Tragic Details of How a Man was Killed in East Branxton Garage

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Tragic details have emerged about how a man died in his garage at East Braxton overnight.

At about 9:30pm the man was taking his Kia 4WD out of the garage of his Harvest Court home.

Police say it appears he decided to roll the vehicle out instead of starting the engine so he wouldn't wake the family, but that's when he somehow got caught behind the vehicle while rolling it out.

Early investigations suggest he then struck his head on a brick wall.

His wife made the shocking discovery at about 11pm when she went to check on him.

Officers from Hunter Valley Local Area Command will prepare a report for the information of the Coroner.

Two tragically killed north of Gloucester

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Two people who died in a truck accident north of Gloucester this morning are yet to be identified.

Emergency services were called to Thunderbolts Way at Giro at around 4:30am after a southbound truck ran off the road and crashed.

Police say the two people were travelling in the truck at the time of the crash.

Police are yet to confirm what the truck was carrying.

Accused murderer's trial begins

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The toddler who went missing from Scone more than 16 years ago still hasn't been found, but her mother and accused murderer's trial began yesterday in Newcastle Supreme Court.

The 44-year-old woman, who can't be identified for legal reasons, stands accused of murdering her 16 month old daughter between Christmas 2000 and Christmas 2001.

She was arrested in Scone last year when community services became involved with another child - she has been diagnosed with mental illness and Crown Prosecutor Lee Carr alleges when asked where her daughter was she gave varying accounts and never told authorities her exact whereabouts.

One such account includes the mother alleging she sent the toddler to live with an elderly couple. But investigations into the alleged couple found they didn't even exist.

The Crown said in his opening address: "the accused killed the child and disposed of the body. That body having never been found".

The trial continues.