Does a venue owe you a duty of care if you've had too much to drink?

In Cole v South Tweed Rugby League Football Club, the High Court of Australia considered whether a hotel owed a duty of care to a visibly intoxicated patron.

Rosellie Cole had been drinking at the Rugby Club and became severely intoxicated. Staff offered her a lift home, which she declined. Later, after leaving the premises, she was struck by a car while walking along the highway.

Cole sued the club for negligence, arguing that it should not have served her so much alcohol and should have taken steps to prevent her from leaving while drunk. The trial court initially found in her favour, awarding damages, but this was overturned on appeal.

The High Court held that while licensed venues must take reasonable steps to avoid harm, adults also bear personal responsibility. The majority ruled the club was not liable, as it had taken reasonable steps, including offering her a lift home.

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Heartbreaking was the only word that could be used to describe the death of a 10-month-old baby in Perth. What was less clear cut is the question that was posed to the judge - was the baby boy’s death an accident, or was he murdered by his father?

Judith Fordham has been lauded as one of Western Australia’s most high-profile criminal lawyers, but her dual expertise in law and forensics sets her apart from her colleagues. In this episode with former Crime Insider Forensics host, Kathryn Fox, hear about one of the most divisive areas in both forensic science and the law - "shaken baby syndrome".

This episode references child abuse and infant loss. If you or someone you know is experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, domestic, family or sexual violence, call 1800RESPECT on 1800 737 732, text 0458 737 732 or visit 1800RESPECT.org.au for online chat and video call services. For support relating to infant loss, contact Red Nose Grief and Loss on 1300 308 307 or visit rednosegriefandloss.org.au.

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Dr Terry Goldsworthy is a criminologist, former detective inspector, academic, and one of Australia's most respected voices on criminal behaviour.

With over two decades in law enforcement and a deep academic grounding in forensic criminology, Dr Goldsworthy brings a rare dual lens to the world of crime — blending frontline experience with sharp, evidence-based insight.

In this episode of Crime Insiders | Detectives, Brent Sanders takes a deep dive on a gruesome steelyard and we learn if evil is always a factor playing in the mind of criminals.

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Dr. Jayant Patel, dubbed "Dr. Death," was a U.S.-trained surgeon who worked at Bundaberg Base Hospital in Queensland, Australia, from 2003 to 2005. During his tenure, he performed approximately 1,000 surgeries, many of which were marred by negligence, leading to numerous patient injuries and deaths.

In 2010, Patel was convicted of three counts of manslaughter and one of grievous bodily harm, resulting in a seven-year prison sentence. He appealed all the way to the High Court and the court upheld his appeal. He later pleaded guilty to fraud charges and was released from prison.

In this episode of Crime Insiders | Judgements we take a deep dive into the case against Patel, the flaws in the prosecution's case and how he managed to only spend two years behind bars.

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A case that started a manhunt, and ended in tragedy. A quiet town in the Blue Mountains, thrown into chaos by a shooting and the police's effort to track down the offender.

Alan Leek is a 35-year veteran of the NSW Police. He spent almost his entire career as a detective. For much of his life, violent crime was on his door step, and it was up to him to take it on - whilst balancing, life, family and more.

In this Rewind episode of Crime Insiders we begin with a horrific double murder in the Blue Mountains….

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In the winter of 1988, two gold prospectors were scouring the picturesque Mount Firebrace in Victoria… when their search unearthed something far more chilling than treasure. Inside a disused mine shaft, they found a decomposed, mummified, headless body.

For local police and Melbourne’s elite homicide squad, it was a mystery frozen in time.

Could forensics bring the truth to light?

That's what today’s guest, forensic pathologist Professor David Ranson, set out to uncover.

This episode contains graphic descriptions of crime scenes and violent crime. If you need support, contact Lifeline on 13 11 14.

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An aspiring rapper, battling drug addiction raided a home in inner Sydney in August 2018.

Armed with a blank-firing pistol and knuckledusters, 30-year-old Jett McKee broke into the home of Blake Davis, a 31-year-old actor and martial arts enthusiast, and Hannah Quinn, a 26-year-old former kindergarten teacher. McKee fled after the robbery and was chased down….with Davis later striking him with a samurai sword killing him.

The ensuing NSW Supreme Court trial, in late 2020, had to consider self-defense, excessive force, and what occurred after the robbery, culminating in a manslaughter conviction for Davis and an accessory conviction for Quinn.

A warning: this episode includes mention of self harm. If you or someone you know needs someone to talk to, call LifeLine on 13 11 14

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One of your family members could be missing, and your DNA could help find them.

Associate Professor Jodie Ward is the former Program Lead of the National DNA Program for Unidentified and Missing Persons at the Australian Federal Police. Now completed, the program was funded by the Confiscated Assets Account, in a nationwide effort to find or identify people who are unaccounted for.

In this episode, Jodie takes us through exactly what the program did and how it's helped track down and identify hundreds of missing Australians.

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