'Road rage' led to death of father of four

THE man charged with killing a father-of-four following a crash in Byford last December will reappear in court on February 27.

Rodney Allen Beard, 35, appeared in the Stirling Gardens via video link from Casuarina Prison this morning.

Confined to a wheelchair, he had earlier been denied bail and will remain in custody after today's appearance.

Mr Beard's counsel applied for the prosecution to provide information they have on Mr Beard and the charges he is facing.

The 35-year-old has been charged with one count each of unlawfully killing another under such circumstances not constituting murder, driving under the influence of drugs, reckless driving and unlawful acts with intent to harm.

It will be alleged on December 6, 2012, Mr Beard was involved in a road rage incident before crashing into a vehicle driven by 51-year-old Mark Noormets on the South Western Highway in Byford.

Mr Noormets died from the crash.

Mr Beard may also apply to the Supreme Court for bail following his failed attempt in the Magistrates Court earlier this month.

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Murder accused remanded over stabbing

A 53-year-old accused murderer has appeared via video link in the Stirling Gardens Magistrates Court this morning.

Van Tho Nguyen has been remanded in custody at Hakea Prison for legal advice until January 30.

Mr Nguyen appeared with the aide of a translator this morning, facing one count of murder.

He was charged following the death of a 36-year-old man in Ellenbrook on December 12, whom Mr Nguyen is accused of stabbing to death during a fight.

Police were called to the home at Pinea Turn at about 3pm on the Wednesday and the victim had to be taken by ambulance to Swan District Hospital, where he died from his injuries.

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Chick sues website over Cousins coverage

Eagles premiership player Daniel Chick is suing for defamation. Source: PerthNow

FORMER West Coast Eagle Daniel Chick has launched legal action over claims made in a series of online articles last year.

The 36-year-old, who started his career with Hawthorn, is suing the SportsNewsFirst website, a journalist as well as the AFL for the publication of a series of articles which make mention of the former footballer.

In a writ lodged in the WA Supreme Court this week, it says Chick, who is representing himself, is seeking a permanent injunction over the articles, which he claims are defamatory.

The writ says three separate stories relating to the hospitalisation of former West Coast teammate Ben Cousins published between January and February 2012 on the SportsNewsFirst website, SEN Sports Central and the AFL website which mentioned him were false.

Chick is also seeking damages, aggravated damages, as well as costs for the publication and republication of the offending articles, claiming that he has suffered hatred, contempt and ridicule as a result.

Three years ago the former footballer was fined $7000 after pleading guilty to importing performance and image enhancing steroids from Thailand.

Chick was caught on arrival at Perth Airport with nine vials and a number of pills concealed in his luggage on October 9, 2010.

PerthNow tried contacting Mr Chick but he did not return calls.

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Buswell v Carles case in election week

BUSY WEEK: WA treasurer Troy Buswell's defamation case against his former lover and independent MP Adele Carles has been listed in court three days before the state election.

WEST Australian treasurer Troy Buswell will have much on his mind in the week of the state election, with his $3 million defamation case against his former lover and independent MP Adele Carles listed in court three days before the poll.

Despite Premier Colin Barnett making it clear he would prefer his senior lieutenant to settle the dispute out of court, Mr Buswell and his legal team are ploughing on with their action against Ms Carles, the member for Fremantle.

Mr Buswell seems determined to seek legal recourse to embarrassing allegations levelled against him by Ms Carles in a series of interviews, press conferences and social media posts late last year.

And after an offer from Ms Carles' lawyer to settle was turned down, the case has now been listed for a first hearing in the WA Supreme Court on March 6.

The state election is being held on March 9.

If the case goes ahead, it will be an unwanted distraction for both Mr Buswell - one of WA's most prominent and controversial politicians - and Ms Carles, who is facing a huge battle to hold her seat.

The court action was sparked after Ms Carles claimed in a newspaper article that Mr Buswell had been drunk and and behaved inappropriately towards seafood empire boss Nick Kailis at a 2011 Christmas party.

After sending a series a series of highly personal tweets about Mr Buswell, which have since been deleted, Ms Carles went on to claim further drunken behaviour in March had been the final straw in their relationship.

At a press conference she revealed further personal details of their relationship, going as far as producing a card sent to her by Mr Buswell pleading for a reconciliation.

Lawyers for the state treasurer filed a defamation writ against Ms Carles soon after, seeking aggravated damages from the former Greens MP as well as a "permanent injunction'' against her.

The writ alleges Ms Carles defamed Mr Buswell a total of nine times in interviews with various Perth media outlets, and on Twitter.

It seeks damages, aggravated damages, and interest on the damages. The writ also aimed to silence Ms Carles.

"A permanent injunction restraining the defendant from repeating the defamatory comments or words similar thereto'', is the third claim on the writ.

It is the latest instalment in a long line of embarrassments that have dogged Mr Buswell's political career.

He was forced to resign as treasurer in 2010 amid allegations he misused entitlements during his affair with one-time Greens MP Carles, but he was cleared of any wrongdoing.

In 2008 Mr Buswell stood down as WA Liberal leader - paving the way for Mr Barnett - following allegations of lewd conduct.

A tearful Mr Buswell at that time admitted sniffing the chair of a female Liberal staffer and snapping a Labor staffer's bra, antics for which he is known across the country.
 

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Beeliar mother sexually assaulted in home

POLICE have warned residents to lock doors and windows at night after a woman was sexually assaulted in her own home early this morning.

Sex Assault Squad Detectives are seeking information from the public about the attack, which happened just before 1am this morning in Beeliar.

Officers believe the offender broke into the house through an open window before assaulting the woman, aged in her thirties, inside.

Her two children were asleep in the house.

Her husband is reportedly a FIFO worker who is currently away.

Detectives have little information on what the offender looked like and hope that someone may have witnessed suspicious activity in the area.

If anyone has any information they are asked to contact crime stoppers on 1800 333 000.

"This is a timely reminder, particularly with the recent hot weather, for residents to be security conscious and ensure windows and doors are locked and secure," said Inspector Dominic Wood.

 

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Liberal MP defrauded mother-in-law of $100k

FORMER federal Liberal MP Peter Shack defrauded $100,000 from his mother-in-law's estate then created a fake invoice to cover his tracks, the WA District Court was told today.

Mr Shack, who was the Opposition health spokesman under Andrew Peacock during the early 1990s, is accused of filling out a blank cheque signed by his wife's mother, Mary Stasinowsky, then lodging it into his own business account in July 2004.

He is also accused of creating a false invoice in relation to the alleged fraud.

During opening arguments at the trial this morning, lawyers acting on behalf of Mr Shack said their client admitted to filling out the cheque as well as creating the invoice but deny it was done deceitfully.

Barrister Tom Percy told the jury the $100,000 was a loan granted by Mrs Stasinowsky and the fake invoice was part of a "clumsily disguised" plan agreed by the two to prevent any jealously amongst the family.

Mr Percy said Mr Shack was asked by Mrs Stasinowsky to look after her financial affairs following the death of her husband, not her children, and that they would be jealous she had loaned him such a large sum of money.

But prosecutor Les Hobson told the court during his opening argument that Mr Shack had admitted to his former wife Pauline that he had asked her mother for the loan but she refused.

"He then decided to take it, saying to her that he deserved it, and then made up the false invoice," Mr Hobson said.

During the hearing, it was revealed that Mr Shack, who was the federal member for Tangney during the 1970s until early 1990s, made out the cheque to his business account but wrote on the cheque book stub that the money went to a construction company instead for the building of units in Eric Street.

He then created a fake invoice some 15 months later to back up the cheque book stub.

The court heard the discrepancy was discovered by professional auditors brought in by Mrs Stasinowsky's daughter Karen Jones.

Mrs Jones had begun asking questions about her mother's affairs in 2008 and originally hired the company to investigate why the estate had lost a lot of money during the global financial crisis.

The jury was told Mr Shack had effectively been handling Mrs Stasinowsky's affairs since the death of her husband in 1997 and became a director of the family trust in 2008.

Mrs Stasinowsky now suffers from dementia however she did not have symptoms of the disease at the time of the alleged offence.

Mrs Jones, who was the first witness to give evidence, told the court her sister Pauline had originally complained to her that both her own and their mother's financial affairs were in "dire straits" and requested that she and their brother help.

As a result Mrs Jones requested an auditor look at their mother's estate but she said Mr Shack said no.

She hired one anyway and they discovered the false invoice.

Police charged Mr Shack with fraud in June last year.

The trial continues.

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Drug lab explosion south of Mandurah

POLICE are at the scene of a suspected drug lab explosion in Bouvard, south of Mandurah.

The explosion happened in the Parkridge Foreshore Reserve off Estuary Road just before 3pm.

Investigating officers found a suspected improvised drug manufacture site, but there were no people present.

Police spokesman Gerry Cassidy said officers had contacted nearby hospitals and searched the area for any injured people, but had so far not located any persons of interest.

Sgt Cassidy urged anyone who had been exposed to chemicals or ammonia gas to seek medical treatement.

The Organised Crime Squad are on their way to the scene.

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Open warfare as Tomic advances

Serena Williams is through to the second round of the Australian Open despite an ankle injury that could yet threaten her campaign.

Bernard Tomic on his way to an easy first-round win against Argentina's Leonardo Mayer tonight. Source: Getty Images

James Duckworth was pumped up while beating fellow Australian Ben Mitchell in the first round of the Australian Open. Source: Getty Images

Serena Williams falls to the court after rolling her ankle in her first-round match. Source: AFP

Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm celebrates after winning her first-round match against Nadia Petrova. Source: AP

• Get LIVE Australian Open scores here.
• Tweet your Aussie support to @cam_tomarchio.
• Check out where the tennis stars have been seen around Melbourne on our 'Spotted' map.

CATCH UP on all the key results and news from day two of the Australian Open at Melbourne Park.

10.28pm AEDT - AUSSIE GAJDOSOVA STILL WINLESS

Jarmila Gajdosova has not won a match at the Australian Open in eight tries now after losing in straight sets to Belgian No.20 seed Yanina Wickmayer on Rod Laver Arena tonight.

The Aussie produced 14 unforced errors and just two winners to gift Wickmayer the first set 6-1.

The second set was a different story entirely, with Gajdosova pulling out 16 winners to Wickmayer's five and - even had set point - but she dropped serve four times in the set and eventually lost it 7-5.

10pm AEDT - MONFILS TOO GOOD FOR DOLGOPOLOV

Another seed is gone, with Gael Monfils beating Ukraine's Alexandr Dolgopolov in four tight sets on Margaret Court Arena.

The Frenchman ousted the 18th seed 6-7 7-6 6-3 6-3 and will next meet Yen-Hsun Lu.

8.45pm AEDT - TOMIC CRUISES INTO SECOND ROUND

Bernard Tomic rolled into the second round of the Australian Open with a ridiculously comfortable victory over Leonardo Mayer.

The Argentine struggled to get on top of the Australian's serve throughout the match and could not match Tomic's power from the back of the court.

With the 6-3 6-2 6-3 win, Tomic set up a second round meeting with little known German Daniel Brands, who upset 27th seed Martin Klizan 6-3 3-6 6-3 6-4.

Roger Federer is likely awaiting the winner in the third round.

Finland's Jarkko Nieminen celebrates after beating Tommy Haas in five sets. Source: AFP

8.38pm AEDT - HAAS LOSES EPIC

Jarkko Nieminen has ousted the 34-year-old Tommy Haas in an epic on Show Court 3.

The final score: 7-6 4-6 6-3 4-6 8-6 in a little under four hours.

The 19th seed says goodbye.

7.15pm AEDT - SIMON THROUGH

Gilles Simon shook off an early scare to a 2-6 6-3 6-2 6-2 win against Italy's Filippo Volandri.

Tommy Haas is down two sets to one against Jarkko Nieminen and it's level at 3-all in the fourth. Good battle.

Gael Monfils and Alexandr Dolgopolov are under way on Margaret Court. Two-all in the first.

6.59pm AEDT

19-Tommy Haas v Jarkko Nieminen 6-7 6-4 3-6

14-Gilles Simon vs Filippo Volandri 2-6 6-3 6-2 1-2

German veteran Tommy Haas is in trouble, down two sets to one against Nieminen. Could be an upset on our hands.

Frenchman Gilles Simon appears to have taken control of his match against Italy's Filippo Volandri, overcoming a slow start to take a two sets to one lead.

6.48pm AEDT - MATOSEVIC BOWS OUT

Croatia's Marin Cilic has accounted for Australia's Marinko Matosevic, 6-4 7-5 6-2, putting even more pressure on Bernard Tomic to produce tonight.

Matosevic had a set point in the second but could not capitalise and the big 12th seed made him pay.

6.29pm AEDT 

Tommy Haas has taken the second set against Jarkko Nieminen to level it at a set apiece.

6.15pm AEDT - MATOSEVIC DOWN TWO SETS TO LOVE

Marinko Matosevic had a set point in the second set but 12th seed Marin Cilic turned it around and has broken to take a 6-4 7-5 lead, giving the Aussie one hell of a hill to climb.

A couple of seeds are in a real battle in the meantime. Tommy Haas, the 19th seed, dropped the first 7-6 to Jarkko Nieminen and it's 4-4 in the second.

And 14th seed Gilles Simon has hit back to take the second set against Filippo Volandri to make it 2-6 6-3. 

Day 2 of the Australian Open in pictures

5.30pm AEDT - DUCKWORTH WINS BATTLE OF BEST MATES
Del Potro vs Mannarino 6-1 4-1
Matosevic (Aus) vs Cilic 4-6 1-1

The Duck quacked loudest in the battle of the best mates, with James Duckworth defeating fellow Aussie Ben Mitchell in a five-set thriller.

Duckworth won the opening two sets but Mitchell hit back hard to win the next two before running out of legs in the last as Duckworth reached the second round for the second year in a row.

The break points flowed thick and fast in the final set, with Duckworth surviving two in the third game before producing a couple of monster serves to stay on track, then pouncing in the next game after some loose Mitchell shots to grab a 3-1 lead.

Duckworth withstood another three break points before finally conceding the seventh game of the set as Mitchell got things back on serve, then saved more break points when the scores were locked at 4-4.

Both players endured tense moments on their service games until Mitchell wilted at 6-7, spraying two forehands to hand Duckworth the break of serve and the win.

Duckworth now has a great chance to reach the third round when he takes on Slovenian unknown Blaz Kavcic on Thursday.

James Duckworth was pumped up while beating fellow Australian Ben Mitchell in the first round of the Australian Open. Source: Getty Images

5.13pm AEDT

Aussie No.1 Marinko Matosevic has dropped the first set 6-4 to 12th seed Marin Cilic.

Matosevic went toe to toe with the big Croat, but dropped serve in the ninth game, allowing Cilic to serve it out.

4.25pm AEDT - NO WORRIES FIRST UP FOR FED

No surprises for guessing Roger Federer's first-round result.

The No.2 seed got better as his match against Frenchman Benoit Paire wore on, breaking him six times to win 6-2 6-4 6-1 in just 1hr 23mins.

Different fortunes for another Frenchman, however, with Jo-Wilfried Tsonga taking care of business with a 6-4 7-5 6-2 win over compatriate Michael Llodra.

Serena vows to play through pain

4.19pm AEDT

A pumped-up Ben Mitchell has taken his match against fellow Aussie James Duckworth to a fifth set.

Mitchell appeared down and out after Duckworth won the first two sets 6-4 7-6, but the Gold Coast 20-year-old, who played only two matches on the ATP Tour last year and won neither, fought back to take the next two 6-4 7-5.

4.15pm AEDT
Federer vs Paire 6-2 6-4 4-1
Tsonga vs Llodra 6-4 7-5 3-2

Rising American Sloane Stephens has crushed Simona Halep in her first-round match, hammering out 19 winners to four to win 6-1 6-1 in just 47 minutes.

Over on Rod Laver Arena, Roger Federer is only a couple of games away from moving through to the second round, leading Benoit Paire 6-2 6-4 4-1.

3.28pm AEDT - ANOTHER AUSSIE FALLS
Federer vs Paire 6-2 0-1
Tsonga vs Llodra 6-4 2-3

Australia is another player down at this year's Open, after Luke Saville was beaten in four sets by Go Soeda.

Saville started promisingly, taking the first set in a tiebreak, but couldn't put a cork in his error count, sending 54 unforced mistakes the Japanese's way.

Soeda won 6-7 6-3 6-2 6-3 and will like play Jo-Wilfried Tsonga, if the French No.7 seed does as we expect against Michael Llodra.

And Ben Mitchell has hit back against best mate and fellow Aussie James Duckworth, taking the third set 6-4 after dropping the first two.

Luke Saville was no match for Japan's Go Soeda. Source: Getty Images

3.19pm AEDT - KVITOVA SEES OFF SCHIAVONE

Last year's semi-finalist Petra Kvitova saw off Italian veteran Francesca Schiavone in three tough sets to book her berth in the second round.

And 17th seed Lucie Safarova did enough against Croatia's Mirjana Lucic-Baroni, winning 7-6 6-4.

***SERENA UPDATE***

Serena Williams has just spoken at her press conference and vowed to play through the pain of her ankle injury.

"Unless it is fatal and (while) my heart is still beating, I will be there," she said.

2.58pm AEDT

Australian Luke Saville has dropped the second and third sets against Japan's Go Soeda.

Saville won the first set in a tiebreak but Soeda has been all over him since, winning the next two 6-3 6-2.

Elsewhere, thirteenth seed Milos Raonic dropped the first set but recovered to beat Czech player Jan Hajek 3-6 6-1 6-2 7-6 over on Show Court 3.

And Roger Federer has launched into his first-round match against Frenchman Benoit Paire, breaking him in the first game to lead 1-0.

2.40pm AEDT - AZARENKA STRAIGHT THROUGH

No.1 seed and defending champion Victoria Azarenka overcame a tricky opponent to kick off her title defence

Monica Niculescu's unorthodox use of slice forehands made life difficult for the world's best player but wasn't enough to stop her, with the Belarussian winning 6-1 6-4 in 1hr 27mins.

And James Duckworth has just won the second set 10-8 in a tiebreak against fellow Aussie Ben Mitchell, and now leads two sets to love.

Victoria Azarenka started her title defence with a 6-1 6-4 win over Monica Niculescu. Source: AFP

2.22pm AEDT - SERENA INJURED IN FLAWLESS VICTORY

Beware the wounded warrior.

Serena Williams is through to the second round of the Australian Open despite an ankle injury that may threaten her campaign.

Williams slid and appeared to roll her ankle while leading Edina Gallovits-Hall 4-0 in the first set, and received treatment and new strapping.

When she returned to the court her movement was severely limited, with the tournament's hot favourite walking to hit some balls, but it mattered little as she peeled off eight more games in a row to win 6-0 6-0.

More details on Williams' injury as they come to hand.

Meanwhile, eighth seed and former semi-finalist Petra Kvitova is locked in a seesawing battle with Francesca Schiavone.

Kvitova won the first set 6-4 but the experienced Schiavone hit back big time in the second, taking it 6-2.

Serena Williams is through to the second round of the Australian Open despite an ankle injury that could yet threaten her campaign.

AUSSIE UPDATE

As for the Aussies, Luke Saville is now at one set all with Go Soeda after dropping the second set, while James Duckworth is a set up against best mate Ben Mitchell, but trails 5-6 in the second.

2.05pm AEDT - SERENA TREATED FOR INJURY

Raging favourite Serena Williams has suffered an ankle injury during her opening round clash.

The American was cruisng at 4-0 against Edina Gallovits-Halls when she slid stretching for a return, tumbled and appeared to have rolled her ankle.

An injury time-out was called where her ankle, which immediately swelled up, was heavily taped by a doctor.

Williams returned to the court and peeled off two straight games to take the first set 6-0, and now leads 1-0 in the second.

Serena Williams falls to the court after rolling her ankle in her first-round match. Source: AFP

1.41pm AEDT
Azarenka vs Niculescu 6-1 0-0
S.Williams vs Gallovits-Hall 4-0

Good news out on court six, where Aussie wildcard Luke Saville has taken the first set in a tiebreak against Japan's Go Soeda.

And the 'battle of the best mates', James Duckworth and Ben Mitchell, Mitchell has led for most of the first set but Duckworth has just leveled the scores at 4-4.

1.10pm AEDT

Caroline Wozniacki survived a first-round scare to move through in three sets against Germany's Sabine Lisicki.

Lisicki's all-or-nothing approach worked early on but 10th-seeded Wozniacki weathered the storm and hit back to take the match 2-6 6-3 6-3.

And we've lost another Aussie with John-Patrick Smith bowing out in straight sets against Joao Sousa, 6-4 6-1 6-4.

Caroline Wozniacki emerged from a testing first-round match at the 2013 Australian Open. Source: Getty Images

12.51pm AEDT - MURRAY INTO SECOND ROUND
Wozniacki vs Lisicki 2-6 6-3 4-3
Smith (Aus) vs Sousa 4-6 1-6 2-3
Saville (Aus) vs Soeda 4-1

Third seed Andy Murray was in and out in little over and hour and a half on Rod Laver Arena, beating Dutchman Robin Haase 6-3 6-1 6-3.

Murray was a couple of classes above and was aided by a red hot first serve, which hit the mark 73 per cent of the time.

The Brit will next face the winner of the match between Aussie wildcard John-Patrick Smith and Portugal's Joao Sousa.

Andy Murray cruised into the second round of the Australian Open in straight sets. Source: Getty Images

12.45pm AEDT - ANOTHER SEED FALLS
Murray vs Haase 6-3 6-1 3-4
Wozniacki vs Lisicki 2-6 6-3 2-3
Smith (Aus) vs Sousa 4-6 1-6 2-3

Carla Suarez Navarro continues the pain for the seeds early on day two, beating 17th seed Sara Errani 6-4 6-4.

But the new was better for Russian glamour girl and No.14 seed Maria Kirilenko, who cruised past American Vania King 6-4 6-2.

12.18pm AEDT - 42-YEAR-OLD BEATS 12TH SEED

In the first huge upset on day two, 42-year-old Kimiko Date-Krumm has stunned women's 12th seed Nadia Petrova 6-2 6-0.

We'll find out later what Petrova's story was but it's not hard to see where she went wrong, with 38 unforced errors spewing from her racquet. She wasn't a happy chappy.

How's this for a stat: the last time Date-Krumm went past the first round here was in 1996.

Japan's Kimiko Date-Krumm celebrates after winning her first-round match against Nadia Petrova. Source: AP

12.15pm AEDT

Aussie wildcard John-Patrick Smith has dropped the first set against Portugal's Joao Sousa 6-4, and trails 2-1 on serve in the second.

And another winner - former top 10 player Svetlana Kuznetsova did it easy on Show Court 3, beating Lourdes Domnguez Lino 6-2 6-1.

12.05pm AEDT - SEEDS IN TROUBLE

In a complete backflip on the run of play yesterday, a bunch of seeds are in early trouble on day two of the Australian Open.

Caroline Wozniacki dropped the first set 6-2 against Sabine Lisicki, also she is in control of the second set and leads it 4-1, while 12th seed Nadia Petrova is in dire straits against 42-year-old veteran Kimiko Date-Krumm, dropping the first set 6-2 and trailing 4-0 in the second.

Men's 25th seed Florian Mayer is down 6-2 5-2 against USA qualifier Rhyne Williams.

As we speak, we have our first winner of the day - Shuai Peng of China has smashed Canada's Rebecca Marino 6-3 6-0 in just 52 minutes.

11.45am AEDT
Murray (3) vs Haase 5-2
Wozniacki (10) vs Lisicki 2-6

There's something big brewing on Hisense Arena, where women's 10th seed Caroline Wozniacki has just dropped the first set 6-2 to Sabine Lisicki.

Lisicki clubbed a staggering 17 winners in taking the set, while forcing a further 12 errors from Wozniacki, whose defensive game is normally her strong suit.

Over on Rod Laver Arena, Andy Murray has is also racing his first set and leads 5-2.

11am AEDT

Good morning and welcome to our rolling coverage of day two of this year's Australian Open!

We're only moments away from seeing the first players emerge onto court to get their first-round matches under way.

We'll have to wait until tonight's session on Rod Laver Arena to see Bernard Tomic and Jarmila Gajdosova, but there are five more Aussies ready to strut their stuff during the day session.

And thankfully we're guaranteed at least one of them will move through to the second round, with home grown wildcards James Duckworth and Ben Mitchell to clash second-up on Show Court 2.

Also in action will be Marinko Matosevic, Luke Saville and John-Patrick Smith. Let's see if we can't cheer a couple home.

First up on Rod Laver, however, is world No.3 Andy Murray, who will take on Dutchman Robin Haase.

10.30am AEDT

Good morning everyone and welcome to our LIVE coverage of day two of the Australian Open from Melbourne Park.

Let's hope for a better day for the Aussies, with Sam Stosur our only winner on the opening day. Andy Murray kicks off proceedings on Rod Laver Arena, with the Scot to be followed by Victoria Azarenka and then everyone's favourite, the Swiss master Roger Federer.

But everybody is holding their breath today in anticipation of seeing young gun Bernard Tomic, who features in the first night match on centre court. He takes on claycourt specialist Leonardo Mayer.

Get on board and join in our coverage by tweeting to @AJBallantyne.

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Life and crimes of seedy racing figure

The man's head was found in a bag on Rottnest Island on Sunday January 6. Source: PerthNow

A former racehorse owner has said he knew the head found on Rottnest Island was that of Stephen Cookson.

WEST Australian police are still refusing to officially confirm the identity of the severed head washed up on Rottnest Island as racing identity and convicted drug user Stephen Cookson.

Cookson, who has a long criminal history including heroin convictions in Germany, has been widely identified as the man whose remains were found by holidaymakers last weekend.

WA police were today still struggling to contact Cookson's relatives in the eastern states, despite reports it was his head inside a bag on the beach.

A long-time habitue of the seamier side of the racing industry in Victoria and WA, Cookson was convicted in WA in 2000 on one count of being in possession of a quantity of heroin with intent to sell or supply.

He unsuccessfully appealed that conviction all the way to the High Court, where the former law student chose to represent himself.

In 2005, Cookson was fined $5000 for improper conduct, after assaulting a former horse owner Peter Graham and breaking his nose. That fine was unsuccessfully appealed.

Mr Graham told the media he had an inkling the head in the bag was Cookson's, or "Cookie'' as he was known in Victorian racing circles.

"The missing teeth and the beard were telltale details and I knew Cookson had not been seen for a while,'' Graham said.

"I even contacted a former, prominent racing investigator to make sure the coppers got the message.

"He was capable of anything if he didn't get his own way,'' Graham said.

"One time we argued over a horse yard in a stable we were sharing. I insisted the yard was mine. Cookson disagreed and did his block. Two days later I found my horse dead in the yard.''

A self-appointed "equine consultant'', Cookson had been due to appear in the Perth District Court this Friday on a charge of possession of methylamphetamine with intent to sell or supply.

Mr Cookson's lawyer Linda Black said she could not divulge any details as she is also acting for one of Mr Cookson's fellow accused, Lejla Tresnjo.

The head was found by an 11-year-old girl on the beach at Porpoise Bay on the southeast of the island last Sunday.

She's believed to have opened the plastic bag and seen a human ear.

Police later confirmed the head belonged to a caucasian male, possibly aged between 30 and 60 years.

Forensic officers then spent the weekend searching an apartment at the Quattro complex on Hay Street in East Perth, while also investigating a nearby hotel and TAB.

Seven of the man's upper front teeth were missing - and had been for some time - but the man did not wear a plate or dentures, forensics have revealed. His remaining teeth were also in a poor condition.

The discovery is being treated as a murder.

People with information are asked to call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Callers may remain anonymous.

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Wine lovers salute new Swan Valley festival

Large crowds were common at Spring in the Valley but Valley & Vines will provide a more relaxed environment. Source: PerthNow

Vineyards in the picturesque Swan Valley. Source: Supplied

IT was only a matter of time.

It's been more than two years since wine lovers toasted goodbye to the popular Spring in the Valley but now there's a new and improved show in town - Valley & Vines.

The independent boutique festival promises a little more sophistication and education than its predecessor while still giving Perth winophiles a taste of some of the Swan Valley's best produce in a fun-filled environment.

The concept is pretty simple: wine lovers attend three of six nominated venues throughout the day - setting their own itinerary and choosing whether to drive, bus or go with the event's organised transport to travel between each venue.

It all happens on Sunday March 3 from 10am during the Labour Day long weekend, with wineries and breweries participating including Chesters, Carilley Estate and Duckstein Brewery.

Tickets are only $30 and include entry into three "sessions", a branded wine glass and lanyard complete with the day's schedule, a glass of wine and entertainment at their three selected venues.

Valley & Vines organisers say the festival is what Perth wine lovers want.

"We are very excited to provide an offering for those interested in wine and fresh local produce and having a civilised day experiencing everything the Swan Valley has to offer," director Carly Odgers said.

Wine lover Cat Stringer said she would be attending as the day was about enjoying the wines of the Swan Valley without the riff-raff associated with Spring in the Valley.

"It's nice to be able to relax and have a good time with friends in beautiful surroundings without having your day wrecked by those who are, well, too wrecked," she said.

For more information or to purchase tickets visit www.valleyandvines.com.au

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