Search

Verdict delivered over fatal Rust shooting

The armourer on the set of the film Rust has been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Halyna Hutchins, who was 42 and a mother to a young son, died after being fatally shot by Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western movie in October 2021. Baldwin has repeatedly denied responsibility, insisting he did not pull the trigger. Now, armourer Hannah Gutierrez has been found guilty, with the jury hearing that Gutierrez, 26, had been ultimately responsible for the use of live rounds on set. Over a 10-day trial in New Mexico, the court heard how she had repeatedly failed to adhere to basic safety rules by leaving guns unattended on set, and allowing actors — including Baldwin — to wave the weapons around. “This is not a case where Hannah Gutierrez made one mistake and that one mistake was accidentally putting a live round into that gun,” prosecutor Kari Morrissey told the jury in her closing argument Wednesday. “This case is about constant, never-ending safety failures that resulted in the death of a human being and nearly killed another.” The judge remanded her in custody ahead of her sentencing, which is not expected before next month, as she faces up to 18 months’ prison. Despite Baldwin long claiming his innocence over the shooting, ballistics experts have dismissed the claim, saying the gun could not have discharged any other way. His own involuntary manslaughter trial is expected in July. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

"Too young to leave us": Aussie woman killed in holiday accident

A young woman from Melbourne has tragically died while on holiday with her family after a devastating motorcycle crash. Saarah Hannah Bulbul, 25, was on the back of the bike when the rider lost control and crashed on July 28 in Istanbul, Turkey, according to <a title="www.heraldsun.com.au" href="https://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/saarah-bulbul-tributes-for-mitcham-lawyer-former-vermont-secondary-college-student/news-story/9f4af8645dcf99c1fa8cbf531cf0420b" data-tgev="event119" data-tgev-container="bodylink" data-tgev-order="9f4af8645dcf99c1fa8cbf531cf0420b" data-tgev-label="leader" data-tgev-metric="ev">The Herald Sun.</a> While the driver managed to escape uninjured, Sarah died from her injuries on the way to the hospital. Ms Bulbul was travelling through Turkey with her parents and two sisters before the tragic accident, as the family will remain in Turkey, confirming Saarah will be buried at a family cemetery there. “We’re all devastated, she genuinely was full of life and had everything she ever wanted and everything was going right for her,” Saarah’s heartbroken sister Nesi told the Herald Sun. “It’s just way too quick and soon, and it doesn’t seem real yet.” Ms Bulbul was about 10 months into her first job as a lawyer with Grindal Legal in South Melbourne, after completing her degree at the city’s Swinbourne University. “She loved her job and she was smashing it, she loved working there and recently they told her she was going places,” sister Nesi said. Ms Bulbul's former high school principal Tony Jacobs described Ms Bulbul as “a vibrant, animated and energetic member of the school community”. “Saarah will always be remembered and sadly missed by all school friends and teachers,” Mr Jacobs said. “Our thoughts go out to the family and closest friends over the loss of someone too young to leave us.” Image credits: Facebook / LinkedIn

News

"Final act of cowardice" by Hannah Clarke’s ex-husband

Content warning: This article contains distressing content and descriptions of domestic violence. A coroner has recommended widespread changes to domestic violence training and support in Australia while delivering her findings on the deaths of Hannah Clarke and her children at the hands of her ex-husband. Deputy State Coroner Jane Bentley became emotional while delivering her findings, detailing the final moments of the young family during Rowan Baxter’s “final act of cowardice”. Clarke and her children, six-year-old Aaliyah, four-year-old Laianah, and three-year-old Trey, died after Baxter, her ex-husband, ambushed the family on their way to school in February, 2020. After dousing their car in petrol, neighbours watched on in horror as he set the vehicle alight. In Bentley’s findings, published on Wednesday, it was revealed that Clarke died from multi-organ failure as a result of the fire. Bentley said the three children died at 8.25am on February 19 from the effects of the fire, while Baxter died from a self-inflicted stab wound. "The children died almost immediately from the inhalation of fumes and burns," Bentley said. "Hannah had received full-thickness, non-survivable burns." Despite suffering severe injuries, Bentley said Clarke showed “astounding bravery” and was able to describe what Baxter had done to nearby witnesses. Her findings come three months after the long-awaited coronial inquest into the deaths began. During the inquest, the court was told of how Baxter displayed controlling and abusive behaviour towards Clarke, including controlled what she wore and who she could see, demanding sex every night, and berating her body image. The court was told that Baxter abducted Laianah on Boxing Day 2019, taking her to northern NSW before returning her several days later. In another incident, Baxter assaulted Clarke after she confronted him about why he had explicit photos of her in his car - which was evidence he hoped to use in court. Bentley said she found it unlikely that police, service providers or family could have stopped Baxter from carrying out his “murderous” plans, describing him as a “master of manipulation”. "After Hannah left him and he realised he could no longer control her, he began to rally support from friends he had not seen for years and professionals he considered could advance his cause,” Bentley said. She described him killing himself as a “final act of cowardice” since he was unable to live with the public denunciation and punishment he would be subject to. "The truth is Hannah, who knew him best, was initially in favour of him having contact with the children … but she perceived he was becoming more dangerous," Bentley said. "Her fears were genuine and realistic and ultimately confirmed in the worst way." The coroner said there were missed opportunities to keep Baxter accountable, including their response to his breaching of the domestic violence order. The court heard that training of police officers, particularly frontline officers, around domestic violence was insufficient, and that there was a “significant lack of counselling programmes and support” for perpetrators in Queensland. "However, in this case, I am satisfied that even had it been available, Baxter was not interested in engaging in such programmes unless it furthered his cause … [of] Hannah agreeing to his wishes," she said. Bentley made four recommendations, including that the Queensland government fund the police to provide "five-day face-to-face domestic violence training programme for all specialist domestic violence police officers", and mandatory face-to-face training for all police officers. "My final recommendation is that the Queensland government provide funding for men's behaviour change programmes both in prisons and in the community as a matter of urgency," Bentley said. "I offer my most sincere condolences to Mr and Mrs Clarke, other family members and friends and family of their children." Outside court, Hannah’s parents Sue and Lloyd Clarke said they were pleased with the findings. "We expected most of the results," Clarke told reporters. "We need to see everything that's been recommended implemented in every state." If you are in need of support or are a victim of domestic violence, call Lifeline on 13 11 14 or the national family violence counselling service on 1800 737 732. Image: Nine News

Family & Pets

Video shows Rowan Baxter purchasing killing tools

A video showing Rowan Baxter purchasing the tools he would use to kill Hannah Clarke and their three children has played in court. CCTV showed Baxter at a local Brisbane Bunnings store buying zip ties, cleaning fluid and fuel at about 6 pm on February 17, 2020, just two days before the horrific murder. Wearing a black singlet and shorts, Baxter also appeared to wander around before paying for the items. Later that afternoon, Baxter called a men’s support helpline where he said he was the victim. "My wife, to be honest, it's almost like a game to put her in a better position for family court," he was heard saying, <a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/inquest-into-hannah-clarkes-death-tracks-killers-movements-in-days-before-murder-brisbane-queensland/d882dce1-d321-4cd6-9791-0f37d4892e91" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nine News</a> reported. "I'm not the one who has the problem. I'm just doing what I'm told. "I never even thought my wife was capable of doing anything like this." On 19 February, 2020, before Baxter set alight to the family car with Ms Clarke and their three children - Aaliyah, Laianah, and Trey - he was seen at a Caltex petrol station purchasing 4.6L of fuel and three Kinder Surprises. Ms Clarke was taking her three children to school when Baxter doused them with fuel. The three children died at the scene while Ms Clarke was taken to hospital. Baxter later stabbed himself with a knife and died. Ms Clarke suffered burns to 97 per cent of her body and, despite her injuries, was able to give police three statements about what happened. The inquest continues. Image: CCTV footage

Legal

Chilling footage emerges in Hannah Clarke case

Content warning: This article mentions domestic violence. Bodycam footage of a distraught Hannah Clarke speaking to police after her “psycho” husband abducted one of their children has been shown during the coronial inquest into her and her children’s deaths. The inquest is examining the 2020 deaths of Ms Clarke and her three children - Aaliyah, Laianah, and Trey - and her estranged husband Rowan Baxter, who set the family alight in a car on a suburban street, as reported by <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/qld/the-devastating-moment-hannah-clarke-was-told-by-police-theres-not-a-great-deal-we-can-do-c-6243136" target="_blank" rel="noopener">7News</a>. In the footage, Ms Clarke spoke to officers when her husband drove off with one of their three children after the family met at a Brisbane park on Boxing Day in 2019. Ms Clarke said she and Mr Baxter had been separated for a few weeks but that she feared getting a domestic violence order against him, fearing it would worsen the situation. She said she refused to let Mr Baxter have the kids overnight out of fear he wouldn’t return them to her, and that Mr Baxter then put four-year-old Laianah in a car and drove off. “Now he’s telling me he won’t give her back … because I’ve said to him you need to wait till we can get this sorted, you’re not having them stay with you because you won’t return them,” Ms Clarke told police. “The other two are absolutely beside themselves.She’s (Laianah’s) balling her eyes out. “(He’s) just a psycho, (saying) that he’s taking her and that’s it. “He’s just called me now and said you either bring the other two back or I keep her. “They were in my care. “I was doing good by letting them see him.” She also explained why didn’t take out a legal order against him, despite having spoken to police about him previously. “The only reason I didn’t was because I was scared it would antagonise the situation more,” she said. Tragically, one of the officers told her there was nothing they could do. “Without any orders in place, there’s not a great deal we can do in relation to the custody of the children,” the officer said in the video. “Being the biological father, he does have a right to the child. We can’t just go and take the child.” Ms Clarke then asked, “Even though he’s taken her away from me when they were in my care?” “Yeah, unfortunately, because he is the biological father of the child, we can’t just go and seize the child and give her back to you,” the officer explained. Ms Clarke said the situation was “messed up” and detailed some of Mr Baxter’s treatment of her. “There’s been a lot of domestic violence. Not physical, but emotional. Controlling me et cetera. So it just got too much, I just couldn’t do it anymore,” she said. “So I took the kids and we left.” Mr Baxter took Laianah for two days before she was returned to Ms Clarke due to police intervention. A police protection notice was placed against Mr Baxter three days later, starting the process for Ms Clarke to get a permanent domestic violence order against him. He then breached a temporary order on January 31 when he grabbed Ms Clarke’s wrist during an altercation at her parents’ home while dropping off their son. On Tuesday, the inquest also heard from members of the Queensland Police and the Queensland Police Union, who appeared before Queensland Coroners Court. The footage is available to view <a href="https://7news.com.au/news/qld/the-devastating-moment-hannah-clarke-was-told-by-police-theres-not-a-great-deal-we-can-do-c-6243136" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: 7News

Family & Pets

New details emerge in tragic deaths of Hannah Clarke and her children

Content warning: This article contains distressing details relating to an act of domestic violence which may disturb some readers. New details surrounding the murder of Hannah Clarke and her children have emerged during an pre-inquest hearing investigating whether their deaths could have been prevented. Hannah Clarke and her three children - Aaliyah, six; Laianah, four; and Trey, three - were doused in petrol and burned alive by estranged husband Rowan Baxter in Brisbane in early 2020. “The purpose of this inquest is not to identify the deceased, the cause nor the place of their deaths, or even the perpetrator who took their lives,” Jacoba Brasch QC, the counsel assisting the coroner, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/dec/07/hannah-clarke-inquest-in-brisbane-to-examine-the-warning-signs-which-were-missed" target="_blank">told the court</a> on Tuesday. “The evidence on these matters is abundant and, tragically, painfully clear. This inquest must look backwards, at the warning signs which were missed or, it identified, whether appropriate actions were taken at the time to address those risks.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846188/hannah-clarke1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/eb5109f56fcc4adb95cd52039956ea49" /> Hannah Clarke with her children Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey. Image: @smallsteps4hannah (Instagram) The court heard that just before 8.30 am on February 19, Clarke left her parents’ home with her children and was intercepted by Baxter, when he climbed into the passenger’s seat armed with a knife and a can of petrol. “Hannah screamed at Baxter to get out of the car. Her screams were desperate and fearful - we know this because a worried neighbour recorded them,” Brasch said. Baxter then ordered Clarke to drive while he poured petrol over her and through the cabin of the car. After driving for just 200 metres, she pulled into a driveway where a man was washing his car and begged him to call the police. Then the car exploded. “The explosion was so loud, it rattled windows across the street and some thought they heard a gas explosion,” the hearing was told. Though Clarke was able to free herself from the car, she was completely engulfed in flames. Her injuries were so severe they couldn’t be treated, and she died from them later that afternoon. Baxter was also badly burnt, but able to grab his knife from the burning car and impale himself, puncturing his heart and killing himself. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846189/hannah-clarke2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/7bb9301ee0ee463eb6a6240151bc0992" /> Hannah Clarke with her children Aaliyah, Laianah and Trey. Image: @smallsteps4hannah (Instagram) The court heard that just before 8.30 am on February 19, Clarke left her parents’ home with her children and was intercepted by Baxter, when he climbed into the passenger’s seat armed with a knife and a can of petrol. “Hannah screamed at Baxter to get out of the car. Her screams were desperate and fearful - we know this because a worried neighbour recorded them,” Brasch <a rel="noopener" href="https://7news.com.au/news/qld/shocking-details-of-murder-of-hannah-clarke-and-her-children-revealed-ahead-of-qld-coronial-inquest-c-4847260" target="_blank">said</a>. Baxter then ordered Clarke to drive while he poured petrol over her and through the cabin of the car. After driving for just 200 metres, she pulled into a driveway where a man was washing his car and begged him to call the police. Then the car exploded. “The explosion was so loud, it rattled windows across the street and some thought they heard a gas explosion,” the hearing was told. Though Clarke was able to free herself from the car, she was completely engulfed in flames. Her injuries were so severe they couldn’t be treated, and she died from them later that afternoon. Baxter was also badly burnt, but able to grab his knife from the burning car and impale himself, puncturing his heart and killing himself. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7846190/hannah-clarke3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/58407a7cdf0d4b708e6be8ec09dfe87b" /> Hannah Clarke’s parents, Sue and Lloyd, at her funeral. Image: 7News Brasch described the murders of Clarke and her children as acts of “unimaginable cruelty”, but said the hearings were needed to determine if their lives could have been saved. Speaking outside court, Clarke’s parents, Lloyd and Sue Clarke, said they hoped the hearings would bring some kind of closure. “It will be good to have it finally over and hopefully it will fill in a few missing pieces for us,” Sue Clarke said. “If we can save just one more life through things that are found out, that would be great.” If you or someone you know is experiencing sexual assault, domestic or family violence, call 1800 RESPECT (1800 737 732). In an emergency, call 000. Image: Jono Searle (Getty Images) / @smallsteps4hannah (Instagram)

Caring

“Our marriage is not fake”: Bride responds to online abuse

For many, weddings are supposed to be the happiest day of our lives. However for one bride, her special moment with her husband was turned into a circus when she revealed her wedding photos to the world. Hannah Aylward told her followers of the cruel insults she received after sharing news of her wedding to Shane Burcaw. Hannah and Shane wed in a backyard ceremony on September 4, and took to Instagram to announce their happy news last week. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837872/couple-marriage-wedding.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/41cee0cf1f8c4d27a8c59ffee38ebf7c" /> Shane has spinal muscular atrophy, and with his wife Hannah they boast more than 700,000 subscribers on their Youtube account, Squirmy and Grubs. Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic condition that affects the nerves that monitor muscle movement. Muscles become weak and damaged before eventually wasting away. When Hannah shared their wedding pictures, they had thousands of comments wishing them well. Unfortunately, she also was forced to deal with cruel comments saying their wedding was “some kind of joke” and that it must have been “photoshopped”. “But for real thought … does she also have another partner for having sex with?” one comment read. “I’m saying this without any kind of apologies. I’m pretty sure that woman married him because if (sic) money and not for love,” another person claimed. “Some of us women will do anything and everything for money, even if it means putting up a front, pretending just to get what they want. No not true love.” In response Hannah took to Instagram to say that despite documenting their relationship on Youtube for years, they had still had to put up with people claiming it was fake. “A few years ago, reading words like these was painful,” she said. “For a while, I held onto the idea that once Shane and I were married, all the people doubting our relationship would realise it was real.” Hannah went on to say that she was “not that naive” now. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7837871/couple-marriage-wedding-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/451c892d78384228b5abcf8920c3f3ce" /> She has learnt to ignore hurtful comments and instead focus on the positive impact sharing her relationship has had. “Shane and I continue to make content and share our story with the hopes of showing as many people as we can that disabled people are worthy partners,” she said. In an article for Today back in 2019, Shane said that many people assumed his then-girlfriend Hannah was his caregiver. “This one feels quite obvious, but you’d be shocked by how often strangers assume that Hannah is my nurse, my mom, my sister or my babysitter,” he wrote. “Hannah and I were once checking out at a liquor store when the cashier said to Hannah: ‘Does this big guy want a lollipop?’” Shane said he and Hannah had a “satisfying intimate life” and their relationship was “not special”. “As our YouTube channel has grown, hundreds, if not thousands of couples in similar situations have reached out to us,” he wrote. “It turns out, people with disabilities are in fact still human, with emotional wants and needs like everyone else!”

Relationships

“I don’t know how to tell her”: Best friend of little girl murdered by evil father still unaware of death

The best friend of slain Hannah Clarke’s youngest little girl is still unaware that her mate has passed away. Four-year-old Laianah Baker was murdered last Wednesday after her father set her, her mother and her two siblings, Aaliyah, six, and Trey, three, on fire in a quadruple murder-suicide. Ms Clarke's best friend Lou Farmer told A Current Affair on Tuesday she is still having trouble to tell her young daughter, Heidi that her best friend was killed in the incident. “My ten and seven-year-old they understand. I can't even go there with Heidi. Heidi and Laianah were best friends,” she said, as she choked back tears. Ms Farmer says she had known her dear friend Hannah Clarke for four years, and revealed they had recently gotten together for a party shortly before the tragedy unfolded. “We had the most perfect pool party, and wines, and the best afternoon. I just don't know how to tell my little girl that Laianah, her best friend is gone,” she shared. Three close friends of Ms Clarke’s spoke out about the tragedy in a tolling interview where they revealed they had fears her estranged husband Rowan Baxter would harm the family. Nikki Brooks, a friend Ms Clarke’s for over 17 years, admitted she’s spoken with Queensland Police just one week before the murders to give a statement regarding Baxter's breach of his Domestic Violence Order. “I looked the detective in the eye and I said, ‘I think he's going to take them all out,’” Ms Brooks said. “She said, ‘I've got a bad feeling too.’” It had been Ms Brook’s home that had proven to be a haven for the mum-of-three when her relationship with Baxter turned abusive in 2019. Ms Clarke had confided in her closest four girl friends of the abuse, and it was Ms Brooks who says they now feel “a lot of guilt” over what had happened. “I feel like we've definitely influenced her decision. We said, ‘Han, enough's enough’. “It was getting bad and we had to get her out of there.” “The day she came back she stayed with me and we felt safe. He [Baxter] didn't know where I lived. “She just looked relieved and she seemed really happy. She knew she made the right decision.” Ms Brooks spoke in front of more than 1,000 mourners at a vigil held for Ms Clarke and her family at Whites Hill State College in Camp Hill on Sunday. “We are a nation in pain,” she said. “Don't back away from your friends for the sake of convenience. “Time's up on domestic violence.”

Relationships

Rowan Baxter’s family speaks after vicious murders: “Everyone else, they’re shocked – I’m not”

The cousin of family killer Rowan Baxter has spoken out about her family, saying he was an “angry child” while growing up together. Alana Hampson told <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/crime/there-was-a-lot-of-violence-rowan-baxters-relatives-speak-out-about-killer-dads-upbringing/news-story/f54961c4792b002951ab055b067135a1" target="_blank">news.com.au</a> that while she was estranged from her older cousin Rowan, she lived with him and his brother Charles as a teenager while going through foster care. “He was an angry kid,” the 38-year-old admitted. “There was a bit of cruelty there sometimes, little hints throughout his life. He would yell at you to get out of his room or swear at you. Rowan was like that real abrupt kid. Just one of those rough tumbling boys with attitude.” 42-year-old NRL Player Rowan Baxter burned his estranged wife Hannah Clarke and their three children to death last week in their family SUV before stabbing himself and dying. In a 2004 newspaper interview, Rowan told reporters he had quit rugby union to join the Mt Albert Lions rugby league club after being repeatedly overlooked for selection by the Bay of Plenty Steamers. “Word got back to me they (Bay of Plenty) thought I had anger problems,” Baxter told The Daily Post. The 42-year-old was reportedly involved in two vicious brawls while playing club rugby for Te Puke in 2002 and 2003. “That’s the way I play, I don’t regret it, that’s who I am,” Baxter said. Ms Hampson’s mother, Dorothy Ann Baxter, is the sister of Rowan’s father, Charlie — one of nine brothers and sisters in the clan from New Zealand’s Tauranga region. “I haven’t been around my family most of my life — I hate my family,” Ms Hampson told <a rel="noopener noreferrer" href="https://www.news.com.au/national/queensland/crime/there-was-a-lot-of-violence-rowan-baxters-relatives-speak-out-about-killer-dads-upbringing/news-story/f54961c4792b002951ab055b067135a1" target="_blank">news.com.au.</a> “(He was) f***ed in the head. There was a lot of violence. The Baxters had a hard life. (One of my other cousins), his younger baby died. The baby coffin was put in the car and he did doughnuts.” Ms Hampson said that while she herself hasn’t had “clean life”, her cousin’s acts are unforgiveable. “I haven’t had a clean life myself but for someone to do that … I can’t believe anyone would do that. Someone told me you’ve got to forgive — you can’t forgive that,” she said. While she last saw Rowan “a long time ago”, she says the horrific murders have left the family shell-shocked. “It’s affected all my aunties, they’re speechless,” she said. Heart-stricken Dorothy Ann Baxter described Rowan as “a good boy” who “lost the plot”. Ms Baxter confirmed she hadn’t seen Rowan since he moved to Australia. “He was always a good boy. I can’t understand,” she said. “He’s lost the plot. I don’t know. He couldn’t handle it then one day he just lost it. It’s not good. But I know he wouldn’t do it out of his own mind so he had to be … lost it, just lost the plot. Some of us do. I’m not saying Rowan was good for what he did but people do lose the plot.” Ms Baxter spoke of funeral arrangements for Rowan, saying: “Of course there’s going to be a funeral “They’ve got to get him back here first, the cops have still got him haven’t they?” She added, “We’re going to say goodbye to him. He’s going to be put with his mother. I’m just glad my mum wasn’t here because it would have killed her.” But Ms Hampson says she is “definitely not going to the funeral”. “I can’t bring myself to see that,” she said. “It’s a bit hard to swallow. He can rot in hell for what he did to those kids.”

News

Over 60

News

Shop

Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

Property

Information

Keep up to date

Search

Verdict delivered over fatal Rust shooting

"Too young to leave us": Aussie woman killed in holiday accident

"Final act of cowardice" by Hannah Clarke’s ex-husband

Video shows Rowan Baxter purchasing killing tools

Chilling footage emerges in Hannah Clarke case

New details emerge in tragic deaths of Hannah Clarke and her children

“Our marriage is not fake”: Bride responds to online abuse

“I don’t know how to tell her”: Best friend of little girl murdered by evil father still unaware of death

Rowan Baxter’s family speaks after vicious murders: “Everyone else, they’re shocked – I’m not”