Man charged with woman’s murder

Police forensic officers at the Mosman Park house where a woman was found dead last night. A man, 39, has been charged with her murder. Picture: Marie Nirme Source: News Corp Australia

POLICE have charged a 39-year-old man with the murder of a 68-year-old woman who was found dead in her Mosman Park home last night.

The elderly woman was found dead in her two-storey Bond Street home about 7pm.

The man was taken into custody last night by Major Crime Squad detectives.

Residents in the affluent area were today shocked by last night's drama in their normally quiet suburb.

Police and forensic officers at the Mosman Park house where a woman was found dead last night. A man, 39, has been charged with her murder. Picture: Marie Nirme

This morning the Wembley man, who is related to the victim, was charged with one count of murder.

He has been remanded in custody to appear in the Perth Magistrates Court tomorrow.

Detectives would like to hear from anyone who saw or heard anything suspicious in the Bond Street, Mosman Park area yesterday afternoon and yesterday evening.

Anyone with information should call Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Death wish driver unlicensed

A man was seriously injured when he was involved in a high-speed police chase which ended when the car hit a tree in Mirrabooka and rolled onto its roof. Picture: Marie Nirme Source: PerthNow

A MAN seriously injured in a horrific car crash while fleeing from police has a lacerated liver and was unlicensed.

The 23-year-old driver slammed into a tree about 2am as police tried to pull him over in Perth's northern suburbs.

Beach Road remained closed in both directions between Alexander Drive and Honeywell Boulevard early today while police investigated the crash.

Police say officers were on patrol in Mirrabooka when they tried to stop the green Holden Commodore on Balga Ave.

A man was seriously injured when he was involved in a high-speed police chase which ended when the car hit a tree in Mirrabooka and rolled onto its roof. Picture: Marie Nirme

When the car did not stop, a pursuit started, but just minutes into the chase the Commodore struck a tree at high speed and rolled on to its roof.

The crash left debris strewn across the road, with bark and branches torn off the tree and a shoe lying discarded on the roadway.

Firefighters were called to free the trapped driver.

A man was seriously injured when he was involved in a high-speed police chase which ended when the car hit a tree in Mirrabooka and rolled onto its roof. Picture: Marie Nirme

Senior Constable Allan Mawdesley from the Major Crash Squad said today the driver was lucky to be alive.

He estimated the Holden was doing twice the speed limit at the time of the crash – about 140km/h.

Sen-Cons Mawdesley added the 23-year-old was unlicensed, but was wearing a seatbelt. He is in hospital with a lacerated liver and a fractured leg. He is yet to be interviewed.

"From what we can ascertain it appears the vehicle was travelling at well in excess of the speed limit. The driver would appear to have lost control, he's gone into a sideways slide and gone backwards into a tree," Sen-Cons Mawdesley said.

"If he had another person in the vehicle that person would not have survived.

"It's a big impact."

Sen-Cons Mawdesley said the car was not stolen but was loaned to the man by a friend.

He said "some items" were seized from the car but he would not elaborate on what those items were.

Firefighters were called in to free the trapped driver and St John Ambulance took the man to hospital with serious injuries.

Both Major Crash and Internal Affairs detectives are now investigating the incident.

Anyone with information is asked to phone Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

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Boy bitten by snake in Bullsbrook

A boy is in hospital after being bitten by a snake. File picture Source: Supplied

PARAMEDICS have rushed a 12-year-old Perth boy to hospital after he was bitten by a snake.

A St John's Ambulance spokesman said the patient was picked up from bushland in Bullsbrook on the city's northeastern fringe this afternoon and transferred via helicopter to Princess Margaret Hospital.

He said the boy was in a stable condition.

…

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Kate’s bottom gets own minder

Kate Middleton minds her own behind at the Warner Bros. Studios in April last year Source: Getty Images

AS the British people slowly recover from the shock of seeing pictures of Kate Middleton's bottom published outside the Kingdom, Buckingham Palace has taken steps to ensure it never happens again.

It's not as if it hasn't happened before — Kate Middleton in a windy moment in Canada way back in 2011 Source: Getty Images

Palace officials have reportedly hired a female minder to stop paparazzi taking pictures of her behind.

The move comes after the Duchess of Cambridge's modesty was compromised during her recent trip to Australia, when a gust of wind from a nearby helicopter blew up her yellow dress in a

Marilyn Monroe-esque moment.

She held onto her dress when visiting Yellow Rock, NSW last year. Source: Getty Images

The picture of her gorgeous, pert buttocks were published last week by German magazine Bild and Sydney's very own Daily Telegraph but the prudish British press have so far refused to touch them.

According to the Daily Star newspaper, the female minder will accompany the Duchess on all of her trips to keep an eye out for any upskirting antics from the press.

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Rolf Harris ‘told deliberate lies’

Footage ... a member of the public contacted police to say they recalled a celebrity TV sports games in Cambridge starring Rolf Harris. Source: AP

ROLF Harris has been accused of telling "deliberate lies" after old film footage was found that placed him in the area where he said he had never been nor sexually assaulted a 13-year-old girl.

The 84-year-old entertainer had told Southwark Crown Court last week that he had never been to Cambridge before four years ago and had never taken part in a celebrity sport game show in the UK now or in the 1970s.

But after he made that statement last week a member of the public contacted police to say they recalled a celebrity TV sports games in that city in 1978 that starred Harris.

Prosecutors then found the Thames Television network footage of the show.

A woman had alleged she was a 13 or 14-year-old waitress at a celebrity sports event in Cambridge when she saw Harris on all fours playing with a small dog but when he saw her he jumped up and allegedly groped her, rubbing his hands over her bottom several times.

Harris said he couldn't have assaulted anyone since he had never been to the city nor starred in such a show.

Denial ... Rolf Harris arrives at Southwark Crown Court with his daughter Bindi Harris and wife Alwen Hughes. Source: Getty Images

But he had apparently been in the city in a show which starred numerous British celebrities including Davy Jones from the Monkees and actor Rula Lenska, as well as other stars of cabaret, sport, film and music.

Prosecutor Sasha Wass QC, questioning Harris on his fourth day in the witness box, told the court Harris was categoric in his memory last week because he had been "tailoring" his answers to match evidence that was at hand but hadn't counted on the discovery of the film footage.

Harris agreed that on the show he was not only a participant but a team captain but he told the court no-one knew where they were.

"I was in Cambridge but I didn't know it was Cambridge," he now told the court.

He added: "I don't think any of us knew, none of the performers stars, knew … we didn't know we were in Cambridge.

"I think we all went on a bus, were deposited in this green with changing rooms."

Accusations ... prosecutor Sasha Wass QC, questioning Harris on his fourth day in the witness box, told the court Harris had been "tailoring" his answers. Source: Getty Images

He added: "I don't think you know the showbiz scene at all" before going into a long answer about how as a star he would just sign on a dotted line and his agent would take care of where and when he would have to appear publicly.

He admitted he had a very good memory "for certain things" but not for others.

"I'm going to suggest to you that you are lying," Ms Wass said.

"Is that a question?" Harris responded before denying he had been deliberately trying to mislead the jury.

Mr Harris also said he had "no recollection of the man" Tony Porter who starred alongside him in an ABC show called "Rolf". The Australian actor Porter earlier alleged in court he saw Harris grab the breasts of a makeup artist in the 1980s that was "excessive even by the standards of the era".

Harris maintained he had never heard of Porter but then Ms Wass showed the jury footage of the pair sharing the screen in one of many comedy sketches from the program.

Harris agreed he was there with Porter but said he had no idea why the man would lie about the make up artist.

He said he didn't know why any of the women who are alleging sexual assault by him would lie.

He has pleaded not guilty to 12 charges of indecent assault. The case continues.

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Brighter vision for Perth city skyline

An artists' impression of Perth's CBD skyline illuminated, as proposed in the draft Lighting Strategy. Source: Supplied

A NEW plan has been created to ensure The City of Lights stops "fading into obscurity" after dark.

Illuminating the outline of landmark buildings in the city centre with dazzling technicolour LED strip lights is proposed in The City of Perth's draft lighting strategy.

The idea is to create a "nightscape postcard image" of the city for tourists that makes a "strong night-time statement that is uniquely Perth".

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said the plan encourages the owners of landmark buildings to budget for dynamic lighting and to play their part in improving the CBD.

"It shouldn't be that expensive, depending on the size of the building, but it would really add a lot to the landscape picture of the city at night time through such illumination," she said.

"Dare we be so reminiscent to think that we are The City of Lights? "

Perth was dubbed The City of Lights in 1962 when US astronaut John Glenn remarked on the visibility of Perth from space on his orbit of Earth.

But a City of Perth survey in 2010 found more than half of respondents felt unsafe walking after dark due to poorly lit streets and lack of people.

The new strategy says by day the CBD presents a "clean, fresh appeal" which dwindles as offices close for the night, with some areas perceived as deserted.

"It is a paradox that at present, the capital invested in the daytime presentation of the city cannot be revealed at night because of poor lighting in some areas of the city," it states.

The City of Perth led attempts to brighten-up the CBD when it fitted 20,000 energy-efficient LED globes to Council House on St Georges Terrace.

Does Perth need to brighten its CBD skyline?

Perth Town Hall is likely the next landmark to receive the "up lighting" treatment and talks are continuing with other landlords.

Developers of new buildings would also likely be required to comply with the lighting strategy as part of future development conditions.

Tourism Council of WA chief executive Evan Hall predicted the initiative would be a hit with visitors.

"We have got a great skyline, but at the moment you can only see it during the day," he said.

"It would be brilliant to illuminate the nightscape, particularly with it reflected in the river."

Adelaide's night-time economy was boosted by $12 million a year as a result of its lighting strategy and Perth expects a similar lift.

Other proposals include an illumination festival, similar to Vivid Sydney, which transforms Sydney's famous landmarks into colourful canvases once a year.

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Have your say about WA

AS West Australians enjoy a public holiday this weekend, celebrating all that is great about WA, PerthNow, The Sunday Times and Nine News are giving you the chance to have your say on this great state and what matters to you.

Our survey canvasses the issues that are on the lips of the growing number of people who call WA home.

From cost of living pressures to transport priorities, to crime concerns and the controversial shark cull, this is your opportunity to make your views known.

As the biggest survey of its kind, the results will be keenly scrutinised by our political leaders.

We have commissioned respected pollster Galaxy to analyse the responses and the results will be revealed on PerthNow and on Nine News in the coming weeks.

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Perth Airport’s stunning master plan revealed

Blueprint for the future of Perth Airport. Source: Supplied

THE bold blueprint for Perth Airport's future – including a third runway by 2019, more terminals, an on-site hotel and a driverless train – can today be exclusively revealed.

Leaked plans show passenger numbers are forecast to surge more than 200 per cent from the current 14 million a year to 46 million by 2044.

Due to be unveiled later this month, the Perth Airport Master Plan 2014 outlines how the airport will develop over the next 30 years to meet demand.

The ambitious vision reveals how the airport will look when all commercial domestic flights are moved to the international terminals precinct.

Perth Airport of the future. Source: Supplied

A high-level briefing document prepared by the airport's owners summarising the master plan also includes the following timeline:

2014-15: Virgin Australia's domestic pier to open early next year.

2014-16: Multi-storey car parks around the air traffic control tower.

2016-17: A hotel at the centre of the airport, next to the tower

2016-18: An international pier to cater for airlines such as Emirates.

2019: Construction of the l third runway completed.

2019-20: Forrestfield Airport Link, including two railway stations, to start operating.

2020-23: A new terminal alongside Horrie Miller Drive

2024-2029: Further enhancements as passenger numbers hit 30 million per year.

2034: Automated passenger shuttle looping the airport, similar to those at major international airports such as San Francisco, Heathrow and Singapore.

2044: New terminal opens to replace the existing Terminal 2

A view inside a new international terminal. Source: Supplied

Beyond 2044: Ongoing expansion to handle up to 70 million passengers per year.

The plan, which is updated every five years, will be released for a two-month consultation on June 19. It will then be presented to Federal Transport Minister Warren Truss in late October for approval next year.

Perth Airport officials recently briefed Government MPs on the plans.

Last night, confirmation work would start soon on a third runway was welcomed by the Barnett Government, which has pressured the airport to fast-track the investment.

The 2700m third runway, planned for a site east of the airport, is expected to cost $600 million and take four and half years to plan and build.

Perth Airport has already spent $850 million on a new domestic terminal, revamping and expanding international arrivals and departures and building Virgin's domestic pier.

But it has been criticised for struggling to keep up with demand and in its draft aviation strategy the State Government said a new runway was an "imperative" to "avoid damaging and disruptive" delays.

The leaked briefing document reveals concerns aircraft noise as a result of the extra runway will impact new suburbs including Ferndale, Langford, Lynwood, Middle Swan, Dayton and High Wycombe.

Route of the new Forrestfield Airport Rail Link. Source: Supplied

Homes currently impacted by northbound and southerly departures, such as Shelley, may experience less noise as the new runway will split flight paths.

The runway, which has been planned since 1999, will undergo extensive community consultation and require environmental and Aboriginal heritage approvals.

Transport Minister Dean Nalder yesterday said he was "very supportive" of the third runway. He also said the airport was being consulted on the exact route of the $2 billion Forrestfield Airport Link, which will open in 2020.

Former transport minister Troy Buswell late last year said the State Government was considering building the entire 12km rail line underground.

The document appears to show two options for the rail link route.

One is similar to the State Government's proposed route, beside Tonkin Hwy in Bayswater before diverting through bushland next to Dunreath Dr at the domestic terminals. An alternative route is shown following Tonkin Hwy, but splitting earlier at Brearley Ave in Ascot.

The State Government has said the plans include a tunnel from the domestic terminal, under the runway to the international terminals and on to Forrestfield.

The Barnett Government is also considering a new bus service to the airport, according to the leaked papers.

Another view of the proposed new international pier at Perth Airport. Source: Supplied

Perth Airport is planning for up to 70 million passengers a year to pass through its terminals in the second half of the century. This is despite Transport officials already beginning the search for a suitable site for a proposed second metropolitan airport.

Guildford Ratepayer's Association president Peter Stephenson said the new runway should bring relief for residents currently suffering aircraft noise. He renewed calls for households under the flight path to receive grants for insulation and double glazing and for a curfew on night flights between midnight and 6am.

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New stadium to have few extra seats

Terry Waldron, minister for Sport and Recreation. Source: News Corp Australia

Opposition planning spokeswoman Rita Saffioti Source: News Corp Australia

PERTH'S new $1.2 billion 60,000-seat football stadium is likely to have just 2000 extra general admission seats.

Informed sources have told The Sunday Times the West Coast Eagles and the Fremantle Dockers want at least 50,000 seats at the new Perth Stadium to be reserved for its members and corporates.

Sports Minister Tuck Waldron has also confirmed a scheme is being investigated that would sell off "super memberships", which are likely to cost about $10,000 a year and give the buyer a ticket to every event at the venue.

Super memberships are used at other major sporting stadiums across Australia.

It is understood there could be up to 5000 sold at the Burswood stadium.

This would leave just 5000 seats for general admission tickets – just 2000 more than available at the 43,500-seat football stadium in Subiaco.

Opposition planning spokeswoman Rita Saffioti said the super memberships made a mockery of the Barnett Government's promise that the new stadium would have a "people-first" philosophy.

"(It should be) something for all West Australians to enjoy, not just those who can afford to fork out a fortune," Ms Saffioti said.

"The Barnett Government is at risk of putting footy beyond the reach of ordinary fans."

At the 53,500-seat Etihad Stadium, 7500 have been allotted to super memberships. In some cases they incur a $5500 joining fee and $737 payments each month for three years.

The Sydney Cricket Ground has 18,000 super members, with 10,000 as SCG members and the remainder a mix of gold and platinum members.

The gold and platinum memberships, with a joining fee of $10,000 and annual fees starting at $800, provide access to a gym, pool, spa, sauna, parking and crèche.

At Adelaide Oval, which seats about 53,000 people, customers can either become a member of the South Australian Cricket Association or buy Adelaide Oval Football memberships for as much as $550 a year.

Mr Waldron said "the option of developing a stadium membership is one of many membership models that are under consideration".

And he said that the number of general admission tickets that would be available to the general community without being a member of a sporting organisation was "also under review".

"The goal is to ensure that a broad spectrum of the WA community has access to the new Perth Stadium while at the same time ensuring the long-term financial viability of WA sport teams and the Stadium," he said.

Richard Mann, the Government's executive director of strategic projects, recently told MPs there was "significant resistance from key users" to super memberships.

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Five injured in balcony collapse

The scene of a balcony collapse in Lancelin. Picture: Twitter/Nine News Source: Supplied

FIVE people were seriously injured when a balcony collapsed in Lancelin earlier this afternoon.

A St John Ambulance spokesman said 10 people were standing on the balcony taking pictures when it collapsed about 1.50pm in the small coastal town, about 120km north of Perth.

The property was a holiday rental home on Hawcroft Place, with Nine News reporting the people were at an engagement celebration.

An entire section of the second-storey balcony floor gave way, with the drop about three metres.

The spokesman said five patients had injuries ranging from a spinal injury and an open leg fracture.

He said patients, including a 28-year-old woman and a 39-year-old man – with suspected spinal injuries – were being transported to Joondalup Health Campus, Royal Perth Hospital and Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital by ambulance. It is believed three of the five injured have leg injuries.

Police officers and a Department of Fire and Emergency Services crew were also at the scene.

Witness Pio Donato told Seven News said: "I heard a bit of noise and a bit of screaming ... so I come across and I saw all these people there on the ground."

It was reported tonight that all injured are in stable conditions in hospital.

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