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Groom faces serious jail time after $89 million "wedding of the century"

A groom whose viral $89 million wedding was dubbed the "wedding of the century" is now facing a possible life sentence in prison. Jacob LaGrone, 29, and wife, car dealership heiress Madelaine Brockway, took social media by storm last month after videos of their lavish, five-day wedding in France went viral on TikTok. The wedding which featured an overnight stay at the Palace of Versailles, rehearsal dinner at the Paris Opera House, and a performance by Maroon 5 at the Texan couple's reception, was nothing short of amazing. Now, instead of going on their honeymoon, the groom could be facing life in prison, after getting arrested for allegedly shooting at three police officers in an incident on March 14. The Nashville native was indicted eight months ago on three counts of aggravated assault on a public servant, which is a first-degree felony in Texas, that, if convicted, could see him face a sentence from less than five years to life in prison. According to city officials, officers responded to multiple disturbance calls about a gun being discharged at a home – and when the three officers arrived, "they were fired upon” by LaGrone. An indictment obtained by The Washington Post, said that LaGrone "did intentionally and knowingly threaten imminent bodily injury" to the officers and “did use or exhibit a deadly weapon during the commission of the assault, namely, a firearm”. The indictment did not specify where the incident took place, and no further details were given regarding the disturbance calls. The Dallas Morning News reported that the Tarrant County District Attorney offered LaGrone a plea deal of 25-years in jail . Neither LaGrone nor his wife have publicly addressed the charges, and both have since made their social media accounts private. Images: Instagram/ News.com.au

Legal

Sitcom star jailed for 30 years

That ‘70s Show star Danny Masterson has been sentenced to 30 years in prison for raping two women who were in the Church of Scientology with him in 2003. Masterson, 47, who was found guilty of raping victims Jen B and N Trout in his Hollywood home in June, received his sentence on Thursday, California time. The actor remained silent in court as he received 15 years for each count, which will be served consecutively. “One way or another you will have to come to terms with your prior actions, and their consequences,” Los Angeles County Superior Court Judge Charlaine Olmedoe told Masterson, according to the New York Post. The victims testified that they passed out after Materson gave them drinks, then he proceeded to violently rape them. Prosecutors claimed that Materson raped N Trout so violently that she threw up in her mouth. Prior to the sentencing, N Trout read out her victim statement, where she slammed the actor for his violent actions, but also forgave him and hoped that he would do better in prison. “You relish in hurting women. It is your addiction. It is without question your favourite thing to do,” she said, according to court reporter Meghann Cuniff. “Life is precious and fragile. Find your heart … Learn something. Read books. Listen to the brightness of nothing and get well. I forgive you." Jen B, on the other hand, reiterated the fact that there was no conspiracy to take down Materson or the Church of Scientology. This comes after the defence had previously argued that the sexual acts were consensual, accusing the women of co-ordinating their stories to discredit former Hollywood star. The victims also told the court that Scientology officials told them not to report the crime because Masterson was a high-ranking member of the church, and instead they were put through an ethics program. After an initial deadlock vote, the jury found Masterson guilty of two counts of rape, but could not reach a unanimous verdict on a third count alleging that the former star also assaulted his ex-girlfriend Christina Bixler. However, he was not charged with any counts of drugging as there were no toxicology evidence to back up the women's statement, which will likely play a role in Masterson’s plan to appeal the verdict. The Church of Scientology also released a statement, criticising the notion that they tried to silence the complaints, claiming that the women's testimony were “uniformly false”. “The Church has no policy prohibiting or discouraging members from reporting criminal conduct of anyone — Scientologists or not — to law enforcement,” “Quite the opposite, church policy explicitly demands Scientologists abide by all laws of the land.” Image: Lucy Nicholson - Pool/Getty Images

Legal

"Most dangerous spy in US history" dies in jail

The USA’s most notorious FBI agent has been found dead in his top security prison cell at the age of 79. Prison officials confirmed the news of Robert Hanssen’s passing, more than 20 years after he received a life sentence for selling classified US material throughout the 1980s and 1990s. While no cause of death has been revealed, a statement from the Bureau of Prisons revealed that staff at the facility took life-saving measures after Hanssen was found unresponsive in his cell, to no avail. Hanssen - who is now regarded as one of the most dangerous spies in US history - sold thousands of documents in exchange for the diamonds and cash over the course of his deception. According to the FBI, by the time of his arrest, Hanssen had received the value of more than $1.4 million. He first launched his career with the FBI in 1976, and it was only a few years before he began spying for the Soviet Union, sending classified information - on everything from human resources to counterintelligence - to the Soviet Union and Russia under the alias ‘Ramon Garcia’. It is believed that he was able to cover for himself through his role in the FBI’s New York counterintelligence department, where he was tasked with tracking down his own kind - spies. “As a result of his assignments, Hanssen had direct and legitimate access to voluminous information about sensitive programs and operations,” the FBI explained at the time. “As the complaint alleges, Hanssen effectively used his training, expertise and experience as a counterintelligence Agent to avoid detection, to include keeping his identity and place of employment from his Russian handlers and avoiding all the customary ‘tradecraft’ and travel usually associated with espionage.” Neither the FBI or CIA caught on to the fact there was a mole working within the system for years, but did eventually secure “original Russian documentation of an American spy”, according to the FBI and Forbes. According to reports, not even Hanssen’s Russian handlers knew his true identity, and he was not at the top of any suspect list. By all appearances, he lived a frugal life among Washington’s conservative Catholics, with a wife and six children. But Hanssen was caught in suburban Virginia at a ‘dead drop’, and his arrest came in 2001. He pleaded guilty to 15 counts of espionage, and was consequently sentenced to life behind bars without parole for “espionage, conspiracy to commit espionage, and attempted espionage”. “I apologise for my behaviour,” Hanssen said during his sentencing. “I am shamed by it. “I have opened the door for calumny against my totally innocent wife and children. I’ve hurt so many deeply.” Images: FBI

Legal

Tourist jailed over nude stunt at Bali temple

A German tourist could face time in jail after stripping naked and crashing a sacred dance performance at a temple in Bali. The backpacker, identified by police as 28-year-old Darja Tuschinski, casually strolled up to the stage with no clothes on while the dancers remained professional and calm. In the now-viral clip filmed earlier this week, the backpacker was filmed climbing the stairs and attempting to open a door into the temple, as a local man attempted to stop her. After barging the door open, she was then filmed then walking down and kneeling in front of the stage, where she appeared to pray in front of horrified onlookers. “The female foreigner went naked on the stage of Saraswati Ubud Temple owned by Tjokorda Ngurah Suyadnya AKA Cok Wah,” Bali Police spokesman Stefanus Satake Bayu Setianto told local media outlet <a title="coconuts.co" href="https://coconuts.co/bali/news/naked-german-woman-crashes-balinese-dance-show-at-ubud-temple/">Coconuts Bali</a>. The bizarre stunt sparked backlash online, with one local writing, “Why weren’t you immediately given clothes and secured first? There was someone who was performing the Balinese dance … We don’t need crazy caucasians, do we?” Another wrote, “Sad to see the behaviour of this one person.” A third pointed out the cultural clash, writing, “Caucasians who go to Asia usually feel the most spiritual freedom (and) enlightenment … But (their) life and mindset are not in accordance with traditional Asian spiritual and spiritual values, especially in Bali.” Local council chief Wayan Widana told another local media outlet, <a title="radarbali.jawapos.com" href="https://radarbali.jawapos.com/pariwisata/24/05/2023/dewa-ratu-viral-wanita-jerman-bugil-di-pentas-tari-polda-bali-telisik-begini-kata-camat-ubud/">Radar Bali</a>, that Tuschinski was known to suffer mental health issues and had been “brought to the Bangli Mental Institution.” In recent months, Indonesian officials have expressed their frustrations with unruly tourists. Ravindra Singh Shekhawat, who is the general manager for Bali operations at Melbourne-based tour company Intrepid Travel, told <a href="https://www.news.com.au/travel/travel-updates/incidents/crazy-caucasians-bali-community-slams-german-tourists-naked-act/news-story/035939942bb25f7e127ee419131031fb" target="_blank" rel="noopener">news.com.au</a> earlier this year, “Recently there has been an increase in tourists not following the local laws and respecting local culture and traditions, including instances of tourists getting into heated arguments with local police for not wearing helmets or breaking traffic laws.” Image credits: Twitter

Travel Trouble

Woman demands jail time for own mother

A grieving Florida woman is demanding her own mother serve prison time after her two young children died less than a year apart while allegedly in their grandmother’s care, one in an accidental drowning and another as a result of being left unattended in a hot car. Court records show that the grandmother, Tracey Nix, 65, was arrested and charged in November 2022 for aggravated manslaughter and leaving a child unsupervised in a motor vehicle. The charges are in relation to the death of seven-month-old Uriel Schock on November 1 2022. “How do you forget a little girl,” Uriel’s father, Drew Schock, said in an emotional interview with local station WFTS. Authorities reported that Nix left the young child in her car outside her Wauchula home for several hours after returning from lunch. Nix claimed she “forgot” about the child being in the vehicle, according to court documents. Nix told authorities that her daughter, Kaila Schock, asked her to mind Uriel while she went to a hair appointment, the documents read. Nix said she went to a friend’s house that morning before leaving to pick up Uriel. She then drove to a restaurant for lunch, the documents state. The pair left the restaurant at about 1:40pm. Security footage saw Nix putting Uriel into the rear car seat before driving off, authorities said in the documents. Nix claimed she drove about 10 minutes back to her home, parked the car and went inside to talk to her dog and practise the piano. She told Hardee County Sheriff’s Office that it was not like “I was rushing in the house to do anything ... I just forgot,” according to court documents. The court filings said that Nix was waiting for her other grandchild to arrive, so they could go out to dinner. After 4:30pm, Nix took two cups of tea out to her car for her and her grandson before driving her vehicle to her backyard. According to authorities, Nix’s husband was in the backyard and the couple talked for about 10 minutes, the documents state. When the older grandchild arrived, Nix said it suddenly “came across her head” that Uriel was still in the car, court documents state. Nix’s husband pulled the baby from the car and performed CPR while someone called 911. Uriel was sadly pronounced dead at the scene. The sheriff’s office said temperatures that day reached approximately 32°C. Autopsies showed no sign of injury. The little girl’s death was ruled a homicide. Image credit: Shutterstock

Legal

US Olympic gold medallist jailed by Russian court

US Olympic gold medallist Brittney Griner has been charged with drug possession and smuggling, and sentenced to nine years in a Russian prison. The 31-year-old basketball champion listened to the judge's verdict with a blank expression as an interpreter translated the ruling by Judge Anna Sotnikova, with her lawyers later saying she was "very upset." <div class="block-content" style="box-sizing: border-box; margin: 16px 0px; padding: 0px; border: 0px; font-stretch: inherit; line-height: 24px; vertical-align: baseline;"> Griner also was fined 1 million rubles, or approximately $23,110. Brittney pled guilty to the charges, but admitted she "had no intention of breaking Russian law", as she explained that she accidentally packed the cannabis vape canisters in haste before her flight. US President Joe Biden denounced Brittney's verdict and sentence as "unacceptable", which came amid soaring tensions between the US and Russia over the ongoing war in Ukraine. "I call on Russia to release her immediately so she can be with her wife, loved ones, friends, and teammates," Biden said, adding that he would continue to work to bring home Griner and Paul Whelan, an American imprisoned in Russia on an espionage conviction. Griner, who is recognised as one of the greatest players in WNBA history, has been detained in Russia since February 17 after police said they found vape cartridges containing cannabis oil in her luggage upon landing at Moscow's Sheremetyevo Airport. She was returning to Russia, where she has competed since 2014. Defence attorney Maria Blagovolina told reporters later that Griner was "very upset, very stressed" "She can hardly talk. It's a difficult time for her," the lawyer said. Griner's agent Lindsay Kagawa Colas tweeted that the sentence "was severe by Russian legal standards and goes to prove what we have known all along, that Brittney is being used as a political pawn". She added that she supported Biden's efforts "to get a deal done" to get Brittney sent home to the US. Image credits: Getty Images </div>

Legal

"You acted out of love": Judge says no jail for man who killed his wife

A pensioner who slit his wife's throat has been spared jail and cleared of her murder after telling a jury he killed his terminally-ill partner of 40 years in an "act of love". Graham Mansfield, 73, was instead found guilty of manslaughter after he admitted to taking the life of his terminally-ill wife Dyanne, just months after she asked him to take her life "when things get bad for me". The retired airport baggage handler told Manchester Crown Court they were the "saddest words he had ever heard", but that he agreed to his wife's request as long as he could kill himself too. A jury made up of 10 men and two women only took 90 minutes of deliberation to find Graham not guilty for murder, but guilty of manslaughter. He was sentenced to two years in jail, but with two years suspended sentence, meaning he will not be imprisoned. Graham was arrested in March 2021 after he called emergency services himself and told the operator he had killed his wife of 40 years at 9pm the previous day before trying to kill himself. <img src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/2022/07/graham-wife-2.jpg" alt="" width="1280" height="720" /> Mrs Mansfield had been suffering with Stage 5 lung cancer. Image credit: Greater Manchester Police Mrs Mansfield was found with a "gaping incised would" and her windpipe had been severed. Police found three knives and a hammer near her body, along with two bricks on top of a plastic wallet containing a note written by the defendant for the police. "We have decided to take our own lives," it said, giving instructions on where to find his house keys and how to contact his sister, the court heard. Another note was written by Mr Mansfield and was addressed to his family, which read, "We are sorry to burden you with this but there is no other way. We made a pact that when it got too bad for Dyanne we would end it." "I couldn't bear to live without Dyanne and as the months progressed and as things got worse, it only reinforced our decision that the time has arrived. We hope you all understand." "Don't get too upset. We have had a wonderful and happy life together." Image credits: ITV News / Greater Manchester Police

Caring

Three men handed jail sentences after careless, drunken act in a national park

Three tourists who were filmed getting too close to feeding brown bears in the wild have been handed prison sentences and the additional punishment of thousands of dollars worth of fines. David Engelman, 56, from Sandia Park, New Mexico, and Ronald J. Engelman, 54, and Steven Thomas, 30, both from King Salmon, Alaska, pleaded guilty to leaving the trail in Alaska’s Katmai Park to get closer to the animals. The men were identified after they were captured on a park webcam as they waded out into a salmon run to take selfies as the bears were feeding. All three men were fined $US3000 each ($A4260) and given a year probation. David and Ronald Engelman were sentenced to one week in prison, while Steven Thomas received a 10-day sentence. In addition, each man is prohibited from entering any national park for one year. Judge Matthew Scoble called their behaviour “drunken capering, and a slap in the face to those who were there”. The proceeds from the fines would go towards the Katmai Conservancy, a non-profit that looks after the running of the park. The incident happened in Autumn of 2018, causing outage. The men were eventually identified by the National Park Service Investigative Services, with help of the livestream footage. <iframe title="YouTube video player" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/F8qkHl18xf0" width="560" height="315" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> “The conduct of these three individuals not only endangered other visitors and wildlife officers at Brooks Falls, they also potentially endangered the life of the bears,” lawyer S. Lane Tucker said. Had the incident resulted in death or injury, Mr Tucker argued it would have had a huge impact on tourism to the area and the animals would have had to be killed. The National Park Service were alerted to the incident by viewers of their ‘bear cam’ which was being broadcast live to YouTube. Images: YouTube

Legal

Marvel actress and husband sentenced to 8 and 14 years jail

Content warning: This article includes descriptions of child sexual abuse. Actress Zara Phythian, who appeared in Marvel’s 2016 film Doctor Strange, has received an eight-year prison sentence for child sexual abuse offences. The 38-year-old was <a href="https://www.oversixty.co.nz/finance/legal/doctor-strange-star-and-husband-found-guilty-of-child-abuse" target="_blank" rel="noopener">found guilty</a> by a jury last week of historical sexual abuse of a girl, aged between 13 and 15, and sentenced in the UK on Monday. Her 59-year-old husband, Victor Marke, was also found guilty of jointly abusing the same girl, as well as indecently assaulting a second, and sentenced to 14 years in prison. Both Phythian and Marke will be on the sex offender’s register for life and will be referred to the disclosure and barring service to prevent them from working with children ever again. Judge Mark Watson, who presided over the proceedings and handed down the sentences, said he believed Marke and Phythian’s abuse of the victim was pre-planned. “I regard you as the driving force behind the abuse,” Judge Watson told Marke. “Most people have held, and continue to hold you in high esteem. That’s due to the positive impact of your work [as martial arts instructors]. “Whilst that may help in mitigation, that is also why you were able to groom and corrupt the victims in this case and why you got away abusing them for so long.” Marke reportedly cried during the sentencing and paced the court in a tracksuit, while Phythian reportedly smiled and waved to someone in the public gallery, though her face was said to be pale and tear-streaked, per <a href="https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/breaking-doctor-strange-actress-zara-26975792" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Mirror</a>. Judge Watson also said Phythian’s “deviance” was influenced by the hold Marke had on her from an early age - with the couple marrying when she was in her 20s after Marke had been her martial arts instructor from when she was a young teen. During the trial, the couple denied the accusations they were jointly convicted of, and the survivor, who they abused before Phythian found acting fame, gave testimony from behind a curtain in the witness stand. She said what happened to her, which the couple repeatedly told her not to tell anyone about, was her “deepest, darkest secret”. “I think they saw a vulnerability in me and preyed on that,” she said in a police interview. The second survivor of Marke’s assaults, said that he touched her leg after she accidentally touched his leg, before kissing her on the lips and neck and causing her feelings of confusion, according to her police interview. At other times, Marke also kissed her, before having sex with her when she was 16. Though the age of consent in the UK is 16, under section 15.3 of the <a href="https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2000/44/notes" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 2000</a> a person over the age of 18 who is in a “position of trust” to someone under 18 - such as being a martial arts instructor - would be committing an offence by having sex with them. Prior to sentencing, prosecutor Ahmed Hossain QC read out victim statements, where the survivor abused by Phythian and Marke said they “corrupted my development” and “robbed me of my innocence”. “You showed you liked a very advanced naughty side that satisfied your urges,” she said in the statement via Hossain. She also spoke of feeling intimidated and scared by the couple and stated that she didn’t want to keep being “[their] puppet”. “I have become an adult now. All the pain, anger and disgust and shame I felt is now on you. Both of you.” Image: Getty Images

Legal

Daniel Johns facing jail time

Former Silverchair frontman Daniel Johns risks being thrown into jail following a horrific head-on collision while drink-driving. The 42-year-old, who is in a rehabilitation centre, entered a guilty plea to high-range drink driving through his lawyer Bryan Wrench. Wrench told the court that his client wanted the matter dealt with immediately because it was causing him anxiety during his three month stint in rehab. Magistrate Ian Cheetham rejected the premise saying the matter was too serious and that Johns could face jail time. The case was adjourned to June 22 for sentencing with Johns ordered to contact Corrective Services NSW officers to complete an assessment report. Wrench previously submitted documents to the courts to avoid his client being interviewed by Corrective Services. He noted that Johns knew the serious nature of the offence was suffering from mental health issues. The lawyer told the court that Johns was also prepared to stop drinking alcohol as part of an intensive corrections order if it would help him avoid jail. Police allege that Johns was three times over the legal alcohol limit when his car merged onto the other side of the road and crashed into a van in the NSW Hunter region about 10.30pm on Wednesday, March 23. The van driver, 51, and his female passenger, 55, were treated at the scene and the woman was taken to hospital. Johns was breathalysed and returned a shocking blood alcohol level of 0.157. He admitted himself to a rehabilitation facility telling his followers on Instagram that he was focusing on his mental health. “As you know, my mental health is a work in progress. I have good days and bad days but it’s something I always have to manage,” Johns wrote. “Over the last week I began to experience panic attacks. Last night I got lost while driving and I was in an accident. I am OK, everyone is OK. “I have to step back now as I’m self-admitting to a rehabilitation centre and I don’t know how long I’ll be there. Appreciate your love and support as always.” Image: Getty

Legal

Woman jailed after walking on natural wonder in US national park

A woman has received a jail sentence and hefty fine after walking directly on dangerous thermal features at Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming. 26-year-old Madeline Casey from Connecticut pleaded guilty to the misdemeanour offence and served seven days in jail. "Although a criminal prosecution and jail time may seem harsh, it's better than spending time in a hospital's burn unit," acting US Attorney Bob Murray said. In July, Madeline and a friend ignored safety signs and left the protective walkway to walk directly on the ground. "The ground is fragile and thin and scalding water just below the surface can cause severe or fatal burns.” “More than 20 people have died from burns suffered after they entered or fell into Yellowstone's hot springs," park spokesperson Morgan Warthin said in the statement. The judge ordered Madeline to pay US$2040 in fines, fees and community service as well as her week-long jail stint. She is also banned from re-entering Yellowstone National Park during her two year probation. This incident has prompted park officials to stress the importance of adhering to safety signs through the park. Madeline is just one of many people who have ignored safety signs at the park and landed themselves in trouble. In May last year, a woman was burned after falling into a thermal feature at Yellowstone when it was closed due to the coronavirus pandemic. She told park rangers she was moving back to get photos when she fell in the hot thermals. Two men last year were caught trespassing on the cone of Old Faithful, which is a closed thermal area. They were sentenced to 10 days in jail and five years of probation, as well being ordered to pay $738 restitution and banned from the park for five years. Park Chief Ranger Sarah Davis said, “Visitors must realise that walking on thermal features is dangerous, damages the resource, and illegal." Image credit: Getty Images

Travel Trouble

Olympic athlete jailed for 25 years

Olympic kayaker and silver medallist Nathan Baggaley has been jailed for 25 years, over an elaborate plot to smuggle more than 500 kilograms of cocaine into Australia in 2018. His brother Dru was handed down a sentence of 28 years’ jail. Both brothers were convicted of attempting to bring in 650 kilograms of white powder (with an estimate of 512 kilograms ro be considered pure cocaine). <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842696/nathan-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/465a8cf904c049858f187dae4733fc26" /> Nathan Baggaley, 45. Image: Getty Images A Brisbane Supreme Court jury has found both the brothers guilty over the detailed high-seas plan to import cocaine worth up to $200 million. Defence barrister Mark McCarthy, argued Dru should be handed a 20 year prison sentence, while Nathan’s defence lawyer, Anthony Kimmins, recommended his client should get 14. Justice Ann Lyons handed the brothers their punishment, telling them: “It is clear that I must impose a sentence on both of you which is to punish your drug-related crime in a way which signals plainly to anyone who considers like offending that courts are both able and willing to make it clear that actions of this nature will receive quite substantial penalties.” Justice Lyons said to Nathan: “You could have easily removed it [the boat] from the ability of Dru to use it … you knew full well what was happening, and you went along with it ... You played an essential role, it was one where you were trusted.” To Dru she said: “You did not cooperate with law enforcement officials … you were caught red handed and on film disposing of the cocaine.” A last-ditch bid for leniency by the lawyers defending the brothers failed on May 24. Justice Lyons rejected a last-ditch bid for leniency on May 24, after Dru argued that thought he was picking up tobacco packages. She decided that Nathan knew what the boat he bought was going to be used for. Dru and boat driver Anthony Draper were both arrested on July 31, 2018. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7842697/nathan-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fe801c64b7d54e64bae7ff31460e3de1" /> Dru Baggaley, 39. Image: Supplied NSW law enforcement had to employ a surveillance plane, a navy ship and a RAAF plane, The dramatic chase was ended by a number of specialist heavily armed SERT officers on a Queensland Water Police vessel. Nathan had claimed his brother told him he was buying the boat for a proposed whale-watching business at Byron Bay and that he was unaware of the drug plot. Dru claimed he thought he was going to get packages of tobacco, not cocaine, and alleged he was kidnapped and forced to go on the long voyage.

Legal

University students jailed after finding KFC loophole

A group of Chinese university students have been sentenced to up to two and a half years in jail after they found a loophole to receive AUD $40,000 worth of KFC. The university students from east China’s Jiangsu Province scammed KFC through their mobile apps, <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.globaltimes.cn/page/202105/1223171.shtml" target="_blank">the Global Times reports.</a> The group obtained free KFC meals and made profits by reselling it. In total, the fast food giant had economic losses equating to 200,000 yuan ($40,000). One student discovered that through his WeChat account, he could get meals and coupons without fronting up the money. The young person would sell coupons as well as meals to make a profit. He would also order meals for himself. In the time period between April and October 2018, his dealings led for the company to lose over 58,000 yuan ($11,000). The other students that were part of the elaborate scam had losses that ranged from 8,900 yuan ($1700) to 47,000 yuan ($9400) each. The court ruled the main instigator, whose last name is Xu, would be given a two-and-a-half-year jail sentence, along with a 6000 yuan ($1200) fine. They were charged for “crimes of fraud and imparting criminal methods”. The other four scammers were sentenced from 15 months to two years in jail. They were also fined between 1000 yuan ($200) and 4000 yuan ($800).

Legal

The travel bubble loophole that could land you in jail

Travellers who are considering using the newly-opened travel bubble to New Zealand to head to other countries risk receiving massive fines and even jail time. With quarantine-free flights now available between New Zealand and Australia, news of a ‘loophole’ appeared that could enable Australian travellers to enter other international destinations. Current COVID restrictions mean that Australians have been banned from leaving the country unless they have an exemption. But, since Aussies can now travel to New Zealand, our kiwi neighbour could act as a stepping stone to other foreign countries. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CN1YbWXDwFT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CN1YbWXDwFT/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by New Zealand (@purenewzealand)</a> </div> </blockquote> To prevent unnecessary travel, Health Minister Greg Hunt signed off on a new amendment to the Australian Government’s <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/F2021L00456?fbclid=IwAR1laL3vGPRQAr_JErYR1Uf59sHszZ15SjuCjd0YIN-HCyoR628MXhSOhyk" target="_blank">Biosecurity Legislation (Human Coronavirus with Pandemic Potential)</a>, which comes into effect on Monday. The change will see Australian citizens and residents penalised if they travel to a foreign country beyond New Zealand unless they have an exemption to travel for a compassionate reason, such as the death or serious illness of a close family member, or they require medical treatment that isn’t reasonably available in Australia or New Zealand. According to the document, those who break the rules “may contravene a civil penalty provision’ set out in section 46 of the Biosecurity Act. The minimum penalty for failing to comply with entry and exit requirements in the Biosecurity Act starts at $6300. But, the penalty listed on the Australian Parliament website is much harsher, with people who intentionally disobey the rules facing up to five years’ jail time and a $63,000 fine. Despite still being in its early days, a new community COVID case in Auckland has Australian health authorities concerned that the trans-Tasman bubble could pop. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGYrBcPj2eH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="13"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CGYrBcPj2eH/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Aussiepomm (@aussiepomm)</a> </div> </blockquote> New Zealand’s Ministry of Health announced the case just a day after the quarantine requirements were lifted for those travelling between Australia and New Zealand. The case is believed to have contracted the virus from a passenger who arrived on an international flight from a ‘red zone’ (high risk) country. Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said the new case shouldn’t impact the trans-Tasman travel arrangements. ‘These are the kind of scenarios where we would anticipate movement continuing,’ she said. ‘Our Minister of Health has kept in touch with his counterpart. They’re directly communicating and so are our officials.’

Travel Trouble

Man jailed for strangling partner with towel on cruise ship

A US man has been sentenced to three years in prison after pleading guilty to attempting to strangle a woman he was dating while aboard a Texas-based cruise ship. Hector Blanco, of Watford City, North Dakota was sentenced yesterday for the 2018 attack aboard Miami-based Royal Caribbean's Liberty of the Seas cruise ship, federal prosecutors said. The 45-year-old pleaded guilty in January 2020 to an assault charge. The case was investigated by the FBI. The Justice Department said Blanco put his hand and a bath towel over the victim's mouth, he then twisted a towel around her neck and dragged her across the floor of the cabin. The woman was able to make a quick exit when Blanco fell. She ran out of the cabin to report the incident to security personnel aboard the ship. "No excuse can justify Hector Blanco's violent actions that turned a dream vacation into a dreadful nightmare for his victim," said Special Agent in Charge Perrye K Turner. Blanco confessed to the crime and upon his release from prison, he will still be under a two year supervision order.

Cruising

Mum who killed her six children released early from jail

WARNING: Graphic content. A mum who killed her six children has been freed after she served half of her 17-year jail term. The release of Mairead Philpott, 39, of the UK, sparked outrage with crime prevention campaigners saying: “Justice has not been done”. Philpott’s children died in an arson attack she and husband Mick plotted at their Derbyshire, England home in 2012. She was released from prison on Sunday after serving only eight and a half years for manslaughter. On Friday, David Spencer, of the Centre of Crime Prevention, said: “It makes an absolute mockery of the UK’s criminal justice system. Justice has not been done”. “Child killers like Mairead Philpott should not be free to roam the streets. “She has served barely more than a year for each of the six innocent lives she callously took away. “She is back on the streets while the taxpayer coughs up for her to get a new identity, protection, counselling and a place to live. “The Home Secretary has promised a review of sentencing. This needs to be delivered urgently to ensure killers like Philpott serve the long sentences their horrific crimes deserve.” Tory MP for mid-Derbyshire Pauline Latham said: “Mairead Philpott should be serving a whole life sentence instead of being freed halfway through it.” She described the crime as “horrifying” and said that “it will never, ever be forgotten in Derby”. Philpott’s mother Vera, who is no longer in contact with her daughter, said she was furious by her early release. Speaking at her home in Derby — less than two kilometres from where her grandchildren died — she said: “I don’t want her near my door. “The sentence is not nearly long enough and we disown her after what she’s done.” Philpott was freed from HMP Send in Surrey on the first day she was eligible to be released on licence. “They launched a massive operation to make sure she was safe and not seen,” a source said. “Her convoy was like one given to a celebrity rather than a mum who killed her six children. “Heaven knows how much it all cost, and it all seemed a bit much at a time of tight budgets.” Philpott is currently staying at a halfway house, where she will be offered counselling, life coaching, yoga and therapy sessions before being helped to find new accommodation.

Legal

"Straight to jail!": Woman berated for “barbaric” steak video

A woman has horrified online users after she shared a video of her cooking a steak in a toaster. Juliette shared her bizarre method on TikTok under the username @itsmeju1iette, captioning the clip: "Cooking steak for my boyfriend." She wrote "How to cook steak," across the video. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838831/tiktok-steak-2.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/aad6f49f34fb4258b42574506b98336c" /> It showed her placing two pieces of steak into the toaster, then slathering it in sauce and eating it. The clip has been viewed over 10 million times. One user questioned: "How do you clean the toaster?" while many others were disgruntled to see she had not seasoned her meat “properly”. "This is so barbaric it's not even funny," one angry user wrote. "Straight to jail!" another said. Another added: "I'm physically upset," added someone else. <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7838829/tiktok-steak-1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/12efd32f18a74140ac2acd3856062b80" /> "How to not cook steak," one user wrote. Juliette has had viral clips before, with one reaching over 24 million views that shows her humorously demonstrating how to boil ice in a saucepan. "My grandma's secret recipe! [Please] don’t share with anyone," she captioned the video.

Food & Wine

Dad jailed for sadistic disciplining of kids

A dad has been jailed after tormenting his two children to horrifying discipline tactics with extreme mental and physical punishments. The sadistic dad forced his daughter to write “I am a liar, I’m a stealer” 1000 times and forced his kids to shave their heads and pour vinegar onto their wounds. Shane O’Brien, 54, left his children “feeling less than an animal” and with severe trauma. The siblings, who are now adults, told a court the ordeal left them suffering flashbacks. Shane’s partner - the children’s stepmother - Denise O’Brien, 49, was spared prison after turning a “blind eye” to the abuse. Both had previously two counts of child cruelty and were sentenced at Oxford Crown Court. Alexandra Bull, the prosecutor on the case said the crimes involved "physical abuse, sadistic punishment, emotional abuse and neglect". She revealed the mistreatment took place between July 2014 and December 2016 in the Berkshire and Oxfordshire area. The two siblings recalled multiple accounts of cruelty at the hands of their father, Shane, it was said. One example was a time when he forced them to hold up placards with the world “liar” written on it, and endured beatings with a whip and a belt. The daughter was also made to write "I am a liar, I am a stealer" 1,000 times on a piece of paper and was later "whipped" by Shane. In another violent episode, he repeatedly “bashed” his son’s head against a wall after he downloaded games onto a phone while the couple were not at home. The court was also told the boy was forced to shave his head and was told “it was a sign he was a liar”. The daughter also had her cut while she begged them to stop, an incident which she said made her feel “worthless”. The boy was also refused food and not allowed to use the toilet on occasion, having to use a bottle in his room. In a victim personal statement, he said he like he was “less than an animal” during the abuse. When the children began to self-harm, Shane poured vinegar onto their wounds and said “"that will be a lesson not to self-harm again". They were also not allowed to have friends and had numbers deleted off their phones. At a police interview following the allegations Shane called his son a "manipulative and a pathological liar" but both later admitted their role in the offences. Sentencing Judge Nigel Daly said the cruelty involved "gratuitous degradation" as well as "significant force used". Shane, of Chepstow, Wales, was jailed for 26 months. Denise, of the same address, was handed an eight-month jail term, suspended for 18 months. She must also complete 150 hours of unpaid work and 20 rehabilitation days.

Family & Pets

Dad of children locked in hot truck freed from jail

An Oklahoma father who was accused of the deaths of his young son and daughter after they spent 5 hours in a hot truck has been released after surveillance footage showed that the children climbed into the truck on their own. Dustin Dennis, 31, was released after investigators reviewed a neighbour’s surveillance camera footage that showed his four-year-old daughter Tegan and three-year-old son Ryan getting into the truck but not coming out. No formal charges have been filed, but Dennis was arrested on Saturday on two second-degree murder warrants. Dennis explained to police that he took his children to a QuikTrip store around noon and he went inside and fell asleep for four or five hours. He then told police that after waking up, he was unable to find his children and had found the pair on the floorboard of the truck. He quickly called 911 and moved the children into the living room of the family home before paramedics arrived and pronounced the children dead. “Video surveillance footage from a neighbour’s home confirmed that the children managed to get into the truck and tragically never got out,” the Tulsa District Attorney's Office said on Monday. “It is always important to note that our Constitution guarantees the presumption of innocence for any person accused of or arrested for a crime,” the DA statement added. “That presumption of innocence remains until and unless a judge or jury determines otherwise.” Tragically, Dennis had posted a sweet Facebook status explaining his love for his children a few days before the accident. “2 in the morning up watching my kids sleep, I can’t believe they’re mine, I love them so much and nobody in this world could ever make me feel as loved as they do. The other day I was so depressed because I just missed them, and I got to thinking of when they get older and become adults,” he wrote. “If you don’t have kids you may not understand this but that is the scariest but most amazing thing to think of, watching them become their own person and seeing what they will experience and achieve. He added: “I hope our bond only grows stronger, I hope they always want to call me or see me just to talk or ask for advice. I can’t imagine this world without them.” Photo credits: <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8427761/Tulsa-dad-released-jail-video-shows-kids-climbed-hot-truck-dying.html" target="_blank">Daily Mail</a>

News

First Australian jailed for violating coronavirus rules

An Australian man has plead guilty to ignoring strict quarantine directives by leaving a Perth hotel a number of times to visit his girlfriend. Jonathan David, 35, will spend just one month behind bars after failing to comply with orders which told him not to leave his hotel room. He was sentenced on Wednesday to six months and two weeks in prison, but the majority of the term was suspended. David also received a $2000 fine. However, if he commits another crime within the next 12 months, he could be forced to carry the entirety of his prison sentence. After travelling from Victoria, David was sent into quarantine at the Travelodge Hotel in Perth for 14 days but stuck out numerous times and used public transport. Police not he wedged a fire exit door at the hotel so he could come and go as he pleased without staff seeing him. A police prosecutor labelled David's actions as “gross stupidity”. Magistrate Elaine Campione said he had been “more than foolish” and was “selfish in the extreme” during a state of emergency. “You chose to roll the dice with other people's lives and that was breathtakingly arrogant,” she said. People must at least 1.5 metres away from others and gatherings are limited to two people unless you are with a family or household. Image: SBS

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Groom faces serious jail time after $89 million "wedding of the century"

Sitcom star jailed for 30 years

"Most dangerous spy in US history" dies in jail

Tourist jailed over nude stunt at Bali temple

Woman demands jail time for own mother

US Olympic gold medallist jailed by Russian court

"You acted out of love": Judge says no jail for man who killed his wife

Three men handed jail sentences after careless, drunken act in a national park

Marvel actress and husband sentenced to 8 and 14 years jail

Daniel Johns facing jail time

Woman jailed after walking on natural wonder in US national park

Olympic athlete jailed for 25 years

University students jailed after finding KFC loophole

The travel bubble loophole that could land you in jail

Man jailed for strangling partner with towel on cruise ship

Mum who killed her six children released early from jail

"Straight to jail!": Woman berated for “barbaric” steak video

Dad jailed for sadistic disciplining of kids

Dad of children locked in hot truck freed from jail

First Australian jailed for violating coronavirus rules

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Catalogues

Travel

Health

Lifestyle

Finance

Entertainment

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Information

Keep up to date

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Groom faces serious jail time after $89 million "wedding of the century"

Sitcom star jailed for 30 years

"Most dangerous spy in US history" dies in jail

Tourist jailed over nude stunt at Bali temple

Woman demands jail time for own mother

US Olympic gold medallist jailed by Russian court

"You acted out of love": Judge says no jail for man who killed his wife

Three men handed jail sentences after careless, drunken act in a national park

Marvel actress and husband sentenced to 8 and 14 years jail

Daniel Johns facing jail time

Woman jailed after walking on natural wonder in US national park

Olympic athlete jailed for 25 years

University students jailed after finding KFC loophole

The travel bubble loophole that could land you in jail

Man jailed for strangling partner with towel on cruise ship

Mum who killed her six children released early from jail

"Straight to jail!": Woman berated for “barbaric” steak video

Dad jailed for sadistic disciplining of kids

Dad of children locked in hot truck freed from jail

First Australian jailed for violating coronavirus rules

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