This is probably not the page you’re looking for Add videos to your saved list and come back to them any time Add articles to your saved list and come back to them any time A 54-year-old man has appeared in Fremantle Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with murdering his mother Andre Lafayette Drane appeared only briefly after being held overnight in police custody after his arrest on Monday Worried neighbours had called police after seeing blood outside the Sandpiper Loop home Emergency services discovered the woman’s body inside the house just after 7am Neighbours said Joan was “a really nice lady” but that there had been disturbances at the house in recent weeks One said Joan had called out to him for assistance because we’ve known them for a long time,” he said Another neighbour said he had had to use a pressure cleaner to clean the blood from the outside of his home One said Andre had for a time been living at the home but had recently moved out “I’m not sure if he had moved back in or not,” she said Police were still searching the property on Monday evening as flowers and tributes were being laid outside Andre’s matter was adjourned to May 29 and transferred to Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court The Perth suburbs where deaths outnumber births Reynolds fights Higgins’ push to delay defamation court row Charged up: WA town to home Australia’s biggest battery A 54-year-old man has appeared in Fremantle Magistrates Court on Tuesday charged with murdering his mother, Joan Mary Drane, 78. Andre Lafayette Drane appeared only briefly after being held overnight in police custody after his arrest on Monday. Worried neighbours had called police after seeing blood outside the Sandpiper Loop home. Emergency services discovered the woman\\u2019s body inside the house just after 7am. Neighbours said Joan was \\u201Ca really nice lady\\u201D but that there had been disturbances at the house in recent weeks. One said Joan had called out to him for assistance. \\u201CIt\\u2019s still sinking in, what has actually happened, because we\\u2019ve known them for a long time,\\u201D he said. Another neighbour said he had had to use a pressure cleaner to clean the blood from the outside of his home. One said Andre had for a time been living at the home but had recently moved out. \\u201CI\\u2019m not sure if he had moved back in or not,\\u201D she said. Police were still searching the property on Monday evening as flowers and tributes were being laid outside. Andre\\u2019s matter was adjourned to May 29 and transferred to Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court. AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time) Here’s a look at our main headlines today: partner of Brittany Higgins at a Perth mediation earlier in April 2024.Credit: Trevor Collens Back to the WA Supreme Court now, where lawyers for Brittany Higgins’ fiancé David Sharaz have declared he can no longer fight the “Titanic” defamation action levelled against him by WA Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds as the court rejected Higgins’ bid to delay the looming trial The parties gathered for an urgent hearing on Tuesday in which Higgins’ lawyers sought to postpone the six-week trial set down for July 24 until 2025 amid fears for her mental health And Sharaz’s lawyer Jason MacLaurin declared he did not have the means to continue defending the “juggernaut” of a litigation - which has already been the subject of a marathon nine-hour mediation hearing “Mr Sharaz wants to impress on the court that this defamation action is going to be horrendously expensive.. and his financial means do not permit him to support it,” he said “He probably won’t buy a ticket on the Titanic Justice Paul Tottle rejected the delay push insisting the concerns of Higgins’ legal team could be accommodated without vacating the trial dates Read more here. where there are a couple of high-profile matters being heard this afternoon The first relates to WA Police Officer Ben Falconer’s legal fight to prove that making the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for serving officers in 2021 was unlawful Police constable Ben Falconer took the vaccination mandate to the Supreme Court.Credit: Channel Nine Perth He lost his initial legal challenge and has just lost his appeal of that decision this afternoon Outside the Supreme Court of WA after the decision was handed down Falconer said: “We the people need to reflect on where that leaves us” “The purpose of this litigation was to discover the rights WA employees have over their own bodies in the workplace,” he said “The government and judiciary have formed a perspective on that.” WA Police are asking for the public’s help to locate a third man allegedly involved in the violent home invasion against an elderly Girrawheen couple two weeks ago Joondalup detectives are urgently seeking information regarding the whereabouts of Joel ‘Bobby’ Painter Painter is described as 170 centimetres tall of medium build with octagon tattoos on both lower legs and to instead call police immediately on 131 444 “We will not stop until we apprehend him and place him before the courts,” a police spokesman said “WA Police are also liaising with federal and state jurisdictions to ensure there is nowhere in Australia that he can hide.” where Mornings show presenter Gary Adshead explains why the Mayor of Townsville is under pressure to prove his WA military links Now to Geraldton where Premier Roger Cook attended a press conference this morning Cook said retrenched First Quantum workers living in employee housing in the Great Southern town of Ravensthorpe will be allowed to stay in their homes as they look for new work He got the assurance from First Quantum chief executive Tristan Pascall after the company announced cost pressures forced it to mothball its Ravensthorpe nickel mine this week leaving its 330 employees and 90 contractors out of work Cook said about half of those 330 employees would be transferred to care and maintenance roles “I’ve spoken with the CEO of First Quantum and sought assurances that they will look after locals and make sure that they can get every opportunity to be involved there,” he said “First Quantum have also said that they will allow those workers that are seeking other employment in the area to remain in their housing for the foreseeable future to make sure that they are supported as well.” Staff from South Regional TAFE will also head to Ravensthorpe to assist those made redundant with reskilling as they hunt for a new job A large police presence has been reported in Success this morning with WA Police confirming they attended an incident on Beeliar Road where a gun or replica was seized The drama unfolded about 10am and a crime scene has been set up at a 7/11 on the road Police said a 28-year-old man had been taken into custody after he was alleged to have a weapon “There is no ongoing threat to the public,” they said Westpac Lifesaver rescue helicopter beach patrols between Busselton and North Fremantle will wrap up for the season today this season recorded a record number of aerial shark sightings up more than 60 per cent to a total of 430 Public reporting of sharks has also increased the increase in shark activity across the metropolitan area was significant,” the SLSWA said “Commensurate with the increase in sightings the clearances of beach users also increased by more than 70 per cent.” And now for the latest in the defamation row unfolding between WA Liberal Senator Linda Reynolds and her former staffer Brittany Higgins We understand that in an urgent hearing to be held this afternoon Higgins’ lawyers intend to request the six-week trial set down for July 24 be postponed But Reynolds’ lawyers will oppose the motion Brittany Higgins outside the Perth Supreme Court in March.Credit: Trevor Collens former press gallery journalist David Sharaz for damages over more than seven social media posts she claimed falsely defamed her — including one in which Higgins accused Reynolds of using the press to harass her Both Higgins and Sharaz have defended their respective cases The hearing will be the first since Federal Court justice Michael Lee found that — on the balance of probabilities — fellow staffer Bruce Lehrmann had raped Higgins in then-cabinet minister Reynolds’ parliamentary office in 2019 But Lee also ruled there was no political cover-up Higgins took to social media to apologise to Reynolds and her former chief of staff Fiona Brown while expressing deep regret that the parties had not yet found “common ground” insisting she was committed to fully vindicating her reputation Read more here.  Returning to court now where the man accused of murdering his mother inside her Yangebup home yesterday has just appeared in Fremantle Magistrates Court appeared briefly before the matter was adjourned to late May was found dead at her Sandpiper Loop property early on Monday morning but police say she could have been killed anytime over the weekend A neighbour told Nine News Perth there had been a disturbance at the house in recent weeks the elderly lady calling them for assistance what has actually happened because we’ve known them for a long time,” they said Police were still at the property on Monday evening looking for evidence while flowers and tributes were being laid outside the home Read the full story here.  Here\\u2019s a look at our main headlines today: where as the court rejected Higgins\\u2019 bid to delay the looming trial in which Higgins\\u2019 lawyers sought to postpone the six-week trial set down for July 24 until 2025 amid fears for her mental health And Sharaz\\u2019s lawyer Jason MacLaurin declared he did not have the means to continue defending the \\u201Cjuggernaut\\u201D of a litigation - which has already been the subject of a marathon nine-hour mediation hearing \\u201CMr Sharaz wants to impress on the court that this defamation action is going to be horrendously expensive.. and his financial means do not permit him to support it,\\u201D he said \\u201CHe probably won\\u2019t buy a ticket on the Titanic that\\u2019s where this action is heading.\\u201D insisting the concerns of Higgins\\u2019 legal team could be accommodated without vacating the trial dates The first relates to WA Police Officer Ben Falconer\\u2019s legal fight to prove that making the COVID-19 vaccination mandatory for serving officers in 2021 was unlawful Falconer said: \\u201CWe the people need to reflect on where that leaves us\\u201D \\u201CThe purpose of this litigation was to discover the rights WA employees have over their own bodies in the workplace,\\u201D he said \\u201CThe government and judiciary have formed a perspective on that.\\u201D WA Police are asking for the public\\u2019s help to locate a third man allegedly involved in the violent home invasion against an elderly Girrawheen couple two weeks ago Joondalup detectives are urgently seeking information regarding the whereabouts of Joel \\u2018Bobby\\u2019 Painter \\u201CWe will not stop until we apprehend him and place him before the courts,\\u201D a police spokesman said \\u201CWA Police are also liaising with federal and state jurisdictions to ensure there is nowhere in Australia that he can hide.\\u201D \\u201CI\\u2019ve spoken with the CEO of First Quantum and make sure that they can get every opportunity to be involved there,\\u201D he said \\u201CFirst Quantum have also said that they will allow those workers that are seeking other employment in the area to remain in their housing for the foreseeable future to make sure that they are supported as well.\\u201D \\u201CThere is no ongoing threat to the public,\\u201D they said \\u201CThe investigation remains ongoing.\\u201D the increase in shark activity across the metropolitan area was significant,\\u201D the SLSWA said \\u201CCommensurate with the increase in sightings the clearances of beach users also increased by more than 70 per cent.\\u201D And now for the latest in the defamation row unfolding between Higgins\\u2019 lawyers intend to request the six-week trial set down for July 24 be postponed But Reynolds\\u2019 lawyers will oppose the motion The senator sued Higgins and her fianc\\u00E9 for damages over more than seven social media posts she claimed falsely defamed her \\u2014 including one in which Higgins accused Reynolds of using the press to harass her that \\u2014 on the balance of probabilities \\u2014 fellow staffer Bruce Lehrmann had raped Higgins in then-cabinet minister Reynolds\\u2019 parliamentary office in 2019 Higgins took to social media to apologise to Reynolds and her former chief of staff Fiona Brown while expressing deep regret that the parties had not yet found \\u201Ccommon ground\\u201D what has actually happened because we\\u2019ve known them for a long time,\\u201D they said Police broke up an out-of-control gathering in Perth's southern suburbs on Saturday night after dozens of teenagers spilled onto the streets which occurred on Pelican Ramble in Yangebup officers can be seen walking up the street in riot gear asking a group of up to 20 people to move on It is understood the gathering was declared out-of-control around midnight after one of the youths threw a bottle at a police officer and others began fighting with one another The police officer was reportedly taken to hospital and required staples in the back of his head Police in riot gear move youths at an out-of-control gathering on A witness claimed the group had been attending a teenager's birthday party and were drunk "The aftermath was ridiculous," wrote one neighbour on Facebook group "We had people coming to our door and our neighbours for water all woken up by the noise and scared to go back to sleep." Another person claimed the group damaged their car "They smashed my windscreen," she said "Lucky we weren't outside at the time.. I can't believe there are so many young kids out on the street unsupervised." It is understood around 200 people attended the birthday party no charges had been laid in relation to the incident Police broke up an out-of-control gathering in Perth's southern suburbs on Saturday night A witness claimed the group had been attending a teenager's birthday party and were drunk \\\"The aftermath was ridiculous,\\\" wrote one neighbour on Facebook group \\\"We had people coming to our door and our neighbours for water all woken up by the noise and scared to go back to sleep.\\\" \\\"They smashed my windscreen,\\\" she said \\\"Lucky we weren't outside at the time.. I can't believe there are so many young kids out on the street unsupervised.\\\" CNN and the BBC World Service which is copyright and cannot be reproduced The damage bill is estimated at $10,000. (Supplied: WA Police) Link copiedShareShare articleA Transperth bus has been severely damaged in the southern Perth suburb of Yangebup after youths attacked it with rocks. Police said a large group of people leaving a party got onto the bus, which was headed for Cockburn train station, about 10:45pm on Saturday. When the bus stopped at a red light at North Lake Road and Osprey Drive, someone activated the emergency door release and a number of passengers got out. As the bus moved through the intersection, a rock was thrown and the windscreen was shattered. More rocks were thrown and people inside the bus kicked at the windows, using emergency hammers to smash them. Nine windows were smashed, and police estimated the repair bill at $10,000. All of the youths fled and police believe some of them have cuts to their hands. Police would like to speak to anyone who saw what happened, or who knows anything about the incident. Police say the bus was damaged by partygoers. (WA Police) ABC News News HomeMan jailed over fatal crash south of PerthShare Man jailed over fatal crash south of PerthTopic:Courts Dodd will have to serve nine months before he can be released from prison. (abc) Link copiedShareShare articleA 22-year-old man has been sentenced to 18 months jail over a crash that claimed the life of motorcyclist at Yangebup, south of Perth. Matthew Dodd was found guilty of dangerous driving causing the death of 46-year-old Brian Williams in January last year. Dodd drove through a red light and hit Mr Williams motorcycle. Dodd will have to serve nine months before he can be released. Outside the court, a friend of the deceased, Jim Chandler, said he was disappointed with the sentence. "There's children at home that don't understand and they're devastated and nine months for doing what he's done it's wrong," he said. "They're a mess, the kids have been a mess since the accident they don't understand they're still waiting for their dad to come home and it's no good, it's all wrong the justice system."