Latest news with #Perth
BBC News
28 minutes ago
- General
- BBC News
Brave firefighters 'saved many lives' in Perth tenement blaze
The rapid response of "brave firefighters" saved many lives during a tenement blaze in Perth over the weekend, a council meeting has council leader Eric Drysdale said that the internal stairwell of the building on the corner of Scott Street and South Street had been destroyed during the fire, leaving no other means of escape for residents.A man died and two people - an eight-year-old girl and a 27-year-old man - were taken to hospital following the fire, which broke out at about 01:50 on Drysdale said the girl had sustained serious injuries in the blaze, but was now "on the road to recovery." Two firefighters, one of whom was struck by falling masonry, were given medical entire building will be demolished as a result of the blaze and 50 families have been affected. Cllr Drysdale told the meeting - convened to discuss financial aid for tenants and businesses - that the emergency services had responded "magnificently."He said: "On arrival, without hesitating, our brave firefighters proceeded towards what had already become an inferno and were able to rescue many residents from upper floor windows after the internal stairwell had already been destroyed by the fire leaving no other means of escape."The councillor said that it was "very clear" that the rapid response and evacuation tactics saved "many lives."Speaking about the residents, he said: "One minute most, if not all of them, were fast asleep in bed, the next they awoke in terror with flames and smoke in the stairway and entering their homes."Some in lower floors planned their escape by lowering bedsheets out of windows while others stood at windows shouting to be rescued. "All wearing nothing but their nightclothes, and all set to leave their homes and all their worldly possessions behind."The councillor also thanked the nearby Salutation Hotel for looking after the evacuated residents, and the kindness of the local community. Councillors were told that about 70 businesses had approached the local authority for help following the Scottish government has also pledged its and Kinross Council's chief financial officer Scott Walker said the authority is required to contribute the first £850,000 towards the significant costs associated with the incident response - largely the demolition of the unsafe will be asked on Wednesday to consider allocating financial support from the council budget to those most affected by the by Kathryn Anderson, Local Democracy Reporting Service
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Matthew Harley Gempton tells murder trial of Peter Nguyen-Ha his former friend fired fatal shots
A debt collector turned prosecution witness in a Perth murder trial has described how his former friend fired shots into a suburban home, killing an innocent man. Peter Nguyen-Ha is on trial, accused of murdering Ralph Matthews Cox, who was shot dead through the bedroom window of his Landsdale home in January 2022. The court had heard that Mr Nguyen-Ha and Matthew Harley Gempton had gone to the home looking for another man over stolen money. Gempton, who has pleaded guilty to the manslaughter of Mr Matthews Cox, has taken the stand to give evidence for the prosecution in return for a reduced sentence. Gempton told the WA Supreme Court Mr Nguyen-Ha loaded a shotgun when they were driving to Landsdale, assuring him they were only "salt rounds". The court heard that when they arrived Mr Nguyen-Ha walked to the house, wearing a mask and carrying the shotgun. He told the court he heard someone say "who turned the power off" and "who's out the front". Gempton told the court Mr Nguyen-Ha called out "where's Anthony Prior" and then fired three times. He said he then heard a woman scream. He described the third shot as "definitely louder" than the others and said he saw "a big flame that lit up the front of the house". He told the court that when Mr Nguyen-Ha got back into the car, he said he "just shot at the window, the corner of the window" to scare them. Gempton maintained he did not find out until later that someone had died, when he saw it on the news. Police had said Mr Cox, who suffered fatal injuries in the shooting, had no involvement with crime and was an innocent victim. Gempton was a debt collector for drug money, telling the court he used to drive Mr Nguyen-Ha around in return for money and meth. The 36-year-old said he had been using methylamphetamine "more than once a day". He also told how he came to shoot himself in the leg after Mr Nguyen-Ha was assaulted, and had tens of thousands of dollars stolen in December 2021. He said he was driving someone else's car, searching for Mr Nguyen-Ha, who had asked him to go to a 7-Eleven in Wangara. Gempton said he looked around inside the vehicle for a weapon and found a rifle he did not know was there. "Pulled it out and sat it on my lap, and it went off," Gempton said. "Scorched all the nerve endings on one side. "Just pissing out blood on one side." He went to Joondalup Hospital, where he was interviewed by police but lied to them, claiming he was shot by a bikie. Gempton denied firing any guns on the night of the Landsdale shooting, or in earlier incidents in Girrawheen and Wanneroo which took place days earlier. In these, he and others, including Peter Nguyen-Ha, had allegedly targeted the wrong homes looking for Anthony Prior. Prosecutor Beau Sertorio asked Gempton why he had pleaded guilty to manslaughter and other charges if he had never actually fired a weapon. The 36-year-old said he still "had a role to play", saying he did not call police after the first shooting at Girrawheen. He told the court that initially, he "thought it was just going to be a fight with Anthony Prior" and following that he "got told to go" to the other scenes. At Wanneroo and Landsdale he was "just driving", he said. The court heard Gempton's sentence was cut by more than five years and nine months, to 12 years, and he could be re-sentenced if he did not give full and truthful evidence. He is due to be cross-examined on Monday. The trial continues.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- Health
- News.com.au
McGovern announces SHOCK retirement
AFL: West Coast Eagles legend Jeremy McGovern spoke to the media after being medically retired by the AFL's concussion panel.
ABC News
3 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Matildas coach Joe Montemurro names squad for Slovenia and Panama friendlies
New Matildas coach Joe Montemurro has given Australia's next generation of football talent the nod as he plots a path to the 2026 Asian Cup. Montemurro has cast a wide net for his first Matildas team and named 14 A-League Women players in a 33-strong squad for upcoming games against Slovenia and Panama. Matildas captain Steph Catley, forward Caitlin Foord and midfielder Katrina Gorry will not feature in the four-game window, with the trio taking leave. Montemurro, well familiar with the domestic league after stints with Melbourne Victory and Melbourne City, says the four-game window in Western Australia presents the perfect opportunity to experiment with personnel. Reigning Julie Dolan medallist Alex Chidiac and Victory striker Emily Gielnik return to the national team after being overlooked regularly by Tony Gustavsson and Tom Sermanni. "It's a good opportunity to roll out some new ideas and obviously the focus is the Asian Cup," former Lyon coach Montemurro said. "This camp is really an identification process. It's a process for the players to understand where we're heading. Do you have a story idea about women in sport? Email us abcsport5050@ "It's really, really important that we give every player an opportunity." Cortnee Vine remains on leave after Montemurro flagged reaching out to the North Carolina Courage winger. Vine, who shot to stardom when she scored the winning spot-kick in the Matildas' epic quarter-final penalty shootout at the Women's World Cup, hasn't played for the national team since the Paris Olympics. Brisbane Roar midfielder Tameka Yallop remains sidelined with a leg injury, while recent debutant Kahli Johnson has been ruled out with a thigh injury. In their place, Montemurro has handed Roar forward Grace Kuilamu and Western United's Adriana Taranto their first call-up. Meanwhile, vice-captain Ellie Carpenter returns from personal leave, while Mackenzie Arnold, Hayley Raso and Sharn Freier will make their comebacks from injury. Midfielder Jacynta Galabadaarachchi, who has yet to find a new home after her time at Portuguese club Sporting CP came to an end, returns to the Matildas for the first time since June 2022. The Matildas face Slovenia on June 26 and 29, then Panama on July 5 and 8, in WA. Goalkeepers: Mackenzie Arnold*, Chloe Lincoln**, Sally James**, Teagan Micah, Jada Whyman* Defenders: Ellie Carpenter, Charlotte Grant, Clare Hunt, Alanna Kennedy*, Winonah Heatley*, Alexia Apostolakis*, Jessika Nash**, Courtney Nevin, Natasha Prior, Jamilla Rankin Midfielders: Kyra Cooney-Cross*, Alex Chidiac, Emily Van Egmond, Clare Wheeler*, Chloe Berryhill**, Amy Sayer, Jacynta Galabadaarachchi**, Alana Murphy, Adriana Taranto** Forwards: Emily Gielnik, Michelle Heyman, Holly McNamara, Hayley Raso, Kaitlyn Torpey*, Sharn Freier*, Bryleeh Henry**, Grace Kuilamu**, Remy Siemsen* * Participating in Slovenia series only ** Participating in Panama series only AAP
News.com.au
4 hours ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
NRL live: Wests Tigers vs. Raiders, results, SuperCoach NRL scores
It's full steam ahead for the Raiders, who return from a week off to maintain their spot near the top of the ladder. Ricky Stuart's son Jed will make his debut for the club on the wing. Jarome Luai will return from Origin for the Wests Tigers, who are desperate to keep in touch with the top 8. Following an underwhelming first half of Origin II in Perth for the Blues, there's no doubt coach Laurie Daley will be looking at prop Terrell May as an option to add some gumption to his starting forward pack. Follow our LIVE SuperCoach blog from kick-off. TIGERS v RAIDERS Friday, 8pm, Campbelltown Stadium Wests Tigers 1. Jahream Bula 2. Sunia Turuva 3. Adam Doueihi 4. Starford To'a 5. Jeral Skelton 6. Heath Mason 7. Jarome Luai 8. Terrell May 9. Apisai Koroisau 10. Fonua Pole 11. Samuela Fainu 12. Alex Seyfarth 13. Alex Twal Interchange: 14. Tallyn Da Silva 15. Sione Fainu 16. Latu Fainu 17. Jack Bird Reserves: 18. Tony Sukkar Murray Late mail: Jarome Luai escaped with a fine for his alleged eye gouge and will back-up. Fonua Pole (knee) and Alex Twal (concussion) are both back in action. Raiders 1. Kaeo Weekes 2. Jed Stuart 3. Matthew Timoko 4. Sebastian Kris 5. Xavier Savage 6. Ethan Strange 7. Jamal Fogarty 8. Josh Papali'i 9. Tom Starling 10. Joseph Tapine 11. Hudson Young 12. Zac Hosking 13. Corey Horsburgh Interchange: 14. Owen Pattie 15. Simi Sasagi 16. Morgan Smithies 17. Ata Mariota L ate mail: Blues back-rower Hudson Young has been named to back up. Jed Stuart, son of coach Ricky Stuart, will make his NRL debut in place of Savelio Tamale (knee), who could miss three months.
