Category: Newcastle News

Homicide Squad detectives have charged two people over their alleged roles in the murder of Danielle Easey, after her body was discovered in a creek near Newcastle.
About 10.30am on Saturday 31 August 2019, police were called to Cockle Creek, near Wakefield Road, Killingworth, after members of the public saw an item wrapped in plastic floating in the water.
The plastic, containing a woman’s body, was removed from the water by officers.
The woman was formally identified as 29-year-old, Danielle Easey, who lived in Booragul with family, but had more recently been staying at multiple locations around the area.
A post mortem examination revealed Danielle had been seriously assaulted and stabbed.
Detectives from the State Crime Command’s Homicide Squad and Lake Macquarie Police District established Strike Force Furzer to investigate the circumstances surrounding her death.
Inquiries have revealed Danielle was murdered at a home at Narara on or around Saturday 17 August 2019, before being transported and dumped at Cockle Creek.
Following extensive investigations, strike force detectives arrested a 33-year-old man at an industrial premise at Cardiff just before 10am today (Thursday 19 September 2019).
About an hour later, a 32-year-old woman was arrested with assistance from Strike Force Raptor North at a home at Holmesville.
Detectives subsequently executed two crime scene warrants at the Cardiff industrial premise and a home at Narara, and a search warrant at the Holmesville home.
Specialist forensic police are continuing to examine the Cardiff and Narara properties.
Investigators seized a Mitsubishi Delica at Cardiff which has been forensically examined.
The man was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with murder. He was refused bail to appear at Belmont Local Court today (Friday 20 September 2019).
The woman was taken to Toronto Police Station and charged with accessory after the fact to murder and dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc by deception. She was refused bail to appear at Toronto Local Court today (Friday 20 September 2019).
Police will allege in court that the woman has assisted the man by impersonating Danielle on one of her social media accounts after her death to gain access to money.
 

Police are investigating after shots were fired in the Hunter Valley today.
Just before 3pm (Tuesday 17 September 2019), emergency services were called to Cessnock Road at Weston, following reports shots had been fired.
On arrival, officers from Hunter Valley Police District located a 27-year-old man with a wound to his head.
He was treated on scene and his injuries are not believed to be life-threatening.
A short time later, a Toyota Land Cruiser 4WD with bullet holes was located on Boundary Street, Kurri Kurri. It will be seized to undergo forensic examination.
Police have established a crime scene and are investigating the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Any witnesses or anyone with dashcam footage is urged to come forward.

Two police officers escaped serious injury after their stationary fully-marked vehicle was struck by a car being pursued near Newcastle.
Traffic & Highway Patrol Command officers were patrolling Nelson Bay Road, Bobs Farm, shortly before 12.50am yesterday (Sunday 15 September 2019), as part of Operation Northern Roads, when they saw a Toyota Corolla travelling in excess of the speed limit.
Police attempted to stop the vehicle; however, the driver of the vehicle failed to comply with directions and a pursuit was initiated.
The vehicle was followed through Williamtown and Tomago towards Hexham, where road spikes were successfully deployed north of the Hexham Bridge.
The vehicle continued across the bridge and hit the Newcastle Highway Patrol vehicle as the driver turned right onto the New England Highway.
Two officers sustained soft tissue injuries when the airbags activated.
The Corolla stopped nearby after driving into a chain-wire fence and three people were arrested.
They were taken to Raymond Terrace Police Station, where the driver was charged with:
• Police pursuit – not stop – drive at speed
• Drive recklessly/furiously or speed/manner dangerous
• Drive while licence cancelled
• Possess prohibited drug (Methamphetamine), and
• Not give particulars to other driver.
Police also executed four outstanding warrants relating to offences including assault, damage property, fraud, contravene AVO, reckless wounding and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
The 19-year-old Cessnock man was refused bail to appear in Newcastle Local Court today (Monday 16 September 2019).
The officers were treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics.

A man has been charged following an alleged stand-off with police near Newcastle yesterday.
Police were called to a unit building on Maitland Road, Mayfield West, about 12.45am (Friday 13 September 2019), after reports of a man damaging vehicles, climbing on the roof of the single-storey building, and then throwing tiles at vehicles below.
A police operation commenced coordinated by officers from Newcastle City Police District, with assistance from Police Rescue, Tactical Operations, the Dog Unit, and Police Negotiators.
About 9.40am, the man came down from the roof and was safely arrested and taken to Newcastle Police Station, before being taken to hospital for assessment.
A crime scene was established, and an investigation commenced into the circumstances surrounding the incident.
Upon release from hospital, the man was taken to Newcastle Police Station and charged with use offensive weapon to prevent lawful detention, malicious damage (x4), wilful and obscene exposure, intimidation, resist arrest, and breach bail.
He was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Bail Court today (Saturday 14 September 2019).

Police are urging two motorists who may have witnessed a serious crash at Hexham last month to come forward.
Shortly after 10am on Friday 2 August 2019, emergency services were called to Maitland Road, Hexham following reports a Mack truck and a Honda motorcycle had collided.
The 21-year-old male motorcycle rider from Woodberry was airlifted by the Westpac Rescue Helicopter and taken to John Hunter Hospital with serious leg injuries. He has since been released from hospital.
The 54-year old male truck driver from Torryburn was uninjured and taken to hospital for mandatory testing.
The two motorists, one in car and another in a truck, were stopped at traffic lights on Maitland Road prior to the collision and are urged to come forward.
The Hexham Bridge was closed for three hours and one east bound lane on the Pacific Highway was closed for five hours while the scene was being examined.
As investigations continue by officers from the Hunter Crash Investigation Unit, anyone with information or dash cam vision is urged to come forward.
 

The former Civic Station will be transformed into the City’s Visitor Information Centre for both local and international visitors.
City of Newcastle will take possession of the former railway station following the NSW Government’s project to open and beautify the area between Hunter Street and Newcastle Museum.

The building will then be remodelled into a fit-for-purpose Visitor Information Centre, where tourists can access the latest information from expert staff, as well as tourist maps, brochures, event details and souvenirs.
Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said a modern fit-out and innovative technologies will create a dynamic, contemporary destination for visitors in the heart of the city.
“Tourism is a vital part of the Hunter region, contributing more than $900 million annually to the local economy,” the Lord Mayor said.
“The new Visitor Information Centre will provide a purpose-designed space to enhance the city’s tourism experience and ensure visitors discover the best of what the wider Newcastle region has to offer.
“The Centre’s design will maintain the rail heritage and character​ of the site while being reimagined with a focus on customer experience and smart technologies, complementing the old with the new to reflect a contemporary Newcastle.
“The Visitor Information Centre is ideally located to offer a direct link to the light rail, close connections to the harbour and Civic Park and easy access for guests staying in city centre accommodation including Newcastle’s first five-star hotel The Kingsley,” she said.

The new Centre is just one initiative under the City’s commitment to growing the visitor economy. City of Newcastle has created a dedicated tourism team responsible for management of the ‘Newcastle’ brand, with staff specialising in destination marketing and attracting business events.
The Centre is set to open early next year and will replace The Newcastle Shop at Newcastle Museum, which was trialled as a pop-up retail and information space in November 2017 and became an accredited Visitor Information Centre in September last year, attracting an average of 6,500 visits each month.
The vacated space at the Museum will be repurposed as a permanent education and programming room.

A man has been arrested following a police pursuit in the Newcastle area yesterday.
About 12pm (Tuesday 10 September 2019), officers from Port Stephens-Hunter Police District attempted to stop a Toyota Camry in Christie Avenue, Tarro, in relation to a fraud matter.
When the vehicle failed to stop, a pursuit was initiated. It was terminated shortly after in the suburb of Beresfield due to safety concerns.
The vehicle was again spotted on Anderson Drive, Beresfield. Another pursuit was initiated before being terminated near Hexham on the New England Highway, once more due to safety concerns.
The vehicle travelled through a number of suburbs including Maitland, Lake Macquarie and Newcastle.
Police surveillance observed the Camry driving at speed and in a dangerous manner before entering the Newcastle University.
Upon entering a dead-end street within the University campus, police attempted to speak with the man before he fled on foot. He was arrested nearby after a short foot pursuit.
The vehicle had not been secured and it subsequently crashed into a garden after rolling down the street. No one was injured.
Upon searching the vehicle, police located a large amount of alleged stolen property and stolen number plates. Police seized 13 different registration plates, cards, a wallet, and five mobile phones.
The 32-year-old man was taken to Waratah Police Station and charged with two counts of larceny, dishonestly obtain financial advantage etc. by deception, five counts of dishonestly obtain property by deception, drive while licence cancelled, use unregistered registrable Class A motor vehicle on road and police pursuit – not stop – drive dangerously.
He was refused bail and will appear at Newcastle Local Court today (Wednesday 11 September 2019).

A Finks outlaw motorcycle gang (OMCG) associate has been charged after Strike Force Raptor North seized a pistol, firearms parts and ammunition near Newcastle in 2017.
Police from the Criminal Groups Squad’s Strike Force Raptor North conducted a Firearms Prohibition Order (FPO) and Weapons Prohibition Order (WPO) search at a home on Maryland Street, Maryland, about 7am on Wednesday 17 May 2017.
During the search officers seized a pistol, two sling shots, ammunition, and firearm parts including a trigger mechanism, suppressor, rifle bolt and shortened barrel.
Each of the items were forensically examined by specialist police.
Following extensive inquiries, officers from Strike Force Raptor North arrested a 21-year-old man outside Maitland Local Court yesterday (Tuesday 10 September 2019).
The man, who is a Finks OMCG associate, was taken to Maitland Police Station and charged with possess unauthorised firearm, possess unauthorised prohibited firearm, and two counts of possess or use a prohibited weapon without permit.
He was refused bail and to appear at Maitland Local Court today (Wednesday 11 September 2019).
Strike Force Raptor North conducts proactive investigations and intelligence-based, high-impact policing operations to prevent and disrupt conflicts, and dismantle any network engaged in serious organised criminal activity impacting Northern NSW.

The unique character of Hamilton’s residential streetscapes will be preserved for future generations following the creation of the City’s first substantial heritage conservation area in 20 years.
In July last year City of Newcastle proposed to the State Government to protect the historically significant Hamilton Residential Precinct, a four-block area between Donald and Tudor Streets bounded by Gordon Avenue to the east and Murray Street to the west. This proposal has now been approved by the Minister for Planning.

City of Newcastle Lord Mayor Nuatali Nelmes said it is crucial to recognise and retain Newcastle’s unique heritage.
“The City of Newcastle is dedicated to preserving our city’s rich history, and this new conservation area allows us to safeguard the significant aesthetic characteristics of Hamilton,” she said.
“The Hamilton Residential Precinct is typical of the late Victorian and Federation periods in Newcastle’s urban development, featuring small lot housing of one or two storeys.
“Opening the railway and train station back in 1887 saw an influx of residents move from the city centre to Hamilton, and the style and age of the housing reflects this growth.
“Retaining our suburb’s character helps preserve our Novocastrian cultural identity and demonstrate our sense of pride in heritage places.”
The establishment of the heritage conservation area was welcomed by Hamilton resident and passionate history buff Rod Noble, who has lived in one of Lawson Street’s grand Victorian two-storey terraces for the past 27 years. The row of five adjacent freestanding terraces were built in the early to mid-1890s.
“The Hamilton heritage precinct is steeped in history that is important to our city, with the first land sales in the area dating back to 1857,” Rod said.
“The majority of the original Victorian and Edwardian housing stock has survived and many unique dwellings from the period are contained within the precinct.
“I welcome the City of Newcastle’s decision to establish this heritage conservation area as it is important to preserve its special character for future generations.”

Establishing the Hamilton conservation area includes amendments to the Newcastle Local Environment Plan, which ensure future developments complement the original character of the suburb by clearly defining acceptable new developments as well as alterations and additions.
Hamilton’s architectural character dates from the late 19th and early decades of the 20th century, featuring late Victorian terraces and cottages, Federation cottages and bungalows in the popular styles of the time, with Italianate, Queen Anne, Edwardian, California and Spanish Mission influences.

Three men will appear in court today following an investigation into the commercial supply of ‘ice’ in the Newcastle area.
In July 2019, detectives from Newcastle Police District attached to the Drug Unit established Strike Force Betel to investigate the large commercial supply of methylamphetamine (‘ice’).
Following inquiries, three men were arrested at a unit on Marsden Street, Shortland, about 4.30pm yesterday (Friday 6 September 2019) and taken to Waratah Police Station.
A search warrant was executed at the unit, where police located and seized 2kg of methylamphetamine, a loaded Remington semi-automatic pistol and cash.
A 30-year-old man was charged with supply prohibited drugs (x2), knowingly direct activities of criminal group, deal with property proceeds of crime, possess unauthorised pistol, possess ammunition without holding licence and not keep firearm safely.
Two men, aged 28 and 27, were charged with supply prohibited drug (x2), participate criminal group and deal with property proceeds of crime.
The trio were refused bail to appear before Newcastle Bail Court today (Saturday 7 September 2019).
Investigations under Strike Force Betel are continuing.