A crime is when a person does something that is against the laws of a country. A person who does this is called a criminal.
The basic idea of what things are called crimes is that they are thought to be things that might cause a problem for another person. Things like killing another person, injuring another person, or stealing from another person are crimes in most countries.
But different countries have many different ideas of what things are crimes. Some things that are crimes in one country are not crimes in other countries. Many countries get their ideas of what things are crimes from religions.
In many countries, if people say they made or wrote a book, movie, song, or Web page that they didn't really write or make, it is a crime against the laws of copyright. In many countries, helping to grow, make, move, or sell illegal drugs is a crime.
In most countries, police try to stop crimes and to find criminals. When the police find someone who they think might be a criminal, they usually hold the person in a jail. Then, usually, a court or a judge decides if the person really did a crime. If the court or judge decides that the person really did it, then he or she might have to pay a fine or go to prison. Sometimes the judge might decide that the criminal should be executed (killed). This is called Capital punishment (or the Death Penalty). There are countries in the world who execute criminals, and others who do not.
When some criminals make money from crime, they try to stop the police finding out where the money came from by money laundering. (Credit: Wikipedia)
Saturday, August 23, 2008
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
The Crown's case against Gordon Wood, by Kate McClymont - The Sydney Morning Herald - 30th July 2008
It was a bitterly cold and windy winter's night when Caroline Byrne plunged to her death at The Gap on June 7, 1995. The air was thick with sea spray and visibility was almost zero.
Despite this, the man accused of her murder was able to lead her family to the location of her body using only the feeble light of a torch borrowed from nearby fishermen, a Supreme Court jury has heard.
Gordon Eric Wood, 45, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his girlfriend, a 24-year-old model, who fell to her death at Watsons Bay in Sydney's east.
In his opening address Crown prosecutor Mark Tedeschi, QC, said that in the weeks before her death Byrne had confided to a friend, "Sometimes I fear for my life with Gordon" and that she wanted to leave him because of his possessiveness and jealous fits.
The jury heard Wood was terrified about Byrne leaving because she might disclose what Mr Tedeschi described as "serious, illegal insider trading activity" that Wood and his boss, the late stockbroker Rene Rivkin, had been involved in with regard to Rivkin's printing company Offset Alpine Printing. The company had been over-insured when it burned down in a 1993 fire.
The day before Byrne was murdered Wood and Rivkin had given evidence at an Australian Securities Commission investigation into the unusual share price movements in Offset Alpine.
Mr Tedeschi said that Wood had misled the investigators when he said he had no knowledge of Rivkin's affairs and that he was just a " bag carrier"' for the stockbroker.
Had it emerged that either of them had knowledge of the fire or the subsequent massive increase in the company's share price, they could have been prosecuted for "serious corporate offences," Mr Tedeschi said.
He also said there was not "the slightest skerrick of evidence" implicating Rivkin in the death of Byrne.
About 11.30pm on June 7, 1995, witnesses at The Gap heard a scream which sounded like "someone expressing terror or horror".
Earlier that evening about 8pm, John Doherty, who was living in an apartment on Military Road, near The Gap, heard arguing outside his flat. On opening his window he saw a woman, distressed and moaning out loud, sitting in the gutter. Mr Tedeshi said her face was down and covered by her long hair.
Above her stood a tall man who was arguing with her. For 10 to 20 minutes the argument continued and then they moved further down the road, the jury heard. Mr Doherty later identified Gordon Wood as being the man he saw that night.
Two hours later Mr Doherty heard the same voices again but they were further away. For another hour the arguments continued until there was a loud scream, Mr Tedeschi said.
Two fishermen also recalled hearing an unusual scream about 11.30pm, which sounded like someone expressing "terror or horror".
About 12.30am the fishermen recalled seeing Wood, who was calling out, "Caroline, Caroline," and asking if they had seen a young woman.
At 12.40pm, Wood called Tony Byrne, Caroline's father at his home at the Connaught apartment building in Sydney's CBD. Staying with Tony was Caroline's brother Peter, who just arrived back in Australia after a six-week trip to Japan. Wood told them he found Caroline's car at The Gap and that she was missing.
Caroline arranged to meet her family that night but calls to her home and mobile phone during the day, from both her father and brother, had gone unanswered. She also did not turn up to work.
They were also unsuccessful in reaching Wood on his mobile, the court heard. Wood arrived at the Connaught 15 minutes later driving a red pick-up truck, which belonged to Rivkin.
As they drove towards The Gap the Byrnes asked Wood how he knew where to find her, Wood replied: "I don't know. I just have this feeling."
He took them to Byrne's soft-topped Suzuki car which was parked in Gap Lane. He opened the car with a key and took out her wallet, handing it to her brother. He asked Peter to look in the wallet to see if there was anything relevant.
Byrne found nothing of interest except a note from a male admirer who had spotted Caroline in a coffee shop and left her a note with his phone number.
Handing back the wallet to Wood, the Byrnes were astonished when Wood took the cash out of her wallet and pocketed it, Mr Tedeschi said.
Wood then led Tony and Peter Byrne on a search round the clifftop. It was cold, windy and they could barely make out the pathway in front of them.
The court heard that when they came across the two fishermen, Tony asked them if they'd seen a tall, blonde woman. The fishermen said that they'd heard a scream an hour or so earlier and then one of the fishermen said to Wood: "I saw you here earlier" to which Wood replied , "I was out here about an hour ago."
One of them lent Wood a torch, the battery of which was almost flat, resulting in a feeble light.
It was so cold that Tony Byrne went back to the truck, leaving Wood and his son to continue the search. Shining the weak torch light over the cliff, Wood claimed he could see something. "Can you see that, Peter? It looks like legs and a body," Wood said.
Mr Tedeschi said that Peter Byrne, who had excellent eyesight, couldn't see "a single, solitary thing." He couldn't see the bottom of the cliff, let alone a body, Mr Tedeschi told the jury.
"She's gone, Peter, she's gone," Wood told him.
It was at that very location, some hours later, that Byrne's body was found.
The Crown's case is that it was not physically possible to see Byrne's body through the darkness and that the only reasonable inference the jury could draw from Wood's knowledge of the position of the body was that " he was present when she went over the edge of the cliff".
The three went to Rose Bay police station, where Wood produced a referral that Caroline had obtained from her GP to see a psychiatrist. She had an appointment on the afternoon of her death, which not only did she not keep but which she did not cancel.
She earlier told her GP that she felt down but assured her doctor she was not feeling like harming herself.
"She was depressed. Here, read it," Wood said to Tony Byrne, handing him the referral. The Crown's case is that Wood used the referral to convince others that his girlfriend committed suicide.
A number of police accompanied the Byrnes and Wood back to The Gap. With their torches, police couldn't see anything, nor could the powerful searchlight of the helicopter. But Wood was adamant he could see her. "I know she's down there. I can't believe she's done this," he told police on the night, the jury heard.
At 4.40pm, police finally located her body where Wood said it was. The Crown case is that because of the bad visibility, Wood could only have known she was in that location if he had been present when she was thrown from The Gap.
Mr Tedeschi said there would be scientific evidence given to show that a strong man, using a "spear throw", had hurled Byrne off the cliff. Wood, who was able to bench press more than 100kg at the time and who had been a personal fitness instructor, was capable of such a throw, the jury heard.
Five days after her death, Wood told police Byrne was sick with the flu on the day of her death and that she was in bed when he left for work. When he came home at 1pm she was still in bed and he found she had taken one of his Rohypnol sleeping tablets, he said.
He also said he had gone to lunch with friend Brett Cochrane and another person, but that he had to leave before eating his meal to pick up Rivkin. When he returned home later in the afternoon, she wasn't there, the court heard.
About 7pm he had come home again and she was still not there. He said he assumed she was with her doctor or her at her father's. He claimed to have fallen asleep in front of the television and woken up at 12.40am to find she was not there.
The jury heard Wood told police he immediately knew something was wrong. He walked from his Elizabeth Bay unit to Crown Street in Darlinghurst where Rivkin kept some of his cars. He took one that he usually never drove, a red pick-up truck, and drove to the Connaught but couldn't see her car parked there. He told police he had then driven to Bondi and then to The Gap, where at 1.30am he'd found her car. He also found the fishermen and then went to pick up Tony and Peter.
The prosecution claims there was not sufficient time to drive around to all those places as well as returning to the city to collect the Byrnes.
The other odd thing, said Mr Tedeschi, was that Wood had his phone turned off from 5.48pm on the day of the murder until four minutes after police located her body at 4.40am the next morning. This was despite Wood being on 24-hour call for Rivkin, he said. The jury also heard Wood did not ring his message bank to check if he had any messages, which the Crown says is strange for someone who was concerned about his missing girlfriend.
Nor did he attempt to call her mobile or to contact her family to see if she was with them, the Crown said.
Two days after her death, Wood told Caroline's brother Peter that "Caroline's spirit told me where to find her".
News
Media Man Australia News
Despite this, the man accused of her murder was able to lead her family to the location of her body using only the feeble light of a torch borrowed from nearby fishermen, a Supreme Court jury has heard.
Gordon Eric Wood, 45, has pleaded not guilty to the murder of his girlfriend, a 24-year-old model, who fell to her death at Watsons Bay in Sydney's east.
In his opening address Crown prosecutor Mark Tedeschi, QC, said that in the weeks before her death Byrne had confided to a friend, "Sometimes I fear for my life with Gordon" and that she wanted to leave him because of his possessiveness and jealous fits.
The jury heard Wood was terrified about Byrne leaving because she might disclose what Mr Tedeschi described as "serious, illegal insider trading activity" that Wood and his boss, the late stockbroker Rene Rivkin, had been involved in with regard to Rivkin's printing company Offset Alpine Printing. The company had been over-insured when it burned down in a 1993 fire.
The day before Byrne was murdered Wood and Rivkin had given evidence at an Australian Securities Commission investigation into the unusual share price movements in Offset Alpine.
Mr Tedeschi said that Wood had misled the investigators when he said he had no knowledge of Rivkin's affairs and that he was just a " bag carrier"' for the stockbroker.
Had it emerged that either of them had knowledge of the fire or the subsequent massive increase in the company's share price, they could have been prosecuted for "serious corporate offences," Mr Tedeschi said.
He also said there was not "the slightest skerrick of evidence" implicating Rivkin in the death of Byrne.
About 11.30pm on June 7, 1995, witnesses at The Gap heard a scream which sounded like "someone expressing terror or horror".
Earlier that evening about 8pm, John Doherty, who was living in an apartment on Military Road, near The Gap, heard arguing outside his flat. On opening his window he saw a woman, distressed and moaning out loud, sitting in the gutter. Mr Tedeshi said her face was down and covered by her long hair.
Above her stood a tall man who was arguing with her. For 10 to 20 minutes the argument continued and then they moved further down the road, the jury heard. Mr Doherty later identified Gordon Wood as being the man he saw that night.
Two hours later Mr Doherty heard the same voices again but they were further away. For another hour the arguments continued until there was a loud scream, Mr Tedeschi said.
Two fishermen also recalled hearing an unusual scream about 11.30pm, which sounded like someone expressing "terror or horror".
About 12.30am the fishermen recalled seeing Wood, who was calling out, "Caroline, Caroline," and asking if they had seen a young woman.
At 12.40pm, Wood called Tony Byrne, Caroline's father at his home at the Connaught apartment building in Sydney's CBD. Staying with Tony was Caroline's brother Peter, who just arrived back in Australia after a six-week trip to Japan. Wood told them he found Caroline's car at The Gap and that she was missing.
Caroline arranged to meet her family that night but calls to her home and mobile phone during the day, from both her father and brother, had gone unanswered. She also did not turn up to work.
They were also unsuccessful in reaching Wood on his mobile, the court heard. Wood arrived at the Connaught 15 minutes later driving a red pick-up truck, which belonged to Rivkin.
As they drove towards The Gap the Byrnes asked Wood how he knew where to find her, Wood replied: "I don't know. I just have this feeling."
He took them to Byrne's soft-topped Suzuki car which was parked in Gap Lane. He opened the car with a key and took out her wallet, handing it to her brother. He asked Peter to look in the wallet to see if there was anything relevant.
Byrne found nothing of interest except a note from a male admirer who had spotted Caroline in a coffee shop and left her a note with his phone number.
Handing back the wallet to Wood, the Byrnes were astonished when Wood took the cash out of her wallet and pocketed it, Mr Tedeschi said.
Wood then led Tony and Peter Byrne on a search round the clifftop. It was cold, windy and they could barely make out the pathway in front of them.
The court heard that when they came across the two fishermen, Tony asked them if they'd seen a tall, blonde woman. The fishermen said that they'd heard a scream an hour or so earlier and then one of the fishermen said to Wood: "I saw you here earlier" to which Wood replied , "I was out here about an hour ago."
One of them lent Wood a torch, the battery of which was almost flat, resulting in a feeble light.
It was so cold that Tony Byrne went back to the truck, leaving Wood and his son to continue the search. Shining the weak torch light over the cliff, Wood claimed he could see something. "Can you see that, Peter? It looks like legs and a body," Wood said.
Mr Tedeschi said that Peter Byrne, who had excellent eyesight, couldn't see "a single, solitary thing." He couldn't see the bottom of the cliff, let alone a body, Mr Tedeschi told the jury.
"She's gone, Peter, she's gone," Wood told him.
It was at that very location, some hours later, that Byrne's body was found.
The Crown's case is that it was not physically possible to see Byrne's body through the darkness and that the only reasonable inference the jury could draw from Wood's knowledge of the position of the body was that " he was present when she went over the edge of the cliff".
The three went to Rose Bay police station, where Wood produced a referral that Caroline had obtained from her GP to see a psychiatrist. She had an appointment on the afternoon of her death, which not only did she not keep but which she did not cancel.
She earlier told her GP that she felt down but assured her doctor she was not feeling like harming herself.
"She was depressed. Here, read it," Wood said to Tony Byrne, handing him the referral. The Crown's case is that Wood used the referral to convince others that his girlfriend committed suicide.
A number of police accompanied the Byrnes and Wood back to The Gap. With their torches, police couldn't see anything, nor could the powerful searchlight of the helicopter. But Wood was adamant he could see her. "I know she's down there. I can't believe she's done this," he told police on the night, the jury heard.
At 4.40pm, police finally located her body where Wood said it was. The Crown case is that because of the bad visibility, Wood could only have known she was in that location if he had been present when she was thrown from The Gap.
Mr Tedeschi said there would be scientific evidence given to show that a strong man, using a "spear throw", had hurled Byrne off the cliff. Wood, who was able to bench press more than 100kg at the time and who had been a personal fitness instructor, was capable of such a throw, the jury heard.
Five days after her death, Wood told police Byrne was sick with the flu on the day of her death and that she was in bed when he left for work. When he came home at 1pm she was still in bed and he found she had taken one of his Rohypnol sleeping tablets, he said.
He also said he had gone to lunch with friend Brett Cochrane and another person, but that he had to leave before eating his meal to pick up Rivkin. When he returned home later in the afternoon, she wasn't there, the court heard.
About 7pm he had come home again and she was still not there. He said he assumed she was with her doctor or her at her father's. He claimed to have fallen asleep in front of the television and woken up at 12.40am to find she was not there.
The jury heard Wood told police he immediately knew something was wrong. He walked from his Elizabeth Bay unit to Crown Street in Darlinghurst where Rivkin kept some of his cars. He took one that he usually never drove, a red pick-up truck, and drove to the Connaught but couldn't see her car parked there. He told police he had then driven to Bondi and then to The Gap, where at 1.30am he'd found her car. He also found the fishermen and then went to pick up Tony and Peter.
The prosecution claims there was not sufficient time to drive around to all those places as well as returning to the city to collect the Byrnes.
The other odd thing, said Mr Tedeschi, was that Wood had his phone turned off from 5.48pm on the day of the murder until four minutes after police located her body at 4.40am the next morning. This was despite Wood being on 24-hour call for Rivkin, he said. The jury also heard Wood did not ring his message bank to check if he had any messages, which the Crown says is strange for someone who was concerned about his missing girlfriend.
Nor did he attempt to call her mobile or to contact her family to see if she was with them, the Crown said.
Two days after her death, Wood told Caroline's brother Peter that "Caroline's spirit told me where to find her".
News
Media Man Australia News
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Nine's Underbelly blitz targets new top ratings - The Daily Telegraph - 22nd July 2008
Channel Nine CEO David Gyngell will officially give the green light to the hugely anticipated Underbelly prequel during a network presentation to media buyers and advertisers tonight.
In addition to toasting Nine's ratings turnaround and outlining the planned highlights for the remainder of the year's schedule, Gyngell will formally motion the bloodshed to resume - on Underbelly, not the rival networks, that is.
Speaking exclusively to Confidential yesterday, the ironically media-shy boss said that he was "really excited" about the 13-episode series scheduled to begin production in September.
"The best television drama always warrants a second season and Underbelly is no exception," he said.
Gallery: The controversial series Underbelly
"It was the best television many of us have seen in a very long time."
Involving most of the stellar cast from the first gangland epic series - with a heavy focus on Vince Colosimo's character Alphonse Gangitano - the prequel will converge on building the background to the colourful characters.
And it will show their involvement in the Melbourne underworld before the arrest of Carl Williams in 2004.
Already unashamedly positioned as Nine's ratings linchpin in next year's ratings war, Gyngell is backing the gritty production with full force.
"It was compulsive viewing this year and we aim to make it compelling in 2009. We'll have the production team and cast to do just that," he said.
The series brought fame to Kat Stewart who played Roberta Williams, and Gyton Grantley who played her drug-running husband Williams.
Are you excited by the news?
13-episode series to begin production in September
Media Man Australia Profiles
Underbelly
In addition to toasting Nine's ratings turnaround and outlining the planned highlights for the remainder of the year's schedule, Gyngell will formally motion the bloodshed to resume - on Underbelly, not the rival networks, that is.
Speaking exclusively to Confidential yesterday, the ironically media-shy boss said that he was "really excited" about the 13-episode series scheduled to begin production in September.
"The best television drama always warrants a second season and Underbelly is no exception," he said.
Gallery: The controversial series Underbelly
"It was the best television many of us have seen in a very long time."
Involving most of the stellar cast from the first gangland epic series - with a heavy focus on Vince Colosimo's character Alphonse Gangitano - the prequel will converge on building the background to the colourful characters.
And it will show their involvement in the Melbourne underworld before the arrest of Carl Williams in 2004.
Already unashamedly positioned as Nine's ratings linchpin in next year's ratings war, Gyngell is backing the gritty production with full force.
"It was compulsive viewing this year and we aim to make it compelling in 2009. We'll have the production team and cast to do just that," he said.
The series brought fame to Kat Stewart who played Roberta Williams, and Gyton Grantley who played her drug-running husband Williams.
Are you excited by the news?
13-episode series to begin production in September
Media Man Australia Profiles
Underbelly
Monday, July 28, 2008
Gordon Wood trial to start today, by Kate McClymont - The Sydney Morning Herald - 28th July 2008
The murder trial of Gordon Wood, the former chauffeur of the late businessman Rene Rivkin, is expected to commence this afternoon.
Wood is accused of murdering his model girlfriend, Caroline Byrne, whose body was found at the base of The Gap in June 1995.
An unusually large number of potential jurors assembled in the historic Supreme Court building in inner-city Darlinghurst this morning.
Potential jurors were asked to excuse themselves if they knew Wood or other potential witnesses who included former ALP heavyweight Graham Richardson, adman John Singleton, paparazzi photographer Jamie Fawcett and entertainer Tanya Zaetta.
The Crown is planning to call between 94 and 104 witnesses and the trial is expected to last for up to 16 weeks.
Empanelling of the jury will be finished after the lunchtime adjournment, and Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi, QC , is expected to deliver his opening address to the jury this afternoon.
Media Man Australia
News
Wood is accused of murdering his model girlfriend, Caroline Byrne, whose body was found at the base of The Gap in June 1995.
An unusually large number of potential jurors assembled in the historic Supreme Court building in inner-city Darlinghurst this morning.
Potential jurors were asked to excuse themselves if they knew Wood or other potential witnesses who included former ALP heavyweight Graham Richardson, adman John Singleton, paparazzi photographer Jamie Fawcett and entertainer Tanya Zaetta.
The Crown is planning to call between 94 and 104 witnesses and the trial is expected to last for up to 16 weeks.
Empanelling of the jury will be finished after the lunchtime adjournment, and Crown Prosecutor Mark Tedeschi, QC , is expected to deliver his opening address to the jury this afternoon.
Media Man Australia
News
Saturday, July 19, 2008
Aussie teenagers tackle cyber crime at global forum - The Age - 18th July 2008
Faced with the danger of online predators, fraudsters and bullies, a group of Australian teenagers are putting their heads together with others from around the world to tackle internet crime.
Ten teenagers from Canberra have flown to England to take part in a unique five-day forum giving young people a say on the best ways to protect them in cyberspace.
A total of 150 teenagers aged 14 to 17 from 19 countries are attending the International Youth Advisory Council (IYAC) in the hope they can come up with fresh strategies for governments, businesses and police worldwide to follow.
Many of those at the forum will draw on their own experiences of being targeted by cyber bullies, fraudsters and predators.
Canberra teenager Anthony, 15, said he frequently came across "fake" people while surfing the net and through his online business hosting gaming websites.
"What happens on the internet, people don't think it's 'real'," he told AAP.
"They think it's just fantasy. So we need to stay safe and they need to keep us safe.
"If we can tell them how to do that for the billions of kids out there, that's fantastic."
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has backed the forum and sent five staff along with the Canberra teenagers.
Before they left, AFP officers worked with the group on new cyber crime strategies which are expected to be expanded when they return to Australia.
"We realised the only way that us as 30, 40, 50 year olds can develop robust and meaningful strategies that deliver to young people is to actually give young people a voice and to listen to what they've got to say," head of the AFP's high tech crime unit Kevin Zuccato said.
"What concerns them the most is cyber bullying, identity theft and attribution, in terms of 'how do I know who I'm talking to' (in chatrooms and on social networking sites).
"So they're actually concerns about how do I identify myself in the internet, how do I make sure no one steals that identity and hassles me out or slags my name off, how do I know who I'm talking to so I'm sure I can safeguard myself.
"That to me was really interesting and demonstrates that getting these guys in, listening to what they've got to say, giving them an opportunity to participate is going to steer us in the right direction."
Ella, 15, from Canberra, said the key was educating young people about the internet so they could use it safely rather than putting them off because of the risks.
"You don't want to put people off the internet, because it's a great resource," she said.
"But you do want to warn people of the dangers and give them strategies when they are faced with those dangers."
The aim of the IYAC forum is to devise a global online charter to present to the United Nations and the World Congress III Against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents in Brazil this November.
Media Man Australia
Technology News
Ten teenagers from Canberra have flown to England to take part in a unique five-day forum giving young people a say on the best ways to protect them in cyberspace.
A total of 150 teenagers aged 14 to 17 from 19 countries are attending the International Youth Advisory Council (IYAC) in the hope they can come up with fresh strategies for governments, businesses and police worldwide to follow.
Many of those at the forum will draw on their own experiences of being targeted by cyber bullies, fraudsters and predators.
Canberra teenager Anthony, 15, said he frequently came across "fake" people while surfing the net and through his online business hosting gaming websites.
"What happens on the internet, people don't think it's 'real'," he told AAP.
"They think it's just fantasy. So we need to stay safe and they need to keep us safe.
"If we can tell them how to do that for the billions of kids out there, that's fantastic."
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) has backed the forum and sent five staff along with the Canberra teenagers.
Before they left, AFP officers worked with the group on new cyber crime strategies which are expected to be expanded when they return to Australia.
"We realised the only way that us as 30, 40, 50 year olds can develop robust and meaningful strategies that deliver to young people is to actually give young people a voice and to listen to what they've got to say," head of the AFP's high tech crime unit Kevin Zuccato said.
"What concerns them the most is cyber bullying, identity theft and attribution, in terms of 'how do I know who I'm talking to' (in chatrooms and on social networking sites).
"So they're actually concerns about how do I identify myself in the internet, how do I make sure no one steals that identity and hassles me out or slags my name off, how do I know who I'm talking to so I'm sure I can safeguard myself.
"That to me was really interesting and demonstrates that getting these guys in, listening to what they've got to say, giving them an opportunity to participate is going to steer us in the right direction."
Ella, 15, from Canberra, said the key was educating young people about the internet so they could use it safely rather than putting them off because of the risks.
"You don't want to put people off the internet, because it's a great resource," she said.
"But you do want to warn people of the dangers and give them strategies when they are faced with those dangers."
The aim of the IYAC forum is to devise a global online charter to present to the United Nations and the World Congress III Against Sexual Exploitation of Children and Adolescents in Brazil this November.
Media Man Australia
Technology News
Wednesday, July 02, 2008
Media man a crime buster, by Kelly Ryan - Herald Sun - 9th June 2008
Putting the finger on crime for more than 20 years has won Herald Sun journalist Geoff Wilkinson a Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM).
The senior investigative reporter has been recognised for his services to crime prevention, particularly through the establishment of the Crime Stoppers program.
The program began in Victoria in 1987 - when Wilkinson was media director for Victoria Police - and was later adopted by all Australian states and territories.
Nationally, calls have led to more than 45,000 arrests, 125,000 charges and the recovery of drugs and stolen property worth over $900 million.
Wilkinson said that his award was "recognition and acknowledgment of the efforts of a lot of people over a long period.
"Crime Stoppers is a simple concept, but it needed the support of police, media and the community to make it work as well as it has," he said.
Wilkinson has bagged many prestige journalism awards, including the Victoria Law Foundation's Reporter of the Year in 2002 and 2007 and News Limited's Specialist Writer of the Year in 2006, as well as three Melbourne Press Club Quill Awards.
But Wilkinson said Crime Stoppers was his most important achievement.
The senior investigative reporter has been recognised for his services to crime prevention, particularly through the establishment of the Crime Stoppers program.
The program began in Victoria in 1987 - when Wilkinson was media director for Victoria Police - and was later adopted by all Australian states and territories.
Nationally, calls have led to more than 45,000 arrests, 125,000 charges and the recovery of drugs and stolen property worth over $900 million.
Wilkinson said that his award was "recognition and acknowledgment of the efforts of a lot of people over a long period.
"Crime Stoppers is a simple concept, but it needed the support of police, media and the community to make it work as well as it has," he said.
Wilkinson has bagged many prestige journalism awards, including the Victoria Law Foundation's Reporter of the Year in 2002 and 2007 and News Limited's Specialist Writer of the Year in 2006, as well as three Melbourne Press Club Quill Awards.
But Wilkinson said Crime Stoppers was his most important achievement.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
Wednesday, April 30, 2008
Man stabbed in queue for Grand Theft Auto IV, by Hannah Fletcher - Times Online - 30th April 2008
A hooded man queuing to buy the new Grand Theft Auto IV, the notoriously violent computer game, stabbed a passer-by in the head and neck. Up to 100 people witnessed the attack.
Like dozens of video-game sellers across the country, Gamestation in Croydon, South London, opened at midnight yesterday for the launch of the game.
Onlookers thought initially that the stabbing was part of a stunt by the store to whip up excitement about the release of the 18-certificate title.
The victim is thought to have struggled home to fetch his own knife for a revenge attack but collapsed in the street and was taken to hospital.
Malcolm Critchell, who was at the shop with his nephew, Jordan, said: “While waiting outside the store, a man stood next to us and was covered from shoulder to belly in blood. Myself and others thought it was a show to promote the game but when we looked closer, he had been knifed repeatedly. It was unbelieveable – there was blood everywhere, all down the street. It was like something out of a nightmare. We were told he had been rude to some bloke [for] which he was knifed. He then went home, grabbed a kitchen knife and went looking for this person.”
The 23-year-old victim was walking past the queue at about 11pm when he was attacked. Witnesses said that he sustained stab wounds to his head and back. He was treated in hospital and later discharged.
Marcus Henderson, 24, who was in the queue, said: “It was a scene straight from the game itself. In Grand Theft Auto, when you attack someone but don’t finish them off they’ll come and get you.”
The Metropolitan Police said that the man involved in Monday’s stabbing “appeared to be in a queue of people who were waiting for [Gamesta-tion] to open for a special event”.
Keith Vaz, the Labour MP for Leices-ter East and a long-time campaigner against video games, told The Times: “[ Grand Theft Auto] is a violent and nasty video game and it doesn’t surprise me that some of those who play it behave in this way.”
More than half a million copies of Grand Theft Auto IV are expected to be sold in Britain in the next week, while more than six million copies will be sold worldwide, raking in more than £200 million.
Critics of the game, in which players can roam freely around a digital landscape murdering, pillaging and stealing, have long argued that it is a dangerous influence.
Since Rockstar Games and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive Software, released the first Grand Theft Auto game in 1997, they have faced a series of lawsuits from the families of murder victims, claiming that the game inspired the killers.
Elsewhere, an 18-year-old from Ley-land, Lancashire, was reported to have suffered a broken jaw after being mugged by two older men. Lancashire police said that the motive for the attack was the victim’s new copy of Grand Theft Auto IV, which he had bought from his local Blockbuster store minutes earlier.
The bad publicity appeared to have little effect on sales. Play.com was taking up to 80 orders a minute and had to take on 90 extra staff to cope. Woolworths reported selling 200 copies a minute and said that it would be sold out by the end of the day.
Like dozens of video-game sellers across the country, Gamestation in Croydon, South London, opened at midnight yesterday for the launch of the game.
Onlookers thought initially that the stabbing was part of a stunt by the store to whip up excitement about the release of the 18-certificate title.
The victim is thought to have struggled home to fetch his own knife for a revenge attack but collapsed in the street and was taken to hospital.
Malcolm Critchell, who was at the shop with his nephew, Jordan, said: “While waiting outside the store, a man stood next to us and was covered from shoulder to belly in blood. Myself and others thought it was a show to promote the game but when we looked closer, he had been knifed repeatedly. It was unbelieveable – there was blood everywhere, all down the street. It was like something out of a nightmare. We were told he had been rude to some bloke [for] which he was knifed. He then went home, grabbed a kitchen knife and went looking for this person.”
The 23-year-old victim was walking past the queue at about 11pm when he was attacked. Witnesses said that he sustained stab wounds to his head and back. He was treated in hospital and later discharged.
Marcus Henderson, 24, who was in the queue, said: “It was a scene straight from the game itself. In Grand Theft Auto, when you attack someone but don’t finish them off they’ll come and get you.”
The Metropolitan Police said that the man involved in Monday’s stabbing “appeared to be in a queue of people who were waiting for [Gamesta-tion] to open for a special event”.
Keith Vaz, the Labour MP for Leices-ter East and a long-time campaigner against video games, told The Times: “[ Grand Theft Auto] is a violent and nasty video game and it doesn’t surprise me that some of those who play it behave in this way.”
More than half a million copies of Grand Theft Auto IV are expected to be sold in Britain in the next week, while more than six million copies will be sold worldwide, raking in more than £200 million.
Critics of the game, in which players can roam freely around a digital landscape murdering, pillaging and stealing, have long argued that it is a dangerous influence.
Since Rockstar Games and its parent company, Take-Two Interactive Software, released the first Grand Theft Auto game in 1997, they have faced a series of lawsuits from the families of murder victims, claiming that the game inspired the killers.
Elsewhere, an 18-year-old from Ley-land, Lancashire, was reported to have suffered a broken jaw after being mugged by two older men. Lancashire police said that the motive for the attack was the victim’s new copy of Grand Theft Auto IV, which he had bought from his local Blockbuster store minutes earlier.
The bad publicity appeared to have little effect on sales. Play.com was taking up to 80 orders a minute and had to take on 90 extra staff to cope. Woolworths reported selling 200 copies a minute and said that it would be sold out by the end of the day.
Grand Theft Auto's anti-hero steals the show, by Asher Moses - The Sydney Morning Herald - 30th April 2008
He's the biggest name in entertainment but you won't find him striding down the red carpet or cavorting with Hollywood starlets under the watchful eye of the paparazzi.
No, Niko Bellic, set to become the most high profile Slav in entertainment since Borat Sagdiyev took the box office by storm 18 months ago.
He is among the new breed of entertainment personalities who, rather than being cast, are built from scratch by a team of programmers and graphic designers.
He's the protagonist in Grand Theft Auto IV and, just days after hitting the streets, is already giving flesh-and-blood Hollywood stars a run for their money.
Launched around the world at midnight on Monday, Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) is on track to become the biggest entertainment launch in history. Analysts have predicted the title, which has inspired near-perfect reviews from most gaming magazines, will sell at least 6 million copies in its first week.
And if the $US400 million ($428 million) first week sales estimates prove correct, GTA IV will earn as much as Pirates Of The Caribbean III earned in its opening weekend in May last year to become Hollywood's record holder.
It would also eclipse Spider-Man 3 and the previous video game king, Halo 3, which raked in $US300 million in its first week in September last year.
Steve Wilson, CEO of EBGames, which held midnight launch events around Australia for GTA IV, said the launch was "almost twice as big as Halo 3".
"It was very, very big, much bigger than we were expecting even, and we were expecting big - particularly for a Tuesday," he said.
The game's developer, Rockstar Games, and EBGames both refused to release first-day sales figures or the number of copies sold.
Bellic is expected to join a growing list of game stars - Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider series and Master Chief from Halo, to name a few - that have become household names among anyone with even a passing interest in videos games.
Unlike the two-dimensional characters in movies, today's games allow players to become the character and completely immerse themselves in their world. And thanks to the power of the latest generation of games consoles, those worlds have become a lot richer, with virtually no limitations on where a player can travel, hundreds of characters to interact with and hundreds of thousands of lines of dialogue.
Bellic inhabits Liberty City, modelled on present-day New York, and has recently arrived in the US from Eastern Europe in search of the American Dream. But instead of the riches promised by his cousin Ramon, the anti-hero quickly becomes wrapped up in crime and warring rival syndicates as he helps Roman clear his hefty debt.
"We wanted someone who felt tough but also like an alien ... On the one hand he's an innocent, on the other hand he's battle hardened and world weary. A modern 'arriving in America' story felt very interesting to us," Rockstar co-founder and creative vice-president Dan Houser told Hollywood industry magazine Variety.
As players guide Bellic through the city's seedy criminal underbelly they can use breaks between missions to visit prostitutes and invite friends out for a drink, a round of pool or a game of darts. Bellic's phone can be used to dial up ambulances if he or friends become injured and players can even use the phone to buy and download tracks heard on the game's radio stations.
GTA IV is the ninth game in the Grand Theft Auto series, which has sold more than 70 million copies since its launch in 1997 and holds three of the top four spots on the list of best-selling games of all time. Unlike a typical movie, GTA IV takes 40 hours or more to get through and can be extended via the online multiplayer mode, making its $120 price tag somewhat easier to digest.
Variety reported that GTA IV's success could detract from film box office takings over the next few months as young males shy away from the cinema in favour of the couch. As far as heroes go, Bellic will be up against Indiana Jones and Batman when their latest outings debut in cinemas this year.
Rockstar is hoping GTA IV will be recognised alongside the great standout gangster movies, saying there hadn't been one over the past few years.
Metacritic, which aggregates reviews from all publications, lists 15 reviews for the PS3 version of GTA IV and 25 reviews for the Xbox 360 version. The average scores are 100 and 99 respectively.
"Grand Theft Auto IV is a violent, intelligent, profane, endearing, obnoxious, sly, richly textured and thoroughly compelling work of cultural satire disguised as fun," read a review in The New York Times.
The game, which rewards players for mass killing, carjacking and gambling and also includes drink driving and simulated sex with prostitutes, has raised the ire of family lobby groups, who say it could influence the real-life behaviour of young players.
In Australia, because there is no R18+ rating for video games, Rockstar Games was forced to tone down some of the more extreme content before it could be sold here under the MA15+ rating.
"While there are some minor differences between the Australian and US/EU versions, they are not significant and we do not believe they take away from the level of scope and detail that make GTA IV such an incredible experience," Rockstar said in a statement.
Game reviewers at IGN were one of the first in Australia to play through the local version of the title and confirmed the censorship changes were minor.
Murderous rampages, picking up prostitutes, visiting strip clubs for private lap dances and drink driving are all present in the Australian release but the act of having sex with hookers in one's car has been toned down.
"While you can spin the camera 360 degrees around the car and see Niko and the hooker bumping and grinding in the US version, during the act of sex the camera remains locked at the rear of the car, focusing on the bumping car itself and the sound effects in the Aussie version," IGN said.
But in a reminder of how meaningless local censorship rulings have become in the internet age, the uncensored Xbox 360 versions of Grand Theft Auto IV for both PAL and NTSC regions were leaked to various BitTorrent file sharing websites days before the midnight launch.
No, Niko Bellic, set to become the most high profile Slav in entertainment since Borat Sagdiyev took the box office by storm 18 months ago.
He is among the new breed of entertainment personalities who, rather than being cast, are built from scratch by a team of programmers and graphic designers.
He's the protagonist in Grand Theft Auto IV and, just days after hitting the streets, is already giving flesh-and-blood Hollywood stars a run for their money.
Launched around the world at midnight on Monday, Grand Theft Auto IV (GTA IV) is on track to become the biggest entertainment launch in history. Analysts have predicted the title, which has inspired near-perfect reviews from most gaming magazines, will sell at least 6 million copies in its first week.
And if the $US400 million ($428 million) first week sales estimates prove correct, GTA IV will earn as much as Pirates Of The Caribbean III earned in its opening weekend in May last year to become Hollywood's record holder.
It would also eclipse Spider-Man 3 and the previous video game king, Halo 3, which raked in $US300 million in its first week in September last year.
Steve Wilson, CEO of EBGames, which held midnight launch events around Australia for GTA IV, said the launch was "almost twice as big as Halo 3".
"It was very, very big, much bigger than we were expecting even, and we were expecting big - particularly for a Tuesday," he said.
The game's developer, Rockstar Games, and EBGames both refused to release first-day sales figures or the number of copies sold.
Bellic is expected to join a growing list of game stars - Lara Croft from the Tomb Raider series and Master Chief from Halo, to name a few - that have become household names among anyone with even a passing interest in videos games.
Unlike the two-dimensional characters in movies, today's games allow players to become the character and completely immerse themselves in their world. And thanks to the power of the latest generation of games consoles, those worlds have become a lot richer, with virtually no limitations on where a player can travel, hundreds of characters to interact with and hundreds of thousands of lines of dialogue.
Bellic inhabits Liberty City, modelled on present-day New York, and has recently arrived in the US from Eastern Europe in search of the American Dream. But instead of the riches promised by his cousin Ramon, the anti-hero quickly becomes wrapped up in crime and warring rival syndicates as he helps Roman clear his hefty debt.
"We wanted someone who felt tough but also like an alien ... On the one hand he's an innocent, on the other hand he's battle hardened and world weary. A modern 'arriving in America' story felt very interesting to us," Rockstar co-founder and creative vice-president Dan Houser told Hollywood industry magazine Variety.
As players guide Bellic through the city's seedy criminal underbelly they can use breaks between missions to visit prostitutes and invite friends out for a drink, a round of pool or a game of darts. Bellic's phone can be used to dial up ambulances if he or friends become injured and players can even use the phone to buy and download tracks heard on the game's radio stations.
GTA IV is the ninth game in the Grand Theft Auto series, which has sold more than 70 million copies since its launch in 1997 and holds three of the top four spots on the list of best-selling games of all time. Unlike a typical movie, GTA IV takes 40 hours or more to get through and can be extended via the online multiplayer mode, making its $120 price tag somewhat easier to digest.
Variety reported that GTA IV's success could detract from film box office takings over the next few months as young males shy away from the cinema in favour of the couch. As far as heroes go, Bellic will be up against Indiana Jones and Batman when their latest outings debut in cinemas this year.
Rockstar is hoping GTA IV will be recognised alongside the great standout gangster movies, saying there hadn't been one over the past few years.
Metacritic, which aggregates reviews from all publications, lists 15 reviews for the PS3 version of GTA IV and 25 reviews for the Xbox 360 version. The average scores are 100 and 99 respectively.
"Grand Theft Auto IV is a violent, intelligent, profane, endearing, obnoxious, sly, richly textured and thoroughly compelling work of cultural satire disguised as fun," read a review in The New York Times.
The game, which rewards players for mass killing, carjacking and gambling and also includes drink driving and simulated sex with prostitutes, has raised the ire of family lobby groups, who say it could influence the real-life behaviour of young players.
In Australia, because there is no R18+ rating for video games, Rockstar Games was forced to tone down some of the more extreme content before it could be sold here under the MA15+ rating.
"While there are some minor differences between the Australian and US/EU versions, they are not significant and we do not believe they take away from the level of scope and detail that make GTA IV such an incredible experience," Rockstar said in a statement.
Game reviewers at IGN were one of the first in Australia to play through the local version of the title and confirmed the censorship changes were minor.
Murderous rampages, picking up prostitutes, visiting strip clubs for private lap dances and drink driving are all present in the Australian release but the act of having sex with hookers in one's car has been toned down.
"While you can spin the camera 360 degrees around the car and see Niko and the hooker bumping and grinding in the US version, during the act of sex the camera remains locked at the rear of the car, focusing on the bumping car itself and the sound effects in the Aussie version," IGN said.
But in a reminder of how meaningless local censorship rulings have become in the internet age, the uncensored Xbox 360 versions of Grand Theft Auto IV for both PAL and NTSC regions were leaked to various BitTorrent file sharing websites days before the midnight launch.
Wednesday, April 09, 2008
Underbelly to go global - The Sydney Morning Herald - 8th April 2008
Controversial Melbourne gangland drama Underbelly will be seen by audiences around the world in Europe, Asia and Africa after the Nine Network signed an international distribution deal.
Nine today announced it had signed a deal with Fox International Channels and British-based distributor Portman Film & Television to broadcast the 13-episode series.
Underbelly will be screened across most Fox International Channel feeds, including Britain, Italy, the Balkans, Korea, Pan-Asia, Portugal, Russia, South Africa and Turkey.
Nine's chief executive David Gyngell said the deal was testament to the production quality of Underbelly.
"To say we are pleased is an understatement - we are delighted that the series will gain international audiences and global recognition."
Underbelly focuses on the story behind Melbourne's infamous gangland killings - a 10-year war between rival factions of the city's criminal underworld.
The program has not been shown in Victoria because of a court order suppressing its broadcast in that state.
Nine's head of drama, Jo Horsburgh said the series had been a "terrific creative challenge".
"We are hugely proud of this outcome," Horsburgh said.
The show's premiere was the most successful Australian drama launch in Sydney and nationally in the 25-54 year old demographic since the OzTam ratings system was introduced.
It was also the No.1 program on its premiere night for all people in all the markets in which it aired - Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
AAP
Media Man Australia Profiles
Underbelly
Network Nine Australia
Nine today announced it had signed a deal with Fox International Channels and British-based distributor Portman Film & Television to broadcast the 13-episode series.
Underbelly will be screened across most Fox International Channel feeds, including Britain, Italy, the Balkans, Korea, Pan-Asia, Portugal, Russia, South Africa and Turkey.
Nine's chief executive David Gyngell said the deal was testament to the production quality of Underbelly.
"To say we are pleased is an understatement - we are delighted that the series will gain international audiences and global recognition."
Underbelly focuses on the story behind Melbourne's infamous gangland killings - a 10-year war between rival factions of the city's criminal underworld.
The program has not been shown in Victoria because of a court order suppressing its broadcast in that state.
Nine's head of drama, Jo Horsburgh said the series had been a "terrific creative challenge".
"We are hugely proud of this outcome," Horsburgh said.
The show's premiere was the most successful Australian drama launch in Sydney and nationally in the 25-54 year old demographic since the OzTam ratings system was introduced.
It was also the No.1 program on its premiere night for all people in all the markets in which it aired - Sydney, Brisbane, Adelaide and Perth.
AAP
Media Man Australia Profiles
Underbelly
Network Nine Australia
Tuesday, May 08, 2007
Paris Hilton goes to jail
Profiles
Paris Hilton
Article
Why there's gold in them thar cells - The Age
Paris Hilton
Article
Why there's gold in them thar cells - The Age
PARIS HILTON will earn yet another fortune selling diaries and images of her life behind bars, according to leading publicists.
"She will probably make more money from it than Jeffrey Archer," said marketing guru Max Markson. "But she is very silly. She was warned. She was on a suspended sentence. She deserves to get 45 days."
Hilton's sentence for drunk driving is unlikely to adversely affect sales of Bondi Blonde, the beer she was hired to promote by its maker's part-owner, John Singleton, during a five-day visit to Sydney in January.
But she could use her marketing genius and jail sentence for a good cause, according to Greg Tingle, chief executive of Mediaman. "The opportunity certainly exists for Paris to turn this to a positive because of her strong social influence on youth globally," Tingle said.
"Paris and her close advisers should carefully consider what tactic to take with this. It's a golden opportunity to emphasise the dangers of alcohol abuse."
Since her first media appearance at the opening of a Las Vegas casino in 1999, Hilton has out ditzied Marilyn, built a business like Madonna and will soon have the ex-con marketability of Martha Stewart.
She has been so successful at turning a negative to a positive that she has created a new category of celebrity; the sleazebrity.
Who else could turn a humiliating sex video released by a toady former boyfriend into a global launch pad?
Who but Paris could profit from one million American parents signing a petition to ban a TV advertisement in which she slid across a soapy Bentley to eat a hamburger?
In his ebook Paris Hilton is a Fool, author W. Frederick Zimmerman writes that while the socialite/model/TV star is a fool, she is nobody's idiot. "The evidence seems to support the argument that, although she is no intellectual, she is a pretty shrewd businesswoman," Zimmerman writes.
"She is a risk taker who avoided the easy path of relying on a family fortune and struck out on her own to create an innovative personal career."
But life behind bars will be anything but the simple life for the multi-millionaire hotel heiress.
Tuesday, April 24, 2007
ABC 'Difference Of Opinion' - Growing Up In The Digital Age - 23rd April 2007
Media Man Australia director, Greg Tingle, publicly discusses his stalker, defamation, outlandish allegations, and the good, the bad and the ugly of the internet on national television via ABC 'Difference Of Opinion'.
Profiles
Stalkers
Technology News
ABC
For more information contact:
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
m: 0424 223 674
e: greg@mediaman.com.au
w: www.mediaman.com.au
a: PO Box 4055 Maroubra South NSW 2035
Member: National Press Club, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Maroubra Chamber of Commerce...
Profiles
Stalkers
Technology News
ABC
For more information contact:
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
m: 0424 223 674
e: greg@mediaman.com.au
w: www.mediaman.com.au
a: PO Box 4055 Maroubra South NSW 2035
Member: National Press Club, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Maroubra Chamber of Commerce...
Friday, April 13, 2007
Cyber Squatter - Crime
The cyber squatter and cyber stalker and stalker of Media Man Australia, has now started to again receive legal letters from others, who she is also breaking laws against.
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
e: greg@mediaman.com.au
w: www.mediaman.com.au
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
e: greg@mediaman.com.au
w: www.mediaman.com.au
Saturday, April 07, 2007
Media Man Australia Website Updated
The Media Man Australia website has been updated, including:
The Underworld
Stalker Directory
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
The Underworld
Stalker Directory
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
Sunday, March 25, 2007
Cyber Crime, Cyber Stalking, Cyber Squatting News
Cyber Crime, Cyber Stalking, Cyber Squatting News
Media Man Australia director, Greg Tingle (myself) recently spoke at the National Speakers Association of Australia on the media and publicity business. Also covered was cyber crime, cyber stalking and cyber squatting, which Media Man Australia has experienced. Some readers will be familiar with the Virgin Star stalker situation as covered in the media including with B&T who published 'Publicist attacked poison pen'.
Media Man Australia has received numerous correspondence regarding what is known as the Virgin Star Stalker aka Women from Maas.
Media Man Australia has published a poem about the stalker.
Authorities have been tipped off regarding the Virgin Star Stalker.
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
Media Man Australia director, Greg Tingle (myself) recently spoke at the National Speakers Association of Australia on the media and publicity business. Also covered was cyber crime, cyber stalking and cyber squatting, which Media Man Australia has experienced. Some readers will be familiar with the Virgin Star stalker situation as covered in the media including with B&T who published 'Publicist attacked poison pen'.
Media Man Australia has received numerous correspondence regarding what is known as the Virgin Star Stalker aka Women from Maas.
Media Man Australia has published a poem about the stalker.
Authorities have been tipped off regarding the Virgin Star Stalker.
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
Thursday, March 08, 2007
ABC 4 Corners
ABC 4 Corners recently did an excellent report on "rehabilitation" in the Australian jails.
This was of particular interest to myself and my good friend and associate, Mick "The Cutta" Cutajar. Mick and I agree that much needs to be done to improve the situation, as done much of our inner circle.
ABC 4 Corners official website
Mick Cutajar official website
Mick Cutajar profile
It was also awesome to hear of Sir Richard Branson, head of Virgin Enterprises Limited, visiting an Australian jail on his recent trip to Sydney, Australia.
Thank God for the ABC.
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
This was of particular interest to myself and my good friend and associate, Mick "The Cutta" Cutajar. Mick and I agree that much needs to be done to improve the situation, as done much of our inner circle.
ABC 4 Corners official website
Mick Cutajar official website
Mick Cutajar profile
It was also awesome to hear of Sir Richard Branson, head of Virgin Enterprises Limited, visiting an Australian jail on his recent trip to Sydney, Australia.
Thank God for the ABC.
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
Thursday, February 22, 2007
Crime Media
Journalist and publicist, Greg Tingle, has tipped on Network Nine ACA, 60 Minutes, Seven's TT and ABC 4 Corners on various persons of interest.
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
e: greg@mediaman.com.au
w: www.mediaman.com.au
Best Regards
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
e: greg@mediaman.com.au
w: www.mediaman.com.au
Sunday, December 18, 2005
Media Man Australia - Stalker situation update
Media Man Australia - Stalker situation update
Folks, I was just notified that my stalker (many of you can guess who it is) visited my residence yesterday (Saturday 17th December 2005). I also visited Randwick Police Station again today.
The recent press attention includes the following...
'Publicist attacked by poison pen'
Following a spate of email-related scandals this year, Sydney publicist Greg Tingle is the latest person to fall victim to a malicious email that has been circulated around the globe...
Additional information:
A number of Media Man Australia clients, contacts and associates have been contacted by the stalker (a former very short time client). by both e-mail and telephone! At least one contact is also prepared to put an AVO on the stalker, and approx 99% of the people who received the hoax e-mail from greg.tingle@gmail.com know it was a hoax / criminal related act, and that I was certainly not the author of such rubbish. Furthermore, the fact that people were contacted by not only e-mail, but also telephone, builds the legal argument that my Google g-mail e-mail was used without permission, as the persecutor had to get the phone numbers of my clients and contacts from someone, and not all of their details were / are in the public domain.
I would like to say a big thank you to my friends and clients at this challenging time.
Some of my friends are looking after me in a big, big way, and I am most grateful.
Stay tuned to the developing situation.
Best Regards & Season's Greetings
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
e: greg@mediaman.com.au
w: www.mediaman.com.au
a: PO Box 4055 Maroubra South NSW 2035
Member: National Press Club, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Maroubra Chamber of Commerce...
Folks, I was just notified that my stalker (many of you can guess who it is) visited my residence yesterday (Saturday 17th December 2005). I also visited Randwick Police Station again today.
The recent press attention includes the following...
'Publicist attacked by poison pen'
Following a spate of email-related scandals this year, Sydney publicist Greg Tingle is the latest person to fall victim to a malicious email that has been circulated around the globe...
Additional information:
A number of Media Man Australia clients, contacts and associates have been contacted by the stalker (a former very short time client). by both e-mail and telephone! At least one contact is also prepared to put an AVO on the stalker, and approx 99% of the people who received the hoax e-mail from greg.tingle@gmail.com know it was a hoax / criminal related act, and that I was certainly not the author of such rubbish. Furthermore, the fact that people were contacted by not only e-mail, but also telephone, builds the legal argument that my Google g-mail e-mail was used without permission, as the persecutor had to get the phone numbers of my clients and contacts from someone, and not all of their details were / are in the public domain.
I would like to say a big thank you to my friends and clients at this challenging time.
Some of my friends are looking after me in a big, big way, and I am most grateful.
Stay tuned to the developing situation.
Best Regards & Season's Greetings
Greg Tingle
Director
Media Man Australia
e: greg@mediaman.com.au
w: www.mediaman.com.au
a: PO Box 4055 Maroubra South NSW 2035
Member: National Press Club, Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance, Maroubra Chamber of Commerce...
Saturday, November 26, 2005
Monday, August 08, 2005
Article - I am Osama: court told of terror threats (Sydney Morning Herald)
A reality TV show producer claimed he was Osama bin Laden and warned of follow up terror attacks on Australians, a court heard today.
Charles Gant, 42, of the Gold Coast, was accused of making phone calls to the Australian High Commission in Singapore six days after the Jakarta embassy bombing.
He was also accused of making "disturbing" calls to several media companies, claiming to be from al-Qaeda and threatening to kill Australians, a Gold Coast court was told today.
Egyptian-born Gant was arrested at 8pm (AEST) yesterday in his Labrador apartment by members of the Brisbane-based joint counter terrorism team of the Australian Federal Police.
The self-proclaimed creator and star of a proposed reality television show dating game called Fantasy Island arrived at the Southport Magistrates Court in handcuffs wearing a blue polo shirt and jeans.
He faced six charges under the Commonwealth Crime Act with intentionally using a carriage service to menace or harass.
Crown prosecutor Anthony Gett said while the charges carried a maximum 12 month prison term, in the present climate the allegations were disturbing to the public interest.
Mr Gett said the calls were made from South Australia using seven different sim cards, but Australian Federal Police could link the calls to a unique serial number in Gant's mobile phone.
Media Monitors received the first of four calls made on September 12.
"The God of Islam, I am al-Qaeda," the caller said.
"You Westerners know what you've done and you will pay for your sins.
"The attack in Jakarta is just the first, more will follow in Singapore and Malaysia."
Similar calls were made to the offices of Sky News, the Age newspaper and Fairfax Newspapers.
"Listen to me you are all Australian pigs and you will die," Gant allegedly told a telephone receptionist at Fairfax Newspapers.
"In the name of Allah see what happens in Singapore."
Mr Gett said two calls were made on September 15 to the Australian High Commission in Singapore.
In one call Gant allegedly identified himself as Osama bin Laden and warned that Australian offices in Singapore and Malaysia were targets.
"The bomb that happened in Jakarta is going to happen in Malaysia and Singapore, he said.
"I called to warn you of more attacks on Australian consulates in Malaysia and Singapore."
Gant's lawyer Jason Buckland said the charges were based on circumstantial evidence and would be vigorously defended.
He said Gant had publicity commitments for his television show and his profile made him unlikely to be able to hide.
"I am very confident this defendant is going to be watched like a hawk by the commonwealth law enforcement agencies," he added.
Bail was denied and Gant was remanded in custody to appear during Commonwealth Court sittings in Brisbane on October 8.
Outside court Gant's elderly mother, Marie Dubois, pleaded her son's innocence.
"He's a good boy, he's never done anything wrong, he's not terrorist," she said.
Article - I'm in love with the postcard bandit
True life
Credit: Woman's Day (ACP)| The people behind the stories that make news Check out our compelling new True Life section beginning this week in Woman's Day. It's packed full of fascinating real-life reads about people who've experienced amazing things - some happy, some bizarre, some shocking but all entertaining. |
I'm in love with the postcard bandit
Like many women in long-distance relationships, Tilly Needham travels thousands of kilometres each month to visit the man she loves. But this is no ordinary affair. Tilly's boyfriend is the infamous 'Postcard Bandit' and he'll be in prison until 2018. Here, Tilly talks about her love for a bank robber ...
Tilly Needham proves that love knows no boundaries. The 51-year-old daughter of a decorated policeman and former de facto of a senior Brisbane detective has found her soul mate in the most unlikely place of all - a prison.
Tilly, a mother of six, has lost her heart to one of Australia's most infamous criminals, armed robber Brenden Abbott, better known as the "Postcard Bandit".
For the past six years Tilly, who lives in Darwin, has travelled to Brisbane once a month to visit 43-year-old Abbott, who's spent most of the years since his 1998 recapture in solitary confinement.
Although Tilly won't reveal how or when she first met the fugitive Abbott, she admits to being instantly attracted to him, not by his looks alone, but by his "integrity, morals and standards".
"I'm not talking about the criminal element. I'm talking about him, the human being," says Tilly, who describes herself as loyal and non-judgmental. "Brenden's given me more than any man has given me in my life.
"As well as having a warm personality and good sense of humour, he's understanding, compassionate, respectful, trustful and caring ... he completes me as a woman.
"I know a lot of people will find that hard to accept, but they don't know the real Brenden.
"My late dad, Eric, would not have approved of his criminal side, but man to man, they would have got on like a house on fire," she adds.
Tilly admits the man she calls "hon" has no sugar-coated background. His earliest possible parole date from prison is 2018.
Seen by some as a latter-day Ned Kelly, Abbott's exploits were highlighted in an Australian movie called The Postcard Bandit, starring Tom Long, shown on TV last year.
Abbott, who netted millions of dollars in numerous bank raids, earned his nickname for supposedly sending taunting postcards to police while he was on the run - but Australia's most wanted man for eight years claims he never sent a single card.
Because of their infrequent visits, Tilly - who lived with a policeman for more than 15 years and has three children by him - says she tries to make their time together count.
"I can't understand it when I'm visiting Brenden and I see other inmates and their partners arguing or fighting, instead of embracing each other. The little time they have together should be real quality time - that's what Brenden and I try to achieve.
"That's when I just wish I could pack him up and take him home. I have a little tear when my flight leaves. We still have our numerous phone calls in between, which is far better than nothing at all," says articulate and well-spoken Tilly, who runs a beauty salon.
Story: Warren Gibbs
For more on this story and other amazing true life stories, see this week's issue of Woman's Day:
Miracle mum - 'I had triplets after losing three babies.'
Schapelle Corby's birthday joy - 'Thank you all for thinking of me.'
Got a story? Contact Rachel Morris on (02) 9282 8539 or e-mail ramorris@acp.com.au
Article - Profile - Big Tim Bristow
Time spent with a loveable rogue
By Greg Tingle
Australia’s legendary private investigator, Tim “earthquake” Bristow, was one of Australia’s most colourful, and some may say, notorious underworld figures until his death earlier this year. He was also my friend and some time mentor.
Bristow was synonymous with Australia’s northern beaches community. He seemed to have contacts in almost every street from Palm Beach to Manly and beyond.
Our introduction came about via my late father in the mid-1980s when he and Bristow worked together as debt collectors. I helped out on the odd job as well, but my services were mainly in his trucking and property business.
Time with Bristow was precious, whether we were enjoying a bite at “Lucky and Pep’s Pizza” or having a punt at the Newport TAB, which had been the most successful book-making business of its kind under my grandfather's previous management.
Bristow wore many hats over his lifetime, including those of: private investigator (specialising in divorce cases); “problem solver” for industry disputes; a bouncer; and a competitive sportsman in diving, surfing and rugby.
Betting on the horses or collecting press clippings and videos of broadcasts he featured in were hobbies that continued well into later life.
In his younger years, he was a model and secured major sponsorship from Coca Cola: a real-life “chesty Bond.” He was a man’s man and a ladies’ man.
A spell in the New South Wales Police Service didn’t last long due to his unwillingness to bow to authority. His self-managed style did not bode well in an atmosphere of strict discipline.
In 1976, Bristow was convicted of assault and sentenced to 18 months in prison. A decade later he was sentenced to five years in prison for supplying Indian hemp. He was no angel, and this was touched upon by his brother during his eulogy.
Bristow struck fear into low-lifes in Australia. "I bribed police for 40 years. I found that the higher I went in society the lower the morals became," he was once quoted as saying.
He was both a very public and private personality. His funeral took place at St Thomas’ Church, North Sydney in February; his wake at Chatswood – both of which were public affairs.
He went to great lengths to keep his name out of the papers if he knew they intended to publish something detrimental about him. It is ironic one of his closest friends - the journalist and writer - Kevin Perkins, is now penning his biography: warts and all.
He had a love-hate relationship with the media and their interest in his exploits in the sometimes “seedy” construction industry.
Twice in the weeks before his death, I went to his beautiful Newport home to chat, drink and watch old video tapes of his TV interviews.
I mentioned a book I had read recently: “Not for Publication” by Chris Masters and a chapter of particular interest to me, entitled: “Guilty Buildings.”
I knew Bristow was the chapter's inferred subject but nonetheless I had to ask while I still had the opportunity.
Bristow jovially confessed.
Literally every media and crime figure personality I alluded to, he seemed to have a suitable anecdote for.
His criminal record and "enforcer" reputation led a royal commission to investigate the construction industry underworld in the early 1990s after he told 60 Minutes he had been employed by big building firms as an "industrial relations consultant."
From my time spent working for him, I can confirm he visited many building sites around Sydney, sometimes accompanied by an extra passenger or two in case more persuasion was called for.
Rumours of unco-operative men “falling to their deaths” on building sites abounded at one time and his home tennis court is rumoured to have foundations of more than just rubble.
During the royal commission investigation into productivity in the New South Wales building industry, Bristow said he suggested people on building sites that continued to disrupt work might meet with a “bad accident.”
However, listening to Bristow’s tales, one got the feeling he was adding at least a little colour for entertainment value.
Australian radio broadcasting kingpin, Alan Jones, will remember that in 1974, when he was a coach for King's first XV, Bristow turned up to provide pointers to his lads on the finer aspects of playing rugby.
A member of the team recounts how Bristow advised them on how to dislocate a shoulder; how to re-align the jawbone of an opposing player with the merest nudge, and how a simple twist could snap a finger.
"It was all very subtle but the end result was very messy," the player recalled.
At the end of Bristow's on-air chat with an ashen-faced Alan Jones, no-doubt recoiling in his studio chair some years later, the broadcaster waited for the “enforcer” to be safely ensconced in his Mercedes convertible outside, before answering to his charges by telling his audience: "Just forget everything you've heard this afternoon."
Rumour has it if you got on the bad side of Bristow, you secured a one way ticket to the “see-you-later-club” - located off the heads of Palm Beach – with concrete blocks for boots.
I took the trip with him a few times, and needless to say I lived to tell the tale. The trip was quite a pleasant experience. However, I admit when I was sitting on the bow of his speedboat at a speed approaching 50 knots once, I felt somewhat tentative.
Although he circulated in a somewhat dubious world, Bristow was in no way a dubious or “dodgy” character. He had all the characteristics of a good person – he had morals, was loyal, truthful and giving of heart.
Still, no one is pretending one of Australia’s most misunderstood, legendary and public figures was always an easy man to get on with.
Tim “earthquake” Bristow's life story by Kevin Perkins is due to be released in October.
By Greg Tingle
Australia’s legendary private investigator, Tim “earthquake” Bristow, was one of Australia’s most colourful, and some may say, notorious underworld figures until his death earlier this year. He was also my friend and some time mentor.
Bristow was synonymous with Australia’s northern beaches community. He seemed to have contacts in almost every street from Palm Beach to Manly and beyond.
Our introduction came about via my late father in the mid-1980s when he and Bristow worked together as debt collectors. I helped out on the odd job as well, but my services were mainly in his trucking and property business.
Time with Bristow was precious, whether we were enjoying a bite at “Lucky and Pep’s Pizza” or having a punt at the Newport TAB, which had been the most successful book-making business of its kind under my grandfather's previous management.
Bristow wore many hats over his lifetime, including those of: private investigator (specialising in divorce cases); “problem solver” for industry disputes; a bouncer; and a competitive sportsman in diving, surfing and rugby.
Betting on the horses or collecting press clippings and videos of broadcasts he featured in were hobbies that continued well into later life.
In his younger years, he was a model and secured major sponsorship from Coca Cola: a real-life “chesty Bond.” He was a man’s man and a ladies’ man.
A spell in the New South Wales Police Service didn’t last long due to his unwillingness to bow to authority. His self-managed style did not bode well in an atmosphere of strict discipline.
In 1976, Bristow was convicted of assault and sentenced to 18 months in prison. A decade later he was sentenced to five years in prison for supplying Indian hemp. He was no angel, and this was touched upon by his brother during his eulogy.
Bristow struck fear into low-lifes in Australia. "I bribed police for 40 years. I found that the higher I went in society the lower the morals became," he was once quoted as saying.
He was both a very public and private personality. His funeral took place at St Thomas’ Church, North Sydney in February; his wake at Chatswood – both of which were public affairs.
He went to great lengths to keep his name out of the papers if he knew they intended to publish something detrimental about him. It is ironic one of his closest friends - the journalist and writer - Kevin Perkins, is now penning his biography: warts and all.
He had a love-hate relationship with the media and their interest in his exploits in the sometimes “seedy” construction industry.
Twice in the weeks before his death, I went to his beautiful Newport home to chat, drink and watch old video tapes of his TV interviews.
I mentioned a book I had read recently: “Not for Publication” by Chris Masters and a chapter of particular interest to me, entitled: “Guilty Buildings.”
I knew Bristow was the chapter's inferred subject but nonetheless I had to ask while I still had the opportunity.
Bristow jovially confessed.
Literally every media and crime figure personality I alluded to, he seemed to have a suitable anecdote for.
His criminal record and "enforcer" reputation led a royal commission to investigate the construction industry underworld in the early 1990s after he told 60 Minutes he had been employed by big building firms as an "industrial relations consultant."
From my time spent working for him, I can confirm he visited many building sites around Sydney, sometimes accompanied by an extra passenger or two in case more persuasion was called for.
Rumours of unco-operative men “falling to their deaths” on building sites abounded at one time and his home tennis court is rumoured to have foundations of more than just rubble.
During the royal commission investigation into productivity in the New South Wales building industry, Bristow said he suggested people on building sites that continued to disrupt work might meet with a “bad accident.”
However, listening to Bristow’s tales, one got the feeling he was adding at least a little colour for entertainment value.
Australian radio broadcasting kingpin, Alan Jones, will remember that in 1974, when he was a coach for King's first XV, Bristow turned up to provide pointers to his lads on the finer aspects of playing rugby.
A member of the team recounts how Bristow advised them on how to dislocate a shoulder; how to re-align the jawbone of an opposing player with the merest nudge, and how a simple twist could snap a finger.
"It was all very subtle but the end result was very messy," the player recalled.
At the end of Bristow's on-air chat with an ashen-faced Alan Jones, no-doubt recoiling in his studio chair some years later, the broadcaster waited for the “enforcer” to be safely ensconced in his Mercedes convertible outside, before answering to his charges by telling his audience: "Just forget everything you've heard this afternoon."
Rumour has it if you got on the bad side of Bristow, you secured a one way ticket to the “see-you-later-club” - located off the heads of Palm Beach – with concrete blocks for boots.
I took the trip with him a few times, and needless to say I lived to tell the tale. The trip was quite a pleasant experience. However, I admit when I was sitting on the bow of his speedboat at a speed approaching 50 knots once, I felt somewhat tentative.
Although he circulated in a somewhat dubious world, Bristow was in no way a dubious or “dodgy” character. He had all the characteristics of a good person – he had morals, was loyal, truthful and giving of heart.
Still, no one is pretending one of Australia’s most misunderstood, legendary and public figures was always an easy man to get on with.
Tim “earthquake” Bristow's life story by Kevin Perkins is due to be released in October.
Monday, September 27, 2004
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