1.Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has expressed her horror at vicious attacks that claimed the lives of two women in domestic violence incidents on the Gold Coast yesterday.
The Brisbane Times reports that Ms Palaszczuk has pledged to fast-track laws designed to protect women from violence.
Ms Palaszczuk expressed horror after one woman was shot in the head by her partner at a McDonald’s store on the Gold Coast, while another was beaten to death after being forced off the road, after dropping her infant daughter at childcare.
Ms Palaszczuk said new laws would be sent to Parliament as quickly as possible. Police will also be offered extra money for over-time to tackle domestic violence.
Queensland media reports that one of this week’s victims, Tara Brown, went to police to request advice on how to leave her violent, bikie boyfriend, but was told to seek assistance elsewhere.
Tara died yesterday after her former partner allegedly ran her off a road in suburban Molendinar, then bashed her with a metal object, believed to be from a fire extinguisher, while she was trapped in her overturned car.
Gold Coast Detective Inspector Brian Swan told the Brisbane Times that Tara’s partner was waiting for her outside a Nerang child care facility when she dropped their young daughter off on Tuesday about 8.30am. He is hospital suffering self-inflicted knife wounds.
In the second incident, a woman, identified by Nine News as Karina Lock, 49, was shot dead by her former partner Stephen Lock, 57, before he turned the gun on himself.
A witness, named Peter, told Fairfax Media he saw the pair sitting in a blue car in the McDonald’s car park, and he noticed the woman trying to get out of the car and being restrained by the man.
“She got out and yelled something to the effect that he was trying to kill her,” Peter said.
Katrina went inside the McDonalds and Stephen is alleged to have followed. Witnesses said “he put his arm around her upper body … and shot her. Then he knelt over the top of her and put the gun to his head and shot himself.”
Stephen Lock is in a critical condition.
2.Washing machine repairman Bill Spedding, named by police as a person of interest in the disappearance of NSW toddler William Tyrrell, has posted a video online denying any involvement in the case.
William disappeared from his grandmother’s home on September 12 last year and has not been seen since. Mr Spedding visited the home days earlier in his capacity as a washing machine repairman. His home was later searched and he was later charged with unrelated historic child sex offences.
Mr Spedding appears in the video uploaded to YouTube yesterday.
“My wife Margaret and I offer the Tyrrell family our sincere commiserations in the disappearance of William Tyrrell,” he said.
“I wish to state that I have no involvement in the disappearance of William Tyrrell.”
Mr Spedding said he attended William’s grandmother’s home on September 9 last year and returned on September 18 to complete the job.
He said claims he was scheduled to visit the home on the day of William’s disappearance were false.
“I have not been in the Tyrrell house or to the Tyrrell house or to the street, before, between or after these dates,” he said.
“The media have reported that I was supposed to have attended the Tyrrell house on the 12th September 2014, this being the day of William’s disappearance. I wish to make it perfectly clear this claim is completely false.”
He finishes the video with an urge for those with information to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Read more here.
3.Three children who had become estranged from their father during a custody dispute are now living with him, after undergoing an expensive, five-day intensive treatment program designed to treat ‘parental alienation’.
The three children from Oakland County made headlines in the US after a judge sent them to live in a delinquent treatment facility, and then to a month-long summer camp, after they refused to spend any time with their father.
The judge believes the children’s mother had poisoned them against their father, which she denied.
The Detroit Free Press reports that the children were released from the summer camp in August to undergo the intensive therapy.
Having had scant contact with their father over the past few years, they are now living with him.
The children are aged 9, 11, and 14.
The Press says: “The intensive treatment is rare – only a handful of firms provide it – and expensive, costing as much as $40,000. Proponents say it is a way to end high conflict custody disputes and ensure that children have relationships with both parents. Critics say it doesn’t do enough to protect children from parents who may, indeed, be abusive.”
The childrens’ mother did not participate in the treatment session.
4.What do you call a nun who sleepwalks? A Roman Catholic!
That’s just one of the super-clean jokes that have been submitted to the Vatican’s new Joke With The Pope page.
In yet another move to make the Catholic Church seem more relaxed in the new millennium, Pope Francis has given his blessing to a contest to find the best good clean joke, while helping raise money for charity.
CNN reports that ‘Joke with the Pope’ is encouraging people to submit jokes between now and October 2.
Contestants can choose to support one of three causes: helping street children in Buenos Aires, Argentina; housing the homeless in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia; or feeding the hungry in Nairobi, Kenya.
A panel of judges will choose a winner October 5.
In statement, Pope Francis said: “I like to laugh. It helps me to feel closer to God and closer to other people. When we laugh with each other — and not at each other — God’s love is present in a special way. I invite you to share your joy with a laugh! God longs for you to be happy! Share your jokes and your funny stories: the world will be better, the Pope will be happy and God will be the happiest of all.”
Comedian Conan O’Brien is featured prominently on the page. His joke goes: “The California drought is so bad, people in Napa Valley are asking the pope to change the wine into water.”
The Pontifical Mission Societies will bestow the title of “honorary comedic adviser to the pope” on whoever wins the contest and donate $10,000 to the cause chosen by the winner.
So, what’s the competition like? Pretty lame actually. One example: Why do you find seagulls by the sea? Because if you found them by the bay, you would have to call them Bagels.
Also: What kind of shoes do frogs wear in the summer? Open toad.
And there’s this: Two kangaroos are talking over the back fence. One says I hope it doesn’t rain today. I hate it when the kids play inside.
Ha ha! Except, they’re not kids. They’re joeys. Which kind of ruins the punchline. If you think you can do better, go here.
