Neddy Smith: A Career in Crime
Standing at 6ft 6in, Arthur “Neddy” Smith – the infamous standover man - had a menacing aura. He was a leading underworld figure during the mid-1980s Sydney drug wars. And he drove fear into all he encountered. Today, the 72-year-old...
Lest We Forget: The Indigenous Defence of Land
The Frontier Wars raged across the continent of Australia from 1788 – the year European occupiers arrived – right up until 1934. For the most part these battles, massacres and acts of resistance have been forgotten and remain unacknowledged to...
Community Services Stretched to Limit Over Christmas
Holidays can be a stressful time - extra financial strain, perceived social expectations and excessive consumption of alcohol can add tension to family relationships. For many, the holiday period can be a catalyst for arguments – or even abuse. Many...
Christmas Gone Wrong
Christmas Day is a time to gather with family and friends to rejoice in the yuletide spirit. But for some, a long day of drinking, conversation and festivities can spark pent up emotions and have dangerous consequences. It was reported...
NSW Police Could Face Charges Over Illegal Bugging
By Blake O’Connor and Ugur Nedim The powers of the NSW Police Force have been steadily expanding for well over a decade. Unlike police in the United States, officers in our state are allowed to ‘shoot first and ask questions...
The Delay in Prosecuting the Death of Lynette Daley: A Nation’s Shame
Lynette Daley was already dead by the time paramedics arrived at Ten Mile Beach in northern NSW. It was around 7 am on January 27, 2011 and the 33-year-old mother-of-seven’s body lay bloodied and brutalised. Two men, Adrian Attwater and...
Doctors Without Borders and White Helmets: Helping the Victims of Aleppo
Since 2011, violence and air strikes have been a daily occurrence in Aleppo, Syria, terrorizing the local population. Buildings including schools and hospitals have been reduced to rubble, the air has become thick with dust and pollutants, and basic necessities...
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...
Refused Supreme Court Bail? You May Have Another Chance.
Being refused bail and remanded into custody can be a traumatic and difficult experience, especially over the holiday season. For those who are facing serious criminal charges, delays in the court system can mean they spend over a year in...
Santa Raids Drug Den
We all know Santa’s a good guy, but feelings are mixed about a police officer who dressed up in a Santa suit to conduct a drug raid in the Peruvian capital of Lima. The officer - whose identity has not...