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Subscriber only The health of a man accused of sexual and indecent assaults of children in the Mullumbimby area in the 1980s has been brought into question, a court heard. The 82-year-old man, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was arrested when he arrived at Sydney International Airport from the Philippines in October 2019. It s alleged the man sexually and indecently assaulted two teenage boys who were in his care in the Mullumbimby area between 1980 and 1983. He allegedly offered respite care outside of a boys home in the Lismore area and had worked with the two alleged victims on fixing and playing with CB radios and electronic gear.
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Subscriber only Two Ballina men have pleaded guilty to their alleged involvement in the death of an East Lismore man in 2019. Bryson Larsen-Tai, 18, Tyrese Hickling, 19, Heath Lyndan Cooper and Jeral Milner appeared before Lismore Local Court on Wednesday. Police will allege the four men were involved in a fight near Hill and Park street, East Ballina on December 23, 2019 which resulted in the death of 24-year-old Jesse Vilkelis-Curas. During the fight, police allege Mr Vilkelis-Curas suffered catastrophic head injuries and was taken to Gold Coast University Hospital before being taken off life-support on Boxing Day and died. Only Mr Larsen-Tai has been charged with murder, as well as assault occasioning death, affray and aggravated robbery with wounding causing grievous bodily harm.
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Subscriber only The family of an Aboriginal man who died while in custody at Lismore are relieved a manslaughter charge has been brought against the NSW Corrective Services officer allegedly responsible for his death. Mr Johnstone, 43, was in the custody of Corrective Services NSW officers when he was shot outside Lismore Base Hospital on March 15, 2019. He died shortly later from the injuries sustained during the shooting. Last year the NSW Coroner referred Mr Johnstone s death to the Director of Public Prosecutions. Following their investigation, the NSW Police last week officially charged the Corrective Services officer who fired the weapon with manslaughter, and they are due to face Lismore Local Court on March 29.
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Subscriber only A Suffolk Park man who has been convicted for drink driving blamed his genetics for being over the legal limit, a court has heard. Anthony Peter Guterres was self represented at Lismore Local Court on Monday, where was sentenced for a drink driving charge. The court heard Guterres had pleaded guilty in October to driving with a low range PCA, after he recorded a 0.06 blood alcohol reading during a random breath test. This was the third time Guterres had been charged with drink driving during his 28-year driving record, the court heard. But Guterres said he didn t feel impacted by the four alcoholic drinks he d consumed the night of the incident.