What we learned; Monday 7 July
It’s time to wind down our live coverage of what has been a massive news day. Here’s what’s dominated our headlines:
A supreme court jury has found Erin Patterson guilty of three charges of murder and one of attempted murder. As the Victorian mushroom poisoning trial verdicts were read aloud, Patterson did not drop her gaze from the jury. She looked ahead, calmly. As commentary around the case reached fever-pitch, we learned the Kyle and Jackie O Show was referred for prosecution for contempt after comments made on air about the trial.
The Northern Territory coroner, Elisabeth Armitage, handed down a 680-page report on her findings after the inquest into the death of Kumanjayi Walker. Speaking in Yuendumu, she said she found that police officer Zachary Rolfe was racist, that he found combat situations exhilarating and that he thought he was fitter and faster than bush cops. She said Walker’s death was avoidable and that he should not have been dragged after being shot by Rolfe. She made 32 recommendations, including to NT Police and NT Health. She told his family and community his death was a “tragedy”.
Labor MP Marion Scrymgour said the death of and subsequent legal proceedings around Walker left a “bad taste” and “a very fragile relationship between Aboriginal people and the police” in the Northern Territory, while shadow finance minister James Paterson said the Coalition would be “very carefully” studying Armitage’s findings and the response from the Northern Territory and federal governments.
In other news, an Indonesian volcanic eruption has grounded some flights to Bali.
Thank you for joining us, as ever. We’ll be back bright and early tomorrow.
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Kyle and Jackie O Show referred for prosecution
The Kyle and Jackie O Show has been referred for prosecution for contempt after comments made on air about the Erin Patterson case during her trial, including Kyle Sandilands saying, “Just lock that bitch up”, reports my colleague, Nino Bucci.
Justice Christopher Beale also considered whether to take action for contempt against a “Psychology of Serial Killers” event and Mamamia podcasters.
The three matters were raised by Beale in June during Patterson’s triple murder trial without the jury present. She was found guilty of all charges on Monday. The Office of Public Prosecutions declined to comment.
Read more here:
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