Two men charged in relation to shooting death of David King at Salt Ash

BY JARROD MELMETH

Two men have been arrested over the alleged shooting murder of David King in Salt Ash in August.

On Sunday 29 August, emergency services were called to Hideway Drive, where they found David King dead. What appeared to be a motor vehicle accident, soon appeared to be much more sinister, when paramedics discovered the 45-year-old had been fatally shot.

Port Stephens-Hunter Police established Strike Force Breve to investigate the incident as well as what occurred after the alleged murder, when a burnt out white Santa Fe, believed to be linked, was located a short time later on Masonite Road, Heatherbrae.

Over the past week, police have released a number of CCTV images to the public for assistance in identifying the persons featured.

On Friday, a 27-year-old man was arrested after a vehicle stop by police in Wahroonga Street, Raymond Terrace about 11:30am. 

He was charged with murder, take/detain person in company with intention. to obtain advantage, damage property by fire and possess or use a prohibited weapon without a permit.

A short time later, a 39-year-old was arrested at Charlestown Square about 1:45pm.

He was charged with accessory after the fact to murder and accessory after the fact to kidnapping.

Both of the men were refused bail and will appear before Newcastle Local Court on Saturday.

Accessory to Murder of Betty Dixon Walks Free from Court

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The only man to have been arrested over the murder of Hunter woman Elizabeth "Betty" Dixon in the 1980s won't serve any more time behind bars.

Elizabeth "Betty" Dixon was found stabbed to death in her car in bushland at Ashtonfield in 1982. When her body was found she had her hands tied behind her back and had been stabbed 27 times.

In November, Rodney Lawrence pleaded guilty to being an accessory after the fact.

Today, the 66-year-old was sentenced to 18 months gaol for his role as an accessory after the fact to the murder; however, he walks free today after already serving 18 months gaol-time on remand.

Elizabeth "Betty" Dixon's niece Danielle Martin told reporters outside court this morning she is absolutely gutted.

"We've just done everything we can. There's nothing left we can do so, that man that did a lot of things that were very very wrong gets away scot-free,"

"I'm gutted, completely gutted for my mum, gutted for the police who have done everything."

"We just have to keep going, and keep our heads up now."

Son Charged with the Murder of His Father in Maryland

BY JESSICA ROUSE

A 21-year-old man will face Newcastle Local Court today, charged with the stabbing murder of his father in Maryland last night.

Police were called to Delray Court, Maryland just after 9 o'clock last night following reports of an assault.

Officers arrived to find a 52-year-old man lying in a front yard with multiple stab wounds from a knife to his chest and stomach.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Mahon.

Detective Chief Inspector Peter Mahon said it appears the incident was sparked by an argument between the father and son over a phone.

"The investigation has revealed a 52-year-old male and his 21-year-old son were involved in an argument. We don't know what the argument was about at this stage. At about 9:15pm last night, the father has left the premises followed by his son and a further argument took place,"

"During that argument police will allege the son stabbed his father several times. The ambulance was called with the assistance of neighbours, and unfortunately, the father was unable to be revived and he passed away at the scene."

The Police Dog Unit was called in to track down the 21-year-old who was found in neighbouring parkland 1.5 kilometres away from the scene.

He was taken to Waratah Police Station where he was refused bail and charged with murder to appear at court today.

Detective Chief Inspector Mahon said the man refused to be interviewed by police.

The phone which the argument was allegedly over was found in parkland by the Police Dog Unit while they were searching for the son.

Detective Chief Inspector Mahon is thankful to the neighbours who tried to help the man in what was a tragic situation.

"It's happened in a person's front yard and they've witnessed it. So it was just tragic for everyone. Especially at this time of the year being Christmas."

UPDATE: Man Charged With Alleged Murder of His Father in Maryland

UPDATE:

The 21-year-old who allegedly stabbed his father to death at Maryland last night is in the process of being charged with the murder of his father.

He is expected to face Newcastle Local Court today.

BY IAN CROUCH

A 21-year-old man is assisting police with inquiries following a fatal stabbing at Maryland.

Police were called to reports of an assault at Delray Court just after 9.00pm on Wednesday, arriving to find a 52-year-old man, believed to be the father of the younger man, with multiple stab wounds to his chest and stomach.

Despite the desperate efforts of paramedics, the man died at the scene.


A short time later, officers attached to Newcastle City Local Area Command, with the assistance of the Dog Unit, arrested a 21-year-old man nearby.

The man was taken to Waratah Police Station where he is currently assisting police with their inquiries.

Child killer denied appeal against assault in Newcastle Court

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Child killer Kathleen Folbigg has had her appeal against an extra four-month sentence denied in Newcastle Local Court today.

The sentence was for punching a fellow inmate in April this year after she saw her walk out of her cell with a communal toaster. Folbigg snatched the toaster from the inmate telling her "you're not allowed to take the f---ing toaster in the rooms" which led to an argument and Folbigg punching the woman in the head.

Folbigg says she didn't even realise she'd connected until she saw the CCTV footage.

She appeared via videolink from Cessnock Prison where she was relocated after the incident.

Folbigg is currently serving a 30-year sentence for allegedly killing her four children over a ten year period. She's 14 years into her sentence.

Image abc.net.au

Mother's murder trial continues

BY JESSICA ROUSE

The trial continues for the Scone woman accused of killing her toddler 16 years ago.

The court heard she told a family friend she sacrificed the child to the Wolf Man. She allegedly said the wolf man was after her and she was searching for the "chosen one" to give her a baby girl.

The woman, who cannot be identified for legal reasons, is accused of killing her 16-month-old daughter sometime between Christmas 2000 and Christmas 2001.

Previously the court heard the woman told a Red Cross worker the girl was in a better place and told others she was living with another family in an informal adoption arrangement.

She has told varying accounts of the girl's whereabouts over the years but never said exactly where she was.

The woman has a long history of mental illness.

Newcastle Supreme Court Image abc.net.au

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.

Three arrested after man dies in John Hunter Hospital

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Three men have been arrested following the death of a Central Coast man at the John Hunter Hospital last month.

The 21-year-old man was found unconscious on the roadway of Lake Haven Drive near Lyle Street last month with serious head injuries.


He was treated at the scene before being taken to John Hunter Hospital. After discovering the extent of his injuries, the man's family made the tragic decision to switch off his life support and he died.

An investigation into his death commenced which led to detectives to the arrest of a 37-year-old man in Kanwal yesterday morning. He was taken to Wyong Police Station where he was charged with allegedly concealing serious indictable offence of another person.

The two other men aged 28 and 34, were also arrested yesterday and were allegedly charged with his murder and refused bail.

All three will face court today.

UPDATE: Second man charged with murder of Carly McBride

BY SARAH BARONOWSKI

A second man has been charged with the murder of Lake Macquarie woman, Carly McBridge.

Around 9:30am this morning, investigators charged an alleged 26-year-old co-offender with the crime in Lithgow.

He was also charged with a number of unrelated offences including the destruction of a car and weapons charges. 

Detectives had already arrested a 39-year-old for the murder of Carly McBride on Monday nearby Buffs Point.

The second man is expected to face Lithgow Local Court this afternoon.

Carly McBride

UPDATE: Man charged with murder of Carly McBride

BY JESSICA ROUSE

Hunter Valley detectives have formally charged a 39-year-old Central Coast man with the murder of Lake Macquarie woman Carly McBride.

Investigators from Strike Force Karabi arrested the man at San Remo just after 8am today, who they will allege is Ms McBride's former partner.

Police allege there was a relationship between the man in custody and Ms McBride and jealousy could have been a factor in her death.

The remains of the 31-year-old Belmont mother of two were discovered in August last year in roadside scrub near Scone after extensive investigations in bushland and properties.

Superintendent Steve Clarke says the man in custody is still helping detectives with inquiries and meanwhile, the possible cause of Ms McBride's death has been revealed.

"A post mortem has revealed that she died from blunt force trauma and we will allege she was assaulted to a point where she died. Certainly of significance to investigators, the man in custody here has indicated to us that his former profession was as a boxer and Muay Thai champion. He claims to have a record of 20 wins and no losses. That is significant in this particular investigation."

Police also say they will be conducting another arrest later this week on a man in Lithgow who they say was known to both the man in custody and Ms McBride.

The accused man was refused bail to appear before Wyong Local Court this afternoon.

He's also been charged with unrelated charges pertaining to the destruction by fire of a rental car and weapons offences.

EARLIER:

In what has been a nearly three-year long investigation, police have made a breakthrough arrest this morning in relation to the murder of Lake Macquarie woman Carly McBride.

The 31-year old from Belmont disappeared in September 2014 during a visit to Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley.

Strike Force Karabi was formed to investigate her disappearance leading to the search of bushland and properties in the Muswellbrook area, and in August last year, the remains of Ms McBride were found in roadside scrub at Owens Gap on the outskirts of Scone.

After extensive investigations, strike force investigators arrested a 39-year-old man just after 8.00am today at San Remo on the Central Coast.

He's assisting detectives with their inquiries at Wyong Police Station.

Detectives have also executed a search warrant at the 39-year-old man's home nearby at Buff Point.

Carly McBride

Arrest made over Carly McBride murder

BY JESSICA ROUSE

In what has been a nearly three-year long investigation, police have made a breakthrough arrest this morning in relation to the murder of Lake Macquarie woman Carly McBride.

The 31-year old from Belmont disappeared in September 2014 during a visit to Muswellbrook in the Hunter Valley.

Strike Force Karabi was formed to investigate her disappearance leading to the search of bushland and properties in the Muswellbrook area, and in August last year, the remains of Ms McBride were found in roadside scrub at Owens Gap on the outskirts of Scone.

After extensive investigations, strike force investigators arrested a 39-year-old man just after 8.00am today at San Remo on the Central Coast.

He's assisting detectives with their inquires at Wyong Police Station.

Detectives have also executed a search warrant at the 39-year-old man's home nearby at Buff Point.

Carly McBride

Additional Charges Laid Against Murderer of Michelle Leng

BY BRIDGET GUNN

Additional charges have been laid as part of the investigation into the murder of Michelle Leng on the Central Coast in April.

The body of Ms Leng, who was an international student from China, was found in the water inside the blow hole in Snapper Point on 24th April this year.

Following further inquiries, detectives have laid an additional 27 charges against the man accused of her murder in the local court today. These charges include detain for advantage, five counts of committing acts of indecency, seventeen counts of filming private parts without consent, two counts of filming person in private acts without consent and two counts of installing devices to film.

Michelle Leng
Source: The Sydney Morning Herald