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)
Caroline Byrne jury discharged after misconduct
A jury has been discharged at the murder trial of Gordon Wood, who is accused of throwing his model girlfriend off a cliff.
In discharging the seven women and five men today, Justice Graham Barr said the evidence showed there had been “misconduct” from one or more of the jurors.
He concluded one juror had telephoned a journalist last Thursday to say some jury members planned to have a private night inspection of the death scene of model Caroline Byrne.
The judge added such a visit would be contrary to his specific instructions given at the start of the New South Wales Supreme Court trial last week.
Wood, 45, has pleaded not guilty to murdering 24-year-old Ms Byrne in June 1995 by throwing her over the cliff at The Gap, in Sydney’s east. (news)
Court rules Chinese are black
A court has issued a landmark ruling classifying Chinese South Africans as black, making them eligible for benefits for those discriminated against under the former apartheid regime.
The ruling from the Pretoria high court came after the Chinese Association of South Africa (CASA) challenged their exclusion from laws aimed at redressing economic imbalances under white-minority rule, which ended in 1994.
CASA argued that Chinese citizens continue to be marginalised under the country’s black economic empowerment and affirmative action legislation. Both laws benefit the country’s black, Indian and mixed-race communities. (news)
2 die from salmonella poisoning
2 elderly residents have died after salmonella poisoning struck an Adelaide aged care home.
A third resident is being treated in hospital following the isolated outbreak that poisoned 20 people in the hills facility, South Australia’s chief medical officer Paddy Phillips said.
“One resident died this morning whilst being treated in hospital,” Professor Phillips said.
“The death has been referred to the coroner.
“Another resident receiving palliative care for another condition at the nursing home died this morning.
“Our sincerest condolences go out to their loved ones at this time.” (news)
Intimate piercings outlawed for minors
Australia’s most populous state will ban young teenagers from having intimate body piercings, with authorities saying on Thursday that the health risks from the fashion trend were too great.
New South Wales Community Services Minister Kevin Greene said nipple and genital piercings for under 16s would be outlawed and children would need parental permission for other types of piercing, such as ear, nose and navel.
“Personally, I can’t see why any child under the age of 16 would want to expose their genitalia to a stranger just to fulfil the needs of a fashion or a trend,” he said. (news)
