Police will address the media after a woman was arrested of a woman over the disappearance of Leonie Astra Hutchinson in the Hunter Valley 15 years ago.

Investigators believe Leonie was 16 months old when she disappeared from her home in Scone sometime around January 2001.

As a result of on-going inquiries, detectives attached to Strike Force Kanuna, arrested a 43-year-old woman at her home, in Evans Head, on the Far North Coast, about 7.30am today (Wednesday 16 March 2016).

The woman was taken to Lismore Police Station where she is expected to be charged with one count of murder.

A man has died after a car and bus collided in the Lake Macquarie region.
About 3.40pm (Tuesday 15 March 2016) police were called to Freemans Drive, Cooranbong, after a car collided with a school bus with about 30 school children on board.

The male driver of the car died at the scene. He was the sole occupant. He is not yet identified.

None of the school children were injured. They are being moved onto another bus to be conveyed from the scene.

Police from Lake Macquarie Local Area Command are conducting inquiries at the scene.

Freemans Drive is closed in both directions, diversions are in place.

No further information is available at this stage.

A funeral service will be held tomorrow (Monday 14 March 2016) for Sergeant Geoffrey Richardson at Christ Church Cathedral in Church Street, Newcastle.

The service will begin at 11.30am and is expected to run for about one hour.

This will be a full police funeral, including a valedictory read by NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione, and a marching escort and roadside guard of honour after the church service.

The valedictory will be sent to media via the normal Police Media Unit channels after the service. Commissioner Scipione will also address media at the conclusion of all formalities.

The service will be broadcast via speakers outside the cathedral.

A boy has been charged with graffiti offences and breaching bail after being caught in the rail corridor in the Lake Macquarie area.

About 6pm on Wednesday 9 March 2016, a group of young persons boarded a southbound train at Adamstown Railway Station.

They got off the train at Booragul Railway Station where they were observed on footage to graffiti a foot bridge, pylons and electrical boxes within the rail corridor, before fleeing the area.

Officers from Police Transport Command attended and conducted inquiries.

About 11.10am today (Friday 11 March 2016) officers attended a home in Fennell Bay and arrested a 14-year-old boy.

He was taken to Belmont Police Station and charged with intentionally mark premises without consent, enter running lines, and breach of bail.

He was refused bail to appear at a Children’s Court on 21 March 2016.

A 23-year-old man has been arrested and charged in relation to an aggravated break and enter and indecent assault near Newcastle earlier this year.

Around 11.30pm on Friday 15 January 2016, three males forced their way into a home in Carandotta Street, Mayfield, where they held the property’s 36-year-old resident against her will.

The trio, one of whom was armed with a knife, ransacked the home and stole a number of items before fleeing the scene. During the break in, one of the males allegedly indecently assaulted the woman.

Police were called and attended the location, before an investigation into the matter commenced.

Shortly before 1am the following Sunday (17 January 2016), police arrested two 17-year-old males who were standing near an abandoned vehicle in a laneway off Maitland Road, Mayfield.

The duo were taken to Waratah Police Station and each charged with numerous offences, including:

– Aggravated break and enter while armed;

– Take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage;

– Aggravated break and enter – deprive liberty; and;

– Aggravated break and enter in company.

Both teens are currently before the courts.

Following the arrests of the juveniles, detectives continued their inquiries and yesterday (Wednesday 9 March 2016) a 23-year-old man was extradited from Hervey Bay, Queensland, to Newcastle where he was formally arrested and charged with:

– Aggravated break and enter in company;

– Take/detain person in company with intent to obtain advantage; and,

– Aggravated indecent assault.

He was refused bail to appear before Newcastle Local Court today (Thursday 10 March 2016).