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☆ Marion Barter mystery: The conman, his lovers and the mother who vanished
▼ + stars: | 2024-03-03 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +22 min

At the time, Australian police dismissed her concerns, insisting that her mother, Marion Barter, had disappeared by choice, and wanted nothing to do with her family. Ric Blum told the NSW Coroner's court that he last saw Barter in June 1997, just before she left Australia. Blum told the court Cornelius had lied about their relationship, which was platonic, he said. Several years later, Ghislaine Danlois-Dubois met Blum in 2006 through an advertisement she posted in a newspaper seeking companionship. O’Sullivan concluded by reading Leydon’s own words about her mother, Marion Barter, read from her submission.

Persons: Sally Leydon, Marion, ”, Teresa O’Sullivan, Ric Blum –, conman, –, Leydon, she’d, Leydon’s, Owen, Sally, Natalia Marion Remakel, Blum, “, Willy Coppenolle, Ric Blum, Bryan Seymour, – Wouters, Willy Wouters, Frederick de Hedervary, United Kingdom –, Frederick, Diane de Hedervary, F, Monique Cornelius, Cornelius, ” Ric Blum's, Ginette Gaffney, Bowan, Frederick De Hedervary, Gaffney, Met Blum, Janet Oldenburg, Andree Flamme, Marie Landrieu, Blum belittled, Rick ”, Rich ”, ” Blum, Oldenburg, he’d, Ghislaine Danlois, Dubois, Joni, de Hedervary, didn’t, “ couldn’t, Flamme, ” Andree Flamme, ” Flamme, “ Willy, Landrieu, O’Sullivan, mispresenting, ” Ric Blum O’Sullivan, hadn’t, Fernand Remakel, Blum “, Mr, Angus Watson, ” O’Sullivan, ” Leydon, we’ve, Blum’s, Matthew White, CNN’s, ” White Organizations: Australia CNN, CNN, Police, NSW Coroner's, British Embassy, NSW Police, New, NSW, SC Locations: Brisbane, Australia, Sydney, United States, Canada, New Zealand, Europe, United Kingdom, Tunbridge Wells, Kent, England, Byron Bay, Luxembourg, Australian, New South Wales, Ballina, Tournai, Belgium, France, Paris, Dubois, Bali, Lille, Brussels, Danlois, Indonesian, Portugal, Indonesia, ”, Marion, South Korea

☆ A fugitive accused of killing his girlfriend in Boston has escaped from a jail in Kenya
▼ + stars: | 2024-02-08 | by ( Larry Madowo | Faith Karimi | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +4 min

CNN —A man accused of killing his girlfriend in Boston before fleeing to Kenya has escaped from a Nairobi jail, where he was awaiting extradition after his capture last week. He’s accused of killing his girlfriend, Maggie Mbitu, whose body was found in his SUV in a parking garage at Boston Logan International Airport on November 1, two days after she was reported missing. Within hours, authorities identified him as the Boston-area fugitive who US investigators said boarded a plane to Kenya shortly after killing his girlfriend. The day before her body was found, Kangethe boarded flights from Boston to Kenya. Surveillance footage showed him leaving the parking garage and entering an airport terminal, police said.

Persons: Kevin Kangethe, He’s, Maggie Mbitu, Kangethe, Ann Mbitu, Boston Kangethe, Mbitu, ” Organizations: CNN, Boston Logan International Airport, Massachusetts State Police, Police, Kenyan, Nairobi’s Jomo Kenyatta International Airport Locations: Boston, Kenya, Nairobi, United States, African, Massachusetts

☆ Paul Mackenzie: Alleged Kenyan cult leader and suspects to face charges, prosecutor says
▼ + stars: | 2024-01-16 | by ( Bethlehem Feleke | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +1 min

Nairobi, Kenya CNN —Alleged Kenyan Christian cult leader Paul Mackenzie and 94 other suspects will face 10 charges for their involvement in a deadly cult, according to a statement from the office of the director of public prosecutions on Tuesday. The suspects will be charged with murder, manslaughter, and assault causing bodily harm, the statement listed. At least 429 bodies were recovered from the forest in eastern Kenya where Mackenzie and his followers were living. The suspects will face charges of subjecting a child to torture, cruelty to a child, and infringing a child’s right to education. All 95 suspects will be formally charged in court in the town of Malindi on Wednesday.

Persons: Kenya CNN —, Paul Mackenzie, Mackenzie Organizations: Kenya CNN, Kenyan Christian Locations: Nairobi, Kenya, Malindi

☆ Australian police officer charged with manslaughter over death of 95-year-old woman tasered in nursing home
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-29 | by ( Lianne Kolirin | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +2 min

CNN —An Australian police officer has been charged with manslaughter after he tasered a 95-year-old woman with dementia in a nursing home. Clare Nowland, a great-grandmother, died in hospital a week after she was tasered at the home in May. A 33-year-old senior constable, Kristian White, is alleged to have tasered Nowland at the home after asking her to drop a steak knife she was holding. The other officer attempted to grab the knife, but Nowland is said to have moved towards them with her walker. Family friend Andrew Thaler said at the time that before the incident Nowland was frail and unable to stand unaided.

Persons: Clare Nowland, Kristian White, White, Nowland, “ Clare, Andrew Thaler Organizations: CNN, Police, New South Wales Police, Public Prosecutions, Monaro Police, Sky News Australia Locations: Cooma , New South Wales, New, ”

☆ Labour Party Conference: Meet Keir Starmer, Britain's likely next Prime Minister
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-10 | by ( Luke Mcgee | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +10 min

At least that’s how it felt in Liverpool, where the opposition Labour Party held its annual conference this week. In front of a packed hall, Labour leader Keir Starmer gave an upbeat speech painting the ruling Conservatives as the party of national decline and Labour as the party of stability. A protestor throws glitter over Labour party leader, Keir Starmer during the leader's speech at the Labour Party conference on October 10, 2023 in Liverpool, England. Shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves makes her keynote speech during the Labour Party Conference in Liverpool on October 9, 2023. The story Labour is telling right now isn’t just the story of Keir Starmer, leader in waiting, but Keir Starmer and his political allies, who are the government in waiting.

Persons: Keir Starmer, “, Ian Forsyth, wilder, Jeremy Corbyn, –, Corbyn’s, Starmer, Corbyn, Boris Johnson’s “, Liz, ”, Queen Elizabeth II, David Lammy, Lammy, he’d, Johnson, Rachel Reeves, Peter Byrne, Jeremy Hunt’s, won’t, Trump, Labour – Organizations: Liverpool CNN, Labour Party, Labour, Conservative, Conservative Party’s, CNN, Conservative Party, Northern, Conservatives ’, Government, University of Leeds, Oxford, Cambridge, Public Prosecutions, Labour Party Conference, Corbyn, Biden, Conservatives Locations: Liverpool, Manchester, England, Corbyn, Israel, Britain, America, Germany, Labour’s

☆ Britain's Keir Starmer plots painstaking path to power
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-05 | by ( Elizabeth Piper | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +10 min

[1/2] British Labour Party leader Keir Starmer speaks during Prime Minister's Questions, at the House of Commons in London, Britain, May 24, 2023. Hours later, those from the opposition Labour party were summoned by senior members in charge of discipline and ordered to delete the posts and apologise. Welcome to Keir Starmer's Labour Party. "Thanks to Keir Starmer's leadership, voters see a changed Labour Party that is ready to change the country with a mission-driven government," a Labour spokesperson said when asked to comment for this story. 'CORBYN WITHOUT THE MADNESS'Named after the founder of the Labour Party, Keir Hardie, Starmer was brought up in a staunchly left-wing household.

Persons: Keir Starmer, Jessica Taylor, Handout, Gene Simmons, Simmons, Islam, Keir Starmer's, Jeremy Corbyn, we've, Starmer, Tony Blair, Rishi Sunak, Keir Hardie, Charlie Falconer, Claire Ainsley, Olaf Scholz, Australia's Anthony Albanese, Ainsley, Falconer, COVID, Keir, Mark Stephens, Blair, Starmer's, Andrew Cooper, David Cameron, Cooper, David Clarke Organizations: British Labour Party, REUTERS, Labour, Reuters, Keir Starmer's Labour Party, Conservatives, Conservative, Labour Party, Policy Institute, Labor Party, Public Prosecutions, Critics, Board, Police Service, Northern, Human, OF, DPP, of Human, Reigate Grammar, Thomson Locations: London, Britain, Australia, Germany, U.S, Caribbean, Uganda, Reigate

☆ Zambia frees five Egyptians arrested on plane with guns and fake gold
▼ + stars: | 2023-09-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

LUSAKA, Sept 1 (Reuters) - A Zambian court freed five Egyptians and one Zambian on Friday, after prosecutors dropped espionage charges against them three weeks after they arrived on a private plane with guns, bullets, cash and fake gold. Two of the Egyptians would be rearrested on unspecified lesser charges and freed on bond, Zambia's Drug Enforcement Commission said. We knew from day one that we were clean," one of the freed Egyptians told journalists outside the court. While the initial charge sheet did not mention the aircraft or seized goods, lawyers for the defendants had said earlier that those arrested were on the plane. Two Egyptian security sources had said the plane seized in Zambia had been inspected by authorities before leaving Cairo, but that one of the arrested Egyptians was able to board with bags that were not searched, which is now under investigation.

Persons: Gracilia Mulenga, Chris Mfula, Bhargav Acharya, Peter Graff Organizations: Drug, Commission, Zambia's Drug, Agency, DPP, Public Prosecutions, Thomson Locations: LUSAKA, Lusaka, Egypt, Zambia, Cairo

CNN —Two men in Uganda are facing separate charges of “aggravated homosexuality,” an offense punishable by death under the country’s controversial new anti-gay laws. “Aggravated homosexuality,” according to the much-criticized act, involves incest, sex with children, as well as people with disabilities or the elderly. The act, signed into law in May, also outlaws gay marriage in Uganda and it punishes same-sex acts with life imprisonment. The man arrested in Soroti is the second person to be charged with the capital offense in Uganda since the law passed in May. Earlier this month, the World Bank said it would not consider fresh loan requests from Uganda following the anti-gay legislation.

Persons: ”, “, ” Jacqueline Okui, Yoweri Museveni, Justine Balya, Balya, Museveni, Joe Biden, ” Museveni Organizations: CNN, Public Prosecutions, US, World Bank, United Nations Locations: Uganda, Soroti, Jinja district

☆ Exclusive: First Ugandan charged with 'aggravated homosexuality' punishable by death
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-28 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

KAMPALA, Aug 28 (Reuters) - A 20-year-old man has become the first Ugandan to be charged with "aggravated homosexuality", an offence punishable by death under the country's recently enacted anti-gay law, prosecutors and his lawyer said. It prescribes life in prison for same-sex intercourse. According to a charge sheet seen by Reuters, the defendant was charged on Aug. 18 with aggravated homosexuality after he "performed unlawful sexual intercourse" with a 41-year-old man. She said she was not aware of anyone else having been previously charged with aggravated homosexuality. Balya said four other people have been charged under the law since its enactment and that her client was the first to be prosecuted for aggravated homosexuality.

Persons: Jacqueline Okui, Okui, Justine Balya, Balya, Yoweri Museveni, Joe Biden, Aaron Ross, Peter Graff Organizations: Reuters, High Court, World Bank, United, Thomson Locations: KAMPALA, Uganda, Magistrate’s, United States

☆ Australia inquiry finds misconduct by prosecutor linked to parliament rape trial
▼ + stars: | 2023-08-07 | by ( Renju Jose | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Reuters does not usually identify victims of sex crimes but Higgins went public with the accusation. Prosecutors in December dropped charges against Lehrmann over fears the trial was harming Higgins' mental health. Lehrmann, who worked in the same office as Higgins, pleaded not guilty and maintained his innocence. The ACT government in December set up the inquiry to check the conduct of criminal justice agencies after allegations of political interference in the trial. Chief Minister Andrew Barr said his government would check if it was against the law that two journalists had received the inquiry report before it was made public.

Persons: Brittany Higgins, Linda Reynolds, Bruce Lehrmann, Higgins, Shane Drumgold, Walter Sofronoff, Drumgold, Andrew Barr, Barr, Renju Jose, Robert Birsel Organizations: SYDNEY, House, Reuters, Prosecutors, Australian Capital Territory, ACT, Public, Thomson Locations: Australian, House, Queensland, Sydney

☆ Corruption inquiry in Australia's NSW state uncovers China links to lawmaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

SYDNEY, June 29 (Reuters) - The former premier of Australia's most populous state engaged in corrupt conduct involving another lawmaker with whom she was in a secret romantic relationship, a years-long corruption inquiry that examined business dealings with China said on Thursday. Maguire told the inquiry he had received envelopes full of thousands of dollars in cash at his parliament office as part of a scheme for Chinese nationals to fraudulently acquire visas. The commission found Maguire engaged in "serious corrupt conduct" between 2012 and 2018 for the migration scheme and other misconduct. Maguire also misused his office by receiving a fee to introduce the party secretary of Liaoning province in China to then NSW premier Barry O'Farrell at parliament in 2012, it said. The commission said it would seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether further prosecutions should be commenced into Maguire.

Persons: Gladys Berejiklian, Daryl Maguire, Maguire, Berejiklian, Barry O'Farrell, Kirsty Needham, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, New South Wales Independent, Corruption, NSW, Liberal, NSW Parliament's, Pacific Friendship Group, Public, Maguire, Thomson Locations: Australia's, China, New, Berejiklian, Shenzhen, South Pacific, Australia, Beijing, Sydney, Liaoning

☆ Corruption inquiry in Australia uncovers China links to state lawmaker
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-29 | by ( Kirsty Needham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

SYDNEY, June 29 (Reuters) - The former premier of Australia's most populous state engaged in corrupt conduct involving another lawmaker with whom she was in a secret romantic relationship, a years-long corruption inquiry that examined business dealings with China said on Thursday. The inquiry said Maguire sought to use his government office to "create a network between China and Australia and to make a commission in multiple ways". The commission found Maguire engaged in "serious corrupt conduct" between 2012 and 2018 for the migration scheme and other misconduct. It said he misused his role as chairman of the New South Wales Parliament's Asia Pacific Friendship Group to advance the commercial interests of a Chinese business association in South Pacific nations. The commission said it would seek advice from the Director of Public Prosecutions on whether further prosecutions should be commenced into Maguire.

Persons: Gladys Berejiklian, Daryl Maguire, Maguire, Berejiklian, Barry O'Farrell, Kirsty Needham, Stephen Coates Organizations: SYDNEY, New South Wales Independent, Corruption, New, Liberal, Australian Council, Australia, Pacific Friendship Group, New South Wales, Public, Maguire, Thomson Locations: Australia's, China, New, New South Wales, Berejiklian, Australia, South Pacific, Beijing, Sydney, Liaoning, New South

One year after the US Supreme Court struck down Roe v Wade and reignited a worldwide protest movement against restricting abortion access, pro-choice advocates in the UK say little progress has been made to increase access to reproductive health services. Proudman said the decision of the US Supreme Court last year to overturn the landmark Roe v Wade ruling had made her reflect on the state of abortion laws in the UK. So, we’re effectively asking that politicians do the same,” O’Brien told CNN. The recent criminal conviction in Stoke-On-Trent has only highlighted how “restrictive” and “draconian” UK abortion laws are, O’Brien said. ‘Ready to take action’Charities such as BPAS which provide abortion care to women on behalf of the UK’s National Health Service (NHS) maintain that the current abortion laws are making life “more difficult” for providers, clinicians and women themselves.

Persons: Roe, Wade, “, ” Nadia Hirsi, Jennifer Dean, ’, Jenny Wickham, ”, Charlotte Proudman, didn’t, Nadia Hirsi, Ella Valentine, Sana Noor Haq, CNN Jennifer Dean, CNN Proudman, Stella Creasy, Proudman, Katherine O’Brien, we’re, ” O’Brien, O’Brien, Annabel Sowemimo, ” Sowemimo, White Organizations: London CNN, US Supreme, CNN, Trent Crown, Public Prosecutions, Wales, US, Charity, British Pregnancy Advisory, Proudman, Trent, US Centers for Disease Control, National Health Service Locations: UK’s, London, England, Wales, British, Stoke, Trent, USA, Scotland, Northern Ireland, Canada, Poland, Texas, Netherlands

Malindi, Kenya CNN —The reddish soil of the Shakahola forest is still giving up its terrible secrets. The cult was preparing for the end of the world under the instruction of their its powerful pastor, say investigators. Many find it difficult to comprehend the dark path that Pastor Paul Nthenge Mackenzie allegedly took his followers along. Yasuyoshi Chiba/AFP/Getty ImagesAt a recent hearing Mackenzie denied all knowledge of the horrors that witnesses, inspectors, and survivors believe happened in the Shakahola forest. ‘Intoxicating power’To understand the Shakahola cult, the focus must be on Mackenzie, says Rick Ross, a leading American cult expert who has studied destructive cults for decades.

Persons: Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, Paul Mackenzie, David McKenzie, ’ ”, Agnes, Mackenzie, “, ”, Yasuyoshi Chiba, Rick Ross, “ It’s, Ross, Charles Manson, David Koresh, Joseph Kibwetere, Geoffrey Wango, Wango, Ruto, Nxivm, God, Naomi Kahindi's, Mwangi, Francis Wanje, Wanje’s, It’s, Wanje, Khalid Hussein, Mackenzie's, Monicah Mwangi, Jesus, couldn’t, didn’t, David Man’ong’o Organizations: Kenya CNN, CNN, Good News International Ministry, Criminal Investigations, Getty, Nairobi University, Kenyan, Reuters, . Police, Public Prosecutions Locations: Malindi, Kenya, Galilee, Bethlehem, Shakahola, AFP, American, Africa

☆ The leader of a starvation cult is still eating food, but 318 of his followers have died, and 64 are on hunger strike, report says
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-17 | by ( Bethany Dawson | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +2 min

Followers of a starvation cult will undergo psychiatric evaluations as they continue to refuse food. Authorities have so far uncovered the bodies of 318 members of the Kenyan cult, per CNN. The members had been rescued from the Shakahola forest, which the leader dubbed a new "Holy Land." The cult's leader, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, was reportedly arrested on April 15 amid investigations into the death of four followers who died of starvation. On Monday, the 64 cult followers were charged with attempted suicide for continuing to refuse food, according to CNN.

Persons: —, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, Mackenzie, Smart, Paul Mackenzie, Stringer Organizations: Authorities, Kenyan, CNN, Service, Mackenzie's Good, International Church, Good News International Church, REUTERS, Twitter, Public Prosecutions, Prosecutors Locations: Shanzu, Mombasa, Kenya

CNN —A Kenyan court has ordered 64 followers of a controversial starvation cult to undergo psychiatric evaluation as they continue to refuse to eat. The followers were charged with attempted suicide on Monday after persistently refusing meals offered to them following their rescue from the Shakahola forest in April. The cult leader, controversial televangelist, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, allegedly brainwashed hundreds of his followers into starving their children before themselves, according to court documents seen by CNN. Neither Mackenzie nor his accomplices have been formally charged as prosecutors continue to seek an extension of custody period to allow further investigation. Questions have now arisen about the next steps in the controversial case after it emerged that the two lawyers representing the accused have withdrawn from the case.

Persons: CNN —, Paul Nthenge Mackenzie, “, Mackenzie, Smart, George Kariuki, Elisha Komora Organizations: CNN, Kenyan, Authorities, Public Prosecutions, Citizen TV, Good News International Locations: Kilifi County, Kenya

☆ Kathleen Folbigg: Mother who served 20 years for killing her four babies pardoned
▼ + stars: | 2023-06-04 | by ( Hilary Whiteman | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +7 min

Folbigg was jailed in 2003 on three counts of murder and one of manslaughter following the deaths of her four babies over a decade from 1989. As recently as 2019, an inquiry into her convictions found there was no reasonable doubt she had committed the crimes. But another inquiry began last year after new scientific evidence emerged that provided a genetic explanation for the children’s deaths. Examination of the babies’ remains failed to find any physical evidence they’d been suffocated, but without another plausible reasons to explain their deaths, suspicion focused on Folbigg. During Folbigg’s 2003 trial, the prosecution used “coincidence and tendency” evidence to allege that Folbigg had also killed Caleb.

Persons: Australia CNN —, General Michael Daley, Kathleen Folbigg, Daley, ” Daley, Folbigg, Sophie Callan, Folbigg’s, ” Patrick, Craig Folbigg, she’d, Caleb, Patrick, Sarah, Laura, Graham Barr, Barr, ”, Laura Folbigg, Shutterstock, ’, Tom Bathurst, Laura – Bathurst, “, Bathurst, “ We’ve, We’ve, You’d Organizations: Australia CNN, New South Wales, South, South Wales Supreme, New South, New South Wales Supreme Locations: Brisbane, Australia, NSW, South Wales, Newcastle, New South Wales, New

☆ Fiji's former attorney general taken into custody - police
▼ + stars: | 2023-05-01 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, May 1 (Reuters) - Fiji's former attorney general, Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum, who is also general secretary of the Pacific island nation's main opposition party Fiji First, was taken into custody on Monday after being charged with abuse of office, police said. The charge relates to a complaint lodged by an election official in February, Fiji police said in a statement. "Mr Sayed-Khaiyum remains in custody and will be produced in the Suva Magistrates Court tomorrow," the statement said. The criminal charge was approved by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, it added. The Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment outside of office hours.

☆ Fiji's former leader Bainimarama bailed after court appearance
▼ + stars: | 2023-03-10 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

SYDNEY, March 10 (Reuters) - Fiji's former long-serving prime minister Frank Bainimarama pleaded not guilty in a Suva court on Friday after being charged with abuse of office and held in police custody overnight. Fiji's Director of Public Prosecutions Christopher Pryde approved the charges of abuse of office against Bainimarama and suspended police commissioner Sitiveni Qiliho. read moreBainimarama, who led the Pacific island nation for 16 years until narrowly losing an election in December, rejected the charge. "I served as Fiji's prime minister with integrity and with the best interest of Fijians at heart," Bainimarama said outside court, according to video taken by Fijian media outlets. Bainimarama resigned from parliament on Wednesday after being suspended last month for sedition and insulting the president.

☆ Rape charge in Australia Parliament case is dropped over mental health worries
▼ + stars: | 2022-12-02 | by ( The Associated Press | ) www.nbcnews.com time to read: +4 min

The Associated Press does not usually identify alleged victims of sexual assault, but Higgins has chosen to identify herself in the media. Director of Public Prosecutions Shane Drumgold said he dropped the case based on medical evidence that a trial could cost Higgins’ life. While the decision to drop the case was disappointing, Higgins’ health came first, the statement said. Speak up against rape, speak up against injustice, to speak up and share my experiences with others. I told the truth no matter how uncomfortable or unflattering to the court,” a tearful Higgins told reporters outside court.

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