UPDATE! Missing 12-Year-Old Cessnock Girl Found Safe and Well

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Missing person Kira Jurd has been located safe and well.

EARLIER:

Hunter Valley Police are seeking assistance to locate a missing girl from Cessnock 

12-year-old Kira Jurd was last sighted on Cessnock Road at Abermain on Monday the 27th of February.

She's believed to be in the Charlestown, Belmont, Gateshead or Swansea areas.

Kira is described as being of Caucasian in appearance, with a fair complexion, approximately 160-165cm tall, of thin build, with blonde/pink hair and blue eyes.

She was last seen wearing a Cessnock High School uniform, black shorts, black shirt, and a backpack.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Cessnock Police Station or Crime Stoppers.

12-year-old Kira Jurd has been missing since Monday. 

Police Appeal for Help to Find Missing Singleton Teen

BY OLIVIA DILLON

Hunter Valley Police are seeking assistance from the public to locate a missing person. 

15-year-old Darcy Edwards was last sighted on George Street at Singleton on Thursday the 16th of February.

He is described as being of Aboriginal appearance, with an olive complexion, approximately 170 -180 cm tall, with a medium build, black hair, and brown eyes. 

Darcy is believed to still be in the Singleton surrounds or Newcastle area.  

Anyone with information is urged to contact Singleton Police Station or Crime Stoppers. 

15-year-old Darcy Edwards was last seen on George Street in Singleton. 

4th Person Arrested Over Death Of New Zealand Firefighter Ian Pullen At Glenridding

 BY IAN CROUCH

 Hunter Valley Police have arrested a 4th person over the alleged murder of New Zealand firefighter Ian Pullen at Glenidding near Singleton two years ago.

The 43-year-old's body was found by the side of the Carrington Street in September 2018.

Police allege he was bludgeoned to death after being knocked down by a 4-wheel-drive.

A man and woman have since been charged with murder.

Officers executed a search warrant on a home at Singleton at about 11.30am on Wednesday and arrested a 27-year-old woman.

She's due to face Muswellbrook Local Court today (Thursday 26 November 2020) charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder and perverting the course of justice.

It follows the arrest of a 21-year-old woman earlier this week - she's also been charged with being an accessory after the fact to murder .

Ian Pullen's body was found by the side of a road at Glenridding in September 2018

Updated! Hunter Valley Police Investigating Overnight Shooting

 BY IAN CROUCH AND SAM BARTLETT

  Hunter Valley Police are investigating an overnight shooting.

A 43-year-old man was dropped off at Scone Hospital after 4.00am on Tuesday morning with gunshot wounds to the leg and ankle and is being transported to John Hunter Hospital.

The man was reportedly approached by two men in a white sedan near Wingen driving north along the New England Highway around midnight.

Police have been told the injured driver was involved in an altercation with the pair before a number of shots were fired and the two men fled.

The driver allegedly drove to a friends house in Blandford before being taken to hospital

Officers form the Hunter Valley Police District are continuing their inquiries surrounding how the man sustained his injuries around the northern parts of Scone and are asking anyone with information to contact Police or Crime Stoppers

BREAKING! Second Person Charged Over Death Of New Zealand Firefighter Near Singleton

 BY IAN CROUCH

 A second person has been charged over the murder of New Zealand firefighter, Ian Pullen near Singleton two years ago.

The 43-year-old was left for dead after being allegedly run down on Carrington Street at Glenridding in September 2018.

29-year-old Joshua Knight was arrested last week and charged with murder.

Officers arrested a 30-year-old woman at a home on Dominion Avenue at Singleton on Monday and charged her with murder.

It's alleged she returned with Knight in a Toyota Hilux utility after the initial hit and run, with both getting out the vehicle and hitting Ian Pullen in the head with an object.

The woman's been refused bail to front Muswellbrook Local Court today.  

A 30-year-old woman is arrested over the suspicious death of Ian Pullen

Man Charged Over Death Of Shane Mears At Cessnock Tip

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is due to face court accused of killing Shane Mears at Cessnock on Sunday.

The 54-year-old was found at the local tip with critical injuries and died at the scene.

Following inquiries, police went to a home at Lovedale on Wednesday where they seized a Toyota Landcruiser and arrested a 30-year-old man.

He's accused of running down Mr Mears, who was known to him and a rival scrap metal collector.

The Aberdare man has been refused bail to face Maitland Local Court today (Thursday 9 July, 2020) charged with 4 offences including dangerous driving occasioning death - drive manner dangerous.

Shane Mears was found with critical injuries at Cessnock Tip on Sunday Photo: newcastleherald.com.au

Man Charged With Possessing Drugs And Explosive Detonators At Weston

BY IAN CROUCH

A man allegedly caught with illegal drugs and explosives at a home in Weston has pleaded not guilty to all charges.

Officers searched the home on Fifth Street on Wednesday and seized an amount of methamphetamine, cannabis, more than $10,000 in cash, drug paraphernalia, and explosive detonators.

A 36-year-old man was arrested and faced Newcastle Local Court on Thursday charged with four counts of drug possession, possess, supply or make explosive for unlawful purpose and two counts of goods in custody.

Fairfax reports Brent William Henderson was granted conditional bail to reappear in Cessnock Court next Wednesday.

The explosive devices were safely destroyed by specialist police.

Police allege explosive detonators were found at a Weston home Picture: NSW Police

Alleged Culprits Still On The Run After Assaults at Cooks Hill and Muswellbrook

BY IAN CROUCH

The search continues for the alleged culprits involved in two assaults in Newcastle and Muswellbrook over the weekend.

Police say a 31-year-old man was slapped and knocked unconscious during an altercation at a licensed premise on Darby Street, Cooks Hill on Saturday night.

Police want to speak to two men of Caucasian appearance in their mid 20's to mid 30's with a muscular build, average height and neck tattoos.

One was wearing a white t-shirt, the other a green short-sleeved shirt.

Meanwhile, police are trying to piece together the circumstances leading up to the assault of a 28-year-old man in the front yard of a home on Tindale Street at Muswellbrook.

The incident happened around 7.30 on Saturday night.

The victim suffered a fractured skull and lacerations to his face and arms and was airlifted to the John Hunter Hospital in a serious condition.

Anyone who witnessed either incident is urged to call Crime Stoppers.

House Destroyed In Suspicious Fire At Muswellbrook

BY IAN CROUCH

A fire which destroyed a house at Muswellbrook overnight is being treated as suspicious.

Emergency services were called to the single storey brick and tile home on Wybong Way just before 9.30pm on Sunday to find flames through the roof.

3 Fire and Rescue crews from Aberdeen and Muswellbrook and a crew from the Edinglassie RFS took about an hour and a half to extinguish and mop up the blaze.

No-one was injured.

Meanwhile crews were also called to a truck fire on Maitland Street at Muswellbrook just before 2.00am on Monday.

Newcastle Fire Command says the fire was contained to the engine bay of the prime mover.

Firefighters tackle the blaze in Wybong Road at Muswellbrook Pictures: Muswellbrook Fire & Rescue

Death Of Baby Boy In The Upper Hunter Being Treated As Suspicious

BY IAN CROUCH

Investigations continue into the suspicious death of a baby boy in the Upper Hunter.

Police say the 7-month old was taken to Muswellbrook Hospital in an unresponsive state at about 3pm on Sunday.

Despite the efforts of hospital staff, the boy could not be revived.

Police have set up a crime scene at a home at Aberdeen.

Specialist forensic officers are examining the home and a report will be prepare a report for the Coroner.

Anyone with information is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

Man Critical After Crash At Lambs Valley

BY IAN CROUCH

A man is in a critical condition after a single car crash near Singleton last night.

The 26-year-old was driving a Toyota Starlet which left Lambs Valley Road just before 8.00pm on Thursday and crashed into a tree.

He was treated at the scene before being taken to Maitland Hospital, where he was airlifted to the John Hunter.

Inquiries into the crash are continuing.