As it happened: WA news on Monday, November 18

We’re bringing our blog to a close for the day, thank you for joining us.

Scroll back to read some of the highlights from today’s news, including the shock revelation that Grace Piscopo, the Instagram model former girlfriend of Andre Rebelo, was being called as a witness by the defence in his high-profile murder trial.

Piscopo, who shares a young son with Rebelo, was asked on the stand about the couple’s financial position, and the money she earned from her modelling work.

The state’s case against Rebelo alleges he killed his mother to cash in on life insurance policies he took out in her name because he was in dire financial straits.

In other court news – this time overseas in Japan – the drug smuggling trial of Perth grandmother Donna Nelson has begun.

Nelson entered the Tokyo court in handcuffs and was reunited with her daughters, who she hasn’t seen for two years.

Meanwhile, WA last week passed legislation enshrining some of the strictest rules on novice drivers in the country. But Premier Roger Cook says more restrictions could be on the way.

Thanks again for tuning in. Scroll back through the blog to see more highlights from the day’s headlines, and we’ll see you again tomorrow morning for more news you need to know.

Andre Rebelo’s murder trial has adjourned for today, with his Instagram model ex Grace Piscopo set to return to the witness stand tomorrow morning.

Andre Rebelo with former girlfriend Grace Piscopo.Credit: Instagram

Piscopo was questioned by Rebelo’s lawyer Anthony Elliott about the couple’s financial situation, and the work Rebelo performed in support of her modelling business.

She told the court that 2020 had been “a pretty good year” financially, however the couple owed about $75,000 after buying a Range Rover Evoque, and Elliott pointed out the couple had 14 loan applications knocked back.

However, Piscopo told the court “Andre ran accounts”, and she also had no idea how much money he had in his cryptocurrency wallet, a venture she said he hoped would make six figures.

Piscopo also revealed Rebelo had written an e-book about cryptocurrency day trading, which she admitted she didn’t know much about – and wasn’t very interested in.

The former girlfriend of Andre Rebelo – Grace Piscopo – has just been called as a defence witness in his murder trial.

The Instagram model, who boasts more than 1 million followers, has been regularly referenced during the trial in the Supreme Court of Western Australia, although it’s not alleged she had anything to do with the crime.

Grace Piscopo arriving at court.Credit: Colin Murty

The 28-year-old has taken to the stand, smiling at Rebelo before she sat down.

Her former partner, 28, is accused of killing his mother Colleen Rebelo, 58, inside her Bicton home in May 2020, and then placing her in the shower to hide her cause of death, which remains a mystery.

State prosecutors said Rebelo carried out the plot just days after setting up $1.15 million in life insurance policies in his mother’s name amid bankruptcy fears and the demise of the ‘plastic existence’ he and Piscopo portrayed online.

He then lied and forged records in repeated unsuccessful attempts to claim the money, all while keeping his actions a secret from his siblings, including his older brother, who was the true executor of his mother’s estate.

The jury has previously heard Rebelo said he was with Piscopo and their young son on the morning of Colleen’s death, before leaving to go to the post office and drop a bag of clothing to his younger brother Fabian, who still lived with their mother.

Piscopo repeatedly rang and angrily texted Rebelo for a 45-minute period that day, which prosecutors allege is when he was murdering his mother.

The couple’s home was also bugged after police became suspicious of Rebelo, with Piscopo seeming upset and asking Rebelo about what fraud he’d committed after his initial arrest.

Rebelo admits forging records in relation to his mother’s life insurance policies, but denies murdering her.

His trial is expected to wrap up in the coming days.

Transport Minister Rita Saffioti has slapped down a suggestion by Labor’s Federal Member for Perth Patrick Gorman to revisit light rail in Perth.

Speaking to Business News on Friday Gorman said it was ridiculous that Perth was on track to being the third largest city in Australia but it didn’t have a light rail system.

Patrick Gorman. Credit: Holly Thompson

“[Light rail] to me would be the next transformative project for the city where you can link up the stadium, the city, Kings Park, and all of a sudden you have a transport and tourism asset that really connects and revitalises our city,” he said.

But in response this morning Saffioti joked that if anyone wanted to 100 per cent fund light rail, then she would be interested.

However, she poured cold water on the idea citing the difficulty of laying track on the Perth CBD’s northern arterial roads like William, Beaufort and Fitzgerald Streets.

“Look, everyone likes to see a lot of things. That’s what I’ve found in politics,” she said.

“If people want to fully fund something we’re happy to engage but as I said, a lot of people like a lot of things, but for us, it’s about managing our infrastructure program and making sure we deliver on our commitments.”

The former Barnett government’s failed MAX Light Rail plans have dogged the Liberal party ever since they were abandoned over cost and complexity issues in 2016.

As end-of-school leavers celebrations begin in Western Australia and thousands of teenagers travel to the South West region, WA Premier Roger Cook has again flagged further tightening of laws to protect P-plate drivers.

Speaking in Mandurah to mark a major milestone in the construction of the Mandurah Estuary bridge duplication, Cook said a review into what further road safety measures WA should enact amid this year’s growing road toll, was underway.

“This is not going to be an overnight review, it’s not going to be a snap review, this is something we’ll consider very carefully,” he said.

“In addition to the review, we’ve since introduced and passed Tom’s Law which will come into effect on December 1, which restricts the number of passengers a P-plate drivers can have.

“Nothing’s off the table, we need to look at a wide range of different measures,” he said.

“As Premier, people are often suggesting to me different things we should be considering, including for instance, limitation on the power of vehicle, limitations on P-plate drivers access to powerful vehicles and other things of that nature.

“But I think it’s really important that we listen to the experts when it comes to road safety.”

WA’s road toll for 2024 is currently 161 after two women died in separate crashes at the weekend.

A Perth grandmother accused of drug smuggling has held back tears in a Japanese court as she saw her daughters for the first time in nearly two years.

Donna Nelson, 58, allegedly arrived at Narita Airport in January 2023 with 1.9 kilograms of methamphetamine in her suitcase.

A sketch of Donna Nelson on the first day of her drug smuggling trial.Credit: Yoshitaka Enomoto

9 News Perth reporter Jamie Freestone is attending the trial, located in Chiba, which got under way about an hour ago.

He said that after entering the courtroom handcuffed and being seated just metres from her family, Nelson told the judges she unknowingly carried the drugs after being deceived by a man known as Kelly, who she was considering marrying.

“I am innocent,” she said.

Earlier, prosecutors wheeled evidence into the courtroom, including a suitcase.

Nelson’s family have travelled to Japan to support her through the trial.

Read more here. 

The WA mining company which has three employees detained in West Africa says a payment of $US 80 million ($123 million) has progressed steps for their release.

Resolute Mining chief executive Terence Holohan, along with two others, have been detained for more than a week after the Mali government demanded the gold miner pay $160 million to resolve a tax dispute.

Resolute Mining chief executive Terry Holohan is detained in a hotel in Bamako.Credit: Resolute website

The miner, in a statement released to the ASX this morning, said it had executed a memorandum of understanding with the Government of Mali.

“The signing of the protocol sets the framework for further detailed discussions with the government regarding the long-term future of the operations in Mali, including migration of the company’s assets in Mali to the 2023 Mining Code and maintaining the safety of the company’s employees,” it read.

“The protocol also provides that all outstanding claims by the government against the company, including those related to tax, custom levies, maintenance and management of offshore accounts, are settled.”

The release said the second $80 million payment would be made in the coming months from existing liquidity sources.

“[The detainees] remain safe and well and continue to receive support on the ground from the UK and International Embassies and Consulates,” the release said.

Read the full report here.

To breaking news this morning and a woman has been arrested following a police hunt for the person who carried out an unprovoked attack on a Perth grandmother outside a fast food restaurant at the weekend.

It’s alleged an 84-year-old was assaulted around 12.30pm in a Midland car park on Great Eastern Highway on Saturday, with a mystery woman knocking her to the ground and then leaving the area.

The victim is in Royal Perth Hospital in a serious but stable condition. She suffered injuries to her head and is expected to undergo surgery.

Police earlier this morning confirmed they had a woman in custody assisting police with their inquiries, but no charges had been laid.

The WA Liberals have announced an election commitment of $500 million towards a bolstered police force and a “crackdown on crime”.

The measures were put forward yesterday by party leader Libby Mettam and Legislative Council opposition leader Peter Collier – hot on the heels of conservative victories at the recent Northern Territory and Queensland elections, on the back of tough-on-crime policy agendas.

If elected in 2025, the Liberals’ policy would include 500 additional police officers over four years, an external review into WA policing and increased superannuation and welfare services for police.

WA Liberals’ four-point crime and policing plan

Safer communities

• Additional 300 frontline police officers through overtime;
• 500 additional police officers over 4 years – dedicated to regional areas, domestic violence unit, traffic control unit, meth taskforce and district shortages;
• School Engagement Officers – 20 retiring police officers to work with disengaged youth in our schools; and
• Increase the number of police dogs by 10 for high crime areas and regional districts.

Career policing

• Increase superannuation for police serving five years by 2 per cent and 10 years by an additional 3 per cent (to 5 per cent in total).

Healthier policing

• Significantly increasing welfare services for serving and former police officers; and
• Increased psychologists and chaplains and funding for external psychologist and psychiatrist services.

Enhanced policing

• Broad ranging and comprehensive review of WA policing conducted by an external consultant from another jurisdiction.

Mettam said “much of regional WA is living through the worst crime wave on record”.

“There has been an exodus of police officers in the last two years with more than 1000 mostly experienced officers having left,” she said.

Collier added: “Crime is out of control throughout Western Australia and police resignations are at a
record high – the WA Liberals’ will address these issues with a comprehensive and innovative suite of policies through our Community Policing policy.”

However, Premier Roger Cook seized on the proposed external review, saying it would be conducted by other state police forces and shows little faith in WA’s police.

“Today’s announcement...is about cops on the east coast coming over to tell cops on the west coast how to do their jobs,” he said.

“Quite frankly, I think it’s insulting to our men and women in blue who are doing an amazing job for Western Australians.”

Here’s what you need to know as we get into the new week:

• The Albanese government has introduced some of the world’s toughest vaping laws, but the black market is thriving. Now pharmacists are in open rebellion.
• Australians face a half trillion-dollar increase in their personal income tax over the next decade if tax rates and thresholds remain frozen in time.
• Alan Jones has been arrested at his luxury Circular Quay apartment by NSW Police over allegations the controversial broadcaster and former Wallabies coach indecently assaulted, groped or inappropriately touched multiple young men.

Alan Jones. Credit: SMH

• Businesses across Australia will be mandated to accept cash from customers for essential items to support those who prefer the increasingly disused method.
• Prime Minister Anthony Albanese will hold a formal meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 meeting in Brazil today, as he aims to shore up economic ties and manage differences over the AUKUS security pact.
• Overseas, US President Joe Biden’s administration has lifted restrictions that had blocked Ukraine from using US-supplied weapons to strike deep into Russian territory.