Category: Newcastle News

A second man has been charged with murder after the death of another man during a home invasion at Lake Macquarie last week.
Emergency services were called to the home on Lonus Avenue, Whitebridge, about 2.30am on Monday 17 December 2018, where they found a 60-year-old man with serious injuries.
The man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital. Despite the efforts of medical staff, the man died a short time later.
The man’s two brothers were home at the time but were not injured.
Local police established a crime scene at the home, which was examined by specialist forensic officers.
Detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District, assisted by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, established Strike Force Lacrozia to investigate the circumstances surrounding the man’s death.
A 19-year-old man was previously charged with murder. He remains before the courts.
Following further inquiries, a 23-year-old man was arrested at a home at Windale last Saturday (22 December 2018), before being taken to John Hunter Hospital for treatment to a pre-existing injury.
The man was released from hospital earlier today (Tuesday 25 December 2018), and taken to Belmont Police Station.
He was charged with murder, steal from person, impersonate police officer and exercise powers/functions, and police pursuit – not stop – drive recklessly.
Police will allege in court that the man is one of three people – armed with baseball bats and knives – who broke into the Whitebridge home and attacked the 60-year-old man in his bedroom.
He was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court tomorrow (Wednesday 26 December 2018).
Investigations are continuing, and police are still seeking another man in relation to the incident.

Investigators are appealing for public assistance following an aggravated break and enter near Maitland today.
About 5.10am (Saturday 22 December 2018), a man was working inside a licenced premises on West Street, Greta, about 20km north west of Maitland, when four males arrived at the location in a vehicle.
Police have been told three males forced entry, striking the man with a baseball bat before threatening him with a gun.
Several items were stolen including a mobile phone and laptop, before the group fled the scene.
Officers from Hunter Valley Police District attended and established a crime scene.
The injured man was treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and taken to Maitland Hospital with non life-threatening injuries.
The males have been described as wearing jumpers, track pants and gloves with their faces covered.
It is believed they may have been driving a dark coloured dual cab utility.
Anyone with information about the incident who may be able to assist with inquiries is urged to contact Crime Stoppers.

The City of Newcastle today unveiled a newly restored section of City Hall as part of the architectural jewel’s external restoration.
Hoarding was removed from the south-eastern vehicle ramp and facade along King Street, revealing a newly built driveway, and the footpath completely re-opened to pedestrians.
^{City Hall Project Manager Matthew Bennet and Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes at the newly-opened south ramp}
“We are painstakingly restoring this 1929 heritage building to endure as the Civic Precinct’s showpiece, and the latest section is a major milestone in the project,” Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said.
“This large-scale conservation work is ensuring City Hall stands strong and proud in a pivotal precinct that will quickly grow in stature as a cultural and hospitality hub following last week’s announcement of Newcastle’s first five-star hotel in the Roundhouse building.
“Kingsley Hotel’s future guests will behold the beauty of City Hall from the comfort of their accommodation and tell their friends and relatives about it when they return home.”

The highest quality self-colouring sandstone material has been used to replace ageing and damaged parts of the building, with the Sydney basin ‘Yellowblock’ sandstone excavated from a building site in George Street, Sydney.
The use of high-quality material will ensure the longevity of the building and help reduce future building maintenance.
While the south-eastern hoarding has come down, retractable bollards will remain at the base of the ramp to prevent vehicle access until the remaining work is completed on the southern façade.
Work to conserve the western and northern facade continues, with eastern construction compound still in place.
For more information on this project, visit the City Hall Restoration website.

The NSW Police Force is warning members of the community about an elaborate scam targeting retirees and other Australians looking to purchase recreational vehicles and vessels, and machinery.
Police from across NSW have received numerous reports in recent weeks relating to the resurfacing of a scam involving illegitimate sellers of motor homes, machinery, and boats.
Investigators have been told the scam begins with what appears to be a genuine seller of an item advertising through the classifieds. In many cases, the advertised sale price is below market value.
The advertisement will feature a mobile number, which will not be answered, instead responding via text message that they are unable to talk on the phone.
After asking if the buyer is interested in the item, the scammer may direct the conversation to email to conduct price negotiations.

Once a price is agreed, the scammer requests a considerable payment (up to 50%) upfront by electronic transfer, then provide instructions to contact a freight company to arrange delivery and make final payment.

It is understood that the freight company contact details provided by the scammer defer to another scammer, who takes a final payment before providing a fraudulent tracking number.

The goods are never delivered, and the money is not able to be recovered.

Inquiries have revealed the scam also involves identity takeovers, phishing, and mobile phone porting, which further attempt to disguise the identities of those involved.

Detectives from the Financial Crimes Squad have commenced an investigation and are urging the public to be vigilant when purchasing items through online or newspaper classifieds.
If you have been the victim of a scam, you can report it to local police or to ACCC Scamwatch at: https://www.scamwatch.gov.au/report-a-scam or by calling 1300 795 995.
Further, victims of identity theft can contact IDCARE for assistance to reduce the harm experienced from the compromise and misuse of identity information: https://www.idcare.org

Police have released images of two men they believe can assist with inquiries into the death of another man during a home invasion in Lake Macquarie earlier this week.
Emergency services were called to the home on Lonus Avenue, Whitebridge, about 2.30am on Monday (17 December 2018), and found a 60-year-old man with a serious injury to his arm.
The man was treated at the scene by Ambulance paramedics; however, he died at John Hunter Hospital a short time later.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene and commenced inquiries.
Police will allege in court that three people – with their faces covered and armed with baseball bats and knives – broke into the home and attacked the man in his bedroom.
The man’s two brothers were home at the time but were not injured.
As inquiries continue, police have released images of two men who they believe may be able to assist with inquiries.
One man is described as being of Aboriginal/Torres Strait Islander or Mediterranean/Middle Eastern appearance, aged in his mid-20s, about 165cm tall, with brown eyes. He is believed to have dark-coloured short/shaved hair, possibly with a long ponytail.
The second man is described as being of Caucasian appearance, also aged in his mid-20s, about 175cm tall, with a thin build, fair complexion and blond hair. He is believed to have tattoos on his chest, left forearm, right arm and left thigh.
As inquiries into the incident continue, anyone with information, is urged to contact police or Crime Stoppers immediately.

Five men have been charged following investigations into alleged large-scale drug supply in the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie regions.
Strike Force Castlestead was established in September 2018 to investigate and dismantle an alleged drug supply syndicate operating across both police districts.
Following extensive inquiries, strike force detectives arrested two men – aged 33 and 28 ­– at a service station on Gateway Boulevarde in Morisset about 3.30pm yesterday (Thursday 20 December 2018).
During a search of the men, police located and seized a large commercial quantity of prohibited drugs, believed to be cocaine, and cash.
The men were taken to Belmont Police Station where they were both charged with multiple offences, including supplying a prohibited drug (commercial quantity), and knowingly deal with the proceeds of crime.
The 33-year-old man was also charged with manufacture or produce a large commercial quantity of a prohibited drug and expose a child to the process.
They were bail refused to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 21 December 2018).
Following the arrests, multiple search warrants were executed at homes in Cameron Park, Mayfield, Wangi Wangi, and Rose Bay.
Large quantities of cocaine, GHB and cash was seized from the homes.
At the home in Wangi Wangi police discovered a clandestine drug laboratory. Officers from the NSW Police Chemical Operations Unit attended to dismantle and process the scene.
A 35-year-old man was arrested at the Cameron Park home and taken to Belmont Police Station.
He was charged with 10 offences, including supply a prohibited drug of large commercial quantity, importing a commercial quantity of border-controlled drug, and manufacture prohibited drug. He was bail refused to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 21 December 2018).
A 40-year-old man was arrested at the Mayfield home and taken to Waratah Police Station where he was charged with knowingly take part in the supply of a large commercial quantity of prohibited drug, and knowingly participate in criminal group.
He was bail refused to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Friday 21 December 2018).
A 28-year-old Rose Bay man was arrested in Sydney’s CBD and taken to Surry Hills Police Station where he was charged with six offences relating to the supply of prohibited drugs.
He was bail refused to appear at Central Local Court today (Friday 21 December 2018).
Investigations by Strike Force Castlestead continue and further arrests are anticipated.

Police are appealing for public assistance to locate a woman missing from Newcastle.
Cecilia Devine, who turns 42 today (Friday 21 December 2018), was last seen in Waratah on Wednesday 5 September 2018.
Police from Newcastle City Police District were alerted when her family and friends could not locate or contact her.
Concerns are held for her welfare.
Cecilia is described as being of Caucasian appearance, about 160cm tall, with a large build, long blonde hair with undercut sides, and blue eyes.
It’s believed she may have travelled to Sydney and there was reported sightings of her in the Hornsby and Blue Mountains area shortly after she was last seen.
Anyone who sees Cecilia, or believes they know her whereabouts, is urged to contact police immediately.

A boarding house at 86 Waratah Street Mayfield will shortly re-open following successful regulatory action to address serious planning and fire safety breaches.
City of Newcastle (CN) served Emergency Development Control Orders on the owners of the boarding house in September 2018, requiring the removal of all residents due to serious fire safety risks and to address significant unauthorised works at the premises.
The owner of the Mayfield boarding house, Mr Aaron Buman, contacted CN on 17 December advising that various works to remove unauthorised structures, and improve fire safety as required by the Emergency Orders, had been undertaken.
CN’s Director of Governance David Clarke said following a request from the owner, CN’s investigation officers inspected the Mayfield premises to assess compliance with the Orders.
Subject to the owner addressing several outstanding minor matters and issuing a final fire safety certificate, CN will remove the Emergency Orders enabling the Mayfield premises to be occupied again,” Mr Clarke said.
“The safety of residents in this boarding house is a priority. CN was left with no choice but to take regulatory action to close the boarding house due to the serious fire safety risks caused by the owner undertaking unauthorised works and failing to comply with fire safety standards.
“The owner purchased and converted an adjoining three-bedroom residential property at 84 Waratah Street into a ten-bedroom boarding house without any planning approvals, and joined that property to his existing boarding house at 86 Waratah Street via a series of unauthorised awnings and structures, resulting in an unacceptable fire safety risk, which was compounded by a lack of fire exits and other safety requirements.
“The owner installed 14 timber “cubby house” style cabins at the rear of 86 Waratah Street without any planning approvals and with serious fire safety deficiencies compromising the safety of residents.
“These actions created an unacceptable fire safety risk to the residents and resulted in the boarding house being closed.
“Earlier this month, Mr Buman submitted a draft Fire Safety Report for 86 Waratah Street, Mayfield. It concluded, in part, that a sprinkler and alarm system in the building would provide levels of safety within the building that will afford the buildings’ occupants an acceptable level of protection in the event of fire.”
“CN intends to issue fresh orders requiring the owner to install a sprinkler system in the Mayfield boarding house and meet other recommendations contained in the Fire Safety Report.
“Despite taking legal action (which was subsequently withdrawn) and mounting a vigorous public relations campaign against CN, the owner has now complied with the Emergency Orders, enabling the boarding house at 86 Waratah Street Mayfield to re-open.”
“CN’s boarding house compliance program has improved the safety of residents at the Mayfield boarding house. The owner showed a flagrant disregard for planning and fire safety requirements and it has only been through our regulatory action that the owner has now complied to ensure the safety of his residents.
“The owner has restored the adjoining residential property at 84 Waratah Street to a three- bedroom residential property. It will not be able to be used as a boarding house until and unless appropriate planning approvals are obtained.
“A boarding house at Carrington owned by the same owner remains closed due to fire safety risks.
“CN expect that all local boarding house operators now recognise that they must take action in response to compliance matters identified by our current audit program. Last year a boarding house in Crebert Street Mayfield and not owned by Mr Buman, was similarly shut down due to fire safety concerns. In that case, the owner chose to sell the property rather than undertake the required safety work.”

A man has been charged with murder following an alleged fatal stabbing at Belmont yesterday.
About 1.30pm (Wednesday 19 December 2018), police were called to Beach Street, Belmont South, after reports of a crash between a Holden Commodore and a 4WD utility.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District attended and found the 4WD driver, a 50-year-old man, suffering stab wounds to his neck.
The injured man was treated at the scene before being taken to John Hunter Hospital, where he later died.
Police will allege the man was involved in a verbal altercation with another man, known to him, before the crash.
Following inquiries by detectives from State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and officers from Lake Macquarie Police District, a 32-year-old man was arrested at a home on Marriot Street, Belmont, just before 2pm.
He was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with murder.
The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 20 December 2018).

A man has been charged with murder after the death of another man during a Lake Macquarie home invasion earlier this week.
Emergency services were called to the home on Lonus Avenue, Whitebridge, about 2.30am on Monday (17 December 2018), and found a 60-year-old man with a serious injury to his arm.
The man was treated at the scene by paramedics; however, he died at John Hunter Hospital a short time later.
Officers from Lake Macquarie Police District established a crime scene and commenced inquiries.
Police will allege that three people – with their faces covered and armed with baseball bats and knives – broke into the home and attacked the man in his bedroom.
The man’s two brothers were home at the time but were not injured.
Following inquiries by detectives from Lake Macquarie Police District, assisted by the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad, officers arrested a 19-year-old man at a home on Warners Bay Road, Charlestown, about 8.45am yesterday (Wednesday 19 December 2018).
He was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with murder.
The man was refused bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 20 December 2018).
Investigations are continuing and police are still seeking two men in relation to the incident.