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Two New South Wales police officers have been charged with assaulting a 92-year-old man who was later admitted to hospital with a fractured elbow and significant bruising to his head and arms.
The alleged assault occurred at a home in Picton, in Sydney’s south-west, in January after police were called to a domestic violence incident by the elderly man’s wife, who had made two calls to triple zero and “likely” had dementia.
After an internal investigation, a senior constable and a constable were charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm. The constable was facing a further charge of assault.
The NSW police commissioner, Karen Webb, told reporters on Thursday the 92-year-old’s injuries occurred while he was handcuffed by police.
“What the court will need to determine is whether there was excessive force used in that interaction,” she said.
Top news
PM says Dutton ‘playing catchup’ on social media age verification |
Peter Dutton today urged bipartisan support for the Coalition’s push for age verification laws, saying he would like to work with the government to “send a very clear message that both sides of parliament stand united against the scourge of social media”. But Anthony Albanese insisted it was already on the government’s agenda. “The funding is in the budget, that trial will be under way.”Flu cases surge | The NSW chief health officer, Dr Kerry Chant, said in the week ending 8 June there was a more than 25% increase in people diagnosed with influenza compared with the previous week. “We are expecting the flu season will be around for several weeks to come.”
Unemployment rate dips to 4% | Australia’s unemployment rate eased last month as employers shrugged off rising costs including higher interest bills to keep adding to their workforces. The participation rate remained unchanged at 66.7%.
Dawson loses appeal | Chris Dawson lost his appeal against his 2022 conviction for murdering his wife more than 40 years ago. A panel of judges in the New South Wales court of criminal appeal delivered their ruling on Thursday after Dawson’s lawyers earlier argued that the guilty verdict against him was unreasonable.
Greg Lynn jury instructed to avoid manslaughter charge | The jury in the trial of a former Jetstar pilot accused of murdering two elderly campers in the Victorian high country have been told they “must put manslaughter out of your mind”. “Instead, the only charge before you is murder,” Justice Michael Croucher told the court.
Albanese defends Dutton’s charter flight | The Australian prime minister said he will make no criticism of the opposition leader’s decision to charter a flight at the cost of $23,000 to give a speech on the cost of living in Tamworth, as Guardian Australia revealed today. “That’s his job,” Albanese said. It’s understood Dutton had a pre-existing commitment that meant no commercial flight could get him to the Daily Telegraph’s annual “bush summit” in August 2023 in time.
Macron suspends controversial voting reforms | The reforms, which would have altered voting rights in New Caledonia, were suspended after a period of deadly unrest in the French Pacific territory.
Nasa says no emergency after ‘disturbing’ medical drill airs | Nasa has been forced to deny that there was an emergency situation on board the International Space Station after an official livestream accidentally aired a medical drill that simulated a crew member in extreme medical distress.
Russell Crowe ‘slightly uncomfortable’ with Gladiator 2 | Crowe, who played the lead character in Ridley Scott’s 2000 hit, winning him a best actor Oscar, will not appear in the belated follow-up, due for release this Christmas. The film focuses on the grandson of Emperor Marcus Aurelius from the first film.
In pictures
Backstage with Bangarra
For the first time, Bangarra Dance Theatre has given access behind the scenes, with Guardian Australia photographer Blake Sharp-Wiggins documenting their latest performance, Horizon, at the Sydney Opera House.
What they said …
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“The Pocock effect” – Simon Holmes à Court
The Climate 200 founder has suggested that a rise in support for independent senators such as David Pocock is inspiring people to consider supporting an independent in the House of Representatives, posing a risk to Labor seats.
In numbers
The Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales has developed an interactive map showing past and planned logging in the proposed park, calling for an immediate moratorium on logging in the site.
Before bed read
Vomit-inducing deepfake nudes show yet again that when misogyny intersects with AI and elitism, girls get hurt
The Bacchus Marsh grammar allegations are shocking but the issue is not new. Barely regulated tech has made school student pornographers a global phenomenon, writes Van Badham.
Daily word game
Today’s starter word is: SEI. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.
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