The Santa Claus Slayer: You Better Watch Out!
At 11:30pm on Christmas Eve, 2008, a man dressed as Santa Claus knocked on the door of a house in Covina: a small town 35 kilometres east of Los Angeles. An 8-year-old girl answered the door to find Santa holding...
To Adler or Not to Adler: the Rapid-Fire Shotgun Debate
A controversial ban on the eight-shot Adler A110 lever-action shotgun will remain in place, after state police ministers failed to reach a consensus on its reclassification last Friday. NSW police minister Troy Grant told the meeting that his state would...
Crime Figure Shoots Himself in Testicle
Smoking is a dangerous habit, just ask Omar Chaouk. The son of the late Melbourne underworld boss, Macchour Chaouk, accidentally shot himself in the right testicle when reaching into his pocket for a cigarette, firing his pistol instead. Omar Chaouk...
“Fragile” Police Officer Avoids Prosecution After Bashing Homeless Men
Last week, the South Australian Police Ombudsman called for a constable’s police powers to be revoked in the interests of public safety. The recommendation was made in a report about the officer’s conduct during a violent assault on 5 December...
NSW Police Carry Out Hundreds of Illegal Searches for Firearms
Last week, an ombudsman report revealed NSW police have carried out hundreds of unauthorised searches under increased powers that allow them to search individuals who’ve been served with a firearm prohibition order (FPO) without a warrant. The new search powers...
Reclaim Australia Member Charged with Terrorism
Last December, we reported on the case of 31-year-old Phillip Galea, a member of extreme right-wing group Reclaim Australia who was found in possession of five tasers, more than 3000 times the legal limit of mercury (which can be used...
Illegal Use of Tasers and Police Cover-Ups – the Bugmy Case
The case of Phillip Charles Bugmy was one of several incidents leading to a review by the NSW Ombudman into the use of tasers by police. It preceded the highly publicised case of Brazilian student Roberto Laudisio Curti, who died...
Judge Repeatedly Calls Lawyer “Stupid” and “Incompetent”
Transcripts from a Victorian courtroom detailing a heated exchange between a lawyer and judge have been at the centre of an appeal by Michael Cook, who appealed his armed robbery conviction due to the behaviour of the judge. Mr Cook...
Examples of Why Crime Doesn’t Pay
Just for laughs, we’ve rounded up some of the funniest (attempted) offences from around the globe. 1. A low high A trio of thieves breaking into a home discovered three jars of cocaine, and couldn’t believe their luck! They took...
A Pistol With That, Sir? Officer Leaves Gun at McDonalds
Imagine you’re a car salesman and accidentally have a brand new car stolen because you left it in a public place, unlocked with the keys in the ignition, with a full tank of petrol, while you were on the job....
