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‘Have courage’: Tokelau records its first four community Covid-19 cases

By
Kaniva Staff
-

‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala faka-Tonga

Tokelau remains in lockdown following the announcement of its first Covid-19 community cases.

The General manager of the Office of Tokelau in 2023, Aukusitino Vitale. Photo: Supplied, Elena Pasilio

“We knew that it would eventually get to Tokelau, so we prepared,” Tokelau Government General Manager Aukusitino Vitale said.

Between 15 and 26 May, four community cases were recorded in Nukunonu.

Tokelau is now officially the second to last country in the world to experience community transmission of Covid-19, with Turkmenistan still at zero cases as of 26 May according to the WHO.

On top of the four community cases in Nukunonu, which is the largest atoll in Tokelau, there was one border case and two recorded at the border on Fakaofo.

Vitale said the index border case arrived on the Lady Samoa with more than 70 other people in Tokelau on Sunday, 14 May.

They stopped off in Atafu and Fakaofo and all passengers who disembarked on Nukunonu tested negative on day one but on day three, a 48-year-old male tested positive.

One week later on Sunday, 21 May, the man’s son tested positive, becoming the first community case in Tokelau.

Vitale, who was also on the voyage, said the five-day lockdown which is only in place in Nukunonu ends on 28 May local time.

“Have courage, we have a very good, high herd immunity rate which is really helping with the positive cases, it’s just been flu symptoms, fever is of course the most difficult one but apart from that people are recovering.”

The restrictions in place mean Matiti School on Nukunonu is closed, as well as all government offices.

Essential services like the hospital, co-op store and finance are open with special arrangements in place to minimise people moving about in the village.

People are allowed to feed their livestock between 7am to 9am.

By RNZ

FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

Oku kei loka ‘a Tokelau hili e fanongonongo ‘enau fuofua keisi Koviti-19.

Ne tokamea’i pe ‘e he kainga ‘e iku pe o a’u ange pea ne nau teuteu pe ki ai.

Na’e lekooti ai ‘a e keisi ‘e fa he komiunitii ‘i he vaha’a taimi ‘aho 15 ki he 26 ‘o Mee i Nukunonu.

Kuo hoko ai ‘a Tokelau ko e fika ua ia ki he muimui taha ‘o ha fonua ‘i mamani ke ne ma’u ‘a e Koviti 19, kae kei hao pe ‘a Turkmenistan heene a’u mai ki he ‘aho 26 Mee’ fakatatau ki he  WHO.

Kehe mei he keisi komiuniti ‘e faa ‘i Nukunono ‘a ia ko e motu lahi taha ia ‘i Tokelau ne ‘i ai ‘a e keisi ‘e taha he potaa’ mo e ua ne lekooti ‘i he pota ‘o Fakaofo.

Pehe ko e keisi he potaa ne tu’uta ange ia ‘i he vake Ha’amoa ko e Lady Samoa mo ha kakai ‘e toko 70 ‘i Tokelau he Sapate ‘aho 14 o Mee.

Ne nau tau ai ‘i Atafu mo Fakaofo pea ne nekativi pe kau pesese ne nau hifo i Nukunonu he uluaki ‘aho ka ‘i he ‘aho hono tolu ne tesi positive ai ha tangata ta’u 48.

Hili ha uike ‘e taha ki mui i he Sapate ko hono 21 o Mee ne tesi positivi ai ‘a e foha e tangata ne puke pea ko e fuofua keisi ia i he komiunitii i Tokelau.

Na’e pehē ‘e Vitale, ‘a ia ne kau foki mo ia ‘i he fononga, na’e ngata ‘a e loka ‘aho nima ‘a Nukunonu ‘i he ‘aho 28 ‘o Mee taimi fakalotofonua’.

Na’a ne poupou ki hono kakai ke nau loto lahi he oku lelei ‘aupito ‘enau ‘imiunti rate ‘a ia ‘oku tokoni lahi ia ki he ngaahi keisi positive, ko e faka’ilonga pe ia ‘o e fuluu, ko e mofi ‘a e konga faingata’a taha kae makehe mei ai kuo ake mai ‘a e kakai.

Koeuhi ko e ngaahi fangatangata kuo hoko ‘oku ‘uhinga ia ‘oku tapuni ‘a e ako’anga Matiti ‘i Nukunonu pea ngaahi ‘ofisi fakapule’anga.

Ava pe ngaahi sevese fiema’ua hange ko e fale mahaki, ngaahi fale koloa mo e pa’anga ‘i ha fokotu’utu’u makehe ki ai ke fakasi’isi’i e feō’aki ‘a e kakai.

‘Oku ‘atā ‘a e kakai ke fafanga ‘enau fanga monumanu’ he vaha’a e 7am ki he 9am.

Pope Francis, 86, suffers major health setback

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By JAMES REYNOLDS  and AFP

Pope Francis has been forced to clear his schedule after suffering with a fever, the Vatican has said.

The pope’s agenda was not made public this morning, as it usually is on a Friday. Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said: ‘Due to a feverish state, Pope Francis did not receive an audience this morning.’

Francis spent five days in a Rome hospital at the end of March for bronchitis.

Pope Francis recovered quickly from the illness after taking antibiotics and was able to go on a three-day trip to Hungary at the end of April.

But the Pope, born Jorge Mario Bergoglio, was forced to miss the ‘Way of the Cross’ procession on Good Friday due to cold weather.

He instead attended an indoor Good Friday service in St Peter’s Basilica.

It was the first time the Pope did not preside at the ‘Via Crucis’ service since he was elected in 2013. 

He did manage to take part in Maundy Thursday duties, gathering with dozens of cardinals and bishops, and some 1,880 priests, in St Peter’s Basilica.

The Pope later travelled to the jail of Casal del Marmo on the outskirts of the city, where he washed and kissed the feet of 12 young inmates in a gesture meant to commemorate Jesus’ humility towards his apostles on the night before his death.

He seemed, at the time, to have recovered from bronchitis.

Francis, who became pope ten years ago, is missing part of one lung. It was removed when he was a young man in his native Argentina.

None of the Pope’s scheduled events have been cancelled and he is due to preside at a Mass marking Pentacost on Sunday in St Peter’s Square.

Two-year-old sentenced to life in prison in North Korea

By
Kaniva Staff
-

By Michael Havis of Daily Mail

North Korea has sentenced a two-year-old to life in a prison camp after the toddler’s parents were found with a Bible.

The plight of the child, whose entire family was also jailed, was revealed in the International Religious Freedom Report from the US State Department.

The publication also exposed multiple cases of North Koreans being killed for their Christianity, such as the execution by firing squad of a Christian woman and her grandchild in 2011.

In another case, a member of the ruling party was executed in front of an audience of 3,000 at Hyesan airfield after they were found in possession of a Bible.

Other believers faced pigeon torture, whereby they were suspended with their hands tied behind their backs, unable to sit or stand for days on end.

‘It was the most painful of all tortures,’ one victim recalled. ‘It was so painful that I felt it was better to die.’

Others were tortured with sleep deprivation.

One Christian woman in solitary confinement was driven to suicide in 2020 after prison guards refused to let her sleep, according to the report.

Other horrors endured by Christians include starvation, dehydration, tainted food, beatings, and forced adoption of agonising positions for prolonged periods.

The report – which summarises the findings of various non-governmental organisations, human rights groups, and the UN – paints a disturbing picture of Christian life in North Korea.

It cites one estimate that up to 70,000 Christians are imprisoned for their faith under Kim Jong-Un’s regime, out of a possible population of 400,000.

Ostensibly, North Korea guarantees its people religious freedom in its constitution – and the regime highlights the churches it has built in Pyongyang as proof.

But the publication said these churches operate only as ‘showpieces for foreigners’.

It cited the testimony of one defector, who said people could be arrested for lingering too long outside the churches and listening to music from within, or even consistently driving past them.

Choristers at the Pyongyang church. American Ray Cunningham visited the church and said: ‘I came away wondering just how real this is’

    Chilgol Protestant Church in Pyongyang. North Korea highlights the churches it has built in Pyongyang as ‘proof’ of its religious tolerance

    Ray Cunningham, from the US state of Illinois, visited Chilgol Protestant Church in Pyongyang during a service.

    He said: ‘I came away wondering just how real this is.

    ‘Are the services regular? The church seems maintained but is it a regular event? In the society you see no evidence of religious activity – except for Buddhism.

    ‘It feels real but like many things indeed it may be somewhat a show for tourists. In this case it might be a mixture of showmanship and a few elderly Christians in the area.’

    He also noted something that was highlighted in the report – no children attend the services.

    ‘The congregation was made up of older men – all seemingly over 65 – and women over 40,’ he said.

    ‘What you did not see were children or young working-age people.’

    The US State Department’s publication said many North Korean Christians hide their faith from their children.

    It cited the finding of one NGO, Open Doors USA, which said: ‘A Christian is never safe.

    ‘Children are encouraged to tell their teachers about any sign of faith in their parents’ home.’

    Another NGO, Korea Future, said children were taught in school about the ‘evil deeds’ of Christian missionaries, including ‘rape, blood sucking, organ harvesting, murder, and espionage’.

    The report said: ‘One defector told Korea Future that the government published graphic novels in which Christians coaxed children into churches and took them to the basement to draw their blood.’

    And while most of the cases of religious persecution documented by Korea Future targeted those pracitising shamanism, it was Christians who normally received the harshest punishments.

    This is because they are perceived as a ‘hostile class’ and a ‘serious threat to loyalty to the state’, the report said.

    For followers of shamanism, punishments range from six months in a forced labour camp to three or more years in a re-education facility.

    Christians, meanwhile, can be executed, or face anything from 15 years to life in a prison camp, imposed on up to three generations of the immediate family of the person found guilty.

    The report repeated the conclusion reached by Open Doors USA, that ‘life for Christians is a constant cauldron of pressure; capture or death is only a mistake away’.

    In place of religion, the Kim family demands worship for itself and its ideology of Juche – meaning national self-reliance, the publication said.

    These offered a ‘form of state-sponsored theology’, it said.

    The report explains: ‘Although the ideology makes no explicit claim that the leaders are gods, they are described as “extraordinary beings” capable of supernatural feats.’

    One defector described being taught that bullets would change course rather than hit Kim Il-Sung, the country’s founder and Kim Jong-Un’s grandfather.

    China braces for new Covid 19 wave, may peak at 65 million cases per week

    By
    Kaniva Staff
    -

    ‘Oku taupotu ‘i lalo ha fakamatala faka-Tonga

    China faces yet another wave of COVID-19 infections that could lead to millions of new cases nationwide.

    The grim forecast was revealed by Zhong Nanshan, a respiratory disease specialist, at a medical conference this week in China’s southern city of Guangzhou.

    Zhong was reported by Chinese state media saying that China could be approaching 40 million infections per week. By the end of June, the weekly number of infections could surge to 65 million, NBC News reported.

    The surge comes about six months after the country dismantled its sprawling infrastructure for dealing with Covid, including harsh lockdowns, mass testing, stifling quarantines and strict mask requirements.

    “People feel differently about this wave,” said Qi Zhang, 30, who works at a finance company in the northern city of Tianjin. “The last time, everyone was terrified, but now they don’t think it’s a big deal,” she told NBC News on Thursday.

    According to state media, he told the audience that the wave that started in late April was “anticipated,” and that his modeling suggested China could be approaching 40 million infections per week. By the end of June, he said, the weekly number of infections will peak at 65 million.

    The United States, by comparison, was reporting more than 5 million cases a week at its peak last January. Like the U.S., China stopped providing weekly case updates this month, making it difficult to know the true extent of the current outbreak.

    The State Department said the U.S., which imposed a testing requirement on travelers from China in January before lifting it in March, was discussing China’s second Covid wave with allies and partners but declined to say whether travel restrictions were under consideration. Spokesperson Matt Miller said the department would monitor the situation in conjunction with the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention before updating travel guidelines.

    “We don’t want to see people anywhere, obviously, suffering from Covid-19,” Miller said Wednesday. The U.S. government remains committed to working with China “on transnational challenges, including on global health matters and maintaining open lines of communication,” he added.

    FAKAMATALA FAKATONGA

    Kuo toe fehangahangai ‘eni ‘a Siaina mo ha toe ākenga fo’ou ‘o e Koviti-19 ‘e ala uesia ai ha laui miliona he fonua fakakātoa.

    Ko e vavalo fakamanavahē ko eni ne fakaha ia ‘e Zhong Nanshan, ko ha taukei makehe ‘i he mahaki ki he ma’ama’a ‘i he konifelenisi fakametikale he uike’ ni ‘i he citi ko ia ‘i he saute ‘o oSiaina ko Guangzhou.

    Pehē ‘e Zhong ‘e a’u ki he kakai ‘e toko 40 miliona ‘e uesia heni he uike. ‘I he faka’osinga ‘o Sune’ ‘e a’u ‘a e pihia fakauike ki he toko 65 miliona.

    Ko e matua mai ko eni hili ia ha mahina ‘e ono hili hono veteki ‘e he fonua ‘a e ngaahi ‘inifalakisā ne langa ke tau’i’aki ‘a e Koviti, kau ai ‘a e ngaahi loka, tesi fakatokolahi tu’utu’uni’i fefeka, ko e kolonitini mo e tu’utu’uni fefeka ke ‘ai ‘a e masaki.

    Na’a ne fakaha ki he mitia ko e akenga ko ‘eni ne kamata ia ‘i he konga ki mui ‘o ‘Epeleli pea na’e ‘osi fai pe ‘a e ‘amanaki ki ai pea ko hono motolo kuo fa’u ko eni kuo ne fokotu’u mai ‘e ofi ‘a kinautolu ‘e pihia ‘i  Siaina ‘i he toko 40 miliona he uike. I he uike faka’osi ‘o Sune ‘e a’u ‘a e phia ki he 65 miliona.

    Fakahoa ‘eni ki ‘Amelika’ na’e lipooti ‘a e keisi  laka hake ‘i he toko 5 miliona he uike ko e lahi taha ‘i Sanuali. Hange pe ko Amelika, na’e ta’ofi ‘e he Siaina hano toe fakalamuiaki fakauike ‘enau ngaahi keisi ‘i he mahina ni  ‘o faingata’a ai ke ‘ilo ‘a e tu’unga totonu oku lolotonga ‘i ai ‘a e to’umahaki.

    Pehe foki mei he State Department na’e hilifaki ‘e US ‘a e fiema’u ke tesi ‘a e kau folau mei Siaina ‘i Sanuali ki mu’a pea to’o ‘i Ma’asi. Pehe foki mei US na’a nau lolotonga alea’i mo Siaina ‘enau akenga hono ua fakataha mo e ngaahi ‘ālai mo e ngaahi paatinaa’ ka ne ‘ikai tali ha tali ki he fehu’i pe nau toe fakakaukau’i ha loka fakavaha’afonua.

    Pehē pe mei he tipaatimeni oku fai hono monitoa ‘o e me’a ‘oku hoko’ fakataha mo e Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ki mu’a hano tuku mai ha talamuiaki fekau’aki mo e kau fefolau’aki.

    Police to the rescue as baby nearly born on Auckland motorway

    By
    Kaniva Staff
    -

    A baby narrowly avoided being born on the side of a gridlocked Auckland motorway on Thursday, with his panicked parents getting a surprise police escort to hospital.

    Shradda and Gaurav Patil with their son Aarav. (Source: Supplied)

    Constable Shaw (no first name provided) was driving on the Northern Motorway on Thursday afternoon, heading back to Orewa station after finishing his shift, when he saw a vehicle parked in the emergency stopping lane.

    “I went and spoke to the driver to make sure everything was okay,” he said in a statement released by police today. “There was a woman in the backseat, clearly in labour.”

    The distressed first-time parents, Shradda and Gaurav Patil, had missed the turnoff to North Shore Hospital.

    “Unfortunately the motorway was just jam-packed,” said Gaurav. “I started sweating and I called 111. The next minute, Constable Shaw stopped for us.”

    After escorting their vehicle a couple of kilometres, Shaw realised the “ridiculous” traffic meant there was a good chance the baby would arrive before they could get to the birthing unit – so he pulled them over and told them to hop in, turning on the lights and siren.

    “I walked them up to the suite and left. It was quite cool – a once in a career opportunity,” said Shaw.

    Baby Aarav, completely unaware of the commotion he had created, did not end up arriving until 7.30am Friday.

    Gaurav said he did not get much time to thank Shaw for his efforts.

    “I cannot express how relieved we were to see him. The way Constable Shaw helped us, it was just amazing.”

    rnz.co.nz

    NZME fined more than $80,000 for supplying unsafe magnetic toys

    By
    Kaniva Staff
    -

    By rnz.co.nz

    NZME Advisory has been fined just under $88,000 for supplying unsafe magnetic puzzle toys that a child swallowed and had to have surgically removed.

    The Commerce Commission took the company to Auckland District Court where it pleaded guilty and was fined $87,750. Photo: RNZ / Cole Eastham-Farrelly

    The toys – known as buckyballs – were made up of small, high-powered magnetic balls and sold via the company’s previously-owned GrabOne website between October 2020 and September 2021.

    The company, which has since sold the site, sold 213 of the magnetic toys, which breached an unsafe goods notice which bans the supply of any magnets, sold in sets of two or more, that are a particular size and strength.

    NZME recalled the sets and contacted customers to notify them of the recall after being contacted by the Commerce Commission.

    The commission’s general manager of fair trading Kirsten Mannix said the magnets were banned for health and safety reasons.

    “The ban exists because if more than one of the magnets are swallowed, they can attract to each other within the body which is extremely dangerous,” she said.

    “Tragically, we are aware of one case in New Zealand where a child did swallow two of the magnets from one of the magnetic toys supplied by NZME, and significant surgery was required to remove them.”

    The commission took the company to Auckland District Court where it pleaded guilty and was fined $87,750.

    Mannix said it was vital that businesses understood their obligations when advertising and supplying products for sale.

    “Every year we carry out unannounced visits to retailers engaging with them about the product safety laws in place and checking that the toys on the shelves are compliant,” she said.

    “Since 2017 we have prosecuted 30 businesses and issued formal warnings to another 32 businesses, relating to the supply of non-compliant products.”

    Concern for shareholders as meeting attendence drops

    By
    Kaniva Staff
    -

    By rnz.co.nz

    There is concern about shareholder engagement after new research has revealed a sharp fall in attendance at shareholder meetings.

    New Zealand Shareholders Association says there are a number of factors which have contributed to falling attendance. (file image) Photo: 123RF

    A New Zealand Shareholders Association (NZSA) survey showed the overall average attendance for meetings fell 24 percent since 2019.

    It said falling attendance had not been offset by an increase in virtual attendance.

    Hybrid meetings, where shareholders can join in person and virtually, have become more common since the Covid-19 pandemic.

    NZSA chief executive Oliver Mander said a shareholder meeting remained “a key interaction between a company and its shareholders”.

    “For investors, it’s always important to be represented – even if you’ve outsourced your investment decision-making to a [discretionary investment management service] provider, it’s important to be an informed customer,” he said.

    Mander said there were a number of factors which had contributed to falling attendance.

    “Part of it is you’ve seen an increase in how investors choose to make their investments [by outsourcing investment decisions],” Mander said.

    “Another part of the reason actually is that the corporate governance standards in New Zealand have improved over the past two decades. There’s arguably more trust in the corporate environment than there has been in the past.”

    But he said engagement remained important both for companies and shareholders.

    “For issuers, we think it’s important that the shareholder meeting is regarded as a ‘good cost’ – a cost that shareholders are willing to bear to provide assurance and representation.”

    Suspension a ‘last chance’ for lawyer to show ability to abide by moral and legal obligations

    By
    Philip Cass
    -

    Suspending a lawyer accused of misusing his clients’ money was likely to be a last chance  for him to prove  that he was fit to continue after his suspension, the Supreme Court has been told.

    Suspended Lawyer Siosifa Tu’utafaiva. Photo/Supplied

    Summing up his case against Siosifa Tu’utafaiva, Lord Chief Justice Whitten said that striking Tu’utafaiva’s name from the Roll of Law Practitioners was not presently warranted.

    “He should be given, by way of suspension, what is very likely to be, a last chance to demonstrate his ability and willingness to abide by all the professional, legal and moral obligations of a law practitioner, should he wish to continue as one.

    “However, the conditions of his suspension will be sufficiently onerous to reflect the seriousness of his misconduct.”

    Lord Chief Justice Whitten said   Mr Tu’utafaiva had a history of offending, for which suspension had been recommended twice and ordered once.

    As Kaniva News reported earlier, a Supreme Court Order suspended Tu’utafaiva, who has served in a number of high-profile cases and is a  former Minister of Police and MP,  from practice as a law practitioner for a period of 12 months from July 10, 2013.

    That punishment came after the Tonga Law Society’s Disciplinary Committee found him “guilty of two counts of professional misconduct contrary to Section 21(1)(a) of the Act” on October 4,  2012.

    The court was told at the time that  Tu’utafaiva  had received substantial sums through legal fees, that he had not performed the services for which he had been paid and that he had not repaid the money received, despite repeated requests. He later paid back the money.

    Misconduct

    In the latest case, the Supreme Court was told that between March 8, 2022 and August 11, 2022, the Tongan Law society received three complaints of professional misconduct against Mr Tu’utafaiva. One was subsequently withdrawn.

    Lata Motuliki complained that between late 2021 and 2022, she paid Mr Tu’utafaiva a total of $1,400 for legal services which he never provided.

    Tom Weston KC, a New Zealand lawyer, complained that in May 2022, he was engaged by Poasi Tei to provide legal advice on certain election petitions. He was to be instructed by Tu’utafaiva. Weston KC, provided a fee estimate for the work of NZ$8,000. That sum was paid into Tu’utafaiva’s bank account. Weston KC provided the advice and issued an invoice for his fees in accordance with the estimate. Tu’utafaiva failed to pay the invoice or respond at all.

    Both complaints were referred to the Tongan Law society’s Disciplinary Committee. On April 4 this year the Committee found Tu’utafaiva guilty of two counts of professional misconduct and recommended that his name be struck off the Roll of Law Practitioners in Tonga. The decision was referred to Lord Chief Justice Whitten who has the power to determine what action should be taken in such cases.

    Lord Chief Justice Whitten said Tu’utafaiva’s behaviour had fallen below the standards of trustworthiness and integrity required of a lawyer.

    In his summing up, the judge said he had breached the expectation of trust when he did not use moneys he had  been paid  by clients.

    “A breach of trust, in the relevant sense, will almost always involve some element or degree of dishonesty,” the judge said.

    “There is ample evidence that Mr Tu’utafaiva was aware that he was transgressing ordinary standards of honest behaviour and that his conduct was dishonest by the standards of ordinary decent people.

    “Mr Tu’utafaiva’s failure to contradict, explain or even respond to the charges supports that analysis.”

    The lawyer had not repaid any money and showed no remorse or insight into what he had done.

    He was therefore suspended from practicing law in Tonga from April 26.

    Tu’utafaiva will be eligible to apply for a practising certificate after a period of three years commencing from the date on which he provides evidence that he has repaid his clients with interest.

    For more information

    Lawyer Tū‘utafaiva’s license suspended again, ordered to pay $10,000 after breach over career

    Lawyer Tū‘utafaiva’s license suspended again, ordered to pay $10,000 after breach over career

    ‘A rogue cop is a dangerous cop’: Parents of NZ man killed by US police say large settlement sends strong message

    By
    Kaniva Staff
    -

    By rnz.co.nz

    The parents of a 22-year-old Christchurch man killed by US police say a $US19 million (about $NZ30m) settlement reflects the immense injustice their son suffered.

    Simon and Sally Glass, the parents of Christian Glass who was killed by a Clear Creek County deputy speaking to media about their fight for justice, in the US last year. Photo: Getty Images / Denver Post

    Christian Glass called 911 for help after his SUV became stuck in a remote Colorado town last June. During the call Christian said he was being followed, and made other statements that indicated he was suffering from a mental health crisis.

    Several police officers were dispatched, and after about an hour of negotiations Glass was shot five times while still in his car.

    Simon and Sally Glass told Morning Report they hope the changes that have been promised to police training in Colorado as part of the settlement will reduce the risk of any other families having to lose a child this way.

    But Christian’s mum Sally Glass said it had been a long battle to get to this point through the civil case, and they expect a criminal case to ahead early next year.

    “It’s just been … awful. It’s nearly a year – Christian was murdered nearly a year ago,” Sally Glass said. “But it is the culmination of a lot of work, determination … [from] us and particularly our lawyers, to uncover the truth to get to the bottom of what really happened that night.

    “So I feel it’s been a bit of a fight. But what has happened is that our dear son, his name has been cleared of any wrongdoing. The police were completely in the wrong, and the large settlement really sends that strong message.”

    Sally Glass said a park would be named after Christian, some of his art would be displayed in the Colorado state capital, and the family would have input into the changes made by police.

    “That’s such an important piece, because victims need to be be a part of this so that the police can see their actions cause utter loss and devastation for us that we have to live with.

    “And you know, maybe they’ll pause and think – maybe when police officers see another one of their tribe acting horrendously and unlawfully they will step in and say ‘stop, stand down, what are you doing?’

    “A rogue cop is a dangerous cop, and if we can, through better highlighting this issue and getting better police training – another family will never have to stand in our shoes.”

    Simon Glass said clearing up what had happened after Christian called emergency services asking for help had been a challenge, but the legal facts stood out clearly once light was shed on the events.

    “We were told initially that Christian attacked the police and they were forced to defend themselves. I think the body cam footage did help a lot, but the very first thing that happened was once lawyers got involved they went and watched that and immediately they could see that this was murder.

    “We’re pleased the body cam footage has shown the truth, and that the agencies involved have in the most part come clean and said ‘yes this was wrong, this was murder’.

    “Christian had a very strong sense of justice, he would have been horrified at what was done to him, I’m sure he was, and we feel we must clear his name – initially the account of events was lies…

    “So it’s been a long process. … For us it’s been a huge loss and it’s been very difficult.”

    Settlement of the civil case was a big step on a long road, Sally Glass said.

    “In a way we haven’t really had a chance to grieve… the fight for justice has been quite all-consuming… I think with this ending now, this part of it will give us some space to grieve for our son.

    The criminal case would be the next big step and she hoped it would definitively reflect that the officers actions that night were not acceptable.

    “It’s our fervent hope and expectation that the bullies that murdered our son will end up behind bars for a very long time.”

    Aussie teens pay the price for attempting to avoid an overweight baggage fee by wearing almost every item in their suitcases

    By
    Kaniva Staff
    -

    By dailymail.co.uk

    Two Aussie teens have paid the price for their cunning attempt to dodge overweight baggage fees while flying home after a girls’ weekend away.

    Adelaide teens Emily Altamura (left) and Adriana Ocampo (right) were heading home after a girls’ weekend away in Melbourne

    University student Adriana Ocampo and her friend Emily Altamura, both 19, were flying with Jetstar from Melbourne to Adelaide when they realised their carry-on luggage weighed almost twice the airline’s 7kg per bag limit.

    Footage of the hilarious ordeal shows the women opening their suitcases in the airport terminal and putting on as many layers of clothing as possible to avoid the $65 fee.

    ‘Little did we know what was coming for us,’ the video is captioned.

    The two women were in hysterics as they filmed their extreme measures to get their suitcases under the weight limit.

    Ms Ocampo piled on an impressive 15 garments – most of her suitcase contents.

    It included an iPad stuffed in her pant pockets, leaving the pair in stitches while attracting strange looks from other travellers.

    Adelaide teens Emily Altamura (left) and Adriana Ocampo (right) were heading home after a girls’ weekend away in Melbourne

    But their efforts were to no avail as the pair conceded defeat.

    Ms Ocampo’s suitcase was still over the limit after putting on 5.5kg of layers.

    The video ends with Ms Ocampo sweating on the plane during the 80-minute flight home while appearing to look like Augustus Gloop from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.

    ‘We ended up paying the the fine,’ the final caption read.

    The women also revealed their flight had earlier been cancelled, adding to the nightmare travel ordeal.

    Ms Ocampo admitted she knew her bag was over the weight limit prior to arriving at the airport.

    ‘We thought the only way we can take the weight off our bags is if we put it on ourselves so we started putting on our jackets and coats but we were still over the limit,’ she told UK media.

    ‘I looked like a bear. I’m small and petite and I looked the complete opposite. It reminded me of the boy from Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.’

    ‘I only had a couple of things left in my luggage like two pairs of shoes, a bag, a pair of jeans and a a couple of socks. We went over again and were the only people at the gate.’

    The pair saw the funny side of the ordeal, despite being each out of pocket.

    ‘Everyone in line was staring at us and laughing at us, it was kind of embarrassing. People were annoyed that we were holding the plane up,’ Ms Ocampo recalled.

    The airline also saw the funny side of the incident while stressing an emphasis on safety requirements.

    ‘While we certainly see the funny side, we have limits to carry-on to make it fair for everyone,’ an airline spokeswoman said.

    ‘Keeping track of how much baggage passengers bring onboard means everyone has room for their belongings and we’re meeting our safety requirements.’

    Daily Mail Australia has contacted Jetstar for further comment. 

    Friend Emily (pictured) also failed in her efforts to avoid paying the $65 excess baggage fee

    The video has divided the internet since going viral.

    ‘Makes no sense since all that weight is still being carried on the plane,’ one viewer commented.

    Others shared their own sneaky tactics to dodge the fee.

    ‘I fly Jetstar a lot and I never not stress over this. I always hide my 2kg laptop under a jacket on the floor when they come around to weigh,’ one woman commented.

    Another viewer added: ‘Trick is to go over one by one, take a heap of stuff out of the bag, leave it with yr friend, go get weighed & get the tag, then just put it all back in!’

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