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David MurrayNational Crime Correspondent

David Murray is The Australian’s National Crime Correspondent. He was previously Crime Editor at The Courier-Mail and prior to that was News Corp’s London-based Europe Correspondent. He is behind investigative podcasts The Lighthouse and Searching for Rachel Antonio and is the author of The Murder of Allison Baden-Clay.

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EarthquakeWorld

Rescue teams search under debris in Port Vila following a 7.3-magnitude earthquake in the southern Pacific nation of Vanuatu, in an image posted to social media on the 18th December, 2024. Picture: Vanuatu Police Force

Heroism and heartbreak at Vanuatu’s ground zero

A building popular with holiday-makers and locals in Vanuatu’s capital Port Vila is at the centre of a major rescue and recovery operation.

David Murray

widespread damageWorld

This screengrab taken from handout video footage posted on the Facebook account of Michael Thompson on December 17, 2024 shows a member of security inspecting a collapsed building in Vanuatu's capital Port Vila after a powerful earthquake hit the Pacific island. The 7.3-magnitude quake struck on December 17 at a depth of 57 kilometres (35 miles), some 30 kilometres off the coast of Efate, Vanuatu's main island, at 12:47 pm (0147 GMT), according to the US Geological Survey. (Photo by MICHAEL THOMPSON / Facebook account of Michael Thompson / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE â MANDATORY CREDIT Â«AFP PHOTO / FACEBOOK / MICHAEL THOMPSONÂ» - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS â DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS [- NO ARCHIVE ]

Death toll rises as Australian teams head to Vanuatu amid massive quake damage

No Australians are among the 14 deaths in Vanuatu after a massive 7.3 magnitude earthquake flattened large parts of the capital, with Australian teams heading for the Pacific Island nation.

David Murray, Jacquelin Magnay and Ben Packham

HORROR STORIESNation

Fiji suspected alcohol poisoning Aussie victims

Fiji dream becomes a nightmare

Poisoned pina coladas are suspected to have struck down seven people including four Australians at a five-star Fiji resort, with witnesses reporting horror stories of victims bleeding from the ears and foaming at the mouth.

David Murray and Brendan Kearns

Anti-SemitismNation

Detectives from the Counter-Terrorism Investigation Group (CTIG) with assistance from Morningside Station have charged a 52-year-old Morningside man, following an investigation into the alleged display of an electronic sign featuring offensive racial vilification. Picture: QLD POLICE

Arrest over ‘Death to Jews’ sign

The 52-year-old man from Morningside in Brisbane’s south has been charged under new hate crime laws.

David Murray

CourtsNation

Rohan Dennis outside Adelaide Magistrates Court on Tuesday; world champions Dennis and Melissa Hoskins. Picture: Roy Van Der Vegt, NewsWire/Instagram

An argument, a fatal chase: Olympian’s tragic final moments

New details of the fatal incident can be revealed after Rohan Dennis fronted court on Tuesday and pleaded guilty to a downgraded charge that still carries a lengthy prison sentence.

David Murray and Duncan Evans

record seizureNation

02-12-2024 - The AFP has charged 11 men and two juveniles following an investigation into a transnational organised crime syndicate accused of conspiring to import 2.34 tonnes of cocaine into Australia by sea.

Bungled drug plot leads to ‘biggest cocaine haul ever’

A plot to import 2.3 tonnes of cocaine into Australia came hopelessly unstuck, with two of the smugglers’ boats breaking down before the crime syndicate eventually had to be towed to shore by police who had been monitoring them the entire time.

David Murray and Bimini Plesser

Inside storyNation

Picture of the arrest of Gold Coast Childcare worker Ashley Paul Griffith for rape and sexual assaults. Picture - AFP

How a broken system enabled a monster

Daycare predator Ashley Paul Griffith dodged scrutiny for almost two decades despite multiple reports from co-workers and his little victims that should have uncovered his depraved behaviour.

David Murray and Mackenzie Scott

the monster upstairsNation

Sketch artist image of Paedophile Ashley Paul Griffith who is currently appearing in Brisbane Supreme Court - Victims vilely abused by Griffith have taken the witness stand to detail the impact of his actions on their lives. One girl was three or four when she was abused by him many times which he recorded and uploaded to the dark web. Picture Brett Lethbridge court sketch 28.11.24

For families, there is just ‘before’ and ‘after’

More than a dozen parents and now-adult victims have told of the moment they discovered childhoods had been shattered by Australia’s worst pedophile, Ashley Paul Griffith.

David Murray

Fair Trading probeLegal Affairs

NEWS Conwoman Jodie Harris, aka Jody Pearson-Harding, Jody Kilroy among others, is arrested along with fiance Twining, after an undercover sting operation where police swooped on a Harris Street, Ultimo address in Sydney.

Hand over your donations accounts, ex-conwoman told

A former notorious conwoman who has become one of the nation’s most active fundraisers will have to show she has properly accounted for donations.

David Murray

exclusiveNation

Nganmarriyanga's original post, left, and Jody Harris's post, right.

Ex-con ‘plagiarised charity’, Attorney-General probes fundraising

Queensland’s Attorney-General is investigating if a notorious former conwoman has been fundraising legally, amid new revelations she appears to have copied an award-winning charity’s appeal for donations.

David Murray

Original URL: https://www.theaustralian.com.au/author/david-murray/page/8