The defence argues the accused was insane at the time the blaze was lit.

A family has claimed they were wrongly targeted in an act of misguided retaliation after two boys were brutally murdered with machetes in Melbourne's west.

Dau Akueng, 15, Chol Achiek, 12, and a third friend were walking from a bus stop in Cobblebank at about 8pm on September 6 when they were set upon by a group of people.

Now, a father has revealed windows at his property and car were smashed in an early-morning attack today in the same neighbourhood following death threats made online to his teenage daughter.

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"I just woke up with a fright, jumped out of bed," Eddy told 9News.

"I could hear the screaming, I could hear the smashing, and I just instantly ran downstairs."

Nadia, 14, was friends with both boys and has been faced with vile accusations about her association with the gang members potentially involved in the attack.

She and her family have both firmly rejected these claims.

The teenager said Chol was actually on his way to her home from basketball training when he was fatally attacked.

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Police are investigating whether this attack was one of retaliation.

Nadia's phone has been taken away to be examined.

At this stage of the investigation it is still too early to establish a motive.

No arrests have been made following the stabbing deaths of Dau and Chol.

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Hundreds of the colourful cars may still be in circulation despite a nationwide recall.

A five-month-old girl has died and a five-year-old child is in a serious condition after being struck by a car in a carpark in Sydney's south-west.

Emergency services were called to Brookfield Road, Minto about 3.30pm after reports that a pedestrian had been struck by a car.

When police arrived, they found the two children in a serious condition after being hit by an SUV.

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Police attempted CPR on the infant before she was treated by paramedics, but she died on the scene.

The five-year-old was taken to The Children's Hospital at Westmead in a serious but stable condition.

"There were a few people traumatised by seeing it," said a witness.

The 35-year-old behind the wheel was uninjured.

Crash investigators have speculated that the driver may have accidentally put the car in reverse instead of forward.

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Businesses say moving the flower auction online has led to costly quality issues.

The Māori stage will run at a different venue on different days.

A psychotherapist says the family dynamic showed cult-like traits.

The welcome burst of springtime sun has brought with it gale-force winds to five Australian states and territories, triggering mass power outages for thousands.

A severe weather warning for damaging wind gusts is in place for residents in Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, the ACT and southern parts of NSW.

Wind gusts reaching up to 90km/h have ripped off a roof from a home in north-east Melbourne, while the airport has recorded the strongest winds of more than 100km/h.

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The wind also brought down what appeared to be a corrugated roof on a road in Fawkner, north Melbourne.

The SES said it is responding to more than 500 incidents across the city.

Train lines are also impacted as the ferocious winds damaged cabling and ripped up power lines.

Thousands of residents in Melbourne and greater Victoria are without power this afternoon after a surge in wind gusts.

Extreme weather conditions have caused unexpected power outages for more than 3000 people across the city.

The surge of warm air has whipped up a windy frenzy before a cold front which is due to arrive tomorrow, Weatherzone reports.

Power outages also impacted thousands of people in Tasmania earlier today after wind gusts topping 102km/h were recorded in Hobart.

Despite the windy conditions, it will remain a sunny one for the rest of today.

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Warmer weather for most of the country

Springtime sun will wash across much of the land early this week in a break from repeated, successive cold fronts.

Sydney is set for a top of 26 degrees today with sunny skies, rising towards 28 tomorrow, according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

Temperatures will sway between low and high 20s for the rest of the week, with possible showers on Friday and Saturday.

READ MORE: 'Note' left by Charlie Kirk shooting suspect under investigation

Melbourne today has a top of 24 degrees, with the possibility of a late shower.

After today, temperatures in the Victorian capital will dip again, however, and rain will remain a possibility throughout the week.

A sunny Brisbane will peak at 25 today, but Wednesday is set to be the hottest day of the week with a top of 30 degrees.

READ MORE: Car mounts footpath, hits boy in alleged hit and run in Melbourne

There are possible showers forecast toward the end of the week.

Adelaide is running counter to most capitals with rain forecast throughout the week, but temperatures will still top out at 25 today, before plummeting back to 17 degrees tomorrow.

Hobart in Tasmania will top at 23 degrees today, but temperatures are set to remain below 20 for the rest of the week.

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Canberra also is seeing a high of 21 today compared to frostier temperatures and rain the rest of the week.

Darwin will remain at tops of 33 or 34 degrees all week.

Perth will reverse the trend of most capitals, starting out the week chilly and rainy with a top of 17 degrees today.

However, by the end of the week the WA capital has sunny tops of 26 degrees predicted.

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Sharanjit Kaur killed Jono Baker while driving recklessly in an oncoming lane.

A woman who bagged and threw a newborn baby out a window has pleaded guilty to the shocking crime.

Irine Jerotich, 26, briefly faced Melbourne Magistrates Court today accused of reckless conduct endangering life.

An infant was found with life-threatening injuries outside a Dandenong North home about 2.40am on August 30, 2024.

READ MORE: What do we know about Tyler Robinson, the man who allegedly killed Charlie Kirk?

The newborn was taken to hospital, suffering serious injuries.

Jerotich, who is on bail, attended the brief hearing dressed in a white hoodie and a long braided ponytail placed over her shoulder.

She was not required to speak, other than to indicate to magistrate Leon Fluxman that she was pleading guilty to the single offence.

No details of the crime or allegations were aired in court today.

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But charges previously alleged Jerotich placed the baby in a plastic bag and threw the child out the bathroom window onto concrete "that placed (the) unnamed infant in danger of death".

The offence occurred between August 29 and 30, 2024, the court documents reveal.

Jerotich was also previously accused of reckless conduct endangering injury to an infant, but that charge was discontinued.

Her bail was extended until the matter goes to a pre-sentence hearing in the County Court of Victoria in February.

While she is on bail, Jerotich cannot leave Victoria and must reside at her home address.

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