Heart wound fatal, court told

AN Eggs and Bacon Bay man died from a stab wound to the heart during a drunken fight at his home, the Supreme Court in Hobart has heard.

Stuart Barry Russell, 40, has pleaded not guilty to murder and attempted arson over the death of his friend Brett Williams, 46, at the southern Tasmanian town on December 16 last year.

Director of Public Prosecution Tim Ellis, SC, told the court Mr Russell and his 18-year-old girlfriend were in the process of moving to Mr Williams' property at the time.

After a long day of drinking, a fight broke out between the two men and Mr Russell stabbed Mr Williams several times with a small knife, Mr Ellis told the jury.

The fatal wound penetrated 7cm into Mr Williams' chest, piercing his heart twice. He died soon after.

Mr Russell was seen holding a knife and a hammer and said "I've stabbed him twice", Mr Ellis said.

Later in the evening, Mr Russell attempted unsuccessfully to set fire to the corpse as it lay on the kitchen floor, Mr Ellis told the court.

Mr Williams' charred body was found by a neighbour the next morning.

The prosecutor said Mr Russell went fishing the following morning and told investigating police police he knew nothing about what had happened to Mr Williams.

"It is, we say, a lie. It's a lie," Mr Ellis said.

"The fact he told a lie about that and also that he sought to set fire to the body of Mr Williams and the house can be used by you as evidence of his guilt of the crimes.

"He lied because the truth would incriminate him."

The jury was warned some of the evidence in the case would be gruesome and that key witnesses were intoxicated by alcohol on the night of the killing.

"Alcohol plays a big part in the events that transpired," Mr Ellis said.

The trial, before Justice Peter Evans, is expected to last two weeks.

17.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Devil-proof fence plan floated

VAN Diemen's Land Company is looking to build a devil-proof fence around its massive Woolnorth property to protect one of the last pockets of healthy Tasmanian devils in the state.

The company is in the process of converting beef pasture, clearing bush and increasing its dairy herd as part of a $180 million expansion.

Conservationists have raised concerns that endangered devils would be put at further risk as native vegetation was cleared to make more room for dairy pasture. Woolnorth, on the state's North-West Coast, is home about 600 devils.

The Tasmanian Conservation Trust has criticised the company for electing to clear almost 2000ha of bush in line with its expansion plans, saying loss of habitat will cause devil and quoll numbers to drop.

But VDL chief executive Michael Guerin said Woolnorth boasted some of the biggest and healthiest devils in Tasmania and he was confident they could continue to co-exist with farming.

"We have been working for more than five years with the Save the Devil Program, including the possible construction of a devil-proof fence to prevent the spread of the facial tumour disease to Woolnorth," Mr Guerin said.

The devil tumour disease has now afflicted about 85 per cent of Tasmania's wild devil population.

VDL said 4297ha, or 70 per cent, of the property's native vegetation would be formally and informally protected under its new environmental plan.

When the expansion is complete, Woolnorth will boast 23 dairy farms. Each will stock about 1100 cows.

"Tasmania can be a leader in the development of the dairy industry in Australia in terms of volume produced, animal welfare and innovation," Mr Guerin said.

VDL today released its draft application to seek permission from both the state and federal governments to expand the Woolnorth farm and make it a 100 per cent dairy operation.

The approval is expected to take about six months.

Mr Guerin said the company was still in talks with domestic and international equity partners to fund the expansion.

17.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Freight debate begins

Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne addressing the new team charged with developing a long-term freight strategy for Tasmania.

THE team tasked with tackling Tasmania's freight woes met for the first time in Hobart this morning.

The meeting was closed to the media but Infrastructure Minister David O'Byrne said the forum would allow cross-industry experts to help determine the best way forward to solve Tasmanian exporters' shipping difficulties.

Local exporters have described the Bass Strait as the most expensive passage of water in the world, despite the $140 million annual Federal Government subsidy designed to reduce costs.

"Good freight logistics help protect and create Tasmanian jobs," Mr O'Byrne said.

"These experienced group members understand freight.

"They understand the complexities -- and the urgency -- because these challenges directly affect their daily lives."

Mr O'Byrne said the team would report its findings directly to the state and federal governments.

"It'll provide expert logistics and supply chain advice and help us complete a long-term Tasmanian freight strategy," he said.

Mr O'Byrne said team's first job was to identify key freight issues and put them in context.

17.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Guilty plea over armed robbery

A MAN held up a video store with a loaded shotgun because his partner was in a coma from a spider bite and he needed the money to support her children, the Supreme Court has heard.

Damien William Harris, 36, pleaded guilty to armed robbery, possessing a loaded firearm without a licence and possessing a shortened firearm.

Crown prosecutor Jack Shapiro told the court Harris held up the Video City store at New Town on October 7.

Harris entered the store with a sawn-off shotgun and demanded staff empty the contents of the cash registers into a plastic bag.

He escaped with just more than $1100 in cash but was caught after a short car chase with police.

Officers found the money in his underwear.

Defence lawyer Kim Baumeler told the court her client's partner has been bitten by a spider shortly before the offence.

"He was finding it very difficult to look after her three children on his [Centrelink] allowance. By the time he had rent taken out, he had $180 a fortnight to survive on," she told the court.

Ms Baumeler said Harris had sat by the river for the day trying to come up with ways of making money.

She said he was remorseful for the crime.

Justice David Porter will sentence Harris on December 5.

17.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Woman's body found

POLICE are investigating the death of a woman after her body was found in Devonport yesterday.

Police and paramedics were called to a vehicle parked in Ronald St, Devonport just before 3am yesterday and a 24-year-old woman was located on the nature strip nearby.

The cause of death is unknown at this time and a post-mortem will be conducted.

Police said the woman had no significant injuries and no violent crime was suspected.

17.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Circumnavigation bid aborted

Tobias Fahey, seen here on his way past the Iron Pot at the start of his record attempt, has has to abort the trip after his batteries became damaged. Picture: Jimmy Emms and Tasmanian Air Adventures

TASMANIAN solo yachtsman Tobias Fahey has been forced to abandon his around-the-world voyage and is limping back to Hobart.

He set sail on Wednesday on his attempt to circumnavigate the world in under 180 days but yesterday encountered a battery problem that sank his plans.

"I have been having charging issues since I left and they have progressively gotten worse to the point that my batteries will no longer hold charge for a sufficient amount of time," he said.

Faulty wiring in the alternator regulator caused the batteries on board to receive an excess charge, which overheated them and damaged them beyond repair.

The batteries, which are charged by the boat's motor or wind generators, supply power for several essential onboard systems, including communications, radar and the automatic identification systems (AIS) needed to avoid collisions with other vessels at sea.

Without sufficient electricity to power these systems and no way of repairing the damage at sea, Fahey, 25 from Dodges Ferry, made the heartbreaking decision to turn back to Hobart just three days into his voyage.

"I still have this strong urge to go on but it's not worth the risk, it's unsafe," he told the Sunday Tasmanian by satellite phone last night.

"I've spoken to my family and they all said not to risk going on -- the world's not going anywhere, it'll still be there later."

Fahey said the westerly winds and swell that had carried him so swiftly towards New Zealand were now working against him as his yacht, Sea Quest, battled into the wind and waves for a much slower and rougher journey home.

"I was basically surfing down the waves all the way until now but now I'm slamming into them," he said. Fahey was closer to New Zealand than Tasmania when he turned back and expects the return trip to take four days.

Fahey's goal was to complete his voyage in under 180 days to break the Australian record for sailing solo around the world.

Before turning back, he was on track to do it in around 135 days.

He said the repairs would cost thousands of dollars and he was unsure when he would be able to make another attempt at the record, but is determined to try again.

"I'll just have to take a look at that once I'm back in Hobart," he said.

"The past few days have been some of the most satisfying and rewarding days of my life."

17.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Roll up, roll up and have a ball

THERE'S a saying in petanque: it takes minutes to learn and a lifetime to master.

But before you take it too seriously, a new petanque club is looking for people to come along to its Sandy Bay headquarters and enjoy its social side.

That means a quiet brew or a cheeky sauvignon blanc while a barbecue sizzles on the sidelines.

State coach Terry Dando wants to get as many people as he can out on the piste -- the gravel surface for the game that started in a French village in 1907.

A glass of wine in hand and a ball in the other is how they do it in thousands of villages around France.

And Dando and his clubmates at the Bayside Boules Petanque Club want Hobartians to taste this catchy sport.

"It's a lot of fun because it's easy to learn and anyone can play," Dando said.

"Strength is not a factor in petanque, so a large cross-section of people play it in 85 countries around the world."

Petanque is huge in France and Spain, while it has also taken hold in England, the USA and Canada.

The Bayside club will hold its grand opening at 1.30pm today at Long Point Rd, Sandy Bay -- right behind Prossers Restaurant. Among the guests will be Glamorgan Spring Bay Mayor and proud Frenchman Bertrand Cadart.

Dando, a 66-year-old retired teacher, has been playing for 10 years. As well as being state coach, he has represented Australia on the international stage.

"You can learn to play it in three or four minutes," he said. "In France they start playing it at the age of five or six."

To play petanque, each player starts with three metal balls.

Player one throws out the kitty and then puts his first ball as close to it as possible. Player two has three attempts to put one of his balls closer to the kitty.

If he fails, player one wins. If he succeeds, his opponent must use his remaining balls to do better. And so on.

At Sandy Bay, they hold social games from 4pm on Friday and Saturday. "We have a barbecue and a quiet tipple and play until dark," Dando said.

"If you just want to play socially, that's great, and if you want to become good at it you can play for the state and for Australia as well."

17.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Forest deal law closer

After a marathon sitting and an unusual recall of State Parliament this morning, the forestry legislation passed through the Lower House about 11am today.

TASMANIA'S historic legislation underpinning the forest peace deal has passed its first hurdle.

After a marathon sitting and an unusual recall of Parliament yesterday morning the forestry legislation passed through the Lower House about 11am.

The House of Assembly had been locked in debate from about 3pm on Thursday to 4am yesterday.

The legislation will now move to the Upper House for scrutiny in a special sitting next month.

Labor and the Greens who voted for the legislation yesterday repeated their calls that the deal would bring historic conservation outcomes at the same time as delivering security for the state's timber industry.

The Opposition continued its calls for the Labor-Green Government to call an election for the people of Tasmania to decide whether they wish to accept the agreement.

Deputy Premier Bryan Green said yesterday that additional funding was still being discussed but the Commonwealth and the state were yet to determine a figure.

About $100 million is left from the $276 million forest package but additional funds are expected to be on the table to maintain additional reserves and help forest workers get out of the industry.

"There has been high-level discussion about funding to ensure the agreement goes forward," Mr Green said. "When Tony Burke was last here and we had our meetings he said ... if the signatories come to an agreement then the Commonwealth will do its best to back it in. I have said to the signatories that we feel the same way."

Federal Environment Minister Tony Burke will meet signatories in Canberra on Wednesday to discuss funding.

Amid a flurry of criticism of the agreement, Mr Green said he understood the deal would continue to spark debate. "I know that the deal will never satisfy everyone, politics is like that," he said.

"There will no doubt be people complaining, whinging, carping from the sidelines but in the end I think the great majority of Tasmanians want this issue fixed."

matthew.smith@news.com.au

17.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

Landmark Bill clears House

LANDMARK legislation underpinning Tasmania's forest peace deal has cleared its first hurdle.

After a marathon sitting and an unusual recall of State Parliament this morning, the forestry legislation passed through the Lower House about 11am.

The House of Assembly was locked in debate from about 3pm yesterday to 4am today.

Premier Lara Giddings and her Cabinet colleague Nick McKim today extolled the virtues of the Bill, while the Opposition repeated calls for the Government to call an election over the issue.

The legislation will now move to the Upper House for debate on December 11.

Read more in tomorrow's Mercury.

17.12 | 0 komentar | Read More

21 years for Stainforth murder

TWO violent drunks who bashed a man to death at Hobart's Stainforth Court last year have been sentenced to a maximum 21 years in prison.

Jamie Peter Smart, 32, of Glenorchy, and Rhys Louis Gardner, 20, of Bellerive, went to Shayne Anthony Waller's public housing unit at Cornelian Bay on February 18 last year after a night of drinking.

While they were there a fight broke out and Michael David Williams, 39, of Kingston was fatally injured and Mr Waller, 52, was severely hurt.

The pair were found guilty of murder and causing grievous bodily harm by a Supreme Court jury in September.

In the Supreme Court in Hobart today, Justice David Porter described the murder as a senseless and brutal attack on innocent man.

He said Smart had shown no remorse and had a long criminal record.

While Gardner had shown some remorse, he had been abusing alcohol since the age of six and shown little inclination to try to rehabilitate himself.

Justice Porter sentenced both men to a maximum of 21 years, with a non-parole period of 12 years.

Both men greeted the sentence without emotion.

In July, Smart was given a three-month suspended jail term for tearing the heads off two kittens with his bare hands.

Outside the court, Mr Williams' mother Therese greeted the sentence with relief.

"I'm very, very happy. You can't go any more can you?" she said.

"I think they should rot in there. If they had have hung them in front of me, I would have been satisfied.

"He was my baby son and we were good friends. I will never forget him, never ever forget him, because I loved him so much and I still do."

david.killick@news.net.au

17.12 | 0 komentar | Read More