A chaotic stabbing and vehicular assault at an Auckland party set in motion a chain of events that would end with Sam Fakalago dying in a hail of police bullets in Wellington.Court documents obtained by the Herald reveal that last…
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Motorcyclist dead following crash near Whangārei
A motorcyclist has died following a serious crash in Northland this morning near Whangārei. Police confirmed the fatal crash occured around 2:30pm on Ngunguru Road, Kiripaka, and involved a single motorcycle.The road is closed…
NSW teen in a serious condition after being run over by crane
A teen is in a serious condition after being run over by a crane at a building site on the New South Wales Central Coast.
It is understood the crane backed over the boy, 16, at 8am this morning in Wadalba.
He sustained serious lower body injuries and was airlifted to hospital.
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He is currently being treated at John Hunter Hospital where he remains in a serious but stable condition.
Greens co-leader James Shaw faces possible leadership challenge
Green Party members have decided to test the waters and see if someone should replace co-leader James Shaw.The Party held its annual general meeting online today where each of the party’s co-leaders are typically re-elected to their…
Brian Tamaki's anti-Government protest: Projectiles thrown by furious motorists, police consider charges against protesters
* Stated plan to cause “major public interruption and disruption” achieved * Sections of Auckland’s Southern Motorway were closed * Motorcyclists rode on wrong side of the road * Traffic blocked on Wellington CBD streets by marchers…
Brian Tamaki breaks silence after anti-government protests
By RNZ Destiny Church leader Brian Tamaki has spoken of his political ambitions following today’s anti-government protests that shutdown streets and motorways across the country. Auckland’s Southern Motorway is now open in both…
Herald afternoon quiz: July 23
Test your brains with the Herald’s afternoon quiz. Be sure to check back on nzherald.co.nz for the morning quiz tomorrow. To challenge yourself with more quizzes, CLICK HERE.
The worst 10 airports for flight delays around the world
A shortage of resources coupled with plenty of enthusiasm for travel has led to chaos at airports around the world. See the which 10 airports have been ranked as the worst for delays at the moment.
Inquest into deaths of two Indigenous girls reopened
This story contains traumatic content. First Nations readers are advised that this story contains images and names of people who have passed away.
The families of two Indigenous teens killed in the 1980s are hoping the reopening of an inquest into their deaths will bring long-awaited closure, almost 35 years after the girls were found on the side of a NSW road.
NSW state coroner Teresa O'Sullivan has revealed the inquest into the deaths of Mona, a 16-year-old Murrawarri and Kunja girl and Jacinta 'Cindy' Smith, a 15-year-old Wangkumara girl will be reopened, with the hope of revealing what happened to them in 1987.
The two cousins were found dead on the side of a road near Bourke, central New South Wales, nine hours' drive northwest of Sydney.
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Their bodies were located near a smashed ute, alongside a middle aged white man who was uninjured in the crash.
Alexander Ian Grant was found with his arm draped across the bare chest of Cindy, who was almost naked.
Grant was charged with drink driving resulting in Mona and Cindy's deaths but was later acquitted by an all white jury.
He was also charged with interfering with Cindy's body however the charge was withdrawn by the Director of Public Prosecutions.
He has since died.
Cindy's sister, Fiona Smith said the reopening of the inquest finally gives their family hope they will uncover the truth of what happened.
"We've been waiting a long time for this moment," she said.
"We're one step closer to finding out the truth and giving the girls closure.
"It's hard to express the emotions we are feeling. Happiness. Sadness. Love. It's overwhelming. We feel lighter now."
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Sister Kerrie Smith said decades ago, police failed their family, adding had the perpetrator been Indigenous, the outcome of the case would be very different.
She said the reopening of the inquest would finally provide a sense of justice to their family.
"We need to find out what really happened to give us some peace, but the police failed us all the way," Smith said.
"What happened to my sister was unforgivable and no-one has ever been held accountable.
"If a blackfella did that to two white girls, they would have gone to jail."
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Barrister Julie Buxton, who has been assisting with the case said it "highlights the vital importance of the jurisdiction of the Coroners Court to deliver grieving families a sense of justice".
"It is a great privilege to assist the families of Mona and Cindy in their quest for answers," she said.
The National Justice Project has assisted in the push to reopen the original 1988 inquest, which was suspended ahead of the trial of the accused man.
The case was never reopened after his acquittal.
"My heart goes out to the families of Mona and Cindy, who have had to wait 34 years to have their questions answered by a court," director of the National Justice Project, George Newhouse said.
"Whilst the alleged perpetrator may be deceased, it is not too late for accountability, truth and perhaps some closure."
If this story has caused you distress, please contact Lifeline (13 11 14) or 13YARN (13 92 76) for support.
US man pleads guilty to casting missing wife's ballot
A Colorado man who had been charged in the presumed death of his missing wife has pleaded guilty to forgery for casting her 2020 election ballot for then-President Donald Trump.
Barry Morphew pleaded guilty on Thursday and was fined and assessed court costs of $600 ($866 AUD), The Denver Post reported.
He avoids jail time as part of a plea agreement.
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Suzanne Morphew was reported missing on Mother's Day in 2020 after she did not return from a bike ride near her home in the Salida area in southern Colorado.
Barry Morphew, who pleaded for help finding his wife, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder and other crimes in 2021, but prosecutors dropped the charges in April.
That decision followed the judge's move to bar prosecutors from presenting most of their key witnesses during Morphew’s scheduled trial because they repeatedly failed to follow rules for turning over evidence in his favour.
The evidence included DNA from an unknown male linked to sexual assault cases in other states, which was found in Suzanne Morphew’s SUV and raised the possibility of another suspect being involved.
Suzanne Morphew's body has not been found.
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In the voter fraud case, investigators said Barry Morphew filled out his missing wife's ballot because he thought Trump could use the extra vote.
Trump lost Colorado to President Joe Biden by 14 percentage points.
“Just because I wanted Trump to win. I just thought, give him another vote. I figured all these other guys are cheating,” he told an FBI agent who confronted him about the ballot in April 2021, according to court documents.
Trump has made repeated claims about fraud and “rigged” election results, but experts say there has been no evidence found of widespread fraud that would have changed the election’s outcome.
Morphew also told the agent he didn't know it was illegal to fill out a ballot on behalf of a spouse.