OUR new weekly Law & Order wrap will give you the low down on everything that's worth knowing about when it comes to crime in the city of Sydney.
Artist Nigel Robert Milsom is being sentenced for armed robbery of a convenience store in Glebe in 2012. Pic. Ross Schultz Source: The Daily Telegraph
No such thing as bad publicity
HE may be looking at a prison term for robbing a convenience store, but experts say the notoriety might be good for Nigel Milsom's art career - so long as he doesn't spend too long in jail.
After robbing his local 7-11 at axe-point, Milsom joins a long line of artists whose troubled personal lives have overshadowed, or at times promoted, their creative careers.
The late Australian artist Adam Cullen, who won the Archibald Prize, was well known for walking on the darker side of life and reportedly chained a rotting pig's head to his leg for a period while he was at university.
Milsom is currently being sentenced in the Downing Centre District Court after pleading guilty to robbing the 7-11 on Glebe Point Rd in April 2012, where the shopkeeper was held hostage in the store room and bashed.
The moment of madness occurred after Milsom had spent the day taking a cocktail of alcohol, prescription drugs and illegal drugs, including heroin and "ice".
Art experts said Milsom's exploits could add to his "mystique".
"I don't think any gallerist would shy away from telling a client about that (the armed robbery)," said one North Shore art dealer, who asked not to be named.
"Art buyers often ask if the artist who has produced the work has any eccentricities," the dealer said.
Coincidentally Milsom had an exhibition running during his court case at Darlinghurst's Yuill-Crowley gallery, where his works are selling well.
Many of his works have sold, but art lovers can still pick up paintings including Bird as a Prophet for $47,000. His Judo Man paintings range in price from $15,000 to $17,000.
Milsom's smaller works start from about $3500 and go up to about $40,000.
Kiesha Weippeart, 6, who was murdered by her mother Kristie Abrahams in 2010. Source: Supplied
Undercover heroes solved murder
WHO were the "undercover operatives" in the Kiesha Weippeart murder investigation? Whether it was an undercover cop who gained the trust of Kristi Abrahams and step-father Robert Smith or (more likely) a long-time friend who agreed to pass information to investigators, they had the couple fooled.
The identity of the operatives, referred to in court documents as UCOs, is guaranteed to remain a tightly-guarded secret.
Whoever they were, Abrahams confided in them with critical information implicating Smith and Abrahams in Kiesha's death and the location of her burial site. Smith and Abrahams were interviewed by police three times between August 1 and September 1, 2010, and denied knowledge of Kiesha's death on each occasion.
From there, it was over to the UCOs. According to a set of agreed facts drawn up by crown prosecutor Chris Maxwell QC, Abrahams spoke to a UCO on April 21, 2011, and for the first time confessed that Kiesha was dead.
Though not admitting to murdering the six-year-old, Abrahams told a UCO Kiesha had hit her head and knocked herself out, the facts said. On the evening when the conversation occurred, Smith and Abrahams took a number of UCOs to Kiesha's grave site to help dispose of the body. The pair walked into the arms of police at 1.12am.
Malcolm Ramage QC is referred to by colleagues as the "Marlboro Man". Pic. Supplied Source: Supplied
The rampaging Malcolm Ramage
MALCOLM Ramage QC's peers in the legal fraternity refer to him as "the Marlboro Man".
But when the barrister rode into Burwood Local Court recently it was suggested a new nickname might be appropriate: The Terminator. Legal sources told this column Ramage, who was admitted to the bar in 1971, has slowed a bit with age.
Law and Order can't see it.
Defending a former firefighter on theft charges, Ramage cross-examined witnesses like Arnie's cyborg character demolishing a police station.
He threatened an assault charge after our photographer took a photo of his client, and rose to his feet to object more times than this correspondent cared to count.
Mr Ramage's reference during cross-examination to a female witness as "woman" raised the eyebrow of Magistrate Helen Barry. He later clarified that "the witness" would have been a better choice of words.
While Magistrate Barry was off the bench, Ramage discussed with the prosecutor whether to call an ex-girlfriend of the accused man and quipped: "let's see what a woman scorned looks like".
That said, if Law and Order ever gets into legal trouble Mr Ramage might expect a call.
Rabbitohs and Maroons star Ben Te'o has parted ways with his high profile lawyer Peter Shields. Pic. Mitch Cameron Source: The Daily Telegraph
League star puts lawyer on bench
UNDER siege Rabbitohs and Maroons star Ben Te'o has parted ways with high profile Queensland lawyer Peter Shields, sources close to the NRL star said.
Shields, a prominent Queensland criminal lawyer who will represent accused murderer Gerard Baden-Clay, represented Te'o in judiciary matters when he played for the Broncos.
The second rower is under police investigation after Brisbane woman Katie Lewis alleged that Te'o assaulted her.
No charges have been laid and he denies the allegation.
Shields advised Te'o when Ms Lewis first made the allegation. Te'o's manager Isaac Moses declined to comment other than to say: "I've got no idea what you're talking about, mate".
How firms pocket Legal Aid millions
WHO says there's no money in doing work for Legal Aid?
The top 20 claiming law firms pocketed a cool $11 million from the publicly funded legal service in 2011-2012 financial year alone, according to stats obtained by Law and Order using freedom of information laws.
The winner for top claimer was Crimlaw NSW, which walked away with $1.15 million over the financial year. But they had to work for it by picking up 226 cases and turning up for 57 not-so-glamorous duty claims.
Maria Defino was on a ride with her husband when she was killed after a 79-year-old driver with epilepsy ran into her. Pic. Supplied Source: Supplied
Cleared to drive despite epilepsy
THE family of Maria Defino, who was killed when her bicycle was hit by a car driven by an epileptic, have been told the 79-year-old driver had her license renewed unconditionally just days before the June 9 accident in Pagewood.
Law & Order has learned the family was told by police the nun suffered a petit mal seizure, which essentially puts the patient in a "frozen trance".
Australian and New Zealand Association of Neurologists' driving committee chairman Associate Professor Ernest Somerville says it's up to patients to report themselves to RMS when diagnosed with epilepsy or they have seizure, but it's "reasonably common" for people not to.
He also says it's unfair for the RMS to leave it to treating doctors to decide whether or not a patient is fit to drive, citing a clear "conflict of interest".
According to Epilepsy Action Australia, there are about 75,000 people in NSW living with epilepsy. The RMS has 14,450 license holders listed as epileptic, just 482 of whom had their licenses cancelled or suspended in the year to June 30.
Outlaw motocycle groups have turned to gyms to launder their money. Pic. Kym Smith Source: The Daily Telegraph
Bikies using gyms to launder cash
PUSHED out of clubs and pubs by recent changes in legislation, outlaw motorcycle groups have turned to gyms to launder their money. Head of the gangs squad detective Superintendent Arthur Katsogiannis said bikies were not only using gyms as a way to wash dirty money but were also using them to recruit new members and to sell illegal drugs and steroids.
"We are aware of these groups moving into gyms in Sydney," Supt Katsogiannis said. "The new scene (of OMCG member) are very image conscious.
"Using these substances fits in with the image they want to have."
Violent drug lord mentally unstable
HE may be one of the most feared criminals in the country, but Bassam Hamzy suffers from a long list of withering mental health issues and insecurities.
Hamzy ran his drug empire with a "disquieting level of ruthlessness" and exerted "violence and terror" against those who got in his way, the Sydney District Court heard this week.
But the founder of the Brothers for Life gang suffers from bi-polar disorder and a litany of other hereditary problems including ADHD, nervousness, paranoia and depression which he takes medication for.
He has seen several prison psychiatrists behind bars and confided to at least one that he fears being killed in jail.
Hamzy's issues were revealed in a mental health report which revealed the convicted murderer and drug kingpin was likely in the "manic phase of a bipolar disorder" while he was orchestrating drugs deals from behind bars.
He was ordered to spend an additional 14 years in prison for running a drug supply network as well as organising for enemies to be tortured from behind bars in Lithgow jail.
Bomb hoaxer arrested
A MAN who made a series of hoax bomb threats to Sydney hospitals last week has been charged by police.
The 47-year-old was arrested at Kings Cross Station on Tuesday over hoax calls to the hospitals and a Surry Hills welfare organisation, all made within the space of an hour.
They are also investigating whether the man is linked to four other threats made the same day to other health and welfare organisations.
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