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Bus tragedy newlyweds break silence

<p>The bride and groom at the centre of the Hunter Valley bus tragedy that killed 10 people have broken their silence on the devastating incident.</p> <p>Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell issued a statement on June 19, a week from the crash at the end of their wedding day.</p> <p>“While we appreciate the outpouring of love and support from the community, we ask that the media respect our privacy while we grieve,” Edsell and Gaffney said.</p> <p>“Our primary focus at this time is processing this tragedy, and supporting our family and friends.”</p> <p>The newlyweds speaking out came soon after the groom’s father, John Gaffney called for an urgent overhaul of bus safety “so something positive can come out of this tragedy”.</p> <p>“50 years ago the fitting and wearing of seat belts became compulsory in Australia for all occupants of motor cars saving countless lives since,” John Gaffney wrote on LinkedIn.</p> <p>“Whilst my wife and I can't do this on our own we believe ultimately everyone who rides a bus should have access to a seatbelt and be compelled by laws to wear them,” he continued.</p> <p>“It was a glorious occasion until news of the bus crash with ten people losing their lives came within a few hours that has shattered many lives.</p> <p>“If you can assist by lobbying your federal, state and members (about seatbelts) that would be appreciated.”</p> <p>Carolyn Gaffney took to Facebook, posting to the father of one crash survivor, writing, “we both have our sons for which we are truly thankful”.</p> <p>The appeal was for donations to a GoFundMe by the Warrandyte Cricket Club to support <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/more-than-we-can-bear-hunter-valley-bus-crash-victims-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">families and victims</a> who still face a long recovery ahead.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook/LinkedIn</em></p>

Caring

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“Get me there”: Bride’s reaction to news of tragic bus crash

<p>Following the tragic bus crash in the Hunter Valley that saw <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/more-than-we-can-bear-hunter-valley-bus-crash-victims-identified" target="_blank" rel="noopener">10 people lose their lives</a>, a wedding guest of Mitchell Gaffney and Madeleine Edsell has recounted the horror.</p> <p>Edsell’s cousin has revealed the devastating moment the bride learned of the crash, saying she demanded to be taken to the scene.</p> <p>The passengers were heading to The Royal Hotel in Singleton where several guests were staying, returning from the wedding venue Wandin Estate Winery in Lovedale, when the bus rolled near the Hunter Expressway off-ramp at Greta just after 11:30pm.</p> <p>It is now believed to be Australia’s worst bus crash in three decades.</p> <p>Edsell’s cousin Kynan Stanford was with the bride when she found out about the crash and told 7NEWS, “The bride was pretty much kicking down the door trying to get in the car, saying, ‘Get me there, I need to go’, and we were like, ‘No, you don’t need to go’.”</p> <p>Emergency services smashed the windscreen of the bus as they reached to rescue passengers trapped inside.</p> <p>The victims of the heartbreaking incident are being remembered as vibrant people with promising lives ahead of them.</p> <p>The tight-knit Hunter Valley town of Singleton has been shaken, with seven of the 10 deceased believed to be locals.</p> <p>A junior doctor, a husband and wife and a mother and daughter are among those who passed away.</p> <p>Two of the victims were Nadene McBride, a coach for the Singleton Roosterettes, and her 22-year-old daughter Kyah who played on the team.</p> <p>Husband and father Graham “Banger” McBride remains in hospital.</p> <p>“There are no words to describe the grief our family is feeling at this time,” the McBride family said in a statement.</p> <p>Kane Symons, Kyah’s boyfriend is among one of the deceased and is being remembered as a keen surfer, a remarkable leader and a genuine friend by his former Tasmanian Carlton Park Surf Life Saving Club.</p> <p>Singleton husband and wife Andrew and Lynan Scott, who both played for Singleton Rooster teams, were also victims of the crash and have two young children.</p> <p>Another victim, Tori Cowburn was captain of The Roosterettes and also played basketball, netball, tennis and touch football.</p> <p>Darcy Bulman, a 30-year-old investigator for the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, travelled from Melbourne with her partner for the wedding festivities.</p> <p>She sadly passed away and her partner is thought to be among one of the injured.</p> <p>Rebecca Mullen, a junior doctor and Singleton local working at Calvary Mater Newcastle Hospital was one of the younger victims.</p> <p>NSW Health Minister Ryan Park said Mullen had a “long and illustrious career in medicine” ahead of her.</p> <p>“This has made a very dark day even darker for NSW Health,” Park told reporters on June 13.</p> <p>Zach Bray, a mining engineer in the Hunter region, and engineer Angus Craig, who had worked with mining company BHP in Queensland.</p> <p>Singleton Mayor Sue Moore said her close-knit community was struggling to come to terms with the heartbreaking incident.</p> <p>Community members poured in for a vigil held at the Singleton Baptist Church to show their support on June 13.</p> <p>The owners of local hotels have started offering accommodation to the victims’ families, with many needing to extend their stay in the area.</p> <p>The bus driver, Brett Button, 58, <a href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/hunter-valley-bus-driver-faces-court" target="_blank" rel="noopener">faced Cessnock Local Court</a> on June 13 with 10 counts of deadly dangerous driving.</p> <p>Image credit: 7NEWS</p>

Caring

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Long-married couples said not to know each other as well as newlyweds

<p>You would think decades of marriage together would give older couples plenty of time to get to know each other but an interesting new study suggests otherwise, finding that couples who have been together for decades are worse at predicting what their partner likes than newlyweds.</p> <p>The study, published in the Journal of Consumer Psychology, tested young couples, aged from 19 to 32, who had been together for an average of two years and older couples, aged from 62 to 78, who had been together for at least 40 years. Each of the 116 participants was presented with a series of descriptions (of foods, movies, house designs and so on) and asked to rate his or her preference and predict how their partner would rate the item. They were also asked to estimate how many of their predictions were correct.</p> <p>And well, overall, we’re not great at knowing what our significant other likes, even though we think we are. Young couples got 42 per cent of their predictions right and older couples only predicted 36 per cent of their partners’ preferences, when both couple groups overconfidently estimated they would get 62 per cent of answers right.</p> <p>“This is surprising because, compared to younger couples, older couples had much more time and opportunities to learn about each other's preferences over the course of their relationship,” the team of psychologist wrote.</p> <p>They suggested that younger couples may be more motivated to understand their partners during the early stages of a relationship.</p> <p>“Another reason could be that older couples pay less attention to each other, because they view their relationship as already firmly committed or because they think they already know their partner well,” said one of the researchers, Dr Benjamin Scheibehenne of the University of Basel.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Shutterstock</em></p>

Relationships

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Tragic final photo of newlyweds moments before fatal crash

<p dir="ltr">A bride was killed and her groom was left seriously injured when a drunk driver hit their golf cart from behind in the US state of South Carolina.</p> <p dir="ltr">Samantha Miller, 34, and husband Aric Hutchinson were reportedly leaving their wedding reception when another vehicle hit their golf cart at 105km/h, propelling it almost 100m and causing it to roll.</p> <p dir="ltr">The accident occurred around 10pm on Friday, and Miller died at the scene from blunt force injuries, the Charleston County Coroner’s Office reported.</p> <p dir="ltr">Her husband and two other males were hurt and remain in hospital.</p> <p dir="ltr">Annette Hutchinson, the groom's mother, said that her son-in-law and grandson were escorting the couple from the wedding reception in the golf cart when they were struck from behind.</p> <p dir="ltr">She also said that her son has had one of two reconstruction surgeries and is suffering from a brain injury, and multiple broken bones.</p> <p dir="ltr">Annette has started a GoFundMe account to help pay for her daughter-in-law’s funeral expenses and the medical bills for her son and his family.</p> <p dir="ltr">Authorities have charged Jamie Lee Komoroski, 25, with three counts of felony DUI resulting in great bodily harm/death, and one count of reckless homicide.</p> <p dir="ltr">Komoroski, the driver who hit the golf cart, was not injured in the accident.</p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Image: GoFundMe</em></p>

Legal

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Families share heartbreaking detail after young couple perish in light plane crash

<p>The “utterly grief-stricken” families of a Queensland couple who died after their plane crashed in terrible weather have shared what the newlyweds planned on naming their unborn daughter.</p> <p>The pilot, Rhiley Khurt, 22, was accompanied by his wife Maree, 24, who was understood to be 27 weeks pregnant with their first child.</p> <p>The pair were reported missing on April 2 after their Piper Cherokee failed to reach its destination at Lakeside Airpark, Bloomsbury.</p> <p>The wreckage was discovered in rugged terrain in the Mount Hector region by a rescue helicopter on the following morning, April 3. A specialist police unit is currently on the scene to start the recovery mission.</p> <p>A GoFundMe was set up to provide support to both families, Mr Khurt’s sister Beccarah Markham-Gaudion shared that the couple “and their beautiful unborn baby girl Phoebe” had “tragically lost their lives during a routine flight to see family”.</p> <p>“We are all absolutely heartbroken and utterly grief-stricken. Three incredible lives were cut way too short,” she wrote on the GoFundMe page.</p> <p>“Whilst we grieve and try seek comfort in each other, we ask for your help and support us in covering costs for Rhiley, Maree, and angel baby Phoebe's funerals. We would like to thank you all for your condolences, sympathies, and ongoing support during this dark time in our lives. We appreciate it more than you know.”</p> <p>Devastated friends have shared tributes on Maree’s social media for the couple, who were married in October 2022 after getting engaged in June 2021. Maree had posted a photo of her belly on Instagram just one day before her tragic death, saying she was “getting closer and closer to meeting [her] baby girl”.</p> <p>“RIP to the most beautiful cowgirl inside and out I knew. I can’t believe your gone. I was only talking to you three days ago. We were talking about you being so happy and so excited to be a mum,” Sarah Hall posted on Maree’s Facebook. “I am so shocked and devastated by the news this afternoon. You meant so much to so many people, you were a beautiful person inside and out,” Nicole Williams said.</p> <p>“I was so excited to find out you were only three weeks ahead of me in pregnancy, and that our babies would be able to grow up knowing each other and ride horses together when we visited.”</p> <p>“A fella couldn’t help but be constantly impressed by Maree and Rhiley's sense of adventure and zest for life,” Russell Freeman posted. “You figure quick they’re a special kind when you’re helping her onto the back of a rodeo bull and see he’s managing cattle stations at such a young age.”</p> <p>Police Inspector Andrew Godbold said preliminary investigations suggest visibility was poor when the aircraft crashed, and indicated the retrieval mission will take two to three days.</p> <p>“A lot of showers, thunder and probably visibility down to nothing,” he said. “It’s a very rugged terrain there. There’s obviously a lot of mountainous terrain in the area there and it is very difficult for us even just to walk in at this stage.”</p> <p>Investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) are heading to the crash site to gather evidence, including any recorded data, and weather information and are seeking witness reports and aircraft operator procedures and maintenance records.</p> <p>The agency expects to publish a preliminary report within the next six to eight weeks, with a final report including any contributing factors and identified safety issues.</p> <p>“Should any critical safety issues be identified at any stage during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate safety action can be taken,” it said.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Facebook</em></p>

Travel Trouble

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Newlyweds offload Hollywood-style home

<p dir="ltr">An Aussie couple are selling their home inspired by Hollywood film <em>The Notebook</em>, complete with a striking Southern plantation-style exterior.</p> <p dir="ltr">Seasoned house flippers and newlyweds Sebastian and Jennifer Gallagher built the five-bedroom, three-bathroom home in Broadbeach Waters, Queensland, with the intention that it would be a family-friendly home that would stand out among the luxury properties surrounding them.</p> <p dir="ltr">The house is reportedly <a href="https://www.realestate.com.au/property-house-qld-broadbeach+waters-140534127" target="_blank" rel="noopener">under offer</a> for $2.275 million, per <em>realestate.com.au</em>, sold to a Melbourne buyer by Connor Malan of Ray White Burleigh Group.</p> <p dir="ltr">With its modern coastal style and features taken from American plantation houses, the result is a dead ringer for the house built by Ryan Gosling’s character in the 2004 rom-com.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I absolutely love that plantation style so we built one ourselves,” Mrs Gallagher said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I just felt Hamptons style had been done.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I said to Sebastian, let’s buck the trend and do something totally different for the Gold Coast.”</p> <p dir="ltr">Mr Malan said the home was in “a market of its own” and sold after it passed in at auction.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I haven’t seen anything like it on the Gold Coast,” he said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“As much as I personally like Hamptons style, I think there’s an even greater level of sophistication with this plantation style that Sebastian and Jennifer have done.</p> <p dir="ltr">“I can see this trend catching on, for sure.”</p> <p dir="ltr">According to property records, the vendors paid $1.19 million ($NZ 1.31 million) for the block in May 2021, when a four-bedroom, single-level home was standing on it.</p> <p dir="ltr">“We could’ve just renovated but we knew the block was perfect for this style house, which called for a complete knockdown,” Mrs Gallagher said.</p> <p dir="ltr">“It was a lot of hard work, especially sourcing materials and fixtures from America in a pandemic, but we feel the market wants new, not renovated at the moment.”</p> <p dir="ltr">As the couple’s fourth Gold Coast project, they show no signs of stopping with plans to get started on another.</p> <p><span id="docs-internal-guid-3b7864b0-7fff-2aa6-be55-1dfe972f4215"></span></p> <p dir="ltr"><em>Images: realestate.com.au / Getty Images</em></p>

Real Estate

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Loved ones remember newlywed bride who died on her honeymoon in moving funeral service

<p>Family and friends have gathered to commemorate the “kind-hearted spirit” and “unconditional love” of the newlywed bride who tragically died in a golf buggy accident on her honeymoon in an emotional funeral service</p> <p>Marina Morgan, 29, had only been married to husband Robbie Morgan for 10 days when she died in a freak accident on the couples honeymoon in Hamilton Island.</p> <p>At 9 am on Saturday the 2nd of July, hundreds of friends and family filled St Mary & St Merkorious Coptic Orthodox Church in Rhodes – the same place Marina and Robbie were married.</p> <p>A funeral notice posted to the church’s Facebook page in Arabic and English referred to her as the “bride of heaven”.</p> <p>Several men, including her husband, carried her coffin into the building and onto the altar, where a photo of Marina on her wedding day was placed on top of the casket.</p> <p>After prayers filled the church, friends and family shared their memories of Marina’s life.</p> <p>Marina’s brother, Mark Hanna, described his sister as a “sweet, young, independent woman who was loved by everyone.”</p> <p>“She was beautiful inside and out, loved to laugh, and always had a positive outlook on life.”</p> <p>In his emotional eulogy, Mr Hanna described the strong bond he shared with his sister.</p> <p>“I've lost someone who I shared so many things … we always shared with each other our hidden fears, and now it feels as though I’ve lost a part of myself, leaving a wound that stretches from the middle of my ribcage to the bottom of my gut,” he said.</p> <p>“It’s very difficult to accept that our gorgeous Marina is no longer here with us.</p> <p>“I will do my best to not let this scar be the death of me,” he promised as he broke down in tears.</p> <p>“Mum, dad, husband Robbie, me, your extended families, cousins, uncles, aunts, friends and everyone who knew you will never forget you.”</p> <p>While Mr Morgan did not stand to speak during the funeral, he briefly spoke to media after.</p> <p>“I can’t explain the sadness in my heart, my wife was loved by so many,” Mr Morgan said told reporters after the funeral.</p> <p>Cousin Miriam remembered her “partner in crime” who lived her life “fearlessly” and vowed to do the same.</p> <p>In a bespoke poem, Miriam also described how Marina fulfilled her life’s goal of getting married, filling her family with pride.</p> <p>“We never thought that day would be your last,” she recited.<br />“To marry her soulmate Robbie and to be a bride, while always filling her family with so much love and so much pride</p> <p>While Mr Morgan did not get up to speak, the priest told the church how he had recalled the couple’s last few days together.</p> <p>“Please see this as a celebration. She is in a better place now alongside God and his angels.”</p> <p>Mrs Morgan’s casket was carried outside and placed into the back of a hearse, before it was driven to Rookwood Cemetery, where she will be laid to rest.</p> <p><em>Images: Facebook</em></p>

Caring

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Couple killed just two days after getting married

<p><em>Image: Gofund Me </em></p> <p>A newlywed couple have been identified among three people who were killed in a highway crash in the North American state of Tennessee.</p> <p>Jessiah Plemons, 31, and his new wife Lillian Rose, 25, were killed in the crash on the morning of Sunday the 17th of October.</p> <p>The couple had been married just two days prior on the 15th of October, WBIR reports.</p> <p>The third person identified in the crash was 23-year-old Madison Davis. The trio was struck on the highway by a Chevrolet pickup after becoming stranded when their vehicle struck a guardrail.</p> <p>All three died at the scene of the accident.</p> <p>Plemons' mother Michelle said she was informed of the couple's death after receiving a knock at her door on Sunday morning. “It’s the worst thing a mother can go through,” she said.</p> <p>The couple had four children, Michelle added.</p> <p>“Jess was my everything, the glue that held our family together,” she said.</p> <p>“Lily made my baby happy until the very end.”</p> <p>“She is just such a sweet girl. She brightened the room and they looked so happy together.”</p> <p>“It’s made me feel more alive knowing Jess did a lot of great things out there before all this.”</p> <p>She said she will always remember the impact Jessiah and Lily had on so many people.</p> <p>Two fundraisers have been launched to support both the Plemons' and Rose’s families at <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/jessiah-plemons-memorial-fund" target="_blank">https://www.gofundme.com/f/jessiah-plemons-memorial-fund</a><span> </span>and <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorial-fund-for-lily-rose" target="_blank">https://www.gofundme.com/f/memorial-fund-for-lily-rose</a>.</p>

Family & Pets

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Newlyweds cause stir with $328 bill for no-show guests

<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A newlywed couple has sparked controversy after invoicing no-show wedding guests for their share of wedding costs.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">A photo of the invoice was shared on Twitter and soon went viral, with the poster commenting, “I don’t think I’ve ever seen a wedding reception invoice before lol”.</span></p> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> <p dir="ltr">I don’t think I’ve ever seen a wedding reception invoice before lol <a href="https://t.co/ZAYfGITkxP">pic.twitter.com/ZAYfGITkxP</a></p> — philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) <a href="https://twitter.com/Phil_Lewis_/status/1430276198823829508?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2021</a></blockquote> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The pictured invoice was sent by a couple whose wedding at the Royalton Negril Resort &amp; Spa in Jamaica cost $164 a head.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The couple - identified by </span><span style="font-weight: 400;">The New York Post</span><span style="font-weight: 400;"> as Doug Simmons and Dedra McGee - called out guests who didn’t attend in the notes section of the invoice.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“This invoice is being sent to you because you confirmed seat(s) at the wedding reception during the Final Headcount,” the invoice reads.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“The amount above is the cost of your individual seats. Because you didn’t call or give us proper notice that you wouldn’t be in attendance, this amount is what you owe us for paying for your seat(s) in advance.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You can pay via Zelle or PayPal. Please reach out to us and let us know which method of payment works for you. Thank you!”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The post quickly divided the internet, with some wishing they had thought of doing the same thing themselves, while others claimed it would end relationships.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“I wish I’d thought of this. A third of the people who RSVP’d for our wedding didn’t show up. We paid for a lot of food that went to waste (though it was a lot less than $US 120 a plate),” said fellow Twitter user Jackie Barbosa.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“You are so special to us that we invited you to our wedding. However, we are going to severe [sic] that relationship for $US240 because you didn’t let us show off in person. But we will send an invite to our baby shower at some point, so show up with a gift or face collections,” said one critic.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Despite the controversy, when </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The New York Post</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;"> reached out to the groom, he admitted that had been a “little petty” but he is “not some trifling person who is going to bill somebody”.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Simmons stressed that it wasn’t about the money, saying that he and his bride were more hurt and feeling disrespected by those who didn’t show up to their wedding.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“Four times we asked, ‘Are you available to come, can you make it?’, and they kept saying, ‘Yes’,” Simmons told </span><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">The New York Post</span></em><span style="font-weight: 400;">. “We had to pay in advance for Jamaica - this was a destination wedding.”</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">But, when they got to the final headcount they discovered that not everyone followed through.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“No one told me or texted me, ‘Hey, we can’t make it’,” Simmons said. “That’s all I was asking.</span></p> <p><span style="font-weight: 400;">“If you tell me you can’t make it, I would be understanding - but to tell me nothing, but then let me pay for you and your plus ones? Four people became eight people. I took that personally.”</span></p> <p><em><span style="font-weight: 400;">Image: Facebook</span></em></p>

Relationships

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Newlyweds tragically killed in plane crash four days after wedding

<p>A newlywed couple has been killed in a light plane crash just four day after their wedding.</p> <p>Authorities identified the couple on Wednesday after their Beechcraft Bonanza plane crashed outside of Telluride in Colorado on Tuesday.</p> <p>The victims, United Airlines pilot Costas John Sivyllis, 30, and wife Lindsey Vogelaar, 33, had been weed four days before the fatal crash.</p> <p>The pair had eloped to Telluride for a small wedding on a mountain top, and were not heir “adventure-filled honeymoon” which they’d been documenting online, said the San Miguel Sheriff.</p> <p>A friend wrote in a Facebook tribute: “For such a tragedy to happen to such a perfect couple is hard to understand.”</p> <p>The couple were both a part of the airline industry, and Mr Sivyllis was a United Airlines pilot and flight instructor.</p> <p>“Their Beechcraft Bonanza departed Telluride Airport 1245 pm yesterday (Tuesday) and is believed to have crashed as soon as 10-15mins later in Ingram Basin east of Telluride,” the Sheriff said.</p> <p>“The newlyweds were heading back to Florida with a possible stop in Oklahoma to refuel. They were the only two on the aircraft,” the Sheriff said. “The (National Transportation Safety Board) is handling the investigation.”</p> <p>The previous day, officials successfully completed a body recovery mission. They recovered two deceased victims at the crash site, and no survivors.</p>

Travel Trouble

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Man pleads not guilty to murder of newlywed daughter

<p><span>A Melbourne dad has pleaded not guilty in court to killing his newly-married daughter and her husband in a shooting on New Year’s Eve.</span><br /><br /><span>Osman Shaptafaj says he was mentally impaired when he allegedly shot Lindita and Veton Musai on the morning of December 31 in 2018, while they entered the Musai family home which they had been living in Yarraville.</span><br /><br /><span>His daughter Lindita, 25, died while still at the scene, and Veton, 29, died the next day in hospital.</span></p> <p><img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7836091/15.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/c4c74790ec7442ffa86c56ea18fd4031" /></p> <p style="text-align: center;"><em>Lindita and Veton Musai</em><br /><br /><span>The loved-up couple had just returned from a trip away to celebrate their first wedding anniversary when they were allegedly shot from behind the front door.</span><br /><br /><span>Mr Shaptafaj was charged with two counts of murder but on Thursday pleaded not guilty due to mental health.</span><br /><br /><span>The father appeared by video link for a brief hearing at the Melbourne Magistrates' Court.</span><br /><br /><span>Mr Shaptafaj is due to return to the Supreme Court for a directions hearing on May 29.</span><br /><br /><span>If you or anyone you know is suffering from depression, call Lifeline on 13 11 14, Beyondblue on 1300 22 4636, or Kids Helpline on 1800 55 1800.</span></p>

Legal

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Newlywed couple reeling after guests diagnosed with coronavirus after attending wedding

<div class="post_body_wrapper"> <div class="post_body"> <div class="body_text "> <p>Newlyweds Scott Maggs and Emma Metcalf celebrating their wedding at the Tumbling Waters Retreat at Stanwell Tops in the NSW Illawarra on March 6th.</p> <p>However, NSW chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant yesterday revealed that there were six confirmed cases of coronavirus among the wedding guests at the venue and “close contacts are being followed up for investigations”.</p> <p>The owner of the retreat, Sonya Keller, said that her business has been damaged by the revelations.</p> <p>Mr Maggs revealed that the couple had learnt about the news from their honeymoon in the Maldives.</p> <p>"We didn't expect this to be one of our bomboniere gifts," he wrote.</p> <p>He said that at that point, their guests who had flown in from overseas were “all in good health and doing superbly”.</p> <p>"Also all of the elders are doing well and have not shown any symptoms," Mr Maggs wrote in the post.</p> <p>"During these times we must always act with empathy and in positive, kind spirit.</p> <p>"Em and I hope you're all doing well, staying safe and looking after each other."</p> <p>Keller revealed that the news came as a surprise to her after it was dropped during a NSW Health Media conference.</p> <p>"[The bride and groom] said we should have surely been contacted by NSW Health if there was an issue … nothing at all," she said.</p> <p>"Well as far as I know, all of my staff are well and of course, we are concerned, like everybody.</p> <p>"It's an unknown thing and we can take measures now that we know about it from the media."</p> <iframe src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2Ftumblingwaters%2Fphotos%2Fa.699220636778354%2F3194136713953388%2F%3Ftype%3D3&amp;width=500" width="500" height="567" style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" scrolling="no" frameborder="0" allowtransparency="true" allow="encrypted-media"></iframe> <p>Tumbling Waters Retreat wrote that NSW Health had contacted the venue to assure the company that none of their guests had been contagious at the time of the wedding.</p> <p>"Please can you spread the word, as you can imagine the damage this has done to our business."</p> </div> </div> </div>

Relationships

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Couple becomes world’s oldest newlyweds with combined age of 194

<p>A couple became the world’s oldest newlyweds last weekend when they tied the knot after a 27-year courtship. George Kirby, 103, and Doreen Luckie, 91, got engaged on Valentine’s Day of this year after Kirby’s son prodded his father into making an “honest woman” out of Luckie.</p> <p>The couple was married in Eastbourne with close family and friends in attendance, and by all accounts, had he typical newlywed glow as they kissed on the steps outside the venue.</p> <p>The couple’s combined age of over 194 years means they will likely take the record for the world’s oldest couple to get married. According to The Huffington Post, Guinness World Records is waiting for evidence from the happy couple before the record is made official.</p> <p><em>Image credit: Justin Tallis via Getty Images</em></p> <p><strong>Related links:</strong></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/news/news/2015/06/seniors-open-doors-needy/">Seniors open their doors to house the needy in exchange for help around the home</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/news/news/2015/06/boy-walks-for-charity/">Meet the little boy doing a big walk for charity every week</a></em></strong></span></p> <p><span style="text-decoration: underline;"><strong><em><a href="/news/news/2015/06/taxi-drivers-gives-ride-to-ducks/">This taxi driver gave a ride to some ducks in need</a></em></strong></span></p>

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