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Thursday, 19 October, 2017 Page 9
pakenhamnews.starcommunity.com.au
Was it blackmail? By Cam Lucadou-Wells A Doveton man, twice jailed for family violence, has been granted bail on appeal after claiming he was being blackmailed by the same victim. On 9 October, Justice Jane Dixon of the Supreme Court of Victoria released the 29-year-old man on strict bail conditions including a fixed address, night curfew and daily reporting to police. He was also ordered to comply with family violence intervention orders and not communicate with the ex-partner and her son. The decision overturned the man’s failed bail application in Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 18 September. The man denied stalking, unlawful assault and persistently breaching an intervention order in Springvale in May - three days after being released from his second stint at prison. He had been on two community corrections orders at the time.
Defence barrister Roona Nida claimed the man had been jailed twice due to “false” allegations made by the ex-partner, who had been blackmailing him for money. On one occasion, the ex-partner alleged the man breached his intervention order by making about 130 phone calls to her on 23 April - while she had possession of his phone, Ms Nida said. In February, she allegedly threatened to make “trouble” if he didn’t transfer his $36,000 car into her name. He is still paying off the car loan, insurance and maintenance, Ms Nida said. “The applicant was unemployed and was forced to transfer ... unemployment benefits to (the ex-partner) in order to avoid going to prison.” He also alleged he had been beaten up - once by four men outside his house and once by a man who drove off with the ex-partner. The man had also been allegedly
assaulted by the female in November, leading to the police taking out an intervention order on his behalf. Two days later, the female took out an intervention order against the man. His first set of charges and a 17day jail term followed. Ms Nida said two psychologists’ reports found the man had no intention of harming or taking revenge on the ex-partner or her boyfriend. “The applicant expressed that he was fully committed to move on with his life and work hard to make money. “He also expressed his religious reasons for (ceasing to think) about (the ex-partner) being re-partnered with another man.” Ms Nida said the man had no criminal history prior to the family violence allegations in November. Already on remand for more than four months, the man had attempted suicide and was at risk of mental deterioration if he spent a lengthy time
in prison, Ms Nida said. Police had alleged the man had approached the woman outside her house in breach of an intervention order, followed her in his car and harassed her as she walked to Springvale railway station. As she sat in a male friend’s car in a car park, the accused allegedly tried to open the locked car doors and then struck on the car windows with his hands. The victim took photos of him next to the car - with confirmation of the geographic location. The accused told police the victim’s friend had got out of the car at a McDonald’s outlet and punched the accused several times to the head. “They’re making up stories to get me,” he allegedly told police. That night, he allegedly returned to the victim’s home. The man was bailed to appear at a contested hearing at Dandenong Magistrates’ Court on 18 October.
The new Narre: at $2m plus By Cam Lucadou-Wells How’s this for a sign of the times? A seven-bedroom mansion has broken the $2-million barrier for what is believed to be the first time in Narre Warren North. The 31 Rose Garden Court property, marketed with a slick video orchestrated by real estate agent Zed Nasheet, recently sold for $2.3 million. That type of money buys you lots of space. There’s an outdoor pool, a Hollywood-themed theatre room with a bar, two covered balconies and a multi-purpose rumpus room - and pretty much everything you can imagine. Mr Nasheet is starting to be known for his savvy marketing campaign of high-end real estate pitched at local and international buyers. “It’s about the location (in this case) and the way you market it,” he says. “It’s the best house that’s come on the market here.” The sassy video for this property shines with actors and a show-stealing child as well as a Lamborghini, a Porsche and a Ferrari. He recently sold a property in Glen Iris after hosting an auction feted by Brazilian dancers, an Essendon football player and a contestant from The Bachelor. With an ambitious eye, Mr Nasheet has now branched off into his own A-listing real estate company. The sky doesn’t seem to be his limit.
A home in Rose Garden Court, Narre Warren North has sold for $2.3 million.
The Hollywood-themed cinema room in the decadent residence.
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Council mulls solar farm plan By Cam Lucadou-Wells A locally based solar farm could deliver affordable energy to residents and revenue to Casey Council, says councillor Amanda Stapledon. At a council meeting on 17 October, Cr Stapledon tabled for Casey to investigate a “win-win” public-private partnership with US-based NOVOsol Power Company. She said unutilised land such as landfill or powerline reserves might be used for solar panel installation. “I believe that we are not in any capacity, at this point in time, able to move to renewables. “But I think there are opportunities ... (to) give our residents greater opportunity to purchase affordable power to either provide or top up their current usage. “This is especially important given the power crisis that we are already experiencing and that Adelaide has been crippled with.” Cr Stapledon said advances in renewable power were in their infancy, but pointed to promising examples like Australia’s first local-government solar farm on the Sunshine Coast and mass-battery storage of solar polar in South Australia. NOVOsol had worked in several countries with different levels of government and partnering major banks, insurance, energy and engineering firms, she said. “The company is predominantly working with Indigenous communities who receive benefits from providing the land. “Then the company and government body provide energy back to the grid, and in many instances generate a revenue stream for themselves.” Casey officers and councillors are expected to meet with Josue Altomonte of NOVOsol as part of the investigation. The officers are expected to table a report at the council by April 2018.
Hit 190 in a 70 zone A 21-year-old man has allegedly been clocked at nearly three times the speed limit on Princes Highway, Berwick. The Dandenong North man in a white Volkswagen Golf was detected at 190 km/h in a 70 km/h zone just after 4am on 15 October. Casey Highway Patrol officers monitored and intercepted the car in Guys Hill. The car was immediately impounded for 30 days, costing the man $1060. He was expected to be charged on summons with speed and manner dangerous, conduct endangering life, evading police and other offences.
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