Crime
Opinion
Opinion
How a ‘Dad’s Army’ of experts could help Victoria’s youth crime problem
The state is home to some of the brightest criminal justice minds. So why not put them to work getting to the bottom of growing crime rates among young people?
- by Neil Mitchell
Latest
Beneath a veil of violence: The inspiring life and haunting death of Emma Bates
Emma, 49, was found dead in her home in April by police who broke in to do a welfare check. She had head and upper body injuries consistent with being violently assaulted.
- by Melissa Cunningham
Analysis
Naked City
While the city sleeps: On the road with cops, chasing youth offenders
Police slowly approach, then the car roars to life, racing away from us at speeds of up to 140km/h. Police know the driver, 16, is one of their five most active offenders.
- by John Silvester
Opinion
Opinion
With power in the balance, Allan is facing a youth crime headache
A rise in youth crime is rattling community confidence and undermining support for the Allan government’s pledge to lift the age of criminal responsibility to 14.
- by Annika Smethurst
No jail, $600 fine for learner driver who left sister on road after fatal accident
A 24-year-old woman has been spared conviction after an argument with her sister resulted in a fatal car accident in 2022.
- by Emily Woods
Former Supreme Court judge defends the bail system – even if it’s a ‘gamble’
Lex Lasry says the rise in youth crime is horrifying and that society is getting more violent. But, he says, the bail system is still vital.
- by Chris Vedelago
Robert Campbell coughed and passed out. He now thinks convicted murderer Robert Farquharson is innocent
Scepticism over Farquharson’s coughing and fainting story was at the centre of two prosecutions and two guilty verdicts that saw him sentenced to 33 years in prison for triple child murder.
- by Michael Bachelard
A career in crime: Magistrate’s brother jailed after pleading guilty to stabbing
Sean Sonnet, a notorious career criminal who is also the brother of a respected magistrate, stabbed a man in East Melbourne before being Tasered by police.
- by Cameron Houston
Balaclava-wearing gang stab boy in broad daylight
The attack is the second violent gang attack within days on Springvale’s main road.
- by Mathew Dunckley
Officer who fatally shot fugitive wielding an empty gun ‘acted appropriately’: coroner
Turvey was tasered and shot dead by police after a three-day manhunt. The coroner has found the officer who killed him acted appropriately.
- by Tara Cosoleto
Bodybuilder who killed partner in front of her 10-year-old asks for lighter sentence
During Sven Lindemann’s trial, the court heard Monique Lezsak’s daughter told him to “leave my mother alone” as he stabbed his partner to death.
- by Amber Johnston