Finks bikie jailed for 15 months

Bikie Stephen Wallace refused to answer if he knew Troy Mercanti, a former member of the Coffin Cheaters who defected to the Finks. Source: PerthNow

A Finks bikie has been jailed for 15 months for refusing to answer questions before the Australian Crime Commission.

Stephen John Wallace, 49, pleaded guilty to five offences of failing to answer questions at an examination in Perth in October 2009.

Wallace had made an affirmation to tell the truth but then refused to answer five questions including whether he was a member or associate of the Finks, if he had been "patched'' in July 2009, and if he knew fellow infamous bikies Frank Condo or Troy Desmond Mercanti.

In sentencing today, District Court Chief Judge Peter Martino told Wallace he had had a choice during the examination.

"You could comply with your legal obligations and answer questions, or you could choose to break the law and not answer questions,'' he said.

"You chose to break the law.''

Judge Martino noted Wallace had a long criminal record, including convictions for importing heroin into Australia.

He also considered that Wallace had served two years in prison for contempt of court by failing to answer questions before WA's Corruption and Crime Commission.

Judge Martino said general deterrence was an important factor.

"People must know that if they refuse to comply with their lawful obligation to answer questions at an examination before the Australian Crime Commission appropriate penalties will be imposed,'' he said.

Wallace was sentenced to 15 months in prison but could be free after just five months if he gives a $5000 undertaking to behave for two years.

If he breaches the undertaking, he will have to serve the rest of the sentence.

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Ex-chaplain gets 15 months over child porn

Supporters of jailed former chaplain Matthew David O'Meara speak to reporters outside court. Picture: Kaitlyn Offer Source: PerthNow

Former Perth College chaplain Matthew David O'Meara has been sentenced to 15 months in jail over possessing child pornography. Picture: Richard Polden Source: PerthNow

A FORMER Perth College chaplain has been sentenced to 15 months imprisonment after being found guilty of possessing child pornography.

A District Court jury found Matthew David O’Meara guilty on Monday, following his three week trial over four counts of possessing child pornography after USBs were found containing photos and videos of young girls on them at Perth College in August 2010.

In sentencing, Judge Ronald Birmingham said O'Meara's offending "struck at the very heart of the trust" imposed on him by Perth College when they employed him as head chaplain at the all-girls school.

"They were entitled to expect more from you," he said.

Almost 450 images were found in O'Meara's possession on the two thumb drives and deleted from his home computer, including images and movies of young girls performing sexual acts.

Judge Birmingham said the evidence left no doubt O'Meara "had a tendency or a sexual interest in young girls."

He said O'Meara had hid behind a mask to friends and family and insistence that others were responsible for the images on the thumb drives showed he had "no remorse."

"That you fall from such a height is largely the result of a self-inflicted wound," he said.

Despite the guilty verdict, O'Meara maintains his innocence and outside court his lawyers said he would be considering an appeal against the conviction.

Defence counsel Laurie Levy told Judge Birmingham during his submissions that in the two years and seven months since his client was charged, O'Meara had become "professionally and financially ruined."

He also said O'Meara's job prospects were non-existent because for more than 14 years he had worked as a teacher and a chaplain. Th Anglican Church has revoked his pastoral licence.

This evening his wife Karina, parents and sister expressed their ongoing support for him.

"We all believe that he has suffered a terrible injustice, a brutal injustice and we have to do what we can to regroup," Mrs O'Meara told reporters outside court.

O'Meara was sentenced to six months imprisonment for counts one and four and nine months for counts two and three.

However Judge Birmingham said count two was to be the head sentence, with counts one and three to be served concurrently and count four to be served accumulative, totalling 15 months.

O'Meara will be eligible for parole after seven and a half months.

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Perth wakes to first rain for 4 months

WELCOME RELIEF: Perth recorded 18mm overnight, the first significant fall for more than four months. Source: PerthNow

PERTH had its first significant rainfall for more four months with nearly 20mm recorded in the Mt Lawley gauge overnight.

After one of the hottest summers on record the sound and smell of rain this morning was blessed relief for many across the metropolitan area.

Perth recorded the wettest night of anywhere across the city with 18mm, while Champion Lakes near Armadale got 17mm to 7am. Perth Airport recorded 10mm, Rottnest 8mm, but Mandurah had just 2.6mm.

Bickley in the Hills east of Perth had 10mm.

Perth is in for more rain during the day with morning showers and the chance of a storm, with a forecast top of 24C.

The Bureau is predicting an 80 per cent chance of rain with the prospect of 4-10mm for the day.

The rain caused minor flooding on Mitchell Freeway which is causing problems near Hutton Street, Osborne Park this morning.

The left lane remains closed northbound near the Hutton Street exit ramp due to overnight flooding. Drivers are asked to observe road safety signage and to take care through the area.

Falls were widespread across the southern half of the state with some heavy falls in the Central Wheatbelt and Central West with Geraldton (Airport) getting 32.6mm; Morawa 18mm, Dalwallinu 17mm and further inland, Southern Cross had 21mm.

In the Great Southern, Wandering had 15mm to 7am and down south Albany recorded 12.6mm and Manjimup in the South West got 14mm.

Forecast for the rest of Monday
    Max 24C
    A few showers. Morning storm.
    Chance of any rain: 80%
    Rainfall amount: 4 to 10 mm
Cloudy. Scattered showers, easing during the afternoon and clearing in the evening. The chance of a thunderstorm this morning. Winds west to southwesterly 15 to 20 km/h tending south to southwesterly 25 to 40 km/h in the late morning.

THE WEEK AHEAD

Tuesday 12 March
    Min 9C
    Max 22C
    Partly cloudy.
Partly cloudy. Winds southerly 15 to 25 km/h turning southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h in the morning.

Wednesday 13 March
    Min 10C
    Max 27C
    Sunny.
Sunny. Winds southeasterly 15 to 20 km/h turning easterly 15 to 25 km/h during the morning.

Thursday 14 March
    Min 16C
    Max 29C
    Showers and chance of a storm.
Partly cloudy. Scattered showers and isolated thunderstorms. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h.

Friday 15 March
    Min 18C
    Max 32C
    Morning shower or two.
Partly cloudy. Isolated showers during the morning. Winds easterly 15 to 20 km/h turning southeasterly 20 to 30 km/h during the morning.

Saturday 16 March
    Min 19C
    Max 34C
    Partly cloudy.
Partly cloudy. Winds easterly 25 to 35 km/h.

Sunday 17 March
    Min 22C
    Max 31C
    Partly cloudy.
Partly cloudy. Isolated showers about the hills. Isolated thunderstorms. Winds east to northeasterly 20 to 25 km/h shifting northwesterly 15 to 25 km/h during the day.

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