The Independent Police Conduct Authority has supported the police investigation of the murders of Ben Smart and Olivia Hope.

The man accused of the stabbing death of NZ-born nurse Michelle Beets allegedly held a knife to his brother-in law's throat to practise the killing, a Sydney court was told today.

A caregiver who killed his tetraplegic friend was today jailed for at least 14 years.

The family of Sophie Elliott have no end in sight as a planned appeal by her killer, Clayton Weatherston, is delayed.

Jeri Knight might be 80 years old but it didn't stop her beating the might of the Manukau City Council over a wrongly issued car warrant of fitness fine.

Shock-jock Michael Laws went head to head with David Bain supporter Joe Karam on the Bain family murders this morning.

Four police officers beating a young man with batons and pepper-spraying him 65 times was "unnecessary, unreasonable, and unjustified", the IPCA has found.

Six lawyers are being investigated over their billing as the Legal Services Agency looks to clean up alleged rorting of the legal aid system.

Hells Angels is returning to court to challenge Whanganui's anti-gang patch bylaw.

Dr Bruce Cohen suggests that Tasers might work - as long as they're not used.