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Giselle Wakatama
Newcastle, NSW
Giselle Wakatama is a senior broadcast journalist and has been reporting for the ABC since 2000. Follow Giselle on Twitter: @gisellewak
Latest by Giselle Wakatama
Three men plead not guilty to murder of drug dealer in robbery gone wrong
A Supreme Court jury is told a known ice dealer was gunned down in his car as he fled a "drug rip" — the ripping off of a drug dealer — north of Newcastle.
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Crown calls for hit man to receive life sentence over Newcastle grandmother's execution
A judge is urged to put Canberra man Jason Paul Hawkins, 48, in prison for life, over the "incomprehensible" shooting of a 61-year-old Newcastle woman.
'The world is worse off': Daughters of slain Newcastle grandma stare down hit man in court
Stacey Klimovitch was murdered in 2021 by Jason Paul Hawkins, who was driven from the scene by Stephen John Garland. As both men await sentencing, Ms Klimovitch's daughters have delivered powerful statements in a NSW court.
Construction giant calls in administrators leaving 21 multimillion-dollar developments dangling
St Hilliers is placed into voluntary administration as work halts on its developments around Australia, including major projects in Newcastle, the Central Coast and Brisbane.
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Extra surf lifesavers brought in to help patrol deadly stretch of NSW coast after three drownings in four weeks
Lifeguards from Sydney are called in to support local volunteers patrolling beaches along the coast north of Newcastle after a series of drownings this summer.
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19yo on holiday from Sydney still missing after trying to save brothers from rip as four drown across NSW
By Alexander Lewis, Jean Kennedy, and Giselle Wakatama
Four people have drowned at beaches across New South Wales since Christmas Day and one is missing in what has been described as the "deadliest time" of the year.
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More than 50 Hunter properties damaged by 'giant' hail as severe storm cells batter NSW
By Adriane Reardon, Lani Oataway, and Giselle Wakatama
The state braces for more wet weather after flash flooding, heavy rain and hail over the weekend.
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Mother says her girl needs more than Lego for support, after being suspended five times in three months
A Hunter Valley mother is calling on education officials to find a support unit for her autistic seven-year-old, and says multiple suspensions and class time spent "playing Lego on her own little table" do not help.
Kathleen Folbigg speaks out after convictions for killing children overturned
Kathleen Folbigg, once labelled the nation's worst female serial killer, has the convictions for killing her four children overturned by the NSW Court of Criminal Appeal.
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Court hears man who killed former pro-surfer Chris Davidson wanted to protect children
A one-punch attacker's barrister tells a NSW court he was "triggered" by seeing the victim, who was a convicted child sex offender, with a young woman before the fatal assault.
Car bursts into flames following alleged police pursuit in Newcastle
The alleged driver, a 27-year-old man, was taken to hospital with serious injuries, after the car burst into flames in bushland off McCaffrey Drive.
NSW energy minister rules out state government takeover of Australia's largest coal-fired power plant
Origin Energy plans to close Australia's largest coal-fired power plant in 2025, but a government review has recommended it stay open.
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Convicted hitman guilty of murdering Newcastle grandmother
A jury has found Canberra man Jason Paul Hawkins guilty of murdering Newcastle woman Stacey Klimovitch when she answered her front door.
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Family outburst in court as man sentenced for 'callous' disposal of body is eligible for parole
The stepsister of murdered woman Danielle Easy tells a court during the sentencing of Justin Dilosa that she hopes he "rots", as he becomes eligible for parole due to time already served.
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Crown says alleged hitman Jason Hawkins had gun, incentive to 'assassinate' Newcastle grandmother
A jury has been told alleged hit man Jason Hawkins had the weapon and the financial incentive to "assassinate" Stacey Klimovitch, shot dead when she answered a knock at the front door of her Stockton home in 2021.
Alleged hit man says he fled getaway car before grandmother was gunned down
Jason Paul Hawkins tells a jury he ran into the bushes because he wanted "no part" in the plot to murder Newcastle grandmother Stacey Klimovitch.
Two protesters fined, more than 100 people charged over global warming protest in Newcastle Harbour
Protesters blockaded Newcastle Harbour with canoes and other small craft as part of a 30-hour gathering.
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Swimmer missing off a Newcastle beach, three others rescued
An air and water search is underway for a man missing off Stockton Beach.
Graffiti in memory of abducted schoolgirl Gordana Kotevski mysteriously appears in Newcastle
Graffiti on several inner-city buildings has appeared in Newcastle, marking the 29th anniversary of schoolgirl Gordana Kotevski's abduction after a trip to the local shopping centre.
Man accused of sexually assaulting woman in 90s at Bateau Bay nursing home faces court
A man accused of breaking into a Central Coast nursing home and sexually assaulting a woman in her 90s been refused bail after being ordered to undergo a mental health assessment.
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Ex-Labor minister Joe Tripodi to face misconduct charge over 'highly confidential' Treasury leak
The former NSW government minister will be prosecuted for misconduct in public office for allegedly feeding confidential information to a company linked to ex-coal baron Nathan Tinkler.
Daughter terrified she was next after mother shot dead at front door, court hears
The daughter of Stacey Klimovitch, who was fatally shot in Newcastle last year, testifies at the trial of her mother's alleged killer, Jason Paul Hawkins.
Jury told hit man was recruited by Newcastle father to kill his former de facto mother-in-law
A jury has heard a hit man was arranged to kill 61-year-old grandmother Stacey Klimovitch, but the defence contends the accused was not at the crime scene.
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Alleged murder victim could have been dead for three days before body found
Police allege Dee Folpp could have already been dead when they did a welfare check at a Muswellbrook unit before officers left and then returned later to find her body.
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Jury finds getaway driver guilty of manslaughter, not murder, over grandmother's slaying
The verdict comes after the four-week trial of a man who drove an alleged gunman to and from the home of a Newcastle woman shot dead at her front door.
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