Aussie Sam now free to go

Authorities in Dublin say Australian Samantha Azzopardi is free to go. Source: Supplied

SAMANTHA Azzopardi found in Dublin a month ago is free to leave state care after a psychiatrist found she wasn't suffering from a mental disorder that would enable her to be detained.

But the 25-year-old Australian woman can stay in hospital in Ireland voluntarily after a court heard she was suffering from a condition that made her "vulnerable".

An order from Ireland's High Court which meant Ms Azzopardi couldn't be removed from care has now lapsed, but a lawyer acting for the Irish health authorities, Tim O'Leary, said "if she's happy to stay where she is that's no problem".

Since being identified earlier this week it's been revealed Ms Azzopardi is known to Australian police, has used false identities and previously been convicted on deception charges.

It was initially feared she was a teenage victim of human trafficking.

The High Court on Thursday heard the Australian would now be cared for by adult health services and would be offered support if she chose to move back out into the community.

Navy reels from new sex scandal

SAILORS on board HMAS Ballarat may face jail terms over bizarre hazing rituals involving sexual assault with objects such as carrots and pens.

Students injured in 'mini-tornado'

A FREAK willy-willy swept through a primary school sports carnival in Perth's southern suburbs, injuring a teacher and several students.

Pancakes on The Rocks, where Samantha Azzopardi previously worked.

Justice George Birmingham said the twists in the case had come "as a shock to everybody and as a surprise".

"But the case has now run its course," he said.

A lawyer for the guardian appointed when it was thought Ms Azzopardi was a teenager, Gerard O'Brien, told reporters outside court: "She is not detainable under the Mental Health Act ... the legal proceedings are at an end."

A CON ARTIST?

Local media have turned on the young Australian in the past 24 hours.

The Irish Independent on Thursday said authorities had been "taken in by a Walter Mitty-like con artist".

The newspaper reported the gardai (Ireland's police) were considering charging her with wasting police time.

But a police spokesman refused to comment on that prospect when contacted by AAP.

It's also been reported it cost the state more than 250,000 euros ($A357,450) to identify Ms Azzopardi.

Psychiatrist Brendan Kelly assessed Ms Azzopardi and prepared a "fulsome report", the court heard.

It was Dr Kelly's view that Ms Azzopardi was not suffering from a disorder that would allow her to be detained against her will.

It's been reported her family are travelling from Australia to Ireland.

A relative who Ms Azzopardi had been staying with in Tipperary before she was found on a Dublin street in a distressed state on October 10 has appealed for privacy.

"He requests that the media respect his privacy and that of his family," lawyers acting on his behalf said in a statement.

A SHADOWY PAST

Meanwhile, a complex picture has emerged of the troubled 25-year-old Australian woman who was found wandering in a distressed and disoriented state on an Ireland street.

A former boss has described Ms Azzopardi as a "sweet girl" but a misfit who left her job as a waitress in a southwest Sydney restaurant to travel the world.

Initial fears that she was an Eastern European teenage sex slave were yesterday dismissed by police, but it was revealed she has a history of forgery convictions and is alleged to have up to 40 aliases.

Court documents reveal she was known to Queensland police and convicted on two occasions in 2010.

On September 15 that year, in the Brisbane Magistrates Court, she was convicted on two charges of making false representations, one charge of possession of a thing with intent to forge documents and one charge of contravening directions.

If she reoffended in the following 12 months she would have been fined $500.

Less than a month later, on October 11, she was convicted of a further false representation offences.

At the time, her address was listed as Douglas Park, NSW.

Her former boss at the Pancakes on the Rocks restaurant at Campbelltown, Chris Nunes, said she recognised Ms Azzopardi as her former employee when Irish police released pictures of her as part of a global appeal to identify the young woman.

Ms Nunes said Ms Azzopardi was a "very sweet girl" but did not fit in with her peers.

During the three to five months working part-time at the restaurant in a small business precinct, Ms Azzopardi sometimes failed to turn up for her shifts and kept mostly to herself.

"Sammy was a nice girl," Ms Nunes said.

"I think she was late for her shifts a few times or didn't turn up a couple of times. I think we were quite glad when she left.

"She just didn't fit in here. Just somehow she didn't fit in (and) didn't really become friends with any of the girls.

"She just seemed different to everybody else.

"I don't remember exactly why I felt like that. Nothing stood out to make her a problem. It's just she didn't fit in and didn't click with the job."

Ms Nunes said she hired Ms Azzopardi after being asked by her aunt who was looking for work to provide "something sort of structured" for her niece.

She was a "very plain Jane sort of girl" with no distinguishing features that set her apart from the other girls, Ms Nunes said.

Ms Azzopardi always wore an impish smile and was an efficient waitress.

"She seemed to be quite happy here and she was trying," Ms Nunes said.

During one of her final shifts at the restaurant, which is across the road from a nursing home where it is believed her grandmother lives, Ms Azzopardi told her boss she was "going to travel the world to donate a kidney".

"I just said 'that's nice'," Ms Nunes said.

"She didn't do that (tell stories) too often but I just thought that was a very strange way to leave."

Ms Azzopardi is believed to have studied at the nearby Mount Annan High School.

She had been staying with a relative in Tipperary up to the day she was discovered by in Dublin, the Irish Times said.

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Perth first to try out new Dreamliner

The second member of the Boeing 787 family, the 787-9 is 6m longer and carries 40 more passengers than the 787-8.

The Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner in the final production stage. Source: Supplied

WESTERN Australian travellers will be the first in the world to travel on the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner when Air New Zealand launches the new aircraft's first scheduled route between Auckland and Perth next year.

The New Zealand carrier is the launch customer for the 787-9 and plans to use the aircraft on flights between the Western Australian capital and Auckland from October 15.

Air New Zealand said the Dreamliner will accommodate 302 passengers in a Business, Premium Economy and Economy class configuration.

The aircraft is a larger version of the original Boeing 787 Dreamliner, which first entered service in 2011.

Western Australia's Acting Tourism Minister John Day said the announcement was great news for the state's tourism industry.

Jetstar Dreamliner gets all-clear for takeoff

Navy reels from new sex scandal

SAILORS on board HMAS Ballarat may face jail terms over bizarre hazing rituals involving sexual assault with objects such as carrots and pens.

Students injured in 'mini-tornado'

A FREAK willy-willy swept through a primary school sports carnival in Perth's southern suburbs, injuring a teacher and several students.

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BB stars: Where are they now?

Sara-Marie and Blair cuddle on the couch while watching Charlie's Angels in the Big Brother house, 2001. Courtesy Channel Ten.

The eleventh season of Big Brother Australia has wrapped up. Photo: Supplied/Channel 9 Source: Supplied

ANOTHER season of Big Brother is over, allowing the latest batch of housemates to enjoy their fifteen minutes of fame before they fade away into obscurity like so many before them.

Admittedly there are a few who have gone onto have successful careers in the media, but for the rest, they can expect to be forever stared at by strangers in the street who vaguely recognise them but can't quite figure out from where.

Let's take a trip down memory lane and see where some of the more memorable contestants are now.

Sara-Marie Fedele with the series one winner Ben Williams. Photo: Supplied/Channel 10 Source: News Limited

Navy reels from new sex scandal

SAILORS on board HMAS Ballarat may face jail terms over bizarre hazing rituals involving sexual assault with objects such as carrots and pens.

Students injured in 'mini-tornado'

A FREAK willy-willy swept through a primary school sports carnival in Perth's southern suburbs, injuring a teacher and several students.

Sara-Marie Fedele: The bum dancing, bunny-ear wearing blonde burst onto our screens in the first season of Big Brother in 2001. She managed to remain in the spotlight for a few years, but according to her manager is now enjoying life in Western Australia where she works in the mines.

Blair McDonough's character was killed off Winners and Losers at the end of the last season. Photo: Channel 7 Source: Supplied

Blair McDonough: Season one's runner-up has had a successful TV career over the past few years, appearing in Neighbours, Sea Patrol and Winners and Losers. But the 32-year-old has decided to try to crack the US market. He currently lives in Los Angeles with his wife Kristi where he is getting a number of screen tests for both TV shows and films.

Jemma Gawned posed for FHM when she left the house. Photo: Supplied Source: News Limited

Jemma Gawned: After a failed cosmetics business, Gawned is now enjoying success with her Byron Bay based food company Naked Treaties. Specialising in raw and vegan treats, she now employs 15 staff members and has plans to license her brand.

Pete Timbs from Triple M Brisbane. Photo: Supplied Source: News Limited

Pete Timbs: He was one-half of the dancing doona and post Big Brother he scored a gig at weekly gossip magazine TV Week. He's had regular TV appearances over the years and can now be heard as one of the hosts on Triple M's Grill Team in Brisbane.

Reggie Sorensen with her two kids Lucas Sorensen and Mia Sorensen. Photo: Supplied Source: News Limited

Reggie Sorensen (nee Bird): She's arguably the most memorable former Big Brother contestant, but the years since her appearance on the show haven't been kind to Reggie. The winner from season three is currently based on the Gold Coast where she is a single mother with two kids. She has lost most of her vision due to an eye disease called retinal pigmentation.

Ryan Fitzgerald with his wife Belinda and sons Hewston and Lennox. Photo: Supplied Source: News Limited

Ryan Fitzgerald: The former AFL player has forged a successful radio and TV career since appearing in Big Brother in 2004. He now lives in Sydney where he hosts the Nova breakfast show with Michael 'Wippa' Wipfli. He also has regular appearances on a variety of Channel 10 shows. The larrikin is married with two kids.

In 2005 Trevor Butler was also a contestant on Celebrity Overhaul. Photo: Supplied Source: News Limited

Trevor Butler: The Season four winner, who proposed to his girlfriend during the finale, now lives in Queensland with his wife and two sons. He works on the street team at radio station 102.9 Hot Tomato.

The Logan twins. Which one's which? Photo: Supplied Source: News Limited

The Logan twins: The brothers from season five are now both dads. David works in the mining industry in Queensland and Greg runs pubs and clubs in Newcastle.

Joel Scalzi's modelling career never took off. Photo: Supplied Source: Supplied

Joel Scalzi: The 2007 Big Brother housemate is currently living in Adelaide where he is a part time tennis coach and part time radio presenter on Fresh FM. He is also heavily involved with the Ice Factor program which provides mentors for disadvantaged kids.

Michael Beveridge has been the Big Brother correspondent for Channel 9's Mornings this year. Photo: Supplied Source: News Limited

Michael Beveridge: The cheeky redhead from last year's series is now a breakfast radio host on SAFM in Adelaide. Earlier this year he was described as an "A-grade f***wit" by ARN radio host Tim 'Rosso' Ross after penning an article poking fun at how his reality TV appearance all but guaranteed him a broadcasting gig.

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Students injured in 'mini-tornado'

A TEACHER and several students were injured after a freak willy-willy swept through a primary school sports carnival in Perth's southern suburbs today.

The incident happened at Hourglass Reserve in Cooloongup around lunchtime.

Four local primary schools were taking part in a sports carnival at the time.

Witnesses told a TV journalist that the "mini tornado" ripped across the grounds, lifting up two marquees and knocking them over.

One teacher from East Waikiki primary school was taken to Rockingham Hospital to be treated for possible broken bones.

It is believed a student from the same school was also taken to hospital by her parents for a cut to her leg.

Other children were treated by St John Ambulance for minor injuries at the scene.

Navy reels from new sex scandal

SAILORS on board HMAS Ballarat may face jail terms over bizarre hazing rituals involving sexual assault with objects such as carrots and pens.

Students injured in 'mini-tornado'

A FREAK willy-willy swept through a primary school sports carnival in Perth's southern suburbs, injuring a teacher and several students.

22.16 | 0 komentar | Read More

Navy reels from new sex scandal

A woman claims sexual assaults on young male sailors prompted the launch of an investigation by the navy.

UP to a dozen male and female junior sailors on board the navy frigate HMAS Ballarat could face jail terms over bizarre hazing rituals involving sexual assault with objects including carrots, bananas and pens.

The sailors were allegedly targeted by other Navy personnel on their birthdays.

If proven the allegations amount to sexual assault and such offences would carry jail terms.

Investigators from the Australian Defence Force Investigative Service (ADFIS) will join the Anzac class ship at Christmas Island tomorrow and are expected to have a brief in the hands of Australian Federal Police prosecutors by early next week.

The ship was involved in a rescue at sea about 140km north of the island yesterday. ADFIS is the lead investigator because the ship has been operating outside of Australian waters.

Any sailor alleged to have participated in the sexual assaults will be landed ashore on the mainland and hit with the full force of the law.

Navy reels from new sex scandal

SAILORS on board HMAS Ballarat may face jail terms over bizarre hazing rituals involving sexual assault with objects such as carrots and pens.

Students injured in 'mini-tornado'

A FREAK willy-willy swept through a primary school sports carnival in Perth's southern suburbs, injuring a teacher and several students.

Sailors aboard HMAS Ballarat were allegedly sexually assaulted with objects by other Navy personnel.

If convicted of an offence they will be subject to criminal sanctions and a dishonourable discharge from the senior service.

"Any senior sailor or officer who knew about this and did nothing will also be for the high jump,'' a well-placed source told News Corp.

A former sailor known as "Bridget'' told Channel Ten that sailors were set upon by a gang of sailors who inserted pens, pencils and water bottles in their anuses.

She also revealed that one sailor was injured when the lid of a marker pen was left behind in his anus.

"A whiteboard lid came off in his bum and that was the one who ran out screaming ... because his bum was bleeding,'' she said.

Chief of Navy Vice Admiral Ray Griggs is understood to be furious about the alleged rituals and he wants the full force of the law brought to bear on the perpetrators.

The message of zero tolerance for sexual abuse has not been heard by all sailors and officers and according to sources, some had said that they had been subjected to similar treatment at footy clubs and saw nothing wrong with it.

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Perth tuned in for free wi-fi

FREE blanket wi-fi is now on offer across Perth's CBD in an Australian first for a capital city.

City of Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi officially launched the free internet service this afternoon, which covers St Georges Terrace, the Murray and Hay Street malls, Forrest Place, Barrack Square, Stirling Gardens, and adjoining streets.

"Free public wi-fi is a key economic driver that will further enhance and encourage business and enable visitors to enjoy their city experience even more," Ms Scaffidi said.

"We've set the bar highly with our free internet coverage in the CBD and we will continue to expand this network over time to other key city precincts which will eventually include the Perth City Link area, Northbridge and East and West Perth."

Internet service provider AmCom will provide the free wi-fi service, which at optimum performance can provide 50mb/s, depending on the number of users on the network.

The Sunday Times revealed Ms Scaffidi's plan to introduce free internet during her bid for re-election in 2011.

At the time, Ms Scaffidi said she would make it a reality if she was returned to office and intended to put Perth on par with other tech-savvy cities.

"This is the kind of thinking that a world-class city needs to be looking at," she told The Sunday Times in 2011.

The coverage does not rely on 'hotspot's so users can move freely around the city while staying connected.

Ms Scaffidi said all major and capital city local governments must support free internet service to stay modern and connected.

"Blanket wi-fi coverage is the next step forward from the current standard of wireless internet Hotspots used in other Australia cities," Ms Scaffidi said.

"Our free wi-fi service will provide much to local businesses and tourists, allowing visitors to access their emails, social media accounts, maps and websites wherever they are in the CBD, and allowing visitors to post pictures of Perth to the world, will be a great assistance to our tourism promotion efforts as a picture paints a thousand words."

The City of Perth has spent almost $300,000 on implementing the service over the last two years, and an annual budget of $150,000 will be used for upgrades and improvements in the roll-out.

* To connect, select Perth wi-fi on your device. Users can connect for an hour at a time, after which they must reconnect to use the service again.

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Cops launch freeway hoon crackdown

images to illustrate the busiest hour on the Mitchell Freeway (Northbound) is now 3pm-5.30pm. picture taken at crawling pace at 15.02pm Source: News Limited

A POLICE campaign to crack down on speeding motorists on the Mitchell Freeway will begin tomorrow.

It follows a string of complaints about the behaviour of some drivers who disregard speed zones around the current areas of roadworks.

From Thursday, speed cameras will beset up near the roadworks on the northbound lanes of the Mitchell Freeway in Glendalough.

WA Police State Traffic Commander Alf Fordham hopes it will reign in drivers who disregard the altered road conditions along the freeway where road works are occurring.

"The speed zones have been changed, they are properly signposted and they are very clearly visible," Cmd Fordham said.

"Our intention is to make sure that people travelling through that area are kept safe and people working in that area are kept safe.

"These road conditions have been altered for safety reasons.

"They have been altered to make the roads safer for other road users and importantly for the people who are working on these significant projects.

"All we want people to do is to do the right thing and travel at the posted speed signs."

Cmd Fordham said the increased police activity along the freeway will continue until drivers get the message they cannot speed near the roadwork zones.

"If the community change their behaviour overnight we will stop overnight. If people don't change their behaviour overnight we will keep working there until we get it down to an acceptable level," he said.

Main Roads WA manager of traffic management services Albert Symcox welcomed the police action.

He said road workers on the Mitchell Freeway were regularly reporting "near miss" cases with speeding cars.

"We have seen drivers hit barriers when they are not paying attention … near misses," Mr Symcox said.

"We are getting feedback from the workers that they are concerned about near miss issues and working in that harsh environment."

Mr Symcox said the road works on the Mitchell Freeway should be completed by late December.

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Most daring premiere dress ever?

Thor returns in Marvel Comics' new epic 'The Dark World'. In cinemas November 8.

Jaimie Alexander ensured all eyes were on her at the Thor premiere in LA. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

ANYONE who was unfamiliar with Jaimie Alexander prior to this red carpet stunt certainly knows her name now.

The relatively unknown actress left very little to the imagination when she stepped out in this body-baring frock at the premiere of Thor: The Dark World in LA.

The 29-year-old star, who plays Sif in the Thor trilogy, shunned the 'legs OR cleavage' rule and even went sans underwear to the glitzy event.

The black Azzaro Couture gown featured strategically placed full-length sheer mesh panels down the front and back. Amazingly, the bold brunette managed to avoid a wardrobe malfunction of any kind as she sauntered down the red carpet.

Jaimie Alexander narrowly avoided any embarrassing slip-ups in this dress. Picture: Splash News Source: Getty Images

Now this is one way to make a statement! Picture: Getty Images Source: Splash News Australia

The gown required that even underwear be eschewed for the occasion. Picture: Getty Images Source: Getty Images

Critics are calling Alexander's see-through number the most daring they've seen in a long time, even more so than Gwyneth Paltrow's now famous frock that she wore to the Iron Man 3 premiere.

Liam Hemsworth, Chris Hemsworth and Luke Hemsworth. Picture: Splash Source: Splash News Australia

The barely-there trend has even made its way to Australia, with an up-and-coming Aussie pop artist turning heads at the Star Trek Into Darkness premiere in Sydney earlier this year.

Alexander's attention-grabbing tactics couldn't have come at a better time. Rumours are circulating that the actress is in discussions to play Wonder Woman in a new comic book franchise.

Are you a fan of the risque dress or did Jaimie Alexander take the sheer look too far? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Cop 'tasered woman over breasts'

Allegedly Tasered for not showing her breasts ... Ashlea Bennett is suing Haskell police officer Brandon Carter. Source: News Limited

A WOMAN has taken a police officer to court after he allegedly tasered her after she refused to show him her breasts.

Ashlea Bennett alleged that Officer Brandon Carter in his uniform went into her place of work in Haskell, Arkansas on December 13, 2011, and ordered that she give him a sneak peak of her boobs, Court House News Service reported.

She alleged that it was not the first time he had asked her to expose herself to him and that complaints had been previously about his unwarranted behaviour.

In this instance, when Bennett refused, Carter allegedly drew his "electroshock Taser weapon" and pointed it at her and said he would fire it if she did not comply with his demand.

Bennett ran away and into the back of the office, where Carter allegedly chased her and "activated and deployed his electroshock Taser weapon in 'drive stun' mode numerous times".

She is suing the City of Haskell and Officer Carter, in the US Federal Court for compensation and punitive damages on charges that include civil rights violations, assault, failure to train and supervise, and negligent supervision.

Bennett also claims Haskell's police department ignored her previous complaints about the cop.

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Mystery woman Samantha idenitified

A woman who turned up distressed on a city centre street in Dublin is thought to be Australian Samantha Azzopardi. Source: News Limited

A YOUNG woman found on a Dublin street has been identified as Samantha Azzopardi, a 25-year-old Australian who has up to 40 aliases but is not a victim of human trafficking.

Ms Azzopardi was virtually unable to communicate when she was found in Dublin almost a month ago. A man, who is not believed to be a relative, called police to let them know that she has family in Tipperary, the Irish Independent reported.

"He was able to tell them who she was and supply details about her family," explained a source.

The massive breakthrough came just hours after Irish police released a photograph of the young woman.

A passport is believed to have confirmed her identity.

It was initially thought the girl was aged only 14 or 15 and European but after a photograph of her was released worldwide detectives in Ireland had identified her and were liaising with Australian police.

"She does understand English and can articulate in writing English, but she won't speak," said a source close to the investigation. "She is not talking. There is some written communication coming from her, but only bits and pieces."

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) confirmed they had received a request for assistance from Irish authorities but say because the matter is ongoing, it is not appropriate for them to comment further.

The Irish National Police Service were still liaising with Australian police to "establish everything. The identification of the 25-year-old woman followed an unprecedented move by Irish police to publish a photograph of a person in State care.

They weren't willing to comment on media reports the woman is from Queensland and may have been known to the state's police.

"It's not appropriate for me to comment about another police force in another jurisdiction," the spokesman said.

Irish police, however, have played down suggestions she was caught up in trafficking.

"This investigation has involved over 2000 hours, engaging with all the relevant authorities and all the relevant specialists in this area," Superintendent Dave Taylor said.

The investigation team contacted Interpol, the missing persons bureau, the forensic science laboratory, the domestic violence and sexual assault unit, and national immigration authorities.

They also trawled city centre CCTV footage, contacted social services and homeless shelters, bed and breakfasts, hostels as well as airports and ports throughout the country.

Detectives initially came up with 15 possible names for their girl through their inquiries, but they were "fully checked" and led nowhere.

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