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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

Spotted in Coles Express Servo Nunawading today. Yes deadly tiger snakes like this ripper specimen have been hitching rides in cars and turning up in weird places this week., Lucky the Melbourne snake catcher, Raymond Hoser (AKA Snakeman) was on the job and keeping people safe!, Also this week, snakes in a wall cavity in a big Melbourne Uni in a large building (still there when last checked ….), Copperheads all over the place, including in some pallets from who knows where. A tree snake hitching a ride down from Queensland, turned up in east Bentleigh (remember the scientific name for that one is Charlepiersonserpens punctulatus), a massive Brown Snake, a Copperhead and a Tiger snake all in Warrandyte at the same time! More snakes in Diamond Creek, Sunshine North (again), Hillside (quite a few), etc., For the best information on how to stay snake safe this spring see http://www.snakebusters.com.au/sbsmel1.htm

Snake catcher denies planting deadly reptile on bowser

A Melbourne snake catcher has dismissed as “crap” claims he planted a highly venomous tiger snake on a petrol pump at a Coles Express service station in Nunawading after police were called.

Coronavirus

Geelong-bound traffic goes through a checkpoint on the Princes Freeway at Little River. Picture: Andrew Henshaw

Casey cluster grows to 34 cases as regional Victoria reopens

A coronavirus cluster in Melbourne’s south-east continues to grow, while 28 new virus cases and eight deaths were recorded overnight. It comes as regional Victorians rejoice as restrictions are eased.

ExclusiveVictoria

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA- NewsWire Photos SEPTEMBER 10, 2020: A closed sign in a shop front in Delgraves lane during stage four COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

Stores change branding to dodge restrictions

Non-essential retailers are rebranding their shopfronts to pose as convenience stores in a bid to dodge stage four restrictions in a scam described as a “kick in the guts” to struggling community businesses.

Police & Courts

GEELONG, AUSTRALIA - OCTOBER 17: Jack Steven poses for a photo during a Geelong Cats AFL media opportunity at GMHBA Stadium on October 17, 2019 in Geelong, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/Getty Images via AFL Photos)

Police make call on Steven stabbing case

Police have concluded their investigation into the stabbing of Geelong’s Jack Steven. The Cat recruit was hospitalised after suffering a wound to the chest in May. Here’s what police have decided.

Police & Courts

Police shooting at Lilydale. The victim is loaded into an air ambulance. Tuesday, September 15, 2020. Picture: David Crosling

Police demand tasers after Lilydale shooting

The police officers who shot at a knife-wielding man in Lilydale were not equipped with tasers, saying the man “rushed” at them during a tense stand-off. Footage has emerged of the incident unfolding. Warning: Disturbing content.

Police & Courts

Australian Federal Police have charged the 25-year-old Melbourne based Sri Lankan national with child abuse offences for allegedly blackmailing young girls using explicit videos of images of themselves

Man accused of blackmailing girls over explicit images

A Sri Lankan national living in Melbourne has been charged with “sextortion” crimes after a tip-off from the FBI and London Metropolitan Police.

Police & Courts

Screen grabs from Victoria Police videos - Police from North West Metro Region and Crime Command have arrested more than 30 people as part of an ongoing joint operation targeting criminal activity in the Collingwood area.

Police bust violent ‘street gang’, arrest dozens

Ten young men have been arrested in a raid on violent inner Melbourne street gangs. A covert police operation picked up the youths for offences including armed robbery and aggravated burglary. It takes the total nabbed by police to more than 30.

Police & Courts

Secret Facebook forums such as 'Melbourne's Most Cooked' are being used by dealers to sell drugs during lockdown.

Drug dealers flock to secret Facebook sites in lockdown

The pandemic has made it much tough for dealers to sell illicit drugs, but secret Facebook groups are being used to peddle drugs amid heightened arrest fears during Stage 4 lockdown.

Inner East

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA- NewsWire Photos SEPTEMBER 10, 2020: Detectives are investigating the circumstances surrounding the death of a man in Toorak overnight in an apartment block on Orrong road. Picture: NCA NewsWire/ David Crosling

Death non-suspicious after screaming at millionaires’ complex

The death of a man who was fatally wounded an exclusive “millionaires-only” complex in Toorak has been deemed not suspicious after wailing and screams were heard pulsating the property.

HS Coronavirus News

5 SEPTEMBER 2020 MELBOURNE AUWWW.MATRIXNEWS.COM.AUNON EXCLUSIVE PICTURESAnti lockdown protestors pictured clashing with Police in Melbourne. Note: All editorial images subject to the following: For editorial use only. Additional clearance required for commercial, wireless, internet or promotional use.Images may not be altered or modified. Matrix Media Group makes no representations or warranties regarding names, trademarks or logos appearing in the images.

Another ‘secret’ anti-lockdown protest planned

More than a thousand protesters could again descend on Melbourne for another anti-lockdown protest on Saturday, but the location is being kept top secret to avoid police intervention.

Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/journalists/aneeka-simonis/page/81