From left, Rikki Schmidt, Drew Costigan-Wittman, 9, Rhiley Costigan-Wittman, 11 and David Wittman and baby Ayla at Tara Costigan's funeral. Photo: Melissa Adams
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was a heart-wrenching farewell that no 11-year-old child should ever be forced to make.
Rhiley Costigan-Wittman bravely stood before a packed Albert Hall on Wednesday to say goodbye to his mum, "the best mum in the world", less than two weeks after she was taken away from him in a shocking act of domestic violence.
Hundreds turned out for the funeral of Tara Costigan, 28, who was allegedly murdered by her former partner in Calwell on February 28.
She left behind three children, Rhiley, 11, Drew, 9, and Ayla, a baby girl born just one week before the killing.
- A Symonston man, 45, has been arrested in relation to the suspicious death of another man, 61, in Wanniassa on Tuesday night. Police said he was a suspect in the homicide investigation after the man was found dead at the McWhae Circuit house with significant blunt force trauma injuries to his head.
- The opposition has pledged a bi-partisan approach to tackling domestic violence in the ACT, calling for an urgent roundtable to help position the territory as a nation-leader.
- A former public servant who was twice sacked unfairly by the Australian Taxation Office not will not get his job back nor any compensation for his treatment.
- Australia's richest woman Gina Rinehart has attacked federal and state governments for inflicting high costs on local miners, which are battling plunging iron ore prices as global supply swells.
- Fairfax Media journalist Sean Nicholls has told a defamation trial his editor's wish to have a story on Joe Hockey "nailed to the cross in more ways than one" was not a desire to "crucify" the Treasurer but a reference to "nailing the facts".
David Pocock will be withheld from the Brumbies lineup for another week. Photo: Graham Tidy
The ACT Brumbies have put David Pocock's comeback on ice as they prepare to beat the heat and humidity of Brisbane by adopting new training tactics to ensure they can handle the draining conditions.
Pocock has been ruled out of the Brumbies' clash against the Queensland Reds on Saturday night as the club takes a long-term view to his recovery from an ankle injury.
Coach Stephen Larkham isn't willing to risk rushing the former Wallabies skipper back onto the field after two knee reconstructions and an ankle syndesmosis problem, which has limited him to six games since the start of 2013.
- Abby Bishop has won the Canberra Capitals' MVP award for the second year in a row. Coach Carrie Graf called the decision a "no brainer" after the 26-year-old played the best season of her career.
- The Wollongong Hawks were prepared to sell home games to Canberra before going into voluntary administration with a view to rebuilding an NBL presence in the capital more than a decade after the Cannons went bust.
- Canberra fans have taken a Secret Squirrel approach and continue to cry foul over alleged niggling tactics by the Cronulla Sharks, but Raiders players assure there's nothing to worry about after images of Sharks players allegedly grabbing at the groins of Canberra players in Sunday night's season opener circulate online.
- Australia's Davis Cup captain Wally Masur says as the team's No.1 player Nick Kyrgios does not need to fight to reclaim his spot and has backed Kyrgios to "do some damage" at the Indian Wells Masters tournament, which starts Friday.
9.55am: Another crash - there has been a nasty crash outside Duntoon in Campbell. One car is on right side in lane heading towards airport.
9.04am: The crash on Scollay Street in Greenway has now been cleared. Traffic is heavy on the roads around the Monaro Highway and Morshead Drive.
8.49am: A 54-year-old male taken to Canberra Hospital in a stable condition with minor injuries after that crash on the Monaro Highway near Fyshwick.
8.46am: Police said those eastbound lanes closed on Hindmarsh drive have now reopened, after a two car crash on the road earlier this morning.
8.36am: A car has collided with a cyclist on the Monaro Highway near Fyshwick. Emergency services have been called and traffic is gridlocked in that area heading towards the city from Fyshwick.
8.21am: There has been reports of a crash on the Monaro Highway in Fyshwick near the bridge over the Molonglo river. We will bring you more details on that as they come out.
8.14am: One eastbound lane is closed on Hindmarsh Drive near the Tamar Street intersection, police said.
8.08am: One person has been taken to Canberra hospital with minor injuries after that crash in Greenway, according to emergency services. Police say the road is still closed.
7.55am: There has been a crash on near the bus stop on Scollay Street, Greenway. The street is closed outside the Boating Camping Fishing shop. Police are advising motorist to avoid the area if possible.
Part Hospital Road at the Canberra Hospital is closed for the next six weeks as a new demountable building is installed. The road is closed between the Bateson Road roundabout and the hospital's main entrance. Access to the main entrance pick-up and drop-off areas is still accessible but bus stops on Hospital Road have been closed and rerouted.
If you are stuck in traffic or have any info, let us know: morningblog@canberratimes.com.au or tweet us @canberratimes
The Village People will bring disco mega-hits like Macho Man and YMCA to the Playhouse at the Canberra Theatre Centre from 8pm tonight.
Young-at-heart adults have the National Capital Exhibition's Brick By Brick lego activity all to themselves today from 5 to 7pm.
Rope Access Engineering employees dressed up to entertain children at Canberra Hospital. Photo: Matt Bedford
Children at the Canberra Hospital's women and children's ward were surprised to see a number of superheroes with sponges hanging outside their windows on Wednesday.
Abseilers from a local window cleaning business shed their overalls for Spiderman, Batman, Buzz Lightyear and Ninja Turtle costumes to bring laughter and smiles to those fighting illness and injury.
It was the first time the staff had dressed in costume while cleaning the windows of some of the city's tallest buildings.
Touch or click through for more David Pope
Health Minister Simon Corbell is launching an audit by the Heart Foundation on unhealthy advertisting to kids in Canberra. Samuel 5, and Grace de Carvalho, 3 of Fisher get active. Photo: Jamila Toderas
Today: A partly cloudy day in Canberra with a forecast minimum 13 degrees and a top of 30 degrees.
The rest of the week: Friday, cloudy - min 10, max 22; Saturday, partly cloudy - min 7, max 26; Sunday, mostly sunny - min 11, max 25.
