Life for murder at Jessie J show

Chilling CCTV footage show the horrifying moment convicted murderer Ashley Charles who snatched a bottle from drinker and moments later slashed his throat.

Ashley Charles, 26, attacked Phillip Sheriff in front of horrified revellers after the 37-year-old made "some inoffensive joking remarks" about a girl, the Daily Mail reported. Source: Supplied

AN art director who slashed the throat of a telecoms boss with a broken bottle at a Jessie J gig has been jailed for life.

Ashley Charles, 26, attacked Phillip Sheriff in front of horrified revellers after the 37-year-old made "some inoffensive joking remarks" about a girl, the Daily Mail reported.

The event was sponsored by mobile phone manufacturer BlackBerry, where Mr Sheriff was an executive.

The blow, which was caught on CCTV, severed his carotid artery and jugular vein and caused massive blood loss. Partygoers desperately tried to save the married father of two by using clingfilm to stem the bleeding, but he died four days later.

Charles denied murder and claimed he had only lashed out with the bottle because he feared Mr Sheriff was going to attack him.

But he was convicted after a two-week trial at the Old Bailey and jailed for life, with a minimum of 14 years.

Ashley Charles (left) has been jailed for life for the murder of BlackBerry executive Phillip Sherriff at an event featuring pop singer Jessie J. Pictures: Police handouts Source: Supplied

Mr Sheriff's widow Jane was in court throughout the trial and sobbed and embraced members of her family as the verdict was delivered.

Judge Paul Worsley told Charles: "You took a life for no better reason than that your victim may have pushed you at a crowded bar and made some inoffensive joking remarks to a girl who was talking to you.

"You destroyed by your actions so much that was good in that family."

Mr Sheriff had travelled from his home in Preston, Lancashire to attend a party organised by his employers at the Pulse nightclub on London's South Bank last April.

Charles, from Leicester, launched his attack shortly after midnight while jostling for space at the event's free bar after Jessie J had finished her performance. The killer had been talking to a girl and asked Mr Sheriff for some space. He replied: "She doesn't want to be talking to you. She'd much rather be talking to me, wouldn't you, love?"

After pushing and shoving between the men, Charles grabbed the older man's bottle of beer before swinging it at his neck.

In a statement to the court, Mrs Sheriff, whose children are aged five and eight, addressed Charles directly, saying: "You took an amazing man away from us so brutally and no one will forget that. I spent four days watching my husband die.

"I was with him when his body turned blue and he took his last breath. I will never forget that."

Charles, who had no previous arrests or convictions, is a Loughborough University graduate who worked at a design agency.

Jessie J cancels all her Perth performances. Source: No Source

21.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Elton to become a dad again: report

Elton John and partner David Furnish already have a son, 23-month-old Zachary. Picture: Getty Source: Getty Images

AS Sir Elton John kicks off his Australian tour in Perth tonight, a report back in England says he is to become a dad again.

The Sun newspaper says Sir Elton, 65, and partner David Furnish, 50, will become fathers again next year.

The couple already have a 23-month-old son, Zachary, born on December 25, 2010, via a surrogate.

The tabloid newspaper says the couple plan to use the same surrogate who gave birth to Zachary.

Sir Elton's agent refused to comment, the report says.

Elton John tells of his joy for newborn son Zachary

 

21.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

CIA boss resigns over affair

CIA Director David Petraeus has resigned from his post, citing an extramarital affair.

CIA Director David Petraeus has resigned after admitting an extramarital affair. (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite) Source: AP

THE head of the CIA has resigned over an extramarital affair, bringing an abrupt end to a brilliant career that saw him serve as military commander in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars.

CIA director David Petraeus resigned in a letter to US President Barack Obama dated Friday (local US time) and was accepted by the White House, NBC reported. 

In the letter, Petraeus noted that he had been married for 37 years and had exercised "extremely poor judgment' in conducting an extramarital affair.

Petraues took over as head of the CIA in September of 2011 following his tour as head of allied forces in Afghanistan.

General David Petraeus, the new head of US and NATO forces in Afghanistan, assumes command during a ceremony in Kabul yesterday. Source: AFP

The revelation shocked Washington just three days after the re-election of US President Barack Obama and shortly before Petraeus had been due to testify on the CIA's alleged failure to properly protect a US consulate in Libya.

"After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair,'' Petraeus said on Friday in a message to CIA staff, released to the media.

"Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organisation such as ours.''

It was unclear why Petraeus felt he had to step down over the affair, and whether his liaison presented a purely personal problem or raised security issues that could affect his work at the spy agency.

NBC television and other US media reported that the FBI was investigating Paula Broadwell, who is co-author of a detailed biography of Petraeus, "All In,'' for improper access to classified information.

The resignation comes amid criticism in some quarters of Petraeus over his response to a deadly attack in September on a US consulate in Benghazi, which killed the US ambassador to Libya and three other Americans.

Petraeus was due to face a tough grilling in a series of closed-door classified meetings in Congress next week, with some MPs questioning the former general's handling of the incident.

Michael Morell, Petraeus' deputy at the country's lead spy agency, will serve as acting director and Obama expressed his "utmost confidence'' in Morell's leadership.

The most celebrated military officer of his generation, Petraeus, 60, took over at the CIA just over a year ago after retiring as a four-star general.

Obama accepted the CIA chief's resignation after meeting with him on Thursday, hailing his ``extraordinary service''.

"By any measure, he was one of the outstanding general officers of his generation, helping our military adapt to new challenges, and leading our men and women in uniform through a remarkable period of service in Iraq and Afghanistan, where he helped our nation put those wars on a path to a responsible end,'' he said.

Senator John McCain, a loyal supporter who championed the general's surge strategy in Iraq, heaped praised on Petraeus for his tenure as commander there.

"General David Petraeus will stand in the ranks of America's greatest military heroes,'' he said.

"His inspirational leadership and his genius were directly responsible - after years of failure - for the success of the surge in Iraq.''

Intensely competitive, he graduated from the US Military Academy at West Point in 1974, where he met his wife, Holly, the daughter of West Point's superintendent.

Petraeus' resignation letter:

HEADQUARTERS Central Intelligence Agency

9 November 2012

Yesterday afternoon, I went to the White House and asked the President to be allowed, for personal reasons, to resign from my position as D/CIA. After being married for over 37 years, I showed extremely poor judgment by engaging in an extramarital affair. Such behavior is unacceptable, both as a husband and as the leader of an organization such as ours. This afternoon, the President graciously accepted my resignation.

As I depart Langley, I want you to know that it has been the greatest of privileges to have served with you, the officers of our Nation's Silent Service, a work force that is truly exceptional in every regard. Indeed, you did extraordinary work on a host of critical missions during my time as director, and I am deeply grateful to you for that.

Teddy Roosevelt once observed that life's greatest gift is the opportunity to work hard at work worth doing. I will always treasure my opportunity to have done that with you and I will always regret the circumstances that brought that work with you to an end.

Thank you for your extraordinary service to our country, and best wishes for continued success in the important endeavors that lie ahead for our country and our Agency.

With admiration and appreciation,
David H. Petraeus

Holly Knowlton Petraeus holding the family bible as her husband David Petraeus is sworn in by Vice President Joe Biden as CIA Director, in the Roosevelt Room of the White House in Washington. Petraeus has resigned as director of the CIA after admitting he had an extramarital affair. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Source: AP

 

21.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Register to help violence victims delayed

A register to help victims of domestic violence will be delayed. Picture: Thinkstock Source: Supplied

A NATIONAL register to help victims of domestic violence flee abusive partners will be more than a year late.

Key aspects of the register have yet to be devised despite promises from former federal attorney-general Robert McClelland that it would be in place last year.

Two years ago the attorneys-general from each state and territory agreed on a national scheme that spared victims the trauma of applying for a new Violence Restraining Order when they moved interstate.

The register was also supposed to make identifying repeat offenders for police more efficient and give them greater powers to arrest perpetrators from other states.

A spokeswoman from the Attorney-General's Department said the commonwealth remained committed to the register but the initiative could not proceed until "all states agree to the details of the reform".

She said Victoria was the only state which had committed to the scheme "in its current form" and was developing an options paper on "information sharing".

Details of the paper will be considered at the next Standing Council on Law and Justice meeting in April.

 WA Attorney-General Michael Mischin told The Sunday Times the Barnett Government was committed to a "simple, efficient system".

He said his office was still working with the other states and territories on finalising the details.

"The framework and information/data sharing mechanism to support the national recognition of domestic violence orders is still being developed but information on repeat offenders will be a consideration," Mr Mischin said.

WA Police received more than 800 reports of domestic violence a week last financial year.

Anne Moore, chairwoman of the Women's Council for Domestic and Family Violence, said the scheme would give more protection to victims.

21.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

CCC critic compared to Collingwood fans

CCC Commissioner Roger Macknay has hit back at criticism from Ron Davies at a parliamentary inquiry. Source: PerthNow

THE head of Western Australia's Corruption and Crime Commission has hit back at one of the watchdog's fiercest critics, Ron Davies QC, comparing the lawyer's backing of the police to the fanaticism of a Collingwood AFL supporter.

Commissioner Roger Macknay today gave more evidence to a state parliamentary inquiry investigating how the CCC handles allegations of misconduct by police.

Answering criticisms from current and former senior police, the WA police union and Mr Davies, Mr Macknay claimed the critics were either out of touch or out of line.

At previous hearings, Mr Davies labelled the CCC's methods 'oppressive', claimed the watchdog had a poor culture and attitude, and said only new legislation could improve the investigative body.

Mr Macknay did not hold back in his opinion of Mr Davies' evidence.

"It is bar talk,'' he said.

"We would challenge that he is in a position to speak for the legal community.

"If the police were a football team and Mr Davies was a supporter, then Collingwood is the team that springs to mind.''

The parliamentary inquiry specifically convened the sitting to allow the commissioner to air his responses to various criticisms, including attacks on the CCC by former deputy police commissioner Murray Lampard.

Mr Lampard has claimed the CCC does not show enough trust of police and says the force has no faith in the commission's ability to investigate.

Mr Macknay pointed out that Mr Lampard had not been a policeman for four years.

"He is quite erroneous in terms of his perception. I did not feel any level of concern about his evidence. Four years is a long time to be out of any organisation,'' Mr Macknay said.

He also sought to cast doubt on a police union survey that questioned whether officers would report misconduct to the CCC.

The chairman of the committee, Liberal Nick Goiran, said he would expect police to report misconduct to a superior officer.

21.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Motorcyclist dies in Lower Chittering crash

FATAL: A motorcyclist has been killed in a crash at Lower Chittering this afternoon.   Source: PerthNow

A MAN has died in a motorcycle accident in Lower Chittering this afternoon.

Police said the single vehicle crash happened about 1.40pm near the intersection of Muchea East Road and Chittering Road.

The age of the man is not yet known.

21.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Taxi driver jailed over sex attack

A PERTH taxi driver who sexually assaulted a sleeping female passenger in his cab has been sentenced to three years' jail.

Sumudu Rangana Bamunu Arachchige, 28, was sentenced in Perth's District Court on Friday after pleading guilty to two counts of indecent assault and one charge of sexual penetration without consent.

Arachchige picked up the 34-year-old victim around 10.30pm on July 7 from Mt Hawthorn.

She was intoxicated and fell asleep in the passenger seat during the journey but woke to find him rubbing her leg.

The woman shrunk away from him and texted a friend: "The driver felt me up.''

She fell asleep again and woke to find him caressing her thigh with her skirt lifted higher.

After brushing his hand away, the woman vomited out the window and fell asleep again.

She woke again to find him digitally penetrating her and slapped his hands away.

When he dropped her home, the woman called police and Arachchige was arrested shortly after.

Arachchige's lawyer argued that his client suffered from amnesia, low self-esteem and heard a voice in his head after being sexually abused by a woman as a child.

Judge Philip McCann said Arachchige had committed a "particularly serious breach of trust''.

He said general deterrence for taxi drivers was paramount.

Arachchige is Sri Lankan and had been living in Australia on a student visa for five years.

Judge McCann dismissed the voices in Arachchige's head as "internal dialogues'' that most people had, but he accepted that Arachchige had been abused as a child and suffered chronic depression.

He said there was a medium-to-low risk of Arachchige reoffending.

The sentence was backdated to July 8 when Arachchige was taken into custody.

He will be eligible to be considered for parole in January 2014, and upon release will likely be deported.

21.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Paramedics stunned at pilot's crash escape

The pilot of a light plane has miraculously survived a crash which destroyed his plane near Wungong Dam, Bedfordale.

The light plane crash near Wungong Dam in Jarrahdale. The pilot suffered minor injuries. Photo: RAC Rescue helicopter. Source: PerthNow

The light plane crash near Wungong Dam in Jarrahdale. The pilot suffered minor injuries. Photo: RAC Rescue helicopter. Source: PerthNow

THE pilot of a light plane who miraculously survived a crash that destroyed his plane has revealed he had purchased the plane only hours earlier.

The male pilot crash-landed his single-engine Jabiru aircraft on the bank of the Wungong Dam in Bedfordale, about 45km south-east of Perth at about 9.15am.

The plane, which was carrying a full tank of fuel that was leaking, suffered major structural damage in the crash but he escaped with little more than a scratch.

Paramedic Jason Boschin told Nine News he was amazed that the pilot came away virtually injury-free.

"We've been to a few aircraft mishaps in the past and the injuries have been severe, so we were preparing for the absolute worst," he said.

"We were quite elated when we flew over the top and he was waving at us."

The grandfather, a pilot of four years, did not speak on camera but told Nine News he bought the $30,000 aircraft that morning from a deceased estate.

He said it came with a full safety inspection report but just minutes into a flight to York, the engine cut out while flying at about 610m and he couldn't restart it.

Footage of the aircraft's landing, the only clear piece of land amongst dense forest, showed it came to rest just metres from a stump on the rocky bank of the catchment dam.

The plane was fully insured.

The pilot arrived at Jandakot Airport at about 10.20am but did not require assistance from St John Ambulance.

WA police officers were tonight securing the crash scene, with Recreational Aviation Australia, the regulatory body for light aircraft in Australia, likely to carry out a review of the possible causes of the engine failure.

with AAP

21.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Already stalled Oakajee port 'slowed down'

SLOW DOWN: Oakajee Port & Rail's proposed port and rail project north of Geraldton, appears to be on the backburner. Source: Supplied

MITSUBISHI has decided to "slow down'' work to revive the stalled Oakajee port project in WA's mid west region after talks with potential joint-venture partners languished.

The project came under the full ownership of the Japanese trading giant in February after its Crosslands iron-ore mining joint-venture partner, Murchison Metals, admitted it didn't have enough cash to fund the $6 billion development.

Oakajee was to export iron ore from the magnetite-rich mid west, given the nearby Geraldton port is congested, but that part of the sector has fallen out of favour with a slide in iron-ore prices and wavering Chinese demand.

John Langoulant, the CEO of Oakajee Port and Rail (OPR), which manages the project, said Mitsubishi's decision to ``slow down'' responded to current economic circumstances and the need for ``prudent'' spending.

``Our decision to reduce costs is not taken lightly,'' Mr Langoulant said.

``It's no secret that the current economic environment is creating challenges in the mining sector, with many WA companies and producers scrutinising their capital management.''

WA Premier Colin Barnett has for some time been trying to drum up Chinese investment in the project, while Mitsubishi itself has been unable to finalise talks with potential partners.

Mr Langoulant said funding discussions with potential partners had progressed in the past 18 months but the current external environment had made it difficult to complete negotiations.

Mitsubishi still had long-term confidence in the project, as well as an expansion of its now closed Jack Hills mine, he said.

It would continue to invest funds into studies for both projects while monitoring the economic environment closely, ``with a view to ramping up once conditions improve and equity discussions progress to a satisfactory stage'', Mr Langoulant said.

Before the downturn in the iron-ore market, Mr Barnett described Oakajee, one of Australia's largest infrastructure projects, as the state's most important development for the next 50 years as it would open up a second major iron-ore province, behind the Pilbara.

The ``slow down'' could mean job losses.

21.51 | 0 komentar | Read More

Three kids dead in horror smash

Friends of three people killed in a horrific crash in Melbourne's north have visited the scene of the accident.

TEARFUL friends have gathered at the scene of a horror crash that killed a 12-year-old boy and two teen girls in Melbourne's north overnight.

The trio and three others - all aged 12 to 16 - were in an overloaded stolen car that lost control on a slight bend and then slammed into a concrete wall on Pascoe Vale Rd near Barry Rd in Coolaroo just after midnight.

The 16-year-old female driver from Sunbury, a 12-year-old Preston boy, and a 14-year-old girl from Pascoe Vale died at the scene.

A 16-year-old boy from Broadmeadows is in a critical condition with head and leg injuries at the Royal Melbourne Hospital.

A boy, 15, from Dallas, and a 14-year-old Lalor boy are at the Royal Children's Hospital in a stable condition.

Three teens died at the scene. Picture: Andrew Brownbill

Police said the vehicle was believed to be stolen from a Coolaroo address last night.

In emotional scenes this morning, friends of the victims hugged and laid flowers at the crash site.

"I met her through friends of friends about four years ago and we became really close," said Shinae Brown, 14, speaking about the 14-year-old victim.

"She would come to my house every day. She would always have a smile on her face and make me laugh. We only had good times.

Friends of the victims mourn at the crash scene this morning. Picture: Jason Edwards

"I'm miserable. There is nothing I can do. She's gone now."

Shinae's mum, Robyn, said she broke the news to her daughter after hearing about the tragic accident on Facebook.

"She was only young, so young," she said.

"People are criticising saying they were in a stolen car ... but all kids make terrible mistakes. You hope to guide them in the right way and that they learn from them. You don't expect death."

Tragedy on the streets of Melbourne this morning, with three young people killed in a horrific car crash

Friend Nadine Pettingill expressed surprise the 14-year-old girl was in the stolen car.

"She was a very bubbly girl, loved by many. She had a lot of friends. I'm very, very surprised. She spoke up for what she believed in, there was no beating around the bush with her," she said.

"I just wanted to come here to lay flowers - she's going to be missed."

Siyar Bagdas came to the crash site after hearing his friend was seriously injured.

Friends of the victims mourn at the crash scene this morning. Picture: Jason Edwards

He collapsed on the ground and sobbed as he was surrounded by more people, unable to speak.

Others clung to a metal fence, unable to stand. Others just stood silently, staring bouquets of flowers left at the scene.

Do you know anyone involved in this tragedy? Contact our newsdesk on 03 9292 1226 or email news@heraldsun.com.au

Major Collision Investigation Unit Detective Sergeant Mark Amos said the car was travelling faster than the 80km/h speed limit and that alcohol had not been ruled out as a factor.

Little is left of the car after smashing into the wall on Pascoe Vale Rd. Picture: Jason Edwards

Mr Crisp said one passenger was known to police.

Det Sgt Amos said: "The greatest sad thing here is that all the occupants were teenagers and young teenagers at that.

"Now we have to go tell families substantially the worst information they will ever receive.

"Young teenagers are in a car at midnight on a Wednesday night. They should be tucked up in bed with their families and going to school the next day.

"Whenever there is children involved it is a drain on (police). We will all take something away from this forever."

Neighbour Sevda Ucar said she and her husband rushed to the wreckage after hearing the crash.

"I am still shaking - it was devastating," she said.

"I called the police and went out there and one boy was standing there ... He was in shock.

A young man who knew the victims. Picture: Jason Edwards

"I couldn't look in the car, my husband said the ones in the back were still moving. He said it smelt of alcohol."

Premier Ted Baillieu said it was an avoidable tragedy, and that educating young people about the dangers of getting behind the wheel needed to continue.

He said his heart went out to the families of the teenagers.

"As a father you just despair at moments like this and you just feel for parents," he told ABC radio.

Police gather evidence to help determine what caused the accident. Picture: Jason Edwards

"Any parent who's got kids of that age would be choking I think about the news this morning."

Assistant Commissioner Andrew Crisp said at the scene this morning: "Just after midnight last night a Toyota Camry sedan was travelling south on Pascoe Vale Rd.

"As it approached the entrance of the Coolaroo railway station on a slight right-hand bend it appears there that the driver has started to lose control of that vehicle.

"About 100m further it's collided with a fairly substantial brick wall.

Skid marks can be clearly seen on the road and grass. Picture: Jason Edwards

"At that point we are aware there was six people in the vehicle, and as a result of that impact, there are three deceased young people.

"We also have one young person with life threatening injuries and two in a stable condition at hospital.

"Any scene where you've got a loss of life, let alone the three we've had in this situation can only be described as horrific.

"At this stage it's early days of the investigation but again looking at the distance travelled, the condition of the vehicle, we would certainly say that speed was a certainly a factor in this collision."

The crash happened on Pascoe Vale Road in Coolaroo just after midnight. Picture: Brownbill Andrew

Google Street View of the accident scene. The scene was taken before the wall was built.

View Larger Map

Mr Crisp said the driver, who was too young to have her licence, may have lost control "given (her) age ... and just general inexperience travelling at speed".

"Who knows what was going on in the vehicle at that time, there could have been people moving around, she could have been knocked, I just don't know, it's all conjecture at this stage," he said.

"This isn't the first time this has happened, and we can all think back to similar triple fatalities, or the serious fatalities we've had in recent years.

"As police officers, whether the most junior attending these scenes or the most senior ... we take these personally, and we shake our heads when we see these sorts of situations.

"We know that some young people engage in risk-taking behaviour, it's about what we can all do as a community as family, as friends, to try and protect, discourage and support young people that might engage in this sort of activity."

Mr Crisp said police were investigating what the teens were doing before the accident.

Det Sgt Amos said the message about not speeding, drinking, or taking drugs when driving was still as relevant as ever.

The road toll stands at 242, eight more than this time last year.

Anyone who may have witnessed the crash or has information is asked to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000 or visit www.crimestoppers.com.au.

21.51 | 0 komentar | Read More