Baden-Clay murder trial starts today

Gerard Baden-Clay in court. Illustration: Jonathan Bentley. Source: Supplied

BRISBANE real estate agent Gerard Baden-Clay will stand trial today for the murder of his wife.

More than 70 witnesses are due to be called to give evidence in a case expected to go for four weeks.

Baden-Clay has pleaded not guilty to murdering his wife Allison and interfering with the mother-of-three's corpse.

He reported her missing from the couple's Brookfield home on Friday April 20, 2012, and she was found dead 10 days later under Kholo Creek bridge at Anstead.

Potential jurors will be asked three questions: If they have ever expressed an opinion about Baden-Clay's guilt or innocence; if they or relatives lived in the area at the time; and if they attended a fundraiser or donated to any fund set up in connection to the case.

Baden-Clay, 43, is represented by barrister Michael Byrne QC, and solicitor Peter Shields.

Follow The Courier-Mail for rolling coverage of the case.

23.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Pension funds run eye over state assets

CANADA'S cashed-up pension funds are running the calculator over road and port projects in Australia.

Executives from the funds - which hold around $1.1 trillion in assets - are involved in talks with Prime Minister Tony Abbott, Trade Minister Andrew Robb, government officials and Australian business chiefs in Ottawa on Monday (Ottawa time).

It is understood that among the potential investments are the Port of Melbourne, which is earmarked for privatisation, the expanded Port of Hastings, the second stage of Sydney's WestConnex (M5 East) and Melbourne's East West Link.

Expressions of interest for the Port of Melbourne are expected to be called in early 2015 but the structure of the sale or long-term lease will depend on the outcome of the November state election in Victoria.

Labor has backed a 99-year lease project while the Napthine coalition government prefers a more corporate-oriented model.

Canadian pension fund Caisse has already shown interest in Australian ports, taking a stake in the Port of Brisbane last year.

Work on the business case and environmental assessment for Victoria's Port of Hastings expansion is expected to be completed by 2017.

The NSW government is considering making the second stage of the WestConnex road project a public-private partnership.

Mr Robb has been involved in a series of functions and roundtables in Ottawa.

The minister said that apart from infrastructure, there was a lot of interest in the service industries, tourism, resources and medical research and devices.

The long-running issue of lifting Canada's ban on majority foreign investment in uranium mines is understood to have been canvassed.

Mr Robb will take Australia's "open for business" message to Toronto, New York, Houston, while Mr Abbott and his business delegation will head to New York, Washington DC and Houston.

Canada is a top-10 source country for foreign direct investment in Australia with $26 billion invested.

The US is Australia's largest source of foreign direct investment with $658 billion directly invested.

23.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Abbott gets official welcome in Canada

PRIME Minister Tony Abbott has received a formal welcome with military honours in Ottawa.

Mr Abbott is the first Australian leader since John Howard in 2006 to visit Canada.

He began Monday with a bicycle ride, accompanied by Mounties, through the picturesque streets of the capital followed by breakfast with counterpart Stephen Harper.

The prime minister also made a courtesy call to Canada's Governor-General David Johnston.

Mr Harper has spared nothing in welcoming his conservative political friend, with Australian flags flying along all of Ottawa's main thoroughfares, military honours on historic Parliament Hill and a welcome ceremony in Confederation Hall.

The two leaders will hold talks on trade, investment and security before giving a joint media conference on Monday afternoon (Ottawa time).

Canada and Australia are working with 10 other nations towards an Asia-Pacific free trade deal known as the Trans-Pacific Partnership.

As the current president of the G20, Mr Abbott is also seeking Mr Harper's support for a two per cent growth target to be agreed at the Brisbane summit in November.

A business roundtable and formal dinner will round off the two-day visit before Mr Abbott heads to New York.

23.49 | 0 komentar | Read More

Trucker in Morgan crash lacked sleep

A WAL-MART truck driver accused of causing a New Jersey crash that critically injured Tracy Morgan and killed another comedian allegedly hadn't slept for more than 24 hours.

A court official on Monday said 35-year-old Kevin Roper was scheduled to face an initial court appearance on Wednesday. He remains free after posting a $US50,000 ($A54,100) bond.

Roper has been charged with death by auto and four counts of assault by auto.

Authorities said the Jonesboro, Georgia, resident apparently failed to slow for traffic early on Saturday in Cranbury Township and swerved at the last minute to avoid a crash.

Instead, his rig smashed into the back of Morgan's chauffeured Mercedes limo bus, killing comedian James "Jimmy Mack" McNair, authorities said.

The 45-year-old actor and comedian, a former Saturday Night Live and 30 Rock cast member, remained in critical condition early on Monday.

Morgan's spokesman, Lewis Kay, said he was "more responsive" on Sunday after having surgery for a broken leg.

Kay said Morgan also suffered a broken femur, a broken nose and several broken ribs and is expected to remain hospitalised for several weeks.

He said Morgan's family is "tremendously overwhelmed and appreciative of the outpouring of love and support from his fans".

Tyrone Gale, who was driving the limo bus, told ABC News he was disoriented after the vehicle flipped over and could hear Morgan yelling for help.

"I climbed around and heard Tracy screaming for help," Gale said.

"I climbed up on the body of the limo bus ... but I couldn't reach them."

Wal-Mart President Bill Simon said in a statement the company "will take full responsibility" if authorities determine its truck caused the accident.

The National Transportation Safety Board is working with state police to look at any issues in the crash related to commercial trucking and limousine safety.

Morgan, a New York City native, was returning from a stand-up performance at Dover Downs Hotel & Casino in Delaware when the crash occurred.

In all, six vehicles were involved in the pileup but no one from the other cars was injured.

McNair, 62, of Peekskill, New York, was a close friend and mentor to Morgan, Morgan's ex-wife, Sabina Morgan, told the New York Daily News.

23.49 | 0 komentar | Read More