A driver has been acquitted of murder after a hammer-wielding, near-naked man was fatally struck following a road rage-inspired car chase.

Umar Hussein Alkhalifa Al Enizi, 24, was accused of swerving "violently" and hitting Troy Edward Vandenberg following a traffic dispute south of Brisbane in September 2021.

Vandenberg, 25, was standing in his underwear on a Browns Plains roadway about to throw a hammer at Al Enizi's car when he was struck and flung into the air, the court heard.

READ MORE: Radio icon John Laws dies aged 90

The driver was today found not guilty of murder and a lesser charge of manslaughter in Brisbane Supreme Court after arguing he had acted in "instinctive" self-defence.

Al Enizi blinked back tears when the verdicts were revealed by the jury, which began deliberating on Friday, following a four-day trial before Acting Justice Peter Applegarth.

Members of Vandenberg's family wept as the verdicts were read out and quickly left the court.

The two men were strangers who became involved in an ongoing traffic incident starting at about 2.30pm on September 17, 2021, the court heard.

Witnesses described how Vandenberg, wearing only underwear, got out of his car at traffic lights and hit Al Enizi's vehicle, accusing him of cutting him off.

The pair were also seen throwing punches at each other before driving off to their respective homes.

The incident escalated as the men lived in neighbouring suburbs, with each becoming convinced they were being followed by the other.

READ MORE: 'Dozy Don': Trump Oval Office event images go viral

When they reached another set of traffic lights at Vandenberg's suburb of Browns Plains, dashcam footage showed him getting out of his vehicle and kicking Al Enizi's car.

Vandenberg then pulled over outside his home and retrieved a hammer from his vehicle, the court heard.

As Al Enizi accelerated towards him, Vandenberg leapt out into the road to hurl the hammer at the oncoming vehicle.

Al Enizi then swerved suddenly across two lanes, striking Vandenberg with enough force to hurl him into the air, the court heard.

Vandenberg later died from his injuries.

Defence barrister Saul Holt argued Al Enizi acted in self-defence during the altercation, which began 30 minutes earlier outside the Princess Alexandra Hospital in Brisbane.

Holt told the jury "every time Mr Al Enizi had stopped his car he had been attacked".

"The response was instinctive, it was reflexive and ultimately it was defensive. It certainly wasn't murder or manslaughter," he said.

Crown prosecutor Samantha O'Rourke had argued Al Enizi deliberately struck Vandenberg, intending to do at least grievous bodily harm, and there was no lawful reason for doing so.

Al Enizi left court without speaking to media, as did Vandenberg's family and supporters.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

The daughter of a murdered grandmother has found compassion amid her grief, supporting Ipswich's African community after they were subjected to abuse and harassment following the tragedy.

Vyleen White, 70, was stabbed in a Redbank Plains shopping centre last year.

In the days after the attack, as anger and hostility were being directed at the African community, her daughter Cindy Micallef made a public call for unity.

READ MORE: Radio icon John Laws dies aged 90

Since then, she's been working with the African community, attending events and lending support wherever she can.

"I'm not at that point of forgiveness yet with the offender, I'm sure many can understand that," Micallef told 9News.

"There is a lot of anger and resentment in this world and we can't let bitterness eat us up."

READ MORE: Former Queensland police union boss found dead

Athiei Foundation founder Beny Bol is a leader in Queensland's African community.

He is working alongside Micallef and also visits White's killer in prison.

"(Micallef's) action and her kindness send a very strong message not just to the African community but to the wider Australian community that this is how we should treat each other as Australians," Bol said.

"If we help an offender rehabilitate successfully, that is a healing for the whole community, it is a healing for the families – not just for the particular person, we are helping ourselves as well."

READ MORE: 'Dozy Don': Trump Oval Office event images go viral

The teenager will be sentenced on Wednesday.

White's family campaigned heavily for the introduction of Adult Time, Adult Crime laws in Queensland but the legislation only took effect from December last year so cannot apply to this case unless the judge finds the offending particularly heinous.

"There is justice for us knowing that justice will be served for anyone in the future," Micaellef said.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Victims of the devastating 2019 Cudlee Creek bushfire have initiated one of the largest class actions in South Australian history, seeking more than $200 million in compensation. 

The fire on December 20, 2019, impacted numerous South Australians, destroying more than 80 homes, ravaging over 20,000 hectares, and tragically claiming one life.

The class action lawsuit alleges negligence on the part of SA Power Networks, attributing the fire's origin to a fallen pine tree impacting a powerline. 

READ MORE: John Laws to be farewelled at state funeral

Lawyers for the thousands of plaintiffs claim that SA Power Networks failed to adequately maintain the powerlines, despite prior incidents of trees falling in the area.

"When a fire's an act of God – lightning, something like that – you just have to take that that's how life is and things like that can happen," lead plaintiff Kris Thrower said.

"But when it's man-made, it's very, very different… it does make you very, very angry."

Thrower's home was destroyed in the devastating blaze, leaving him with next to nothing.

"All I had was working pants and a shirt… I didn't even have a toothbrush, neither did my family or anyone else," he said.

READ MORE: Government defends social ban for kids but admits it 'won't be perfect'

"My firm's been doing bushfire litigation since 1983 right across Australia, and this is the biggest case we've been involved in," plaintiff solicitor Brendan Pendergast said.

The landmark class action trial is one of the largest in South Australian history.

It's expected to run for at least the next five weeks and will hear evidence from a number of internationally regarded experts.

The plaintiffs are seeking more than $200 million in compensation. 

SA Power Networks has denied the allegations.

This article was produced with the assistance of 9ExPress.

A woman and a child have drowned after falling into a waterway in Melbourne's south-east.

The pair were swept into the water at Dandenong Creek, near Allan Street in Dandenong about 3.45pm, a witness told police.

Police believe the woman got into trouble after she went to the aid of the child in the water.

READ MORE: Australian embassy shut down as 'super typhoon' claims lives

Police searched the area and located the pair unconscious.

Officers pulled them from the water and performed CPR, but sadly they were unable to be revived.

They are yet to be formally identified and were declared deceased at the scene.

Police will prepare a report for the coroner.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Princess Anne has laid a wreath and met with the grieving families of the two police officers who were killed in Porepunkah in Victoria.

In her royal highness's first visit to Melbourne in more than 15 years, all of her engagements have been held away from the public.

Anne greeted Premier Jacinta Allan and Chief Commissioner Mike Bush for a small and intimate ceremony at the Victoria Police Memorial, and spoke to the families of the two police officers killed in Porpeunkah.

READ MORE: Radio icon John Laws dies aged 90

The princess also laid a wreath in honour of the fallen.

Her itinerary was kept a closely guarded secret until the last minute.

After slipping through the airport last night, passers-by still managed to get a glimpse of the princess on her first trip to Melbourne since 2009.

READ MORE: 'Dozy Don': Trump Oval Office event images go viral

Unlike past visits to Melbourne, Anne won't be shaking hands with members of the public; instead, her schedule is full of official duties

Her visit is part of a four-day east coast trip as Colonel-in-Chief of the Royal Australian Corps of Signals, to mark its centenary.

At the Simpson Barracks in Melbourne's north-east, she received a royal salute and inspected the Quarter Guard.

The 75-year-old also met servicemen and women, as well as inspected the arsenal.

A state funeral will be held for broadcasting legend John Laws after his family accepted the offer from NSW Premier Chris Minns.

Laws died aged 90 at his Woolloomooloo home in Sydney on the weekend after spending two weeks in hospital last month.

His death has sparked a wave of tributes, including from Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Oscar-winning actor Russell Crowe.

READ MORE: Classic $120,000 convertible stolen from Victorian home

The Laws family accepted the state funeral offer tonight, 9News reporter Damien Ryan says, with details of when it will take place yet to be decided.

Minns issued his own tribute to the radio giant dubbed "Golden Tonsils", and backed that up on Today this morning, calling Laws an "absolute legend".

"A big loss for broadcasting and Australia," he said.

Asked whether a state funeral would be possible for the man who, during his career, held the ear of Australians around the country, Minns said it was possible.

READ MORE: Mystery 'fedora man' at Louvre robbery scene unmasked

"I haven't spoken to the family yet, I'm not sure if that's their desire (but) we're doing everything to acknowledge his legacy and reputation," he said.

"If they would like to do it, we'd love to offer it."

Laws retired from radio for the second and final time just last year, after a career spanning more than 70 years.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

Helicopter boss was the first civilian to land on the island after its deadly eruption.

Official documents show armed soldiers expert in tracking joined police to find fugitive.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has acknowledged his government's looming social media ban for children isn't perfect, but has insisted it's the right thing to do to protect an entire generation.

The ban, which will force certain social media companies to prohibit Australians aged under 16 from using their platforms, comes into effect a month from today, on December 10.

Speaking today outside parliament about the landmark laws, Albanese insisted the measure was appropriate.

EXPLAINED: Australia's social media ban comes into effect next month. Here is what it will look like

"This is about letting kids be kids. It's also about empowering parents to be able to have those discussions with their children," he told reporters.

"We don't argue that these laws will be perfect in their implementation. 

"We do argue, very strongly, though, that this is the government of Australia setting down what we expect to happen, including reminding social media companies that they have a social responsibility, and that they need to be conscious about their social licence, like other businesses."

The laws have, as expected, come under fire from the multinational tech giants whose platforms will be impacted by the ban, but have also faced criticism from closer to home about which sites are and aren't included, and a lack of information about the changes that come into effect in a month.

READ MORE: Millions of Australians warned of jump in health insurance premiums

Communications Minister Anika Wells defended the implementation of what she called a "world-leading" reform, saying there had been a 20-fold increase in traffic to the eSafety website since the launch of a national education campaign three weeks ago.

"Our social media laws are not a cure, but they are a treatment plan," she said. 

"We want children to have their childhood and we want parents to have peace of mind. 

"This reform will not just change a law. It will change a generation.

"We know this law will not be perfect, but it is too important not to have a crack."

She added that social media companies have to communicate with their users about the ban before it comes into effect, although admitted exactly when that communication happens hasn't been set.

"Perhaps in the week leading up to 10 December," she said.

DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP: Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the Apple App Store and Google Play.

The debate between political opponents was sparked by a new Treasury report.