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7:45am

Controversy over Billy Slater decision

Slater decision an ‘insult’ to dead player

Billy Slater is free to take his place in the Melbourne Storm’s grand final side, his farewell game in the NRL.

Slater escaped a shoulder charge citation after a judiciary hearing which took just under three hours — and almost 50 minutes of deliberation.

The decision is causing huge division in the NRL, with many furious at Slater’s not guilty verdict for an attempted try-saving hit on Sosaia Feki.

Daily Telegraph journalist and NRL 360 host Paul Kent said the decision set a dangerous precedent.

“This now goes into the game as a precedent as a not guilty decision,” Kent said.

“Next year when there are similar instances to this, there will be other people around the game championing that decision saying they got it right, but from now on, as we go forward, this is a legal tackle in the game.”

The brother of the late James Ackerman, who was tragically killed while playing rugby league for the Sunshine Coast three years ago as the result of a shoulder charge, labelled the decision an insult.

—Andrew McMurtry, read more.

Melbourne Storm NRL player Billy Slater is seen leaving NRLCentral for his shoulder charge judiciary hearing. Picture: Brendan Esposito/AAP

Melbourne Storm NRL player Billy Slater is seen leaving NRLCentral for his shoulder charge judiciary hearing. Picture: Brendan Esposito/AAPSource:AAP

7:15am

Traffic queued for 6km in Sydney

A multi-vehicle crash in Sydney’s north is causing major delays for motorists this morning.

Southbound traffic is queued up for around 6km on the Warringah Freeway at Mount St, with two southbound lanes shut down earlier due to the incident.

One of the lanes has now reopened but one of three southbound lanes remains closed and people are being told to allow for plenty of extra travel time.


6:55am

Smoking ban for North Sydney

Smokers in North Sydney may soon be banned from lighting up in the city’s second-largest CBD in what may be a national-first smoking ban.

The council passed a motion to ban smoking in every public space in North Sydney.

It motion still needs the approval of the community but Mayor Jilly Gibson is confident it will be backed by residents.

She even hopes to eventually make North Sydney the first smoke-free municipality.

“Why not try these big ideas?” Cr Gibson told AAP.

“Even if we reduce people’s smoking in the CBD by, let’s say, 50 per cent, that would be a huge result.”

She insisted the move wasn’t about punishing smokers but about improving the amenity of the area for residents, workers, visitors and school children.

Cr Gibson expects the ban would be enforced through encouragement, not fines, because changing behaviour was at the heart of the proposal.

This could be the nation’s first CBD-wide smoking ban in a capital city. Picture: Morgan Sette/AAP

This could be the nation’s first CBD-wide smoking ban in a capital city. Picture: Morgan Sette/AAPSource:News Corp Australia

6:35am

Surprising discovery on plane ticket

A woman has complained on social media after a budget airline booked her into a seat that didn’t exist.

The passenger, who is called Satwika Ika on social media, said the mix up happened on low cost Indonesia airline lion air

She was supposed to fly from Palembang, an Indonesian city, to the capital city of Jakarta.

But when Satwika got on the plane she had difficulty finding seat number 35F — and found that the seats only went up to number 34.

Satwika said that the stewardesses were rude and unhelpful and asked her to sit in one of the seats in row number 34.

She said she was then moved to yet another seat when another passenger turned up and claimed her seat.

The woman said that then a huge row started with the crew members.

She claims she was not the only one that had been assigned an imaginary seat, as a family along with a child were also searching for seats in row 35.

Satwika claims that she did not receive any apology from the airline employees.

After her social media post spread, the airline explained the seat confusion, reportedly stating that they needed to change the flight to a plane smaller than the first one, because of scheduling issues that had caused delays.

It’s unclear whether Satwika made it to her destination or not.

—Read more.

Something wasn't quite right about her ticket. Picture: Satwika Ika/Facebook

Something wasn't quite right about her ticket. Picture: Satwika Ika/FacebookSource:Facebook

6:10am

Bill Cosby sentenced over sexual assault

Bill Cosby was sentenced to three to 10 years behind bars for sexual assault, following a multiple accusations and a drawn out legal battle.

The 81-year-old will reportedly spend the first few days of his sentence at the Montgomery County Correctional Facility near Philadelphia before he is taken to another prison, SCI Phoenix.

Staff will assess his physical, medical and security needs and depending on the results he may end up in a long-term medical care unit.

Dozens of women have accused Cosby of sexual misconduct during his 50-year career in entertainment. The 2004 assault on Andrea Constand was the only one to lead to criminal charges.

He was convicted of drugging and molesting Ms Constant, an athletics administrator at Temple University.

Cosby’s defence lawyers tried to keep him out of prison while he appeals the conviction, claiming he is legally blind and frail.

Judge Steven O’Neill refused their plea for Cosby to remain on house arrest, ruling Tuesday that Cosby will be locked up immediately.

O’Neill says Cosby could “quite possibly be a danger to the community.”

Comedian Bill Cosby is taken into custody in handcuffs at Montgomery County Courthouse. Picture: POOL/AFP

Comedian Bill Cosby is taken into custody in handcuffs at Montgomery County Courthouse. Picture: POOL/AFPSource:AFP

5:45am

NSW teen charged over child porn

A teenage boy has been accused of uploading child porn to social media and having weapons in northern NSW.

Police confirmed yesterday they had charged a 17-year-old from Quirindi with possessing child abuse material and other offences.

They reportedly received a tip off on Monday about the content being uploaded to social media.

The boy allegedly also had an unregistered BB gun and an illegal slingshot in the home.

He will face a children’s court on today.