Latest news with #Brisbane
Daily Mail
2 hours ago
- Daily Mail
Trio face jury verdict in tense retrial ten years after the gruesome 'Toolbox murder' of an Aussie man and woman
For hours, three men played video games and drank whiskey as Cory Breton and Iuliana Triscaru lay bound in a toolbox nearby. The pair had been beaten, stabbed and choked before they were stuffed into the two metre-long container. They were likely 'screaming for their lives' when the toolbox was later dumped in a lagoon south of Brisbane in January 2016. Almost 10 years later, Stou Daniels, Davy Malu Junior Taiao and Trent Michael Thrupp were found guilty of the pair's murder for a second time. They faced a retrial in Brisbane after the Court of Appeal set aside murder convictions in July 2024. Mr Breton, 28, and Ms Triscaru, 31, had been lured to a residential unit at Kingston, south of Brisbane, before being attacked by a group of men. 'It was torturous. They were assaulted when they arrived and throughout the day... while bound with cable ties and duct tape,' Crown prosecutor Nathan Crane told the weeks-long trial that concluded with Friday's verdicts. They were attacked, interrogated and threatened over a drug dealing dispute. When Ngatokoona Mareiti arrived at the unit to buy drugs, Mr Breton and Ms Triscaru were sitting bound on the couch. Sent away to buy whiskey, by the time Mareiti returned she could not see the pair and assumed they were in the toolbox at the unit. They drank and played video games as the bound pair were held captive in the container nearby. 'We drank the alcohol... they had a PlayStation there,' Mareiti told the jury. Cloths and bleach used to clean bloodstains in the unit were thrown into the toolbox before it was taken away with Mr Breton and Ms Triscaru still inside. The terrified pair made so much noise as the container was being moved, music from an awaiting ute was turned up in a bid to conceal it. 'The transition of the toolbox to a HiLux utility vehicle attracted attention from those present at the unit complex - there was noise emanating from the toolbox,' Mr Crane said. 'There was music used from the HiLux to cover up the sound.' Thrupp either threw the toolbox weighed down by concrete into nearby Scrubby Creek or was present when it happened, Mr Crane said. Daniels and Taiao were also liable for murder by forcing the victims into the toolbox hours before their deaths, he said. Police divers found the bodies locked in the toolbox submerged in the creek two weeks later. 'Most likely the two... were alive and screaming for their lives when they were placed in the creek,' Justice Peter Davis said in 2020 when sentencing Tuhirangi-Thomas Tahiata, who drove the ute to the creek. 'It is haunting to imagine the moment that the toolbox slipped under the water, plunging the night into silence.' Daniels, Taiao and Thrupp each pleaded not guilty to two counts of murder at their retrial. The jury on Friday returned its verdict after deliberating since 10.45am Wednesday. The trio will be sentenced on Thursday. Overall seven men and a woman were charged over what became known as the 'toolbox murders'. Tahiata received a life sentence for murder, unsuccessfully appealing the conviction in April 2024. Mareiti, Webbstar Latu, Tepuna Tupuna Mariri and Waylon Ngaketo Cowan Walker were found guilty of manslaughter. However, Walker had his convictions overturned in July 2024.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brisbane Roar eyeing off former Adelaide United defender Giuseppe Bovalina
Brisbane Roar have expressed an interest in bringing former Adelaide United defender Giuseppe Bovalina back to the A-League, and also haven't ruled out convincing winger Nikola Mileusnic to rejoin the club. Roar insiders have confirmed that both Bovalina and Mileusnic are in the club's sights. Bovalina, 20, joined Major League Soccer Club Vancouver Whitecaps in April last year from the Reds on an initial contract that will expire in 2026. However, Bovalina is struggling for game time, and could be tempted to kickstart his career at the Roar under the club's new coach, former Adelaide captain Michael Valkanis. Another former Red in Mileusnic left the Roar after three seasons to join Perth Glory last year. His Glory contract expires this month, and having started in only nine A-League games for Perth in the club's dismal 2024-25 campaign, a return to Brisbane could very well be on the cards for the 31-year-old attacking weapon, particularly with Valkanis having replaced Ruben Zadkovich as coach. Meanwhile, former Roar playmaker Keegan Jelacic has signed a two-year deal with Melbourne Victory. Jelacic, 22, left the Roar last month after joining the club on loan from Belgian outfit Gent in January last year. The Australian under-23 international has now parted ways with Gent permanently to link with the Victory, who have lost the past two A-League grand finals. 'Joining one of the biggest clubs in the league is always an exciting prospect,' Jelacic said. 'I'm looking forward to experiencing the passion of the club and doing my part on the pitch.' Victory coach Arthur Diles said Jelacic was an 'example of outstanding young Australian talent with valuable experience both locally and internationally'. 'Keegan's arrival at the club ahead of our 2025-26 campaign will bolster our midfield as we aim to go one better than we did last season,' Diles said. 'We have a strong foundation to build on, and we're looking forward to seeing Keegan bring his best to the team and contribute to our success.'
ABC News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
AFL round 15: Cats vs Lions live updates — blog, scores and stats from Kardinia Park
Brisbane travels to Geelong, hoping to end a 22-year wait for a win at Kardinia Park against the Cats, with the Lions' top-four spot on the line. The game is also a personal milestone for Geelong skipper Patrick Dangerfield, who plays his 350th AFL match tonight. Follow the live blog below, keep up to date with all the latest stats in our ScoreCentre, and tune in to our live radio coverage.
Daily Mail
4 hours ago
- Business
- Daily Mail
Why that home you could afford in 2018 is now a fantasy - with Aussies urged to buy now before it's too late
The average Aussie can no longer afford the typical big city house they could seven years ago after property price rises soared at triple the pace of wages. Record-low interest rates during Covid followed by record-high immigration levels have caused house prices to climb by double-digit figures in some years. Across Australia, prices have surged by 56 per cent since 2018 but in Brisbane, house values have soared by 86 per cent and almost doubled in Adelaide. By comparison, overall wages have increased by just 18.6 per cent - or a third the level of property price increases. Finder personal finance expert Sarah Megginson said entry level prices were only likely to keep soaring, despite the high levels of mortgage stress. 'Demand – especially in affordable markets – is expected to surge, which could potentially push entry-level prices even higher and squeeze first home buyers further,' she said. Back in 2018, Australia's middle home price covering houses and units stood at $532,327, CoreLogic data showed. With a 20 per cent deposit, the average, full-time worker earning $83,486 was at a pinch able to get a loan and borrow five times their salary before tax. Seven years later, Australia's median home price now stands at $831,288. Someone earning the new average, full-time salary of $102,742 with the equivalent deposit would now have to borrow 6.5 times their income - putting them in the severe mortgage stress territory. The banks are reluctant to lend a prospective borrower more than five times their pay, with the Reserve Bank's two rate cuts in 2025, so far, hardly undoing the 13 increases in 2022 and 2023. The 3.85 per cent cash rate is the lowest since June 2023 but is still a far cry from the Covid record low of 0.1 per cent. Lower interest rates increase borrowing capacity, but they also put up house prices. Sydney, Australia's most expensive property market with the biggest inflow of overseas migration, has seen its mid-point house price climb by 49 per cent since mid-2018, with prices rising from $998,270 to $1.486million. But in Brisbane, house prices have soared by a whopping 85.7 per cent from $538,693 to just over $1million in a city with a large influx of interstate migration. Record-low interest rates during Covid followed by record-high immigration levels caused house prices to climb by double-digit figures during some years (pictured is a Sydney auction) Perth prices have soared by 69 per cent from $481,612 to $813,810, in another city with strong population growth from other parts of Australia. Adelaide house prices have almost doubled, surging by 89.3 per cent from $465,992 to $882,157. Melbourne, however, is the exception to other major capital city markets with its mid-point house price climbing by just 15.6 per cent from $813,064 to $939,965. This was the only big capital city where house prices increased at a pace slower than wages growth. What if I'm single? Single Australians earning the average wage were able to buy the median-priced house in most capital cities, except Sydney and Melbourne, less than a decade ago. But that's dramatically changed with only working couples now having a chance in most capital city markets. A Finder analysis revealed South Australia has seen the biggest decline since 2017, going from having 85 per cent of suburbs being affordable for singles to 19 per cent. The ratio in Western Australia has fallen from 67 per cent to just 17 per cent. In Queensland, it's plunged from 66 per cent to 19 per cent. New South Wales, which was an overpriced market eight years ago, saw the proportion of affordable suburbs fall from 40 per cent to 11 per cent. Despite weak price growth in Melbourne, the proportion of affordable suburbs in Victoria had declined from 50 per cent to just 16 per cent. 'Buying a home is harder than ever, especially if you're trying to do it on your own without a partner or family member,' Ms Megginson said. 'First home buyers are not expecting to step into a mansion for their first property, but even those with realistic expectations are shocked that even entry-level homes carry eye-watering price tags.'
The Advertiser
5 hours ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Tamika Upton named co-captain on return to Broncos
Tamika Upton has been appointed co-captain on her hotly-anticipated return to Brisbane. Often regarded as the NRLW's best player, the fullback will join Ali Brigginshaw in skippering the Broncos this season, the first of her new three-year deal. "With co-captaincy, you can bring out each other's strengths, you can work as a team and bounce off each other," Upton said. "I'm comfortable in my own skin now and I think that helps with this role. "'Princey' (coach Scott Prince) has put a good base together with this team in the last few years, so I have quite an easy role to just slot in and bring my strengths to it." The leadership role comes after Upton earned a release from the final three years of her Newcastle deal to return to Queensland and be closer to family. The 2023 Dally M Medallist won the 2019 and 2020 premierships with the Broncos before joining the Knights, with whom she won two more. Now that she is back, Upton insists she and veteran Hayley Maddick can co-exist in the same 17. Maddick has made the Broncos' fullback spot her own since Upton left, starting in the No.1 jersey in 25 of her 28 games and earning a State of Origin debut for Queensland this year. "How she's played the last few years has been incredible," Upton said. "I still think there's a spot for both of us. Who knows where that will be. "No spots are guaranteed in this team, you have to work for it, you have to fight for it. You have to put your best out there on the training field." Tamika Upton has been appointed co-captain on her hotly-anticipated return to Brisbane. Often regarded as the NRLW's best player, the fullback will join Ali Brigginshaw in skippering the Broncos this season, the first of her new three-year deal. "With co-captaincy, you can bring out each other's strengths, you can work as a team and bounce off each other," Upton said. "I'm comfortable in my own skin now and I think that helps with this role. "'Princey' (coach Scott Prince) has put a good base together with this team in the last few years, so I have quite an easy role to just slot in and bring my strengths to it." The leadership role comes after Upton earned a release from the final three years of her Newcastle deal to return to Queensland and be closer to family. The 2023 Dally M Medallist won the 2019 and 2020 premierships with the Broncos before joining the Knights, with whom she won two more. Now that she is back, Upton insists she and veteran Hayley Maddick can co-exist in the same 17. Maddick has made the Broncos' fullback spot her own since Upton left, starting in the No.1 jersey in 25 of her 28 games and earning a State of Origin debut for Queensland this year. "How she's played the last few years has been incredible," Upton said. "I still think there's a spot for both of us. Who knows where that will be. "No spots are guaranteed in this team, you have to work for it, you have to fight for it. You have to put your best out there on the training field." Tamika Upton has been appointed co-captain on her hotly-anticipated return to Brisbane. Often regarded as the NRLW's best player, the fullback will join Ali Brigginshaw in skippering the Broncos this season, the first of her new three-year deal. "With co-captaincy, you can bring out each other's strengths, you can work as a team and bounce off each other," Upton said. "I'm comfortable in my own skin now and I think that helps with this role. "'Princey' (coach Scott Prince) has put a good base together with this team in the last few years, so I have quite an easy role to just slot in and bring my strengths to it." The leadership role comes after Upton earned a release from the final three years of her Newcastle deal to return to Queensland and be closer to family. The 2023 Dally M Medallist won the 2019 and 2020 premierships with the Broncos before joining the Knights, with whom she won two more. Now that she is back, Upton insists she and veteran Hayley Maddick can co-exist in the same 17. Maddick has made the Broncos' fullback spot her own since Upton left, starting in the No.1 jersey in 25 of her 28 games and earning a State of Origin debut for Queensland this year. "How she's played the last few years has been incredible," Upton said. "I still think there's a spot for both of us. Who knows where that will be. "No spots are guaranteed in this team, you have to work for it, you have to fight for it. You have to put your best out there on the training field."
