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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
National
Imogen Dewey

Afternoon Update: police sergeant found guilty of causing Indigenous teen’s death; an interview with Sussan Ley; and a Peruvian mystery solved

Supporters of the Wright family near the Darlinghurst courthouse in Sydney on Friday
Supporters of the Wright family near the Darlinghurst courthouse in Sydney on Friday. Photograph: Tom Wark/AAP

Good afternoon.

Police sergeant Benedict Bryant, who was told not to pursue an Indigenous teenager riding a trail bike, has today been found guilty of dangerous driving occasioning the 16-year-old boy’s death in Sydney in 2022.

The boy’s father, Lachlan Wright, said outside court he hoped the verdict could mark a reset of relations between police and First Nations people.

“If things can change in the future, in regards to relationships between Aboriginal people in this country and the police force, maybe this won’t happen again,” he said.

  • For information and support in Australia call 13YARN on 13 92 76 for a crisis support line for Indigenous Australians; or call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Mensline on 1300 789 978 and Beyond Blue on 1300 22 4636

Top news

In pictures

A Florida archaeologist has helped solve one of Peru’s great mysteries: the origin and purpose of the Pisco Valley’s so-called Band of Holes. As Richard Luscombe reports, Charles Stanish spent years studying the more than 5,200 hillside shallow pits, concluding they were a rudimentary market place and later adapted as accounting and storage system.

What they said …

***

“Don’t kid yourself it can’t happen here.” – Kerry O’Brien

The former ABC broadcaster got a standing ovation at the 70th Walkley awards last night, Amanda Meade reports, for a speech reminding media in the ICC Sydney ballroom of the “clear and present danger for a strong, free, effective and independent media everywhere” as the threat to press freedom grows around the world.

You can read an excerpt of the speech here.

Podcast

Sussan Ley is ‘still up for the job’ of opposition leader – Australian Politics podcast

Political editor Tom McIlroy speaks to the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, about her disappointment about the long awaited reforms to Australia’s nature laws, Barnaby Joyce resigning from the Nationals and why she thinks “it’s never been about me”

Listen to the episode here.

Before bed read

In this week’s leading questions column, a reader asks Eleanor Gordon-Smith: “How do I respond to someone who says ‘I’m not racist, but …’?”

Her advice? It’s important to express your disagreement – for their sake as much as yours – but first, decide what you want to accomplish.

Daily word game

Today’s starter word is: WEAR. You have five goes to get the longest word including the starter word. Play Wordiply.

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