Court short on space

CONDITIONS on the opening day yesterday of the inquest into the death of Australian soldier Jake Kovco were anything but comfortable.

CONDITIONS on the opening day yesterday of the inquest into the death in Baghdad in April 2006 of Australian soldier Jake Kovco were anything but comfortable.

The inquest, held before a six-person jury, is being conducted at the Glebe Coroner's Court in Sydney, where the largest courtroom seats fewer than 50. With an extra bar table for all the lawyers, and Kovco's family and friends, the army, the media and interested members of the public all trying to find a seat, it is a scramble to get in. NSW Coroner Mary Jerram says she sent more than 20 letters, and made an equal or greater number of telephone calls, to the NSW Government seeking to have the inquest held in a larger courtroom in the Downing Centre legal complex in central Sydney, but her efforts failed. Legal eagles say the court system is so overloaded it is creaking at the seams.

Swimming send-off

THE impromptu swim by mourners at Heath Ledger's wake at Perth's Cottesloe Beach on Sunday evening was a fitting farewell to the actor, says his old schoolmate Ben Rogers, who had been friends with Ledger since about the fifth year at Perth's Guildford Preparatory School. "It was purely spontaneous," Rogers says of the mass swim-in. "If he was here today we'd do crazy stuff like that, very in the moment, that's the type of bloke he was. Just trying to be as happy as possible." Rogers says the plan to hit the beach was discussed as the day's formal events wound up. "We all had suits on, so it was down to the Reg Grundies (undies) and straight into the water. It was a really good moment and one that will stay with me forever."

Plugger Ponting not guilty

AUSTRALIAN cricket captain Ricky Ponting says he is not to blame for the unease some television viewers might feel when they see him on the box pushing Kentucky Fried Chicken and Suisse Vitamins. While he has signed a personal sponsorship with Suisse Vitamins, the KFC commercials are part of a deal between the fast food company and Cricket Australia. Players who are contracted to the cricketing body have no say in what the commercials depict, nor any in whether cricketers should be promoting fast food at a time when experts are warning of the growing incidence of child obesity. Perhaps CA chairman Creagh O'Connor and chief executive James Sutherland should rethink some of their sponsorships.

Cate worth a punt

ACTOR Cate Blanchett remains the favourite at $2.20 with betting agency Lasseters Sportsbook to win the Oscar for best supporting actress at next week's Academy Awards, despite missing out at the British Academy of Film and Television Arts awards in London, where the gong went to local actor Tilda Swinton for Michael Clayton. But Blanchett's price has eased from the $1.80 on offer after Oscar nominations were announced last month. The 38-year-old is also considered a very outside chance, at $67, in the best actress category. "Punters continue to rally behind Cate despite her snubbing at the BAFTAs," says Lasseters' Gerard Daffy. "We've taken close to $10,000 for her to win at least one Oscar." Daniel Day-Lewis remains a short-priced favourite with Lasseters, at $1.10, to win the best actor award after taking out a BAFTA for his role in There Will Be Blood.

Dalai Lama to beat Pope

A MONTH before the July visit of Pope Benedict XVI for the Catholic Church's World Youth Day throws Sydney into APEC-level disruption, another international religious leader will spend almost a week in the harbour city without disrupting anyone. The 14th Dalai Lama and his followers will take over much of the Sydney Showground site at Olympic Park from June 11 to 15 for a series of teachings on the principles of meditation. Ian Green, who is organising the Tibetan's visit, says he has been contacted by people from across the world who want to attend the teachings. While attendance at the Pope's mass at Randwick Racecourse on July 20 is free, front-of-stage tickets to the Dalai Lama's lectures are $600 for the five days.

Weed gives the blues

SWEETS manufacturer Nestle has good news for Smarties addicts: the blue ones are to return after being dropped because of concerns over the use of artificial colours. Boffins have extracted a new blue colouring from a seaweed, spirulina.

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