A Canberra public servant jailed for sexually abusing a child with physical and mental disabilities claimed he could not have abused her because she was “not even pretty”. Sentencing the man earlier this week for the abuse of two young girls, ACT Supreme Court Justice Michael Elkaim labelled the man’s denigration of one victim, referred to as SN, and her family as “callous”. In denying the allegation related to SN, who was born with a birth defect that resulted in physical and mental disabilities, the man referred to her as “a few sheep short of a paddock”. He furthered his denial by claiming “she is not even pretty”. SN was aged between 12 and 14 years old when she was abused by the man. In October last year a jury found the man guilty of five counts of sexual intercourse with a young person, and one count of maintaining a sexual relationship with a young person. Before he was sentenced, several victim impact statements were supplied to the court by SN and her family. “You have no idea how hard I have worked to create a safe and loving environment for my daughter,” her mother wrote. “A world of promises, trust and confidence. Justice Elkaim described SN’s victim impact statement as a drawing of “a very sad face”. The man was also sentenced for a string of abuse of his then-partner’s daughter when she was aged 10 and 11. He repeatedly tricked her into performing sex acts under the pretence they were playing a game. With regard to that offending, Justice Elkaim said the crimes were “objectively serious, taking into account the complainant’s age and the devious subterfuge employed by the offender to bluff the complainant into playing the game”. The man, who cannot be named to protect the identities of his victims, was sentenced to seven years and six months in prison. He will be eligible for parole in October 2023.
February 1, 2019
A prominent male doctor has been identified as one of two people killed inside a Rockhampton house on Monday night. The bodies of anaesthetist Dr Andrew Carll and an unidentified woman were found by police in the main bedroom of a house on Frenchville Road about 9:30pm when officers responded to a triple-0 call. Police declared the site a crime scene and are treating the deaths as suspicious.
February 1, 2019
The lawyer for a celebrity psychologist and former scoutmaster charged over historic child sex offences says his client is “in a state of shock” and “quite depressed” after being charged. NSW Police allege Bob Montgomery sexually assaulted three 12-year-old boys in the 1960s while he was a scoutmaster in Sydney’s east and inner west. The prominent psychologist appeared on Channel 10’s television program Big Brother as a guest consultant and as an expert on ABC radio programs.
February 1, 2019
North and West Remote Health Limited & Warren and Another face a s.365 (Application to deal with contraventions involving dismissal) before Fair Work Deputy President Boyce in his Brisbane chambers (Bewsher).
February 1, 2019
A s.185 (Application for approval of a single-enterprise agreement) from Orana Incorporated Limited for its Orana Australia Limited and United Voice Enterprise Agreement 2018 has been granted by Fair Work Commissioner Platt in Adelaide on 31 January 2019.
February 1, 2019
Life Without Barriers is set to defend a s.394 (Application for unfair dismissal remedy) in front of Fair Work Deputy President Beaumont in Hearing Room 12.05 in Perth (Sharkey).
February 1, 2019
Jim Minto was recently appointed as a director to Swiss Re Life & Health Australia and the firm’s advisory board. The former TAL chief executive and managing director currently serves on the boards of Dai-ichi Life Asia Pacific and Equity Trustees, as well as the National Disability Insurance Agency.
February 1, 2019
Police are investigating a shocking attack on a disabled man by three teenage girls in Adelaide’s northern suburbs. In disturbing vision, the young man is shown lying on the ground, cradling his head and crying as the offenders kick and punch him while screaming at him. The person who provided the two-minute video said the man being attacked has a disability.
