Historic life sentence over schoolgirl’s callous murder
Schoolgirl Charlise Mutten's killer has been sentenced to life in prison without parole, with the murder labelled, "gravely reprehensible and extremely wicked".
Crime Law and Justice
Accused knifeman identified after stabbing rampage
A 58-year-old man accused of stabbing his partner and then allegedly attacking those who came to her aid has been charged with attempted murder and denied bail.
Reprisal fears after shooting hit on ‘Angel of Death’
Drawing up a shortlist of suspects in the killing of an underworld figure is proving difficult because of the many people who wanted him dead, police say.
Neighbour heard ‘terrifying’ attack, murder trial told
A neighbour heard a "terrifying" altercation in a woman's backyard hours before her daughter found her body, the trial of an alleged serial killer has heard.
Common drugs being laced with deadly potent synthetics
Extremely potent synthetics drugs that have already caused dozens of overdose deaths in 2024 are being found in vaping liquid, ecstasy and depressants.
Home Affairs refuses apology to detainee over treatment
An immigration detainee held on Christmas Island was subject to unjustified force by security officers, but the Australian government will not apologise.
Pacific backs Australia’s regional police initiative
Anthony Albanese has wasted no time getting to work at the Pacific Islands Forum in Tonga, announcing support for his Pacific Policing Initiative.
‘Closure’ for victims as serial rapist swim coach named
Former champion swimming coach Richard "Dick" Caine raped and sexually assaulted young athletes over several years, leaving lasting scars on his many victims.
Budget blow as state’s child sexual abuse payouts soar
Tasmania's budget deficit for 2023/24 is set to grow fourfold, mainly because of a $571 million increase in payouts to child sexual abuse survivors.
Senator recalls Labor’s ‘heartless’ attacks on Reynolds
A senator has told a court how party colleague Linda Reynolds was aggressively targeted in parliament during "heartless attacks".
Crack down on construction union clears final hurdle
The CFMEU has signalled it could challenge new laws forcing it into administration for at least three years, as parliament agreed to pass the reforms.
Scaffold crumbles on construction union crackdown law
Hopes new laws would put the construction union into administration quickly following allegations of organised crime links have been dashed as talks stall.
Push to stop Lawyer X compensation claims hits skids
A bill stopping compensation claims over the use of lawyers as police informants at the height of Melbourne's gangland war could be doomed to fail.
Husband charged over alleged 1998 fake robbery murder
More than a quarter-century after the death of a 53-year-old woman, police have charged her husband with murder and say he faked a break-in to cover his tracks.
Advocate’s alleged abuser to fight charges at trial
The alleged abuser of victim advocate Manny Waks has been committed to stand trial after pleading not guilty to historical child sexual offences.
Immunity ‘dilemma’ for High Court over judge’s error
The High Court is facing the "exquisite dilemma" of deciding whether the benefits of wide judicial immunity outweigh the potential harm to wronged individuals.
‘Manipulative’ cold case murder accused freed on bail
A man accused of murdering his wife 26 years ago and covering it up with a false home invasion story has been granted bail despite concerns about his release.
Australian girl confirmed as London stabbing victim
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has confirmed an 11-year-old girl who was seriously injured in a stabbing attack in central London is an Australian.
Push to ban gangland compo claims startles top lawyers
Top lawyers fear a push to ban compensation claims over the use of lawyers as police informants is dangerous, but the government says rights are not at risk.
Ex-cop faces court on double DV-murder charges
Former senior constable Beaumont Lamarre-Condon has been accused of breaking into a former date's home, and murdering the man and his new boyfriend.
Teen begged for help after mother’s alleged murder
A teenager has recounted her mother's final moments as she gave evidence against her father in his Supreme Court murder trial.
CFMEU crackdown faces delay as negotiations drag
The coalition wants to strengthen Labor laws to take over the CFMEU but the push for an inquiry is being criticised with concerns witnesses won't come forward.
No change to judges’ immunity urged despite ‘rare case’
The High Court is hearing arguments on judges' immunity from being sued and if a man traumatised behind bars after being wrongly jailed is entitled to damages.
Laws to demolish resistance by CFMEU bosses to takeover
The scaffolding will be pulled from under the CFMEU as the union's construction division fights administration with legislation about to be introduced.
Wong condemns Israeli minister’s starvation comments
Foreign Minister Penny Wong has joined international counterparts in slamming an Israeli minister's comments justifying the use of starvation on Gazans.
Caddick’s fraud victims get compensation, more to flow
Melissa Caddick's fraud victims have only recovered a fraction of the $23 million she swindled from them in a Ponzi scheme.
Ezidi refugees mark decade of surviving ISIS massacres
Hundreds of Ezidi refugees have gathered in regional NSW towns to commemorate 10 years since surviving terrorist group ISIS killing men and enslaving women.
‘Unprecedented’ evidence: Samantha Murphy case delayed
The case against Samantha Murphy's alleged killer has been delayed by more than three months as a prosecutors work through a "significant" brief of evidence.
Australia must pay war crime victims, UN experts urge
Australia's failure to compensate victims more than a decade after Australian soldiers allegedly killed Afghan civilians, has been criticised by UN experts.
Son of slain mother recalls father chasing him with axe
The son of a man on trial for killing his estranged wife has recalled how his father chased and attacked him with an axe when he tried to run for help.
Reynolds feared losing job over ‘lying cow’ comment
Senator Linda Reynolds has told her defamation trial she feared losing her ministerial job after she called Brittany Higgins a "lying cow".