UPDATE 12.55pm: POLICE are hunting for a man who attempted to abduct an 11-year-old boy in Dallas on Saturday.
The young boy was playing in the front yard of a home in Tooradin Avenue when he was approached by the man who tried to lure him with lollies about 3.30pm.
It comes after another 11-year-old Melbourne boy was lucky to escape an attempted abduction after he sprinted away from a man who offered him lollies to get into his van in Belgrave Heights, earlier this month.
In yesterday's incident, the man, described as having an olive complexion and dark hair with a rat's tail, motioned to the boy to try and get him to move closer to him.
He also spoke to the boy in a foreign language which the boy did not understand.
The 11-year-old ran inside to alert his parents to the man who fled the scene in a yellow sedan.
Detective Senior Constable Costakis Costa said the incident was particularly worrying.
"Understandably the boy was quite scared and afraid,'' Det-Sgt Berry said.
''(The man) didn't touch the child at all but it was quite evident that he wanted the child to come with him.
"This is a good reminder to the community to educate children about stranger danger and be vigilant," he said.
Police have released the image of a man they wish to speak to in relation to the matter along with an image of a car they believe is similar to that the offender drove.
Tuesday, August 24, 2010
Indian Taxi driver
From the Ninemsn website on 24/8/10 titled "Taxi driver ran down boy over $20 Fare"
An Adelaide taxi driver has admitted running over a boy after he refused to pay a $20 fare.
Dung Tran, 16, was left with severe injuries and required a leg amputation.
He had been travelling with a group of friends in a taxi driven by 22-year-old Baljeet Singh.
The group ran from the cab without paying the $20 fare, Adelaide Now reports.
Singh then allegedly drove his taxi on the kerb and hit Mr Tran.
Singh appeared in the District Court in Adelaide today and pleaded guilty to one count of causing serious harm by dangerous driving, and one count of leaving the scene of an accident after causing physical harm by careless driving.
He was remanded on continuing bail until next month.
An Adelaide taxi driver has admitted running over a boy after he refused to pay a $20 fare.
Dung Tran, 16, was left with severe injuries and required a leg amputation.
He had been travelling with a group of friends in a taxi driven by 22-year-old Baljeet Singh.
The group ran from the cab without paying the $20 fare, Adelaide Now reports.
Singh then allegedly drove his taxi on the kerb and hit Mr Tran.
Singh appeared in the District Court in Adelaide today and pleaded guilty to one count of causing serious harm by dangerous driving, and one count of leaving the scene of an accident after causing physical harm by careless driving.
He was remanded on continuing bail until next month.
Friday, August 20, 2010
Murder of elderly lady
Man jailed for 13 years for manslaughter
From the ABC news website on 20/8/10
written by Jason Rawlins
A man who broke into an elderly woman's unit on Queensland's Gold Coast before killing her and sexually interfering with her corpse has been jailed for 13 years.
Maurizio Perini, 38, killed Carmel Wuth, 76, at the Trinity Gardens Retirement Hostel at Southport in March 2008.
Perini was living at the hostel at the time but was to be evicted, later telling police he killed Ms Wuth so that he would go to jail and have somewhere to live.
He also said that if he had not been arrested he would have killed another resident.
The court heard Perini was intellectually disabled and his moral compass pointed in the wrong direction.
Justice James Douglas said that was evidenced in the cold and emotionless way Perini described his crimes to police.
Justice Douglas jailed Perini for 13 years and declared him a serious violent offender.
'Seeking advice'
Queensland Attorney General Cameron Dick is seeking advice about the adequacy of the sentence imposed on Perini.
He says the case involves very serious and complex matters, including a rulling by the Mental Health Court that the offender had an abnormality of mind.
An appeal can be lodged within 28 days from the day of sentencing.
From the ABC news website on 20/8/10
written by Jason Rawlins
A man who broke into an elderly woman's unit on Queensland's Gold Coast before killing her and sexually interfering with her corpse has been jailed for 13 years.
Maurizio Perini, 38, killed Carmel Wuth, 76, at the Trinity Gardens Retirement Hostel at Southport in March 2008.
Perini was living at the hostel at the time but was to be evicted, later telling police he killed Ms Wuth so that he would go to jail and have somewhere to live.
He also said that if he had not been arrested he would have killed another resident.
The court heard Perini was intellectually disabled and his moral compass pointed in the wrong direction.
Justice James Douglas said that was evidenced in the cold and emotionless way Perini described his crimes to police.
Justice Douglas jailed Perini for 13 years and declared him a serious violent offender.
'Seeking advice'
Queensland Attorney General Cameron Dick is seeking advice about the adequacy of the sentence imposed on Perini.
He says the case involves very serious and complex matters, including a rulling by the Mental Health Court that the offender had an abnormality of mind.
An appeal can be lodged within 28 days from the day of sentencing.
Sudanese refugee murderer
Man jailed for screwdriver stab death
August 20, 2010 - 3:59PM taken from the SMH
A Sudanese refugee who fled his homeland to escape becoming a child soldier has been jailed for killing a countryman in Melbourne.
Stephen Tito and Afran Kodi both fled war-torn Sudan with their families for a better life in Melbourne, the Victorian Supreme Court heard on Friday.
But Mr Kodi's life ended after he was stabbed with a screwdriver by a drunken Tito following a barbecue on Boxing Day 2008 in suburban Reservoir.
Tito, who had consumed a bottle of bourbon and several beers, picked a fight with the unarmed Mr Kodi.
He stabbed his former friend three times, and the third blow pierced Mr Kodi's head.
Tito, 22, then kicked Mr Kodi's unconscious body in the chest, pulled the screwdriver out of his head and left.
Mr Kodi, 19, died in hospital the next day.
Tito, who was found guilty by a jury of manslaughter and acquitted of murder, was jailed for 10 years on Friday.
Justice Terry Forrest said one of the reasons Tito's family fled Sudan when Tito was aged 12 was because they feared he would be kidnapped and forced to become a child soldier.
The family came to Australia when he was aged 16.
Justice Forrest said Mr Kodi's family also left Sudan for a better life in Australia.
"Your actions cut short the life of a decent young man," he said.
"His family, like your family, came to this country in search of a better life.
"By your actions, you have inflicted a blow from which the Kodi family may never recover. Your family may never fully recover either."
Less than two months before the fatal stabbing, Tito had been convicted by a court of affray and intentionally causing serious injury and given a suspended sentence.
Justice Forrest noted Tito was alcohol-affected during that fight.
"It is clear enough that the abuse of alcohol is a problem for you, as it is for so many young Australians," he said.
"Young people in this state are being killed or seriously injured in alcohol-fuelled fighting on an alarmingly regular basis.
"People inclined to participate in these sorts of drunken fights must understand they do so at their peril and that the courts will not tolerate that type of conduct."
He said Tito, who had been doing a spray painting course at TAFE before the stabbing, had used his time in custody productively, completing many courses including anger management and a drug and alcohol program.
Tito told the court at his pre-sentence hearing he was sorry for what he had done and was determined to make something of his life.
Justice Forrest ordered Tito serve a minimum of six years and three months before being eligible for parole.
He has already served 602 days in custody.
August 20, 2010 - 3:59PM taken from the SMH
A Sudanese refugee who fled his homeland to escape becoming a child soldier has been jailed for killing a countryman in Melbourne.
Stephen Tito and Afran Kodi both fled war-torn Sudan with their families for a better life in Melbourne, the Victorian Supreme Court heard on Friday.
But Mr Kodi's life ended after he was stabbed with a screwdriver by a drunken Tito following a barbecue on Boxing Day 2008 in suburban Reservoir.
Tito, who had consumed a bottle of bourbon and several beers, picked a fight with the unarmed Mr Kodi.
He stabbed his former friend three times, and the third blow pierced Mr Kodi's head.
Tito, 22, then kicked Mr Kodi's unconscious body in the chest, pulled the screwdriver out of his head and left.
Mr Kodi, 19, died in hospital the next day.
Tito, who was found guilty by a jury of manslaughter and acquitted of murder, was jailed for 10 years on Friday.
Justice Terry Forrest said one of the reasons Tito's family fled Sudan when Tito was aged 12 was because they feared he would be kidnapped and forced to become a child soldier.
The family came to Australia when he was aged 16.
Justice Forrest said Mr Kodi's family also left Sudan for a better life in Australia.
"Your actions cut short the life of a decent young man," he said.
"His family, like your family, came to this country in search of a better life.
"By your actions, you have inflicted a blow from which the Kodi family may never recover. Your family may never fully recover either."
Less than two months before the fatal stabbing, Tito had been convicted by a court of affray and intentionally causing serious injury and given a suspended sentence.
Justice Forrest noted Tito was alcohol-affected during that fight.
"It is clear enough that the abuse of alcohol is a problem for you, as it is for so many young Australians," he said.
"Young people in this state are being killed or seriously injured in alcohol-fuelled fighting on an alarmingly regular basis.
"People inclined to participate in these sorts of drunken fights must understand they do so at their peril and that the courts will not tolerate that type of conduct."
He said Tito, who had been doing a spray painting course at TAFE before the stabbing, had used his time in custody productively, completing many courses including anger management and a drug and alcohol program.
Tito told the court at his pre-sentence hearing he was sorry for what he had done and was determined to make something of his life.
Justice Forrest ordered Tito serve a minimum of six years and three months before being eligible for parole.
He has already served 602 days in custody.
Italian murders two by stabbing
From the ABC news for 20/8/10 titled "Man arrested in Italy over Sydney double murder"
A man has been arrested in Italy over the stabbing deaths of two brothers in Sydney's inner west last year.
Albert Frisoli, 56, and his 52-year-old brother Mario Frisoli were stabbed to death in their Rozelle home in May last year.
They were property developers, well known in the business community of the inner west.
Mario Frisoli had two daughters who made a public appeal for help, but after that the publicity surrounding the case died down.
That is because the suspect, Giuseppe Di Canni had left the country.
Yesterday he was arrested in the Italian town of Cosenza.
He is in jail now awaiting extradition to Australia.
A man has been arrested in Italy over the stabbing deaths of two brothers in Sydney's inner west last year.
Albert Frisoli, 56, and his 52-year-old brother Mario Frisoli were stabbed to death in their Rozelle home in May last year.
They were property developers, well known in the business community of the inner west.
Mario Frisoli had two daughters who made a public appeal for help, but after that the publicity surrounding the case died down.
That is because the suspect, Giuseppe Di Canni had left the country.
Yesterday he was arrested in the Italian town of Cosenza.
He is in jail now awaiting extradition to Australia.
Thursday, August 19, 2010
taxi driver attempted abduction
Police investigate taxi cab abduction attempt on Melbourne woman
From: AAP
August 19, 2010 10:22AM
POLICE are investigating the attempted abduction of a 28-year-old woman who was forced to jump from a moving taxi in central Melbourne.
The Mooroolbark woman hailed a taxi near the intersection of Swanston and Latrobe streets about 1am (AEST) on August 1.Police said the taxi driver threatened to harm the woman and ignored several requests to pick up her friends from a city intersection.As the driver continued east along Latrobe St between Swanston and Russell sts, the woman opened the right passenger door and jumped from the moving taxi.The woman landed on the road and was assisted by witnesses from a car travelling behind the taxi.She suffered serious head injuries and was taken to St Vincents Hospital where she remained for 10 days.The taxi driver is described as either of Middle Eastern or Indian appearance and has not yet been identified.
From: AAP
August 19, 2010 10:22AM
POLICE are investigating the attempted abduction of a 28-year-old woman who was forced to jump from a moving taxi in central Melbourne.
The Mooroolbark woman hailed a taxi near the intersection of Swanston and Latrobe streets about 1am (AEST) on August 1.Police said the taxi driver threatened to harm the woman and ignored several requests to pick up her friends from a city intersection.As the driver continued east along Latrobe St between Swanston and Russell sts, the woman opened the right passenger door and jumped from the moving taxi.The woman landed on the road and was assisted by witnesses from a car travelling behind the taxi.She suffered serious head injuries and was taken to St Vincents Hospital where she remained for 10 days.The taxi driver is described as either of Middle Eastern or Indian appearance and has not yet been identified.
Police investigate Kurdish Community
From the HeraldSun on 19/8/10 by Wayne Flower and Amelia Harris titled "Police raid Kurdish asssociation HQ in anti-terrorism funding blitz.
A COMMUNITY lawyer has condemned the timing of a police raid on the Kurdish Association of Victoria's hall as a political stunt.
Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police officers conducted the raids at Glenroy, Coolaroo, Pascoe Vale and Dandenong as part of a joint operation which an AFP spokeswoman relates to the financing of a terrorist organisation.
The headquarters of the Kurdish Association of Victoria in Pascoe Vale was one of the buildings raided.
Moreland Community Legal Centre principal lawyer Chris Ryan - who works closely with the group - suggested the raid was a political stunt.
"We believe that this is more than a coincidence that this has happened now,'' he told reporters.
''I mean, the warrants were issued the other day. It didn't have to happen now, it could have happened after the election but is hasn't happened after the election has it?''
Police loaded boxloads of evidence into a car before allowing members back into the building.
A spokesperson said the organisation would not be making a comment on the matter today.
Worried members of the association have gathered outside the building, where police continue to interview the association's president.
Member Gulay Baykal protested the organisation's innocence.
"We were not expecting this. I never thought it could happen,'' she said.
''This is a community based organisation. We are trying to respond to social and cultural needs of the Kurdish community. We don't know what's going on. We are just concerned.
"We are innocent. We haven't done anything wrong here.
"We've been here since 1984 so this is the main organisation of Kurdish people who live in Victoria.''
Ms Baykal acknowledged the struggle of the Kurdish people in Turkey, but denied the group was helping to fund terror attacks.
"Many people have been imprisoned and many people have been killed so of course there is a struggle there for cultural and identity rights and here we are doing the same thing.''
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been listed by the Australian Government as a terrorist organisation since 2005, has killed at least 40 Turkish civilians in suicide attacks since 2008.
There has been as yet no suggestion by investigators that the raids are connected to the PKK.
The Kurdish people are nationless and are one of the largest minority ethnic groups in the world.
Approximately 15 to 20 million Kurds live in the unofficial “Kurdistan” region between Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Turkey. At least eight million Kurds live in southeast Turkey.
Other members of the Victorian Kurdish Association said today they were baffled about why the hall was raided.
''It's shocking,'' a woman said. ''We don't know what is going on.
''This is a friendly place,'' another man said. ''They help a lot of people.''
The AFP rang members of the association at 6am this morning saying they had search warrants for the hall and wanted to know who had the keys.
"The association has been running for 25 years in Australia and this is the first time anything like this has ever been happening," one member said.
"All our finances are accountable.
"We’ve never had any issues with any government bodies before. I can only assume that someone’s made a dobbing and the police have just come."
One member told the Herald Sun the association had "always had a good relationship’’ with Australian police.
An AFP spokeswoman said the operation did not relate to a terror-related threat or incident.
The spokeswoman would not say what was seized and what arrests, if any, had been made.
The AFP later issued a brief statement on the raids.
"The Joint Counter Terrorism Team located in Melbourne has this morning executed a number of search warrants as part of a joint counter terrorism investigation into allegations of financing of a terrorist organisation,'' the federal police said.
"The community can be assured that this investigation is not related to any terrorist related threat or incident.
"It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage as it is an ongoing operational matter.''
- with Mark Buttler and AAP
A COMMUNITY lawyer has condemned the timing of a police raid on the Kurdish Association of Victoria's hall as a political stunt.
Australian Federal Police and Victoria Police officers conducted the raids at Glenroy, Coolaroo, Pascoe Vale and Dandenong as part of a joint operation which an AFP spokeswoman relates to the financing of a terrorist organisation.
The headquarters of the Kurdish Association of Victoria in Pascoe Vale was one of the buildings raided.
Moreland Community Legal Centre principal lawyer Chris Ryan - who works closely with the group - suggested the raid was a political stunt.
"We believe that this is more than a coincidence that this has happened now,'' he told reporters.
''I mean, the warrants were issued the other day. It didn't have to happen now, it could have happened after the election but is hasn't happened after the election has it?''
Police loaded boxloads of evidence into a car before allowing members back into the building.
A spokesperson said the organisation would not be making a comment on the matter today.
Worried members of the association have gathered outside the building, where police continue to interview the association's president.
Member Gulay Baykal protested the organisation's innocence.
"We were not expecting this. I never thought it could happen,'' she said.
''This is a community based organisation. We are trying to respond to social and cultural needs of the Kurdish community. We don't know what's going on. We are just concerned.
"We are innocent. We haven't done anything wrong here.
"We've been here since 1984 so this is the main organisation of Kurdish people who live in Victoria.''
Ms Baykal acknowledged the struggle of the Kurdish people in Turkey, but denied the group was helping to fund terror attacks.
"Many people have been imprisoned and many people have been killed so of course there is a struggle there for cultural and identity rights and here we are doing the same thing.''
The Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), which has been listed by the Australian Government as a terrorist organisation since 2005, has killed at least 40 Turkish civilians in suicide attacks since 2008.
There has been as yet no suggestion by investigators that the raids are connected to the PKK.
The Kurdish people are nationless and are one of the largest minority ethnic groups in the world.
Approximately 15 to 20 million Kurds live in the unofficial “Kurdistan” region between Armenia, Iran, Iraq and Turkey. At least eight million Kurds live in southeast Turkey.
Other members of the Victorian Kurdish Association said today they were baffled about why the hall was raided.
''It's shocking,'' a woman said. ''We don't know what is going on.
''This is a friendly place,'' another man said. ''They help a lot of people.''
The AFP rang members of the association at 6am this morning saying they had search warrants for the hall and wanted to know who had the keys.
"The association has been running for 25 years in Australia and this is the first time anything like this has ever been happening," one member said.
"All our finances are accountable.
"We’ve never had any issues with any government bodies before. I can only assume that someone’s made a dobbing and the police have just come."
One member told the Herald Sun the association had "always had a good relationship’’ with Australian police.
An AFP spokeswoman said the operation did not relate to a terror-related threat or incident.
The spokeswoman would not say what was seized and what arrests, if any, had been made.
The AFP later issued a brief statement on the raids.
"The Joint Counter Terrorism Team located in Melbourne has this morning executed a number of search warrants as part of a joint counter terrorism investigation into allegations of financing of a terrorist organisation,'' the federal police said.
"The community can be assured that this investigation is not related to any terrorist related threat or incident.
"It would not be appropriate to comment further at this stage as it is an ongoing operational matter.''
- with Mark Buttler and AAP
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