News:Aussie couple hold man for six months

Published: 10:02PM Friday August 27, 2010

Source: AAP
A 26-year-old Australian man allegedly was held against his will for six months by a couple who beat him and forced him to do household chores.

Police allege the couple locked the man in a child's cubby house, starved him and beat him up.

They say the man lost almost half his body weight - falling from 70kg to 40kg - during his ordeal after he moved into the couple's home near Bathurst as a lodger in February this year.

Doctors who examined him on August 10 found he had suffered spinal, jaw and rib fractures as well as a punctured lung, police said.

He allegedly had been made to perform all the cleaning duties around the home after having his mobile phone confiscated.

Police arrested a 41-year-old man and a 46-year-old woman in Fish Parade, Gormans Hill.
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Back home from convention

After a full on weekend in Palmerston North, things are closer to normal again. It was a long trip but well worth it. There were many fine talks and presentations. The drama was excellent (I won't spoil it for you). If you haven't been yet, go there when it reaches your area!

News:Computer blow to Europe's Goce gravity satellite

By Jonathan Amos Science correspondent, BBC News
Goce artist's impression (Esa) Goce flies lower than any other scientific satellite

A flagship European Earth observation satellite has been struck by a second computer glitch and cannot send its science data down to the ground.

The Goce spacecraft is on a mission to make the most precise maps yet of how gravity varies across the globe.

In February, a processor fault forced operators to switch the satellite over to its back-up computer system.

This too has now developed a problem and engineers are toiling to make the spacecraft fully functional again.
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Will be away at convention for a few days

From tomorrow morning, I will be traveling to a convention at the Te Raupraha Stadium in Palmerston North. The event lasts until Sunday. The venue is about 100km from home. One of the roads has been closed, so an alternate route must be used. Wishing you all well until I return safe to you again on what will be Sunday evening here.

Man battered ex-wife over Facebook taunts

17 August 2010
A man has been convicted of murdering his ex-wife after she taunted him on Facebook about paying child support.

Adam Mann used a hammer to batter Lisa Beverley, 30, before slashing her neck with a knife, the Old Bailey was told.

Jurors heard she had been online at her home in Plumstead, south London, on 15 September but the session came to an abrupt end at 2200 BST.

Mann, 29, of Springfield Road, Welling, Kent, was found guilty of murder and is due to be sentenced on 4 October.

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Facebook 'dislike' scam warning

Facebook users are being targeted in a scam that offers them a chance to install a "dislike" button.

The scam tricks users into allowing a rogue application to access their profile page, which then posts spam messages.

It also attempts to lure people into completing an online survey, for which the scammers are paid money.

The social network already offers a "like" button that allows people to rate other user's comments and posts.

Graham Cluley of security firm Sophos said it was the latest in a series of "survey scams" that included links to a video purporting to show an anaconda vomiting up a hippo.

"One thing we commonly see is that the message starts 'OMG, shocking video'," he said.

"And they appear to come from your Facebook friend, giving it a ringing endorsement."

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News:Killer exposes loophole in jury system

Published: 6:06PM Sunday August 15, 2010

Justice Minister Simon Power will be briefed today on how one of the country's most notorious killers was able to contact a juror during one of his recent trials, as revealed on ONE News last night.

The Ministry of Justice will meet under urgency after a juror's safety was compromised by the contact.

Baker, already in prison for the killing of teenager Liam Ashley in a prison van, was found guilty this month of kidnap, threatening to kill and assault with a weapon during a hostage siege at Paremoremo.

At his kidnap trial he represented himself and played a part in selecting the jury, which gave him access to their full names, home addresses and occupations.

It's alleged Baker contacted a woman juror after getting her details from jurors' list, exposing a loophole in the system.

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