in decades-old cold case dead

Bronwynne Richardson

Another man, Ross Eames, is also not believed to have been involved.

The inquest heard new evidence suggests Bronwynne's assault lasted longer than initially thought, which placed Mr Brown at a Burrumbuttock hotel 30km from Albury at the time.

Detective Sergeant Steve Morgan told the inquest there was new evidence to show that Bronwynne's cousin Colin Newey and Max Martin were in the area at the time of her abduction and murder.

A third man, Kevin Newman, is also thought to be involved, however all three men have died.

READ MORE: Sydney mum 'butchered like she was nothing' by daughter

Detective Sergeant Morgan told the inquest he believed Mr Newey made two anonymous phone calls to police which were designed to and succeeded in diverting attention away from him.

Mr Newey was charged with the abduction, rape and murder of Bronwynne, but the case collapsed due to insufficient evidence.

Bronwynne's brother Gary, who worked with Mr Newey, today gave evidence for the first time in relation to his sister's death.

When asked whether he thought Mr Newey was involved in Bronwynne's death, he replied: "Yes, I believe he was and I believe Max Martin was the instigator."

Facebook has 'unfriended Australia': PM

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has labelled Facebook's decision to ban Australian news from the platform as "arrogant" and "disappointing".

Ironically posting on Facebook, Mr Morrison said the social media giant had sought to "unfriend Australia", and essential information and health services were blocked.

He said he was in "regular contact" with leaders of other nations, who were interested in the tense to-and-fro between the government and Facebook.

READ MORE: Emergency Facebook pages returning after 'inadvertent' bans

Prime Minister Scott Morrison.https://www.facebook.com/scottmorrison4cook/posts/3992877800756593

Despite the ban, Mr Morrison said he intends to continue legislating the government's proposed news media bargaining code.

"We will not be intimidated by BigTech seeking to pressure our Parliament as it votes on our important News Media Bargaining Code," Mr Morrison wrote.

"Just as we weren't intimidated when Amazon threatened to leave the country and when Australia drew other nations together to combat the publishing of terrorist content on social media platforms."

READ MORE: How to follow 9News on digital and social media platforms

Mark Zuckerberg Facebook bans Australian news

The PM said technology companies like Facebook and Google "may be changing the world, but that doesn't mean they run it".

"These actions will only confirm the concerns that an increasing number of countries are expressing about the behaviour of BigTech companies who think they are bigger than governments and that the rules should not apply to them," Mr Morrison said.

Global company Facebook taking on Australia

Facebook turned off viewing or sharing Australian news this morning in response to the code going before parliament.

Indefinitely, Australian users cannot share links or view content produced by Australian news publishers.

READ MORE: Worldwide backlash against Facebook's ban on Australian news

Hyperlink here https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f

Many peripheral pages – such as emergency services and charities – were caught up in the ban.

The majority of their pages have been restored.

A full explainer of the ban and what it means for you can be found here.