Latest news with #Gold Coast
News.com.au
a day ago
- News.com.au
Former CBA executive Christopher James McCann's final days after child procurement charge
A fortnight ago, Christopher James McCann was living a life of relative anonymity in Curl Curl. The married father-of-two travelled frequently interstate as the head of health and social infrastructure at Commonwealth Bank in Sydney — a position he'd held for the past 11 months. Behind the scenes, however, NSW Police officers and State Crime Command's Sex Crimes Squad had established Strike Force Coalhurst in March to investigate the 50-year-old over his alleged attempts to procure teenage girls for sex at his Brisbane hotel room. The matter had been referred to the Queensland Police Service's child exploitation unit, Taskforce Argos. The months-long investigation by both police services culminated in Mr McCann's arrest at Sydney Airport and extradition to Queensland on July 10. On Monday, Mr McCann was charged with a single count of using the internet to procure a child under 16 for a sexual act at Brisbane Arrests Court, where he was granted bail to reappear on August 4. Forty-eight hours later, his body was found at Springbrook National Park, a popular tourist and bushwalking spot on the Gold Coast. Shocked tourists witnessed police cars and an ambulance speed past them as they made their way back to their holiday homes. 'A report will be prepared for the Coroner following the non-suspicious death of a man at Springbrook yesterday (Wednesday),' a Queensland Police spokesperson said. On Monday, the court was told police alleged Mr McCann – who had worked in corporate finance, including at ANZ and Westpac, for more than two decades – had formed a 'connection' with his co-accused, sex worker Shauntelle Elizabeth Went. It is further alleged Mr McCann was organising to use the 18-year-old's services while in Brisbane in May but queried if she had any 'younger friends' she worked with. 'You made an arrangement and agreed on a price to use Ms Went's services and that of two underage girls,' magistrate Louise Shepherd said in her summary of the police allegations. The teen girls, aged 14 and 15, and Ms Went allegedly attended the Sofitel Hotel, but Ms Shepherd said it was not alleged the girls went up to Mr McCann's room. The court was told Mr McCann was no longer employed by Commonwealth Bank as a result of the charges. His financial accounts had also been frozen by detectives. Police opposed Mr McCann's bail, claiming there was a risk of further offending and general safety to the community Ms Shepherd also said Mr McCann would not necessarily serve any time in custody if convicted and granted him bail on strict conditions. He had to live with a university lecturer friend near Mudgeeraba, about 20km north-east of Springbrook and not have contact with children except his own sons. Mr McCann's lawyer David Jones KC took issue with affidavits filed by the arresting officer that he said engaged in 'speculation' and were lacking in objectivity. He also pointed to an affidavit prepared by a clinical psychologist who did not even assess his client. Mr Jones said the police material was speculative and engaging in 'fortune telling', telling the court his client was not in a show-cause position and therefore had a prima facie case for bail being granted. 'What would ordinarily be against an applicant, they have flipped,' Mr Jones said. 'So the fact he's 50 years old with no criminal history, doesn't use drugs, doesn't drink – ordinarily for everybody else, that would be a benefit, but for him, that's a disadvantage.' Ms Shepherd granted Mr McCann bail – ordering him to report to police once a week, not to drink or use illicit drugs and be subject to drug testing. He was also ordered to possess only one phone. Ms Went was also granted bail during an application before Ms Shepherd. The court was told Ms Went was receiving a disability support pension and received money through her OnlyFans account, but she did not perform in-person sex work. Both Mr McCann and Ms Went had been due to return to court on August 4.
News.com.au
3 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brisbane forward Linc McCarthy edging closer towards goal of being available for AFL finals series
As 'crazy' as Linc McCarthy's attempt to fast-track his recovery from a knee reconstruction to be part of Brisbane's finals campaign is, Lions coach Chris Fagan will give the veteran forward every chance to play a role in the club's bid for back-to-back premierships. McCarthy, 31, hasn't played for the Lions since May last year when he ruptured the anterior cruciate ligament in his knee during a Brisbane win over the Gold Coast Suns at the Gabba. Before he could make his playing return, he suffered the same injury at a training session on March 5 this year. However, rather than undergo the usual surgery and recovery, which would have ruled him out of appearing in a grand final for a second time should Brisbane reach the 2025 decider, McCarthy is understood to have gone the non-traditional route by having the torn ACL replaced with a graft from the patella tendon rather than the hamstring tendon. It gave McCarthy – whose contract expires at the end of the season – the chance to make a quicker comeback, and so far, things have gone to plan. He has rejoined the main group for skills training, has increased his training volume and could be available to play in four weeks, which would be less than six months after suffering the second knee injury. 'He's definitely ramping up his training, and he joined in some skills the other day, and I thought 'that's happened quickly', but he's going along OK at the moment,' Fagan said of McCarthy. 'It's a day-by-day, week-by-week thing, but he's trying to give himself the best chance to get back and be available if we are good enough to make finals. 'He's incredibly desperate. That's why he's doing it. I look at him and thinking 'you're crazy', but he wants to try, and I don't want to stop him, so that's where all that's at.' McCarthy would add further depth to Brisbane's forward line should he become available before the end of the season. Tall forward Sam Day is again available for selection on Friday night when second-placed Brisbane host the Western Bulldogs after missing last week's win over Carlton for personal reasons. Should Day return, it's likely to be at the expense at one of the Lions' two ruckmen – Oscar McInerney or Darcy Fort. The Lions will have to make at least two changes to their 23-player match-day squad, with midfielder-forward Zac Bailey suspended and defender Noah Answerth ruled out for the season after suffering a ruptured achilles tendon in the win over the Blues. However, Fagan said star half-back Keidean Coleman would not be one of the replacements as he continued his return from a quad injury in Brisbane's VFL team. 'Good form and be able to play quarters of football,' Fagan said when asked what he wanted to see from Coleman in the reserves team before recalling him to the senior side. The Lions can put a dent in the Bulldogs' hopes of playing finals football with a win on Friday. 'Generally speaking, they've been good defensively, albeit that's the criticism of them at the moment, but I reckon they would have done a bit of work on that this week, so I'm expecting a good all-round game from the Bulldogs,' Fagan said.
The Australian
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Australian
AFL 2025: Gold Coast star Touk Miller to miss month with hamstring injury
Gold Coast will push towards an inaugural finals berth without Touk Miller after the star midfielder was sidelined for almost a month with a hamstring injury. Miller was substituted out of the Suns' statement win over Collingwood on Friday night with the concern. The Suns managed to hold off the fast-finishing Magpies without Miller to announce themselves as a September contender. Gold Coast physio Lindsay Bull said Miller would miss 3-4 weeks on Tuesday morning. 'Scans have confirmed that Touk sustained a hamstring strain on Friday night which will see him miss the next 3-4 weeks,' Bull said. In more positive news for the Suns, key defender Sam Collins is poised to return from two weeks out with a calf injury, while Caleb Graham will also be available. Touk Miller will miss 3-4 weeks with a hamstring injury. Picture: Russell Freeman/AFL Photos via Getty Images The week at Punt Rd just got better as Richmond released a pair of players from the rehab room. Harry Armstrong will be available for selection after recovering from a long-term hamstring tear – a welcome setback for the Tigers without spearhead Tom Lynch. Jasper Alger, meanwhile, has also made a miraculously swift return. Alger was last week listed as 3-4 weeks away but recent scans revealed the ankle issue less worrying than the initial diagnosis. 'We scanned Jasper's ankle last week after the injury report and realised the injury wasn't as severe as what we thought originally,' Richmond performance manager Ben Serpell said 'Happy to say that he has pulled through training last week and is available for selection this week.' Tyler Lewis Sports reporter Tyler Lewis is a sports reporter based in Melbourne's south east. @tmlew_ Tyler Lewis
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Sport
- News.com.au
AFL 2025: Gold Coast star Touk Miller will miss nearly a month with a hamstring injury
Gold Coast will push towards an inaugural finals berth without Touk Miller after the star midfielder was sidelined for almost a month with a hamstring injury. Miller was substituted out of the Suns' statement win over Collingwood on Friday night with the concern. The Suns managed to hold off the fast-finishing Magpies without Miller to announce themselves as a September contender. Gold Coast physio Lindsay Bull said Miller would miss 3-4 weeks on Tuesday morning. 'Scans have confirmed that Touk sustained a hamstring strain on Friday night which will see him miss the next 3-4 weeks,' Bull said. In more positive news for the Suns, key defender Sam Collins is poised to return from two weeks out with a calf injury, while Caleb Graham will also be available. The week at Punt Rd just got better as Richmond released a pair of players from the rehab room. Harry Armstrong will be available for selection after recovering from a long-term hamstring tear – a welcome setback for the Tigers without spearhead Tom Lynch. Jasper Alger, meanwhile, has also made a miraculously swift return. Alger was last week listed as 3-4 weeks away but recent scans revealed the ankle issue less worrying than the initial diagnosis. 'We scanned Jasper's ankle last week after the injury report and realised the injury wasn't as severe as what we thought originally,' Richmond performance manager Ben Serpell said 'Happy to say that he has pulled through training last week and is available for selection this week.'
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Sport
- Daily Mail
NRLW rookie cops suspension for spear tackle on debut
Reegan Hicks' nightmare NRLW debut has been capped off by a two-game ban for the tackle that left match officials to banish her from the field. The Brisbane forward was sent off for her spear tackle on Sienna Lofipo in the second half of the Broncos' 44-4 win over Gold Coast on Sunday. The match review committee charged Hicks with a grade-two dangerous throw on Monday morning, meaning she will miss upcoming clashes with the Sydney Roosters and St George Illawarra with an early guilty plea. The Queensland Under-19s co-captain risks missing a third game against Cronulla by challenging the charge. Broncos coach Scott Prince said 18-year-old Hicks was left distraught by the tackle. 'I know she's really upset and really remorseful for what she did,' Prince said. 'It's one of those things where you hate to see it in the game. It's just a straight-up accident. She's really upset there in the sheds. 'She's an 18-year-old, who's just trying to do her best for her football team. 'The girls have rallied around her, making sure she's in good spirits.' Elsewhere, Gold Coast captain Georgia Hale is set to miss one game, against Wests Tigers, for her hip-drop-style tackle on Brianna Clark from earlier in the game. Hale was sin-binned for the shot and will miss a second game if she chooses to challenge her grade-two dangerous contact charge.
