“I do not accept that she encouraged in any way the conduct that occurred,” says judge.

From washing dishes in the hotel less than a decade ago, to leading the entire staff.

“I’m a firm believer that our actions and efforts carry more weight than our words.”

Despite her experiences, 80-year-old Frances Denz does not consider herself a ‘victim’.

Waka Kotahi has been reviewing the exemption granted to Fullers360.

A driver who was on ice when he caused a fiery head-on crash on the Sydney Harbour Bridge has told a judge he is "ashamed of himself" and wants to help others beat drug addiction.

Christopher Walker, 21, threatened to kill an Uber driver before stealing his four-wheel drive and slamming it into southbound traffic in March 2022, causing an explosion that trapped three drivers, including himself, in the burning wreck.

Tradie Andrew Cheng spent a month recovering in hospital following the incident and was left with lifelong injuries.

READ MORE: Australian actor and singer Johnny Ruffo dies aged 35

Today, the NSW District Court heard Walker had taken ice the morning of the crash, and couldn't remember the events of that day. 

He claims he hasn't used drugs in the 20 months since and is now sober and working full-time, while also studying to become a counsellor to help others battling with addiction.

Walker also shed a tear while telling the court he is about to become a dad and wants to teach his son to be a good person.

The prosecution argued that jail was the appropriate penalty.

Walker has pleaded guilty to four charges, dangerous driving occasioning grievous bodily harm, which carries a maximum penalty of seven years.

The soon-to-be father remains out on bail until his sentencing next year.

Australian actor and singer Johnny Ruffo has died aged 35 after a long battle with brain cancer.

Ruffo's death was confirmed by a statement shared on the Aussie star's Instagram page.

"It is with a heavy heart that today we had to farewell our beloved Johnny," the statement reads.

READ MORE: Plane takes off with missing window panes

"Surrounded by his partner Tahnee and family, Johnny went peacefully with the support of some incredible Nurses & Doctors."

Ruffo was described as a talented, charming and sometimes "cheeky" man.

"Johnny was very determined and had a strong will," the statement continues.

"He battled all the way to the end and fought as hard as he could. Such a beautiful soul with so much more to give.

"We all love you Johnny and will remember you for all the joy you brought to our lives."

Tributes have poured onto the Instagram post announcing Ruffo's death as Aussie stars mourn the loss.

Dannii Minogue called him the "cheekiest chap".

"His voice, smile and dancing feet will be missed by so many," she wrote.

"Thinking of his family in this heartbreaking time."

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"Brave, courageous, strong, resilient and a fighter till the end, you will be missed by all," singer Casey Donovan wrote.

Guy Sebastian remembered Ruffo as "the funniest bloke and such a kind soul".

"Generous and talented, surrounded by beautiful family, mates and supported by a true soul mate right to the end," he said.

"You lit up my life every time I saw you and I only wish I saw you more. RIP, JR."

Ruffo was diagnosed with brain cancer in 2017.

He was best known for his role on Home and Away as Chris Harrington and as a finalist on The X Factor Australia.

The driver said he had no time to react as the animal bolted at him.

His lawyer says it was for another prisoner and the deal was not for profit.

US federal law enforcement officials are investigating reports of suspicious letters sent to public officials, a Justice Department spokesperson said on Thursday (Friday AEDT).

"We are aware of the reports and the FBI and US Postal Inspection Service are investigating this matter," the department spokesperson said in response to an inquiry from CNN.

Public officials in California, Georgia, Nevada, Oregon, Texas and Washington state have reported receiving suspicious mail.

READ MORE: Australian actor and singer Johnny Ruffo dies aged 35

Most of the letters appear to have targeted election offices.

Investigators are treating all the letters as connected for now, given the timing, a law enforcement official told CNN.

So far more than a dozen have been reported, the official said.

The FBI said it has "responded to multiple incidents involving suspicious letters sent to ballot counting centres in several states" but could not comment further on an ongoing matter.

"The public can be assured that law enforcement will continue to keep the public's safety as its top priority," the agency added.

In a statement on Thursday, Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger said Fulton County, Georgia – which includes large swaths of Atlanta – had been among the election offices in multiple states targeted with suspicious letters.

Officials in Georgia said the letter received by Fulton County was suspected to contain fentanyl.

"We're working with our state and federal partners to determine if any additional Georgia officials are being targeted," Raffensperger said.

"Domestic terrorists will not trample on our right to free and fair elections."

CNN previously reported that election offices across multiple counties in Washington state had received envelopes on Wednesday that contained powdery substances.

At a news conference on Thursday, Raffensperger called on elected officials and political candidates to condemn the activity and invoked the death of his son to convey the seriousness of the matter.

READ MORE: Inflation won't return to target for two more years, RBA says

"Some people like to call fentanyl a drug, but it's actually poison," he said.

"It'll kill you … very quickly and very easily. It's very dangerous."

"We lost our son five and half years ago due to fentanyl overdose. We know how deadly this stuff is," Raffensperger said.

Fentanyl was found in an envelope received by election officials on Wednesday in King County, Washington – home to Seattle – the county's elections director Julie Wise told CNN.

Staffers opening the envelope on Wednesday detected white powder and immediately isolated the letter, called law enforcement and evacuated the building, she said.

Wise said her staff did not read the contents of the letter, but she described the situation as eerily similar to one over the summer when another letter – this one saying that there should not be elections – was also later found to contain trace amounts of fentanyl.

She said the US Postal Inspection Service investigated the earlier incident.

Wednesday's letter arrived as officials were counting ballots following Tuesday's local elections, and it prompted the evacuation of some 150 workers for about three hours, she said.

"It's devastating" for the county's election workers to be targeted in this fashion, Wise said.

"They are human beings. They have families. They are here to do a job. They believe in democracy."

But she said her team resumed work as soon as they could on Wednesday, undeterred by the incident.

"If anything, it's fired us up even more," Wise added.

"It made us want to continue to do the important work of processing ballots… We are not going to be broken down."

In neighbouring Oregon, an election office in Lane County – which is about 193 kilometres south of Portland – also received a suspicious piece of mail at their office on Wednesday, a county official told CNN.

The reports come against a backdrop of election officials facing threats and harassment, first ignited by false claims of a stolen election in 2020.

Voting rights activists and some state election chiefs have warned that the overheated political climate around voting has contributed to a wave of resignations and retirements by election officials around the country.

The US Justice Department has brought criminal charges against at least 14 people after creating a task force in 2021 to address threats against election workers, according to a recent department summary.

At Thursday's news conference in Georgia, Fulton County Commissioner Robb Pitts said the letters show that there are "some crazy people out there who will go to any extreme to disrupt" US elections.

"It's my personal belief that this is just probably a forerunner into what we can be prepared for in 2024."