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Aneeka SimonisCourt reporter

Aneeka Simonis is an award-winning journalist covering courts, crime and justice for the Herald Sun.

@AneekaSimonis

Aneeka Simonis

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Police & Courts

MELBOURNE AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos NOVEMBER 12, 2024: Ex-Cricket Australia executive Timothy Whittaker is seen arriving to the County CourtPicture: NewsWire / Luis Enrique Ascui

Lawyer for ex-Cricket Australia executive questions victim’s story

The high-profile lawyer for ex-Cricket Australia executive Timothy Whittaker has told a court the young male staffer Whittaker is convicted of sexually assaulting is a liar.

Victoria

Pedophile ex-school teacher Nicholas O'Shea leaves court after being spared a prison sentence., ,

Beaconsfield teacher who sexually preyed on nine boys dodges jail

A former Beaconsfield Primary School grade 6 teacher who sexually assaulted and groomed young boys over more than a decade has escaped jail in a sentence slammed by his ex-teaching colleagues as “a joke”.

Police & Courts

Coward punch thug to spend years in jail for vicious Southbank attack

A man who dealt a catastrophic coward punch to his victim during a cocaine-fuelled night out looked at his loved ones in disbelief after learning he would spend years behind bars.

News

Police are appealing for information following an attempted abduction of a child in Belgrave Heights earlier this month. On Tuesday 3 August, a young child was walking their dog along Colby Drive, when they passed a van parked on the side of the road late in the afternoon.The male driver opened the passenger door of the van and offered the child lollies in an attempt to lure them into the vehicle.The child immediately ran home, while the van followed slowly behind. The child was not physically injured in the incident.The man is described as Caucasian, about 183 centimetres tall, aged between 30 to 40-years, with short reddish hair, pale skin and a slight belly. He was last seen wearing a black singlet and work shorts. The van he was driving is described as similar to a white, Ford Transit style van with no side windows, has panel damage and a scratch to the left hand side rear panel. Police have an attached an image of a similar van and an image of a man they believe can assist with their enquiries.

White van abduction attempts unsolved as kids return to school

Four terrifying attempted abductions on Melbourne streets in the final weeks of term four remain unsolved as more than a million children return to the classroom this week.

Victoria

AFL Legend Carl Ditterich leaves the Melbourne Magistrate court where he is facing charges over allegations of historical child sexual abuse. Tuesday, 17.2024.Picture; David Crosling

Historic sex charges against Carl Ditterich dropped

Historic sexual assault charges against former AFL Hall of Fame star Carl Ditterich have been dropped, with prosecutors not proceeding with the case due to a lack of evidence.

Police & Courts

RRR Lawyers principal lawyer Prakash Raniga was reprimanded for his professional misconduct toward the ex-wife of his client who stood accused of rape. Picture: Supplied

Family lawyer’s shocking dealings with alleged rape victim exposed

A leading family lawyer with a history of attempting to silence women from seeking justice against their violent husbands has been lashed for his latest misconduct.

Police & Courts

Marc Bounassif has fronted court charged with the stabbing of a man at Revolver nightclub. Picture: Facebook

Revolver stabbing accused may argue he acted in self-defence

A man charged over a frenzied knife attack at a popular Chapel St nightclub may claim he acted in self-defence, a court has heard.

Victoria

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA.NewsWire Photos. JANUARY 20, 2025. Sam Chadwick after leaving the Magistrates Court. Chadwick drove his sons around whilst they used a slingshot with marbles to smash windows of Melbourne apartment buildings, gyms and restaurants. Picture: NewsWire/Ian Currie

Man accused of driving teens on vandalism spree to be ‘one of the boys’

A 50-year-old Melbourne man allegedly drove two teens around at night so they could slingshot marbles into building windows because he “wanted to be one of the boys”, a court has heard.

Police & Courts

Former barrister and OPP solicitor Anthony Grant on a string of new drug trafficking and possession charges. ** ID CONFIRMED BY REPORTER **. Picture: Josie Hayden

Fake penis lawyer charged with dealing meth at Crown

A barrister and former state prosecutor has been hit with fresh charges after allegedly dealing drugs at Crown casino.

Victoria

(L-R) Ria Breider (Chelsea SES), Mick Sander (Chelsea SES), Mary and Hans Palzer and Cameron Milner (Chelsea SES). Marys wedding ring had to be removed by SES on their 61st wedding anniversary yesterday. Her fingers were swollen after a medical procedure and the ring had to be cut off. Picture: Josie Hayden

Bizarre twist as great grandma narrowly avoids wedding ring disaster

An 82-year-old Carrum woman was celebrating her wedding anniversary when a ring mishap required an emergency response.

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