Latest news with #JamesOConnor
CBS News
2 hours ago
- CBS News
Hassan Elliott sentenced to 75 years in prison in murder of Philadelphia police Sgt. James O'Connor
Hassan Elliott, a man who pleaded guilty to fatally shooting Philadelphia Police Sgt. James O'Connor in 2020, was sentenced to 75 years in prison on Wednesday, the city's top federal prosecutor in Philadelphia announced. The shooting happened while O'Connor, a member of the Philadelphia Police Department SWAT unit, was serving a search and arrest warrant for Elliott at a home on the 1600 block of Bridge Street in the Frankford section of the city. While O'Connor and other officers were serving the warrants on March 13, 2020, Elliott fired a rifle through a closed bedroom door, striking O'Connor in the chest. The team later found multiple handguns, a rifle that was used to shoot O'Connor, and quantities of crack cocaine and marijuana, as well as materials to package and sell those drugs. The U.S. Attorney's Office in Philadelphia said Elliott and other men inside the house were members of the criminal organization 1700 Scattergood, also known as SG1700. Elliott, nicknamed "Haz," pleaded guilty in January to causing O'Connor's death, as well as racketeering conspiracy and drug trafficking and gun offenses. Another man, Khalif Sears, also pleaded guilty in January to causing O'Connor's death and other offenses. Two other men, Kelvin "Nip" Jimenez and Dominique "Dom" Parker, were convicted at trial in March of several crimes that prosecutors said were part of their membership in SG1700, a "violent drug trafficking organization." O'Connor earned the rank of corporal but was later posthumously promoted to sergeant.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Veteran James O'Connor answers fly half SOS as Wallabies confirm squad for Lions series
Veteran playmaker James O'Connor has answered Australia's fly half SOS ahead of the British and Irish Lions series, with the 35-year-old given a shock Wallabies recall. O'Connor returns to Joe Schmidt's squad for the three Tests against the tourists after the hosts lost first-choice No 10 Noah Lolesio to injury in their win over Fiji last week. In the latest chapter in a remarkable, and somewhat curious, international career, O'Connor could be in line to add to his 64 caps 17 years after becoming the youngest ever Wallaby, and may feature against the Lions for a second time having started all three Tests in 2013. 144-cap prop James Slipper was also involved 12 years ago and is another experienced head in a largely settled squad named by head coach Schmidt, though Brumbies flyer Corey Toole and Western Force flanker Nick Champion de Crespigny could press for debuts. 'As Wallabies coaches, we have tried to balance continuity with form and freshness, but there were some very tight calls,' Schmidt said. 'We're conscious of how special it is to play the British and Irish Lions, so for those selected in the squad, they'll be competing for Test jerseys, while also trying to help others prepare. 'We need to improve our accuracy and cohesion with a very short runway leading up to the first Test [in Brisbane] in eight days. We are excited by what's to come.' O'Connor is joined among the fly half options in the squad by youngster Tom Lynagh - son of Wallabies great Michael - and Ben Robertson, who can also play at full-back. The 35-year-old enjoyed a strong Super Rugby Pacific season in the colours of the Crusaders in Christchurch, and will join Leicester Tigers in the Premiership next season. James O'Connor featured against the Lions in 2013 (REUTERS) "Noah's injury opened up a doorway for me. And even then, again, I still didn't think I'd made it," O'Connor said in Brisbane. "So, to be here right now and to be given the opportunity to be with this group of men, I'm bloody excited." France-based lock Will Skelton is the lone overseas inclusion in Schmidt's 36-man party. After the opening Test at Suncorp Stadium, Australia host the Lions in Melbourne and Sydney. Forwards: Allan Alaalatoa, Angus Bell, Josh Canham, Nick Champion De Crespigny, Matt Faessler, Nick Frost, Langi Gleeson, Tom Hooper, Fraser McReight, Zane Nonggorr, Billy Pollard, David Porecki, Tom Robertson, Will Skelton, James Slipper, Carlo Tizzano, Taniela Tupou, Rob Valetini, Jeremy Williams, Harry Wilson. Backs: Filipo Daugunu, Ben Donaldson, Jake Gordon, Len Ikitau, Max Jorgensen, Andrew Kellaway, Tom Lynagh, Tate McDermott, James O'Connor, Hunter Paisami, Dylan Pietsch, Harry Potter, Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, Corey Toole, Nic White, Tom Wright.
Telegraph
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Telegraph
Beating Lions with this Australia side would be Joe Schmidt's greatest achievement
For a coach whose forensic attention to detail is baked into Irish rugby folklore, Joe Schmidt's unveiling of his Wallabies squad to face the Lions last week looked decidedly shambolic. The series-ending neck injury suffered by Noah Lolesio in the 21-18 win against Fiji last Sunday meant that Schmidt needed to call up another fly-half. It appeared obvious that replacement would be the veteran James O'Connor to counterbalance the inexperienced pair of Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson. Yet there was an apparent issue with obtaining insurance for the 35-year-old, which meant that Schmidt was, unsuccessfully, trying to contact O'Connor to tell him he was in on the morning the squad was being unveiled in Brisbane. It just so happened that O'Connor was in Brisbane coaching a female sevens side when he was spotted wandering past the team hotel. Crisis averted. Such is Schmidt's reputation as a coaching mastermind that this could all be a ruse to lull the Lions into an even greater sense of false security. The verdict in sections of the Australian press took a less kind interpretation. 'Sleepy Joe at the wheel' was the headline on the Roar website, referencing the derogatory nickname Donald Trump gave to Joe Biden. Certainly, if Schmidt is playing a form of 4D chess it is hard to discern the genius behind going into a Lions series with three fly-halves whose last starts in the gold No 10 shirt came in a 67-27 defeat to Argentina last year (Donaldson), 2022 against Argentina (O'Connor) and never (Lynagh). Lolesio's absence was unfortunate but hardly unforeseeable given his unfortunate track record of injuries. Schmidt has also declined to nominate a captain for the series. So no leader, no frontline 10 and, according to the bookmakers, not much hope against a Lions side that delivered its most impressive performance to date in the 48-0 win against the AUNZ invitational side. Not so fast says Ian Foster, who was a member of the coaching group for the AUNZ team. Schmidt was part of the All Blacks backroom team under Foster who knocked Andy Farrell's Ireland side out of the 2023 World Cup in a coaching masterclass. And while Foster plainly admits Australia are underdogs, if there is a single reason for optimism he says it lies in Schmidt's ability to concoct a plan. 'He'll (Schmidt) bring a lot of belief because I'm sure that the Wallabies team will know what they want to do and they'll believe in what they want to do, and that's his [Schmidt's] biggest strength,' Foster said. 'They're a quality team, good depth, but that brings complications sometimes at selection time, so you know, I think the test of the tour is how they deal with selection in the next week and keep the rest of the squad happy. 'They (the Lions) will be primed, but there's something about the Wallabies. I just think that if they can be tough enough at the ball carry to be able to get some front-foot ball against the Lions team. They'll be a challenge.' The decline of Australian rugby has been well documented, particularly in competition with Aussie Rules and rugby league. To provide a small snapshot, the Australian Football League (Aussie Rules) generated $1billion (£480 million) and the National Rugby League AUD $745 million (£362 million) last year; Rugby Australia turned over $120 million. Last Wednesday's State of Origin decider is still being dissected on television while the Lions' tour garners only passing mention. Now that we are in Test week, business should pick up. There are plenty of juicy subplots from Schmidt v Farrell, Sione Tuipulotu v Joseph Suaalii, Ellis Genge v Taniela Tupou for everyone to get stuck into. Still it is going to require every last drop of Schmidt's motivational and tactical abilities to down the Lions. Compare this group of players to the Australia sides who started the first Test of the 2001 and 2013 series and the precipitous drop-off in talent is painful to behold. The 2001 Wallabies might be their finest-ever team while even the 2013 vintage still had a world-class core of Israel Folau, Will Genia and Michael Hooper. With the possible exception of Angus Bell and the potential of Suaalii it is hard to make a case for many of the current crop gaining a place in those sides. Yet according to former second-row Justin Harrison, who helped the Wallabies to a 2-1 series victory in 2001, the one thing that Australians thrive off is being backed into a corner. 'Look at Australia, just about anything that moves in the wildlife can kill you,' Harrison said. 'Whether we are dealing with floods or droughts, we are an adverse frontier country. We are used to being hard against it. 'On a world stage, typically, every single one of our national teams does well from a resource share. We outperform expectations. That's a great position for us to be in. Culturally, we like to be under pressure. We like to prove our point and this Wallaby group will prove that point. 'The Lions squad is built upon a cohesiveness but the Wallabies have a healthy group of players who have got a shared experience in adversity and extreme adversity at the 2023 World Cup. A lot of those players have come out of the Super Rugby Pacific programmes who have won more than they have lost. They are beating Kiwi opposition and getting to a final series (Brumbies). That all means that they are moving into this series with a degree of positive shared experience but also problem-solving and resilience.' The Lions'; preparation has been far from perfect both in terms of performances and injuries but they seem to be in an exponentially stronger position unless Schmidt has the Wallabies playing possums. For all the silverware that he accumulated with Leinster and Ireland, a series victory would go down as Schmidt's greatest-ever achievement.
Yahoo
13-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Old head O'Connor an asset for Wallabies: Beale
Overlooked for his own fairytale recall, Kurtley Beale is applauding the selection of fellow Wallabies veteran James O'Connor to face the British and Irish Lions. Beale will still get a chance to tackle the tourists, leading an historic First Nations and Pasifika XV that will line up for the first time at Melbourne's Marvel Stadium on July 22. The 36-year-old has overcome a hamstring twinge that ruled him out of the Western Force clash that opened the Lions tour last month. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Wallabies (@wallabies) After injury to first-choice flyhalf Noah Lolesio, 35-year-old O'Connor, who was part of the 2013 Lions series, was a surprise inclusion almost three years after playing his last Test. O'Connor was in the thick of action in his first training session; both he and the Wallabies posting a photo on social media that showed stitches to a cut above his eye with blood dripping down his face. Beale, who also played in the losing campaign 12 years ago, said an experienced head such as O'Connor would add value to the squad and in particular to the playmakers in Tom Lynagh and Ben Donaldson. "You definitely need, like, a bit of an older head ... I feel like there's value, not just for the two young 10s to bounce ideas off, to compete with, but also for the whole squad in general," Beale told AAP. "I know from from the past, being in a squad with Matt Giteau and Adam Ashley-Cooper, two guys that I looked up to in terms of playing the same positions and just bouncing ideas and kind of learning how they they craft a game, it's really important in the background, right?" Beale watched the Wallabies snatch a last-gasp win over Fiji last Sunday and believed there were enough signs in their first Test of the year to give hope they could topple the classy Lions. "I think we do have a chance," he said. "The Wallabies' performance against Fiji, it lacked a little bit of cohesion, the finishing touches, but I thought we created a some great opportunities. "There were couple of forward passes and we nail those and there's scoreboard pressure, we're in front, and we start to kind of get into a game plan. "I'm sure the guys understand that and no doubt they'll be working really hard to put it all together so that we go out there confident and stick it to the Lions in game one." First Nations and Pasifika coach Toutai Kefu has so far unveiled five players - Queensland's Seru Uru, NSW Waratahs pair Rob Leota and Charlie Gamble and Brumbies speedster Andy Muirhead - and touted Beale as his captain, although the flyhalf said nothing had been made official. "If that's the case, what an absolute honour," said the 95-Test veteran, who still harbours ambitions of adding to that Test tally. "It's a huge privilege to be able to represent my culture and represent the team at this level against the Lions. "After being involved last time there's a bit of redemption there ...it'd be great to be able to kind of get back and put in a performance that we can all be proud of."
News.com.au
12-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Prop James Slipper seeking redemption with the Wallabies after 2013 series-deciding loss to British and Irish Lions
Twelve years of pain and regret has stalwart prop James Slipper desperate for Wallabies redemption in the upcoming three-Test series against the British and Irish Lions. Slipper, 36, is just one of two players – the other being the recalled James O'Connor – in the 36-man Wallabies squad announced on Friday to have played against the Lions the previous time they toured Australia in 2013. The series was up for grabs heading into the third Test at Stadium Australia after the Wallabies had bounced back from a first-up 23-21 loss in Brisbane with a 16-15 win in Melbourne. However, rather than rise to the occasion, the Wallabies flopped in Sydney, with the Lions thrashing the Australians 41-16 to clinch the series 2-1. 'We let ourselves down massively in Sydney in that deciding game,' Slipper said ahead of next Saturday's first Test of this year's series at Suncorp Stadium. 'It's probably what makes it really tough, how we performed in that last game, and 12 years is a long time to wait.' Slipper admitted he didn't fully understand the gravity of a Lions tour in his first series against the British and Irish combination. 'Looking back, you realise how big it is – Ii's a big occasion,' he said. 'Individually, I probably went into that series a bit naive with how big it is, so for me it's a special moment having another go because not many people do.' Slipper, Australia's most capped player with 144 Tests under his belt, contemplated retirement last year following the departure of previous Wallabies coach Eddie Jones and the appointment of current mentor Joe Schmidt. 'It (the Lions tour) looked far away only because we had new coaches come in,' the ACT Brumbies veteran said. 'Last year was a bit of a rebuild for us, and there was a fair bit of water that had to go under the bridge and a lot of hard work. 'I'd always said that I wanted to empty the tank for Australian rugby. That's always been my philosophy around when I'm going to end. 'You can never look too far in front of yourself in rugby. You don't know what the team's going to look like, or the landscape itself, so to be here today is a special one for me.' Your 36 Wallabies preparing for the British & Irish Lions Test series. #Wallabies #LionsTour2025 — Wallabies (@wallabies) July 11, 2025 Slipper was also pleased the squad included 35-year-old O'Connor, who has the chance to play his first Test since 2022 after being called in to replace injured flyhalf Noah Lolesio (neck). 'It's awesome to see him here. He had a great year (in the Super Rugby Pacific competition) with the Crusaders, and I'm mostly happy someone else is here now who's done it before,' he said of O'Connor. 'I'm always an advocate for getting older players in, and I've got some friends to hang out with.'
