Zaarkacha Marlan

New South Wales

News Reporter at Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC)

Reporter for @abcnews Western Plains | 📧 [email protected]

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Articles

Trial begins for farmhand accused of murdering Joel Carter at Nyngan in 2023

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Zaarkacha Marlan

A farmhand told people he killed a farmer at a western NSW property by hitting him over the head with a mallet several times, a court has heard. Clinton Beau Wrigley, 39, is facing a five-week trial before a jury in the Supreme Court in Dubbo, accused of murdering Joel Carter at his rural property Rosehill — about 25 kilometres from Nyngan — between January 22 and 23, 2023.
Floodwater passes historic record levels in western NSW

2 weeks ago | abc.net.au | Zaarkacha Marlan |Catherine James

Historic flooding has cut off communities in western NSW, with the Paroo River surpassing its 1990 record. The river reached 5.13 metres at Wanaaring at 8am on Tuesday, overtaking the previous record of 4.88 metres. It was predicted to peak at 5.3 metres on Tuesday afternoon. Slow-moving floodwater heading south from Queensland was expected to keep the remote community of Wanaaring isolated for six to 10 weeks.
NSW Police to target youth crime 'ringleaders' with rapid-response strategy

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Bruce MacKenzie |Bruce Mackenzie |Catherine James |Zaarkacha Marlan

Up to 100 young "ringleaders" committing violent crimes in the state's north and west will be the target of a new rapid-response strategy revealed by NSW Police today. Operation Soteria will involve 60 officers and rapid response units targeting offenders aged between 11 and 16 in nine designated areas. The regional trouble spots identified are Moree, Tamworth, Dubbo, Orange, Tweed Heads, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Taree, and Newcastle.
Former NSW Police officer Mitchell Lucock jailed over child abuse material

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Zaarkacha Marlan

A former NSW Police officer who told strangers online he was a "dirty paedo dad" and was prepared to pay for "underage fantasy and kink" has been jailed for at least six months. WARNING: This story contains graphic and distressing details. Mitchell James Maxwell Lucock, 38, a former senior constable in Nyngan, was sentenced in the Paramatta District Court after pleading guilty to five counts of soliciting child abuse material and three counts of transmitting child abuse material.
NSW Health backs reforms after preventable death of Indigenous man

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Zaarkacha Marlan

NSW Health Minister Ryan Park says the government supports recommendations to improve Aboriginal healthcare. The recommendation arose from an inquest into the death of Ricky "Dougie" Hampson, in 2021. Mr Park says implementation actions of the recommendations are underway.
NSW's longest-serving Indigenous Justice of the Peace glad to 'help'

1 month ago | abc.net.au | Zaarkacha Marlan

For half a century, Uncle William "Bill" Phillips has been witnessing signatures, guiding young people through the justice system, and offering a steady hand to those in need. Uncle Bill is a Wongaibon elder from Trangie in western NSW, and is the state's longest-serving Aboriginal Justice of the Peace (JP). "When I put my name on a piece of paper, it means something," he said. "It means something that people will even look at it. "There's nothing financial about doing it.
Woman avoids jail for fatal head-on crash on Mitchell Highway

2 months ago | abc.net.au | Zaarkacha Marlan

A 73-year-old has been spared time behind bars after a "haunting" head-on crash in the NSW Central West that killed a woman and left a man with life-altering injuries. Atancia Randell was this week sentenced to an 18-month intensive corrections order and 250 hours of community service for her role in the fatal crash on the Mitchell Highway at Geurie, about 28 kilometres south-east of Dubbo, on October 2, 2022. Randell was also banned from driving for three years.
How to catch the dazzling 'planetary parade' across Australian skies this weekend

Jan 16, 2025 | abc.net.au | Zaarkacha Marlan |Jacinta Bowler

The night sky is putting on a celestial show over the next week with a dazzling "planetary parade" featuring six major planets and a bonus comet visible over the next few days. The four bright planets — Venus, Saturn, Jupiter, and Mars — are already visible in the night sky with the naked eye just after sunset.
Coonabarabran couple reunited with stolen dog Nova found in Townsville

Jan 15, 2025 | abc.net.au | Zaarkacha Marlan |Mel Dearmer |Alex James

A dog's escape from a backyard in western New South Wales has sparked a week-long rescue effort spanning 1,700 kilometres across two states. Martin Geyer and Daniel Loader's Siberian husky Nova escaped from their Coonabarabran home on January 3, after jumping over the fence with the help of a tyre. About an hour later the four-year-old dog was spotted at the local service station, with residents messaging the couple to report they had seen it being put into someone else's car.
Binnaway baby murder charge dropped against former X Factor contestant Mitchell David Callaway

Dec 4, 2024 | abc.net.au | Zaarkacha Marlan

Prosecutors have withdrawn a murder charge against former X Factor contestant Mitchell David Callaway. He had been accused of killing a nine-month-old baby in his care in July 2018, after an inquest into her death suggested he assaulted the child. Mr Callaway is not facing any other charges in relation to the baby's death. A former X Factor contestant charged with the alleged murder of a baby in Central West New South Wales in 2018 has had his murder charge dropped.