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Laura Placella is a court reporter for the Herald Sun. She was previously the city reporter for the masthead. She graduated from Monash University with a Bachelor of Laws (Honours) and a Bachelor of Arts.

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Laura Placella

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MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos June 1, 2023: Prison van arrivals at the Supreme Court via Laneway: Rebecca Payne, 43, was found guilty of murdering Noel Payne, 68, after a three-week trial in the Victorian Supreme Court. Picture NCA NewsWire / Aaron Francis

Judge grants ‘mercy’ to poison biscuit killer

A mum who murdered her husband with a poison biscuit after more than a decade of abuse has been jailed, with the judge granting her a “very significant level of mercy”.

Police & Courts

Alan Rifai is arrested by Australian Federal Police in May 2019. , The court heard Alaedine (Alan) Rifai, 41, and Amal (Lisa) Hilmi, 36, were the “principal architects” of a National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) fraud in which they willingly roped in four other family members., Picture: NSW Police

Convicted fraudster wins fight to teach again

A Melbourne teacher convicted of NDIS fraud – which left parents of disabled children unable to buy basics like nappies – has been given the green light to return to teaching.

Police & Courts

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - NewsWire Photos, MAY 22, 2023. Plea hearing for Rebecca Payne at Supreme Court after jury found her guilty of murdering her husband with spiked biscuits in a small country town of Walpeup in 2020. Mr Payne's body was later found inside a freezer. ID CONFIRMED BY REPORTER. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Josie Hayden

Lawyers call for mercy for poison biscuit killer

Lawyers have argued a judge must show mercy when sentencing a mum who murdered her “domestic terrorist” husband with a poison-laced biscuit.

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Rebecca Payne has been hailed a hero for killing her abusive husband Noel Payne.Picture: Mark Scott

Poison biscuit killer hailed a hero for murdering ‘monster’

Rebecca Payne killed her husband with a poison biscuit in a crime that shocked Victoria – but now residents are speaking out saying she may have saved other people’s lives.

Police & Courts

A “DISTRAUGHT” mother is desperately waiting for answers about how her “beautiful little boy” drowned while on school camp on Friday. Eight-year-old Cooper Onyett drowned in a pool at Belfast Aquatics in Port Fairy just before 11am while on his first overnight camp with Merrivale Primary School’s grade two class.In Pic> Jett (left), Cooper (middle) ane Skye Meinen (right)” sizes=”150px” src=”https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/ca7b9535ce4fcdda4589a926865363e2″ srcset=”https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/ca7b9535ce4fcdda4589a926865363e2?width=150 128w, https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/ca7b9535ce4fcdda4589a926865363e2?width=150 150w, https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/ca7b9535ce4fcdda4589a926865363e2?width=320 320w, https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/ca7b9535ce4fcdda4589a926865363e2?width=650 650w, https://content.api.news/v3/images/bin/ca7b9535ce4fcdda4589a926865363e2?width=1024 1024w” loading=”lazy” /></div></a><h4 class=

Charges laid over tragic drowning of eight-year-old Cooper Onyett

A Port Fairy pool operator and the Department of Education have been charged by WorkSafe two years after a “bright” grade two student drowned while on school camp.

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