WA Police treating death of baby in Balcatta in Perth's north as 'family violence incident'
Homicide Squad detectives are investigating after the six-month-old infant was found dead in a Balcatta home just after 3am on Monday.
The child's mother was taken by ambulance to Sir Charles Gairdner Hospital and placed under police guard.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said members of the household were being questioned.
"It's the investigation of a family violence incident, it's confined to the members of that household," he told 6PR radio.
"There are no charges yet but the major crime squad are investigating."
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News.com.au
20 minutes ago
- News.com.au
Mark Latham goes scorched earth after graphic sexual texts with estranged lover Nathalie Mathews were leaked
Mark Latham has broken his silence on a sexting and alleged abuse scandal insisting he is only guilty of being 'human and male'. The former Labor leader has emphatically denied that he 'abuses women' insisting that any of his dealings with his ex-lover Nathalie Matthews were entirely consensual. In his first interview on the scandal, Mr Latham confirmed he was sexting in Parliament but insisted his work output was unaffected. 'The big news is I had a private life. I had a sex life and I've got to say it was fantastic,'' Mr Latham said. Mr Latham's former partner has alleged he encouraged her to have sex with other partners and defecated on her during sex. The Independent MP was not asked directly about this graphic and disturbing claim in the radio interview but confirmed he had been sexting. 'If I'm the only person in Australia who in a work environment engaged in a bit of playful sex talk with their partner, then I'll buy everyone a lottery ticket tomorrow,'' he said. Speaking to broadcaster Chris Smith on 2SM, Mr Latham said it was telling that the NSW police had not to date taken out an apprehended violence order (AVO) on her behalf. 'She tried to get an AVO with the police... I think that tells you a lot about the substance of the matter,'' he said. 'There is a court case pending because she's lodged a private AVO application. But I can say in relation to that, just about all the things she's complaining about, she initiated in consensual arrangements. 'As for messages in Parliament, Chris, you know you said on your show in terms of holding the Minns government to account, my output as an MP matches up against anyone in the upper house. 'And I mean to say if you're sitting there listening to Penny Sharpe droning on and then a woman who looks like Natalie Matthews sends you a message, which one would you pay attention to? Chris? 'Yes, I am guilty of that on a regular occasion, guilty too, of being human. In that regard. and male.' Leaked texts Overnight, leaked texts laid bare the breakdown in Mr Latham's relationship with his ex-lover, including the couple's habit of graphic exchanges about sex acts while parliament was sitting and the use of tracking devices to find a 'f**k parlour'. Ms Matthews has told that she did not leak her text exchanges with Mr Latham but confirmed she had provided her phone to NSW police. The texts, first published by The Daily Telegraph, are sexually charged and graphic. In one text exchange on February 20 at 11:06 am, the former Labor leader writes, 'Master's c**k needs relief too. Very hard thinking about you.' The 64-year-old follows up with a series of emojis including a purple eggplant and a tongue. 'Haven't c*m in days,'' he writes. 'Lots of c**k tension.' The messages continue throughout the day with Mr Latham referencing parliamentary work around 8pm. 'Made it back for the first vote after dinner,'' he writes. 'I needed that. You're amazing.' In the same exchange Ms Matthews, 37, writes, 'You are quite amazing. My Dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin.' Mark Latham denies 'false' allegations Mr Latham earlier labelled her allegations of coercive control as 'comically false and ridiculous' in a post on X. Ms Matthews has sought an AVO from police but the matter is yet to be heard. Mr Latham denies the allegations and has not been charged with any criminal offence. does not suggest the allegations are true, only that Ms Matthews has made then in an AVO application that has not yet been heard by the NSW Court. 'As the old saying goes, Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned,' Mr Latham said. 'The story says that Ms Matthews went to the police and they did not do anything. They certainly haven't contacted me. In the current environment, that says a lot.' In October, the pair discussed tracking devices. 'Update your tracker,'' Mr Latham writes. 'Where's tracker? Please follow instructions. Send tracker so I can find this f*ck parlour.' Texts expose relationship breakdown The breakdown between the pair is also detailed in more recent messages after the relationship turned sour. 'The heinous monster I saw and that physically attacked me that Tuesday night is responsible for any heart issues you might have,'' Mr Latham writes on June 6. 'Yes, I imploded on the person I love the most due to various external factors, and I never recall a physical attack,'' Ms Matthews responds. 'I reported the attack on me and the other threats you made that night to parliamentary security, as I am obliged to do,'' Mr Latham says. 'I have also had to see a doctor for the shakes I've had since that nightmarish night, and he advised the same thing. 'You obviously don't understand what you did, drunk, covered in mud, a monster screaming.' Latham defends Parliament sexting Mr Latham defended his taxpayer-funded sexting sessions conducted on the floor of NSW Parliament. After the release of hundreds of leaked text messages including sexual messages sent at the same time as he was sitting in Parliament, Mr Latham insisted it never impacted his work. 'I don't think responding to a consensual partner on a private, intimate matter in any way has reduced my workload, which I would match up against any other member in the place,' he said. Mr Latham told The Daily Telegraph that his ex-lover would send sexts when Parliament was sitting that required 'a response.' Mr Latham declined to describe the messages the pair exchanged out of 'an abundance of caution about revenge porn laws.' Mr Latham took to X late on Tuesday night, claiming the text messages that were leaked to the media were 'not accurate'. 'The Daily Telegraph this evening has reproduced a log of messages between me and Nathalie Matthews. They are not accurate. I dont know who, but someone has made changes in very important ways,' he wrote. Proposal revelations Lovestruck Mr Latham proposed marriage to his ex-lover Ms Matthews before she accused him of degrading sexual acts and alleged a pattern of abusive behaviour. Despite Mr Latham describing the relationship as 'a situationship', friends of the former couple have revealed the love affair was serious. In fact, they insist that the former Labor leader proposed to the businesswoman and Liberal Party supporter on May 23, 2024 at the acclaimed Italian restaurant Otto in Sydney. But Ms Matthews has now alleged that Mr Latham asked her to call him 'master' and engaged in degrading sexual acts, allegations detailed in a shocking apprehended violence application. She has alleged that he defecated on her before sex, took intimate images and threw a plate at her – allegations Mr Latham strongly denies. does not suggest the claims are true, only that they have been made in an application to the NSW Local Court in pursuit of an AVO. Mr Latham separated from his second wife Janine Lacy, a local magistrate, and the mother of his children, in September, 2022 after over twenty years of marriage. He divorced his first wife Gabrielle Gwyther in 1999. Latham denies 'degrading' sex acts' Mr Latham, 64, issued an emphatic denial about the claims, telling The Australian newspaper – that first broke the story – that the allegations were untrue. 'The claims you've listed there are absolute rubbish,' Mr Latham said. 'Comical in fact. 'Nothing has been served on me nor has anyone contacted me. 'I haven't had anything to do with her (Ms Matthews) since 27 May, so nearly seven weeks ago. I ended the 'situationship' that night for very good reason.' In late 2023, it was a different story with Mr Latham gushing over his new girlfriend on social media. 'So much looking forward to The Everest this Saturday at Royal Randwick,' Mr Latham's post read. 'A beautiful trophy designed by the great Nic Cerrone, made even more spectacular by being photographed with @nathaliemaymatthews.' In another post, the loved-up couple cuddled at the Rosehill Gardens Racecourse, in Sydney's west. 'Great day of racing at Rosehill with the Town Crier and the very beautiful Nathalie Matthews,' the caption on the post read, followed by an emoji with heart eyes. NSW Police contact NSW police sources say officers who initially interviewed Ms Matthews did not believe there was sufficient evidence to proceed with charges or an apprehended violence order on the information they were given. They remain open to taking a further, more comprehensive statement. They again spoke to her as recently as Monday and will continue to seek a comprehensive statement. 'Degrading' sexual acts alleged Ms Matthews, 37, is seeking an order preventing Mr Latham from going within 100m of her, alleging an 'ongoing, reasonable fear of harassment, intimidation, and potential harm'. 'Throughout our relationship, the defendant engaged in a sustained pattern of emotional, physical, sexual, psychological, and financial abuse, including defecating on me before sex and refusing to let me wash,'' the application states. 'Forcing degrading sexual acts, pressuring me to engage in sexual acts with others, demanding I call him 'master,' telling me I was his property, and repeatedly telling me that my only value to him was for sex to demean and control me.' In the application, she stated that on May 27, 2025, Mr Latham arrived at her home at some time in the evening after sending her 'abusive and coercive text messages, pressuring and insulting me for not being home with him'. After she returned home later that evening, she alleged he was verbally aggressive and intimidating before leaving. 'Monster' texts revealed Shortly after, she alleged he sent further threatening and coercive messages, falsely accusing her of aggression, calling her a 'monster,' and stating he had gone to his GP to create a record claiming distress and that he had approached Parliamentary Security – given he is currently a member of the New South Wales Legislative Council. In June, she stated she was in the Middle East for several weeks. Ms Matthews owns an e-commerce global logistics firm based in Dubai, Perth and Sydney. But upon her return, the application stated she had been in 'a constant state of fear and hypervigilance due to the defendant's pattern of harassment and intimidation following previous separations'. She also alleged instances of physical violence in the application including 'pushing me against walls, forcing me out the door, throwing a plate at me during an argument, and driving at me with his vehicle, hitting me with the side mirror and causing a bruise'. The application also cites allegations of psychological abuse, including 'constant put-downs comparing me unfavourably to other women, acting as if he would harm himself to manipulate me, monitoring my devices without consent, and systematically undermining my confidence to control and isolate me'. There are also claims of financial abuse, including borrowing $20,000 on four occasions without prompt repayment, forcing her to pay for international holidays under duress, coercing her into expensive purchases, and pressuring her regarding her father's will. 'Intimate videos' 'The defendant has held intimate photos and videos of me, and I have been afraid he would expose them to shame and control me if I attempted to leave or resist his demands,'' the application stated. 'The defendant has repeatedly manipulated and intimidated me into resuming the relationship following separations, creating a cycle of fear and control. Previous breakups in May 2024, June 2024, September 2024, January 2025, and June 2025 were followed by similar intimidation and re-engagement. '(Mr Latham engaged in) physical violence, including pushing me against walls, forcing me out the door, throwing a plate at me during an argument, and driving at me with his vehicle, hitting me with the side mirror and causing a bruise,' the court document claims. The matter will be mentioned at Downing Centre Local Court on July 30.
ABC News
26 minutes ago
- ABC News
Three men charged over alleged roles in importation of methamphetamine concealed in rolls of fabric
Three men have been charged for their alleged roles in importing almost 600 kilograms of methamphetamine concealed in rolls of fabric, which authorities say could have "resulted in about six million individual street deals". Australian Border Force (ABF) officers in Queensland intercepted a sea cargo consignment from Thailand on July 4, after it arrived at the Port of Brisbane. It is alleged the drugs were concealed in eight wooden crates declared as "UV protective fabrics". Forensic testing found the shipment contained 597kg of methamphetamine wrapped inside 200 rolls of fabric, authorities say. The drugs were removed and the consignment was delivered to a warehouse in Bowen Hills, in Brisbane's inner north. Australian Federal Police allege the three men were in the vicinity of the warehouse when it was delivered. "Two of the men allegedly began to unravel the rolls of fabric, as the 24-year-old attended a business to buy an electronic scale to allegedly weigh the illicit drugs they were expecting," ABF and AFP said in a joint statement. Police said that during subsequent search warrants of the warehouse and two vehicles, investigators found and seized the contents of the consignment, four mobile phones, about $7,000 cash, and tools suspected to be used in accessing the methamphetamine. The men, aged 22, 24 and 28, from New South Wales have each been charged with one count of attempting to possess a commercial quantity of an unlawfully imported border-controlled drug and are expected to appear before Brisbane Magistrates Court on Wednesday. AFP Detective Superintendent Adrian Telfer said the result demonstrated the commitment to combating transnational organised crime and illicit drug trafficking. "The people behind importations like this have no regard for the harm and damage that illicit drugs wreak on the Australian community every minute of every day," Det Supt Telfer said. "Methamphetamine is a devastating drug and causes harm not just to the user, but also their loved ones and the wider community. ABF Acting Assistant Commissioner James Copeman said it was "an incredibly sophisticated concealment that could have easily evaded detection". "The sheer volume of methamphetamine hidden within legitimate-looking fabric rolls speaks to the lengths criminal syndicates will go to, but it also highlights the extraordinary capability of ABF officers to detect and disrupt even the most convincing smuggling attempts," he said.
ABC News
26 minutes ago
- ABC News
Former Brisbane Broncos legend Steve Renouf fined for drink driving
Former Brisbane Broncos legend Steve Renouf has been fined $1,200 after being caught driving almost four times over the legal limit two weeks ago. On Wednesday the 55-year-old appeared in the Brisbane Magistrates Court where he pleaded guilty to one count of driving under the influence of alcohol. During a brief sentencing hearing, the court heard at about 11pm on July 1, Renouf was driving in Red Hill when he was pulled over by police for a random roadside breath test. The court heard officers could immediately smell alcohol on Mr Renouf, who was unsteady on his feet, slurring his words and dropping things from his pockets. Before carrying out the test, Renouf claimed "you've got me, I'm drunk", and then proceeded to return a positive result for alcohol. When told he would need to undergo another test, he told officers "no, no, no" and tried to walk away. He was placed into handcuffs, before being driven to the watch house where he recorded a high-range blood alcohol concentration reading of 0.197 per cent. A number of character references were submitted to the court in support of Renouf including from NRL coach Wayne Bennet. His lawyer Angelo Venardos told the court Renouf had been socialising with friends at a licensed venue in Paddington for several hours before he made the "foolish decision" to drive home. Mr Vernados told the court when Renouf was pulled over he was outside his house, and although he had minimal recollection of the events, he was not intending to resist the officers. "He was trying to walk inside, he wasn't being aggressive with police," he said. Mr Vernados told the court the situation was also heightened as Renouf was having a hypoglycaemic episode at the time and was trying to reach into his pockets for his diabetes medication. "The police recognised that at the scene," he said. Mr Vernados told the court Renouf was a man of "great integrity" and had undertaken "some serious reflection" about his offending. "He's clearly owning what he's doing," he said. The court heard Renouf had not been before the court for traffic offending previously and had since completed a traffic offending program. In addition to a financial penalty, Renouf was disqualified from driving for 11 months. A conviction was not recorded.
