Detectives investigating the 2007 death of a man are renewing their appeal for public assistance as their inquiries continue to find those responsible for his death.

About 4.30pm on Monday 12 March 2007, 87-year-old Frank Newbery was found slumped behind the counter of his take away and grocery store on Union Street, Cooks Hill, suffering severe head injuries.

He died shortly after arriving at hospital.

Mr Newbery had been the owner of the business – ‘Frank’s Ham & Beef’ – for more than 50 years.

Strike Force Rynan was established to investigate the matter; however despite an extensive investigation that followed many different lines of inquiry, those responsible were not identified.

An inquest was held into the death in August 2012, where the Deputy State Coroner returned an open finding. The inquest found that Mr Newbery had died after being attacked in his store, but failed to identify any suspects.

Newcastle detectives are continuing with their inquiries into the death and are renewing their public appeal for assistance.

While they believe that ‘robbery gone wrong’ has always appeared to be the most likely scenario, they will consider and explore all possibilities; including that the incident could have been a deliberate attack upon Mr Newbery.

Police wish to remind the public the New South Wales Government issued a $100,000 reward in October 2007 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible.

Any information can be given to Crime Stoppers or via Newcastle City Police Station directly on (02) 4929 0999.

Police Transport Command has charged a man over an alleged indecent assault on a bus in the Hunter Region earlier this month.

About 8.20am on Thursday 5 November 2015, a 17-year-old girl was travelling on a bus between Speers Point and Hamilton, when a man, who boarded the bus shortly before, moved to sit next to her.

The man then allegedly indecently assaulted the girl before she stood up and moved seats.

When the man exited the bus at Broadmeadow, a witness contacted police.

Officers attached to Police Transport Command attended and commenced an investigation.

As a result of their inquiries, a 37-year-old Cardiff man was arrested at Newcastle Police Station last Friday (13 November 2015) and charged with two counts each of indecent assault and common assault.

He has been granted strict conditional bail and is due to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 26 November 2015.

Two men have been charged over an alleged alcohol-related assault and offensive behaviour in Newcastle last night.

About 7.30pm (Sunday 15 November 2015), police from Newcastle City Local Area Command were called to a licensed premises on Kendrick Street, The Junction, following reports a security officer had been assaulted.

Police were told the men were asked to leave the licensed premises due to their level of intoxication, to which they refused.

The pair was escorted from the hotel by security and as they left, it is alleged they assaulted a security guard.

After leaving the location, the pair walked down Glebe Road and one of the men allegedly exposed himself to a group of people who were dining at a nearby restaurant.

On arrival, officers located two men allegedly yelling and swearing, as they attempted to entice passersby to fight.

The men – aged 21 and 29 – allegedly challenged police but were arrested without incident and taken to Newcastle Police Station.

The 21-year-old Queensland man was charged with fail to quit, assault, wilful and obscene exposure in/near public place, and offensive behaviour.

The 29-year-old Merewether man was charged with assault and offensive behaviour.

Both men have been granted strict conditional bail to appear at Newcastle Local Court on Thursday 10 December 2015.

Inquiries are continuing.

Newcastle City Local Area Commander, Superintendent John Gralton, said local police would continue the approach of ‘consequence policing’ to alcohol-related violence and anti-social behaviour.

“We have zero tolerance policy to alcohol-fuelled assaults in Newcastle and it’s a simple concept – if you play up, you’re going to be locked up,” Supt Gralton said.

“All officers are tasked to ensure the safety of our community and there are consequences for people who are behaving badly.

“Particularly as we approach the busy summer season, our message is clear: It is not okay to come into town, drink to excess and punch on. If you misbehave in Newcastle, be prepared to face the consequences,” Supt Gralton said.

Police are appealing for information after a pedestrian was hit by a car at Belmont yesterday, and has since died in hospital this morning.

Just before 7.40pm (Friday 13 November 2015), a 78-year-old man parked his car on Evans Street, and began walking with his 74-year-old wife across Ross Street, towards a sailing club.

At the same time, an 81-year-old woman was driving a Toyota Camry south along Evans Street, with her 80-year-old husband a passenger, when the vehicle and the 78-year-old man collided.

Emergency services were called, and the man was treated at the scene, before being taken to John Hunter Hospital in a critical condition.

This morning (Saturday 14 November 2015), the man died in hospital.

No one else was injured during the incident.

Officers attached to Lake Macquarie Local Area Command attended and commenced investigations.

As inquiries into the circumstances leading up to the incident continue, police are urging any witnesses to come forward and contact Lake Macquarie Police via Crime Stoppers.

A report will be prepared for the Coroner.

A car has knocked over a woman and a baby before crashing into a cafe in the Newcastle CBD.

Around 12.20pm today (Friday 13 November 2015), emergency services were called to the intersection of Perkins and Hunter Streets.

Officers have been told that a car reversed into a parked vehicle, before mounting a footpath, knocking over a woman and a baby, and crashing into a cafe.

Both the woman, believed to be aged in her late 20s, and the baby have been taken to hospital. The woman is suspected to have sustained a number of broken bones while the baby will be examined for possible head injuries.

The driver of the car, a man believed to be aged in his 70s, has been taken to hospital for mandatory blood and urine testing.

An investigation into the crash is now underway.