An 83-year-old man is on trial for allegedly murdering his wife in their Sydney home in 1998. Aaron Govendir is accused of staging a fake burglary to cover up the killing after his wife sought a divorce. Prosecutors allege he bludgeoned her to death in their bed and made emergency calls claiming an intruder had attacked them. The couple had been married for 30 years but faced marital difficulties, including a previous separation and Govendir's admitted infidelity.
Northern Territory Police are appealing for information about an aggravated robbery at a home in Eldorado Crescent, Tennant Creek. Between 1:00am and 2:30am, the occupant woke to the sound of people entering the house unlawfully. The occupant confronted three unknown males, and one allegedly threw a hammer at them before all three fled on foot with stolen property. The occupant was not physically injured. Anyone who saw suspicious activity in the area or has relevant information is asked to call police on 131 444 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000, quoting reference NTP2600103924.
Three young men have been arrested and charged over an alleged home invasion in Sydney's inner-city suburb of Waterloo. Police allege one occupant was fatally stabbed and another was seriously injured after the unit on Pitt Street was broken into on August 18. The 35-year-old man died at St Vincent's Hospital that night. Two 18-year-old men were arrested in Toowoomba, Queensland, and extradited to NSW, where they face murder and wounding charges. A 20-year-old man was arrested in Redfern and also charged with murder.
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The Longhorn Bar and Grill in Deepwater will hold a fancy dress fundraiser on Friday, 30 October, to support Keith and Dianne Blessing. The Torrington couple were victims of a home invasion on June 4. Money raised through a GoFundMe page will pay for security fencing and a security system at their property. Neighbour Enzo Di Prinzio started the appeal and is doing the labour for free. The night starts at 6 pm, and a raffle and a keg donated by Lion will also raise money for the couple.
Northern Territory Police are investigating after a silver Dodge was stolen from a Tennant Creek home in the early hours of the morning. Police allege multiple unknown offenders entered a residence on Scheelite Crescent around 3:55am and took keys from the female occupant, who was uninjured. The offenders then drove off in the vehicle, which was seen being driven dangerously near Paterson Street. The car was later found abandoned in bushland near Mulga Camp. The offenders remain outstanding. Anyone with information is asked to contact police.
Police have released CCTV of a blue hatchback as they investigate an alleged home invasion in Kooringal. Three people allegedly forced their way into a Chifley Crescent home on Saturday, September 5, at about 11:45 pm. One allegedly carried a firearm and threatened a 23-year-old man, who was not injured. The group allegedly stole three bags of household items and fled before police arrived. A 19-year-old man has been charged in connection with the incident and remains before the court. Anyone with information or dashcam footage is urged to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
A judge has retired to consider whether a teenager who held a man at knifepoint during a Cairns home invasion is also guilty of raping the man's partner. The judge-only trial in the Childrens Court of Queensland hinged on whether the boy heard a co-offender say he intended to sexually assault the woman. The defence argues the boy believed the group was only robbing her. The prosecution says the boy could have intervened and stopped the rapes. The defendant has pleaded not guilty to five rape counts. The judge says he will reach a decision as soon as possible.
A 17-year-old boy has pleaded not guilty to five rape charges over an alleged attack on a woman in her Cairns home. Prosecutors allege he held the woman's partner at knifepoint while two co-accused raped her in the suburb of Manunda. Prosecutor Nicole Friedewald told the court the boy armed himself with a knife and prevented the man from intervening. The boy's barrister, Timothy Grau, will argue his client did not hear or understand comments that a co-accused planned to rape the woman.
An 18-year-old man has been refused bail after allegedly taking part in a violent home invasion in Armidale. Police say a group of intruders armed with knives forced their way into a home on Hunt Avenue in early October and demanded car keys. A woman in her 40s was allegedly assaulted with a baseball bat and suffered head and arm injuries. Police arrested the teenager at a unit on Marshall Avenue on 15 October. He was charged with several offences, including aggravated break and enter, and is due back in Armidale Local Court in December. Police investigations are continuing.
Two cars at the Balwyn North home of philanthropist Inessa Shishkina and her husband Alexei Shishkin were firebombed early on Wednesday morning. The couple's son, Erik Shishkin, was jailed in June over a Reservoir home invasion. Police are trying to determine whether 14 car firebombings across Melbourne over five days are related. A 13-year-old boy is fighting for life after being burned in a bombing in Taylors Hill. Police believe the rise in attacks is linked to organised crime and appears to be an intimidation tactic.
Three men have been charged over an alleged kidnapping, aggravated burglary and serious assault in Doncaster. Police allege a man and woman were assaulted and restrained at a public location near Doncaster on September 22. The pair were then taken to their home on Doncaster Road, which was allegedly ransacked and items stolen before the offenders fled. The man was seriously injured and underwent surgery. Detectives arrested the men after executing search warrants in Clyde and Noble Park, and seized a vehicle believed to have been used. The trio were remanded overnight to appear before Melbourne Magistrates' Court.
