Kristian Silva

1 week ago | abc.net.au | Kristian Silva

The family of a woman shot dead in her Melbourne home have expressed relief that her estranged husband will be jailed for at least two decades, and say they're certain he carried out the killing. On Wednesday, Emil Petrov was sentenced to 26 years' prison for the 2007 murder of Cindy Crossthwaite, although Justice Christopher Beale said he was not convinced beyond reasonable doubt that Petrov pulled the trigger.

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Kristian Silva

Jessica Grapsas took her seat in the witness box, clasping pages of the statement she was about to deliver. She craned her neck, ensuring she could eyeball the man in the dock on the other side of the courtroom — the man who ended her husband's life. "Your crimes, Bailey Clifford, have ripped me in half," she began. For the next 20 minutes, Ms Grapsas described the horror of finding the body of her husband, Paul, in a pool of blood near their Geelong home two years ago.

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Kristian Silva

Having been locked up for 6,513 days, drug trafficker Tony Mokbel believes he's spent enough time behind bars. His release on bail is a sign some of Victoria's top legal minds agree. The notion of Mokbel being a free man in 2025 would have been unthinkable to those who were in the Supreme Court when he was sentenced to 30 years' prison back in 2012. Those observers couldn't have predicted how the legal landscape would be rocked by the Lawyer X earthquake, which continues to cause aftershocks.

3 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Kristian Silva

Notorious gangland figure Tony Mokbel is seeking bail while he awaits the outcome of his appeal. The 59-year-old is challenging his convictions over the involvement of barrister-turned-police informer Nicola Gobbo. The next Court of Appeal hearing date has not been fixed. Jailed crime kingpin Tony Mokbel will make a bid for freedom on Tuesday, as he seeks to be released on bail ahead of a long-awaited appeal of drug convictions.

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Kristian Silva

Former champion jockey Danny Nikolic has fronted court, charged with breaking into a house to steal luxury items. Mr Nikolic, a one-time Caulfield Cup winner, is accused of attempting to break into a Carlton property with his friend Patrick Lennon on January 9. On Tuesday, prosecutor Michael Roper told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court that the value of the goods the men allegedly attempted to steal was $177,000. Mr Roper said jewellery and a Toyota Hilux were among the items.