Old couple murdered over cat dispute
A 42 year old woman has appeared in court charged with the murder of an elderly couple on the New South Wales far south coast.
Tracey Lee Pratt faced Batemans Bay Local Court today charged with murdering Ken Keyte, 86, and his wife Margaret Keyte, 71.
The couple’s bodies were found by police at their home on Beach Road, Batehaven, about 9.30pm (AEST) on August 10.
Both had severe head injuries which police believe were caused by a blunt instrument. (news)
Robert Yates guilty of underaged sex crime
The former manager of hit 1980s band Mi-Sex had sex with an underage girl he met on the internet after being stranded when his yacht was damaged in a storm, a Melbourne court has heard.
Robert Yates, 63, of Katoomba, in the NSW Blue Mountains, has pleaded guilty to having sex with a 15-year-old girl in an outer suburban motel after responding to her profile on a website called Adult Friend Finder.
Yates’ lawyer told the court his client became lonely and isolated after his yacht was anchored in Coffs Harbour, in NSW, for six months of repairs in April 2007.
During this time, he lived in a small hotel room and developed a pattern of drinking up to two bottles of wine each day, browsing the internet to combat his isolation, the court heard. (news)
Snow in NSW?
A big dump of winter snow has blocked roads and stranded about 20 motorists in NSW’s central west, and authorities have warned more is on the way.
The State Emergency Service (SES) said the motorists became trapped in their vehicles while travelling on the road between Orange and Canowindra.
“It was approximately 20 motorists,” said SES spokesman Phil Campbell, adding there was too much snow on the road for them to go forward.
“As it turned out, the snow abated very quickly and those motorists were able to get their cars going again.” (news)
News crew overzealous with MP Belinda Neal
Federal MP Belinda Neal called NSW police alleging she was assaulted by a television crew, but is still yet to speak to them about her night out at Iguanas Waterfront Bar.
Ms Neal said a team from the Nine Network’s A Current Affair program followed her from her home on the NSW Central Coast to her electorate office in Gosford.
In a statement, she said police are now investigating her claim she was assaulted by the crew when it forced its way into a secure area at the rear of her office.
A Current Affair reporter Ben Fordham has denied harassing Ms Neal after confronting her at the rear of her office building and following her inside.
“I didn’t force my way through a secure area. I didn’t pursue Ms Neal into her office. I didn’t assault Ms Neal,” he said in a statement. (news)
System failed Gary Bell’s children
The desperate plight of three children found murdered by their violent father yesterday was known to the NSW Department of Community Services, which gave up on them.
Just days earlier, the children’s father Gary Bell, 44 was released by police on bail after bashing his wife, with the officers notifying the beleaguered department about Jack, 7, Maddie, 5 and Bon, aged just 18 months.
Last night, hours after their tiny bodies and their dead father were found in a 4WD at the family’s home at Pericoe on the Far South Coast, DOCS admitted it failed to reach the family and offered the excuse that staff had tried.
It is believed the children and father had been dead for days. (news)
