The Snitch: Pani Hopoate latest in her family to appear in court on driving matter

Who is the latest member of a controversial NRL family to face court? What did a famous lawyer’s house sell for? Why has there been a Melissa Caddick sighting in Kuta? The Snitch is here.

There is mounting evidence that driving in an illegal fashion might be a problem that runs in the family of ex-NRL star John Hopoate.

His NRLW star daughter, Pani Hopoate, is set to face court next month to answer to one charge of driving with a suspended licence.

A successful rugby league star in her own right, Pani, 20, is following in her famous father’s footsteps on the field.

The explosive prop forward for the Roosters has already represented Tonga.

But the fear is she will also replicate her family’s efforts in the courtroom when it comes to traffic dramas.

Pani Hopoate (centre) is sent to the sin-bin during a 2023 NRLW match. Picture: Getty

John Hopoate during his footy playing heyday. This picture is from 2003.

Hopoate Snr, a former Manly Sea Eagles and State of Origin winger, has had a long run of traffic dramas, ranging from having his licence suspended 13 times, driving while suspended, or road rage.

The most recent incident occurred in January, when Hopoate posted a video of himself in the middle of a road rage incident to Instagram.

In 2019, Hopoate’s wife Rasa was fined $500 in Manly Local Court for allowing a toddler to ride in the front seat of a luxury car.

Pani Hopoate will face Manly Local Court on October 16.

LAWYER’S HOUSE SOLD

The eastern suburbs home of well-known criminal lawyer Brett Galloway has been sold for just under $5 million.

Lawyer Brett Galloway has sold his house.

Galloway, who became one of Sydney’s most high-profile lawyers thanks to his equally well-known client list, was unable to work last year thanks to a broken leg, leading to him falling behind on payments to third party lender Aquamore.

According to property records, the historic house in Watsons Bay was sold for $4.8 million last month.

Galloway had challenged Aquamore’s right to seize the property in the NSW Supreme Court but was unable to stop the sale. The court gave him a reprieve and extended the time he had to move out. But that expired on Thursday.

Property records said Aquamore transferred the property to Brisbane-based finance firm Blackbird Private Equity whose sole director is 47-year-old Stewart Raymond Wilkinson.

Mr Galloway could not be reached.

RUMOURS WON’T DIE

The mystery of eastern suburbs con artist Melissa Caddick refuses to die.

Despite the state’s coroner declaring in 2023 that Caddick is dead, a number of social media groups have emerged that are dedicated to perpetuating speculation that she is still alive and in hiding — albeit with one foot.

One of the groups seen by Snitch has amassed 21,000 followers. The unintentional comedy highlights are numerous.

A member of one of the pages posted images of a woman with a limp in downtown Kuta, Bali, claiming it was Caddick.

WHAT’S IN A NAME?

Sifting through the thousands of names of people listed to face courts on criminal charges, you see some that make you wonder if the person’s engagement with the legal system has been predetermined.

That said, Snitch correspondent Eliza Barr introduced us to the case of Isabella Rose Criminale at Bankstown Local Court.

Her name translates from Italian to English to mean ‘pretty criminal’. Now we don’t know if this is the case but we can tell you that Ms Criminale has pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, damaging property and breaching an AVO and is listed to be sentenced on October 30.

So maybe not.

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