Tag Archives: oceania

Police search for further seven men after two more charged over Wakeley riots

Two more men have been charged over a riot in Wakeley last week that broke out after an alleged terrorist attack at a church.

NSW Police and paramedics were injured by crowds outside the Christ The Good Shepherd Church after Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel was stabbed allegedly by a 16-year-old during a service being livestreamed to the entire congregation.

Worshipers flocked to the church after the stabbing. Police car windows were kicked in and projectiles were thrown at authorities trying to help the wounded.

READ MORE: Bishop wants stabbing videos kept online, X tells court

Police have charged a teenager in the wake of the riot that followed the stabbing of a bishop and a priest in a western Sydney church last week.

A 52-year-old man attended Fairfield Police Station about 12.45pm on Wednesday, where he was placed under arrest.

He has been charged with riot and assault police officer during public disorder no aggravated bodily harm.

About 2.15pm, a 31-year-old man also attended Fairfield Police Station where he was placed under arrest and charged with riot and throw missile at police officer at public disorder no aggravated bodily harm.

Both men were refused bail and will appear at Parramatta Local Court today.

'Identify these men'

At least seven men have been charged over the violence outside the church.

A livestream online shows Bishop Mar Mari Emmanuel giving a service when he is approached by an attacker at Christ The Good Shepherd Church in Wakeley, Sydney.

Police last night released descriptions and images of seven more men they believe can assist with the ongoing investigation.

Superintendent Andrew Evans, leading Strike Force Dribs – a taskforce set up in the aftermath of the incident – has pleaded with the community to help identify those involved.

Evans said while there was a large number of people involved in the violent incident, these particular individuals are being targeted by detectives due to the violent and aggressive nature of their actions.

"We are doing everything we can to identify these men and are now appealing for public assistance," he said.

Strike Force investigators have released images of seven men they believe can assist with the ongoing investigation into the public order incident at Wakeley last week.

"Someone in the community knows who they are."

Evans is asking anyone with information on the following people to come forward to police.

  • Person A: Described as being of Caucasian appearance, medium build, with a tattoo of Jesus Christ on his stomach and a full tattoo sleeve on his left arm. He is shown wearing black jeans that cut off at the ankle, black belt, dark coloured shoes and a black shirt wrapped around his face.
  • Person B: Described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, with receding dark brown hair and a beard. He is shown wearing a black jumper, grey pants, black shoes and carrying a grey shoulder bag.
  • Person C: Described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, with short black hair and beard. He is shown wearing a grey V neck shirt, dark jeans and white shoes.
  • Person D: Described as being of medium build. He is shown wearing a grey hooded jumper, grey shorts, black socks and white shoes.
  • Person E: Described as being of Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, muscular build, tan complexion, with a dark coloured beard. He is shown wearing a Nike hat, black singlet, grey cargo pants and white shoes.
  • Person H: Shown wearing a t-shirt and carrying a fire extinguisher.
  • Person K: Described as having his hair in braids and having a dark beard. He is shown wearing a black hooded jumper, tracksuit pants and socks with slides.

Anyone with information about this incident is urged to contact Crime Stoppers: 1800 333 000 or https://nsw.crimestoppers.com.au.

Odometer tampering makes a resurgence thanks to new technology

Hundreds of complaints have been filed over odometer tampering since a NSW government crackdown, with the used car trick making a resurgence thanks to new technology.

The NSW Office of Fair Trading launched a free online tool last June that uses a car's registration to reveal the last three odometer readings.

Since then, 588 tampering complaints have been filed and three people have been prosecuted.

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Odometer

"Consumers get a pretty quick indication about whether they're about to get ripped off," NSW Fair Trading Minister Anoulack Chanthivong said.

Tampered-with odometers are becoming so common in the second-hand market that customers are urged to get secondhand cars checked independently before making a purchase.

"Inspection doctor" Mitchell Pedavoli says he uncovers at least one meddled-with odometer a week while carrying out pre-purchase checks of secondhand cars in Sydney's west.

"The biggest one was on a Skoda – a 150,000-kilometre difference – and my scan tool was able to pick that up," Pedavoli said.

He says older models are most likely to be targeted.

"I see a lot of Mazda 3s, Toyota Corollas," he said.

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One used car dealer in Belmore was found to have reduced the odometers on seven cars by more than one million kilometres. 

One Mitsubishi Triton was sold after its odometer reading was changed from 227,000km to 156,000km.

The offence now carries a $55,000 fine if someone is caught with a tampering device.

"Fair Trading will prosecute those who are caught," Chanthivong said.  

‘Unusual’ footage shows wombat wading at Tasmanian beach

A wombat has been caught on video walking through water on the shores of a Tasmanian beach, in what experts have dubbed "unusual wombat behaviour".

A couple of tourists in Tasmania sent the video to the Wombat Protection Society of Australia (WPSA), to find out if this was normal for wombats after their holiday in February.

This was the first time the tourists had seen a wombat and they were confused about why it was in the water.

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Wombat spotted wading at Tasmanian beach

"They reported it seemed to be eating some type of seaweed or aquatic plants and wading in the shallows apparently drinking seawater," the Wombat Protection Society of Australia said in a Facebook post, calling the actions "unusual wombat behaviour".

"One of WPSA directors living in Tasmania often sees evidence of wombat footprints along the beach where she lives and we know they are sometimes seen on beaches along the Victorian coast from Venus Bay to Orbost and beyond," the post said.

"Maybe the wombat is finding some extra nutrients in the sea grasses/plants that may be lacking from its diet."

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They thought the wombat was drinking the water as it could be mostly fresh water that was entering the sea.

The group is calling on more people to share if they have seen similar behaviour as there was "mystery" around wombats and their lifestyles.

Man charged over woman’s death previously acquitted of murdering tot

A man has been charged after the body of Emma Bates, 49, was found at a home in northern Victoria.

Bates' partner, John Torney, was arrested on Wednesday. Victoria Police said tonight the 39-year-old had been charged with intentionally cause injury, recklessly cause injury, common law assault, aggravated assault of a female and unlawful assault.

Torney will face an out of sessions court hearing tonight, where police will look to remand him to face Shepparton Magistrates' Court on Friday.

READ MORE: Calls grow to allow women to carry pepper spray for defence

Cobram

Nearly a decade ago, Torney was found not guilty of the murder of Mildura toddler Nikki Coslovich.

Torney was acquitted of murder in 2015 over the death of Nikki, whose body was found in the roof cavity of her family home.

On Tuesday, emergency services were called to an address on Campbell Road in Cobram in Victoria's north about 2.15pm, where they found Bates with fatal injuries to her upper body.

It is understood that Bates lived at the property near the NSW border for about a decade.

9News understands that Torney and Bates had recently started dating and that Torney lived in the house next door.

Bates' neighbour told 9News that she was often seen riding a mobility scooter in the nearby streets.

Bates' former neighbours remembered the woman as "a beautiful soul".

"She always helped my elderly parents and had a huge heart, was warm and loving," one neighbour said.

"I'm in total shock that something like this could happen to such a beautiful soul."

Another of Bates' neighbours, Kayla, said "she seemed like a friendly lady".

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan said "this has to stop".

"We know as a government we need to do more, governments around the country need to do more," Allan said.

She said the attorney-general, minister for women and minister for prevention of family violence had been asked to report to cabinet for action on domestic violence.

It comes as NSW Premier Chris Minns announced today that the NSW government will seek urgent advice on reform for bail laws in relation to cases of domestic violence.

Anybody with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or online.

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‘Hundreds of times stronger than heroin’: Severe overdoses trigger warnings in NSW

A warning has been issued after a series of severe opioid overdoses occurred in Sydney's west last month.

Nitazenes, potent synthetic opioids, have been found in a cluster of 20 overdoses reported in the Nepean Blue Mountains Local Health District

The synthetic drug can be stronger than fentanyl and 100 times more potent than heroin, according to NSW Health.

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Nitazenes are also more likely to stop or slow down breathing.

"Nitazenes are extremely potent," NSW Health Chief Addiction Medicine Specialist Dr Hester Wilson said.

"It is important that people recognise the signs of an opioid overdose early and know how to respond.

"Opioids such as heroin can cause pin-point pupils, drowsiness, loss of consciousness, slowed breathing/snoring and skin turning blue/grey and can be life-threatening.

"One of the dangers of illicit drug supply is the strength and contents of the substance you are getting is unknown and can be inconsistent.

"In light of this detection, people who use drugs such as heroin should carry naloxone."

Investigations into the overdose cases are ongoing.

NSW Health recommends take-home naloxone as a life-saving measure as it can temporarily reverse an opioid overdose.

For more information visit NSW Health

National Alcohol and Other Drug hotline on 1800 250 015 or call Lifeline on 13 11 14.