In Brief

BODY FOUND ON OXFORD ST

Police have confirmed that the body found on Oxford Street, close to the Midnight Shift nightclub, on Tuesday (22 May) was of an alcoholic who had died during the night. The incident has not been linked to any of the venues in the area. Phil Wharton, owner of the nearby Eurostar Dry Cleaners, said alcoholism was a huge problem in the area and cited the 24-hour trading, numerous bottle shops, halfway houses and lack of police as causes. The death follows a shooting several weeks ago outside UN nightclub. I think it’s confirming [Oxford Street] as a dangerous, unsavoury area, Wharton added.

PHOTO RELEASED IN ADELAIDE HIV CASE

The Supreme Court has lifted an order banning the publication of accused HIV risk Stuart McDonald’s image, according to the Adelaide Advertiser. Immediately following the ruling on Tuesday, the image was available on the Advertiser‘s AdelaideNow website. McDonald’s own lawyer and the state health department did not oppose the appeal, leaving the only concern for prejudicing future court proceedings to be expressed by the ruling justice Bruce Debelle. The appeal came after McDonald participated in a two-hour identity parade in front of eight of his accusers.

RAPE COUPLE CAN STAY TOGETHER

A West Australian gay couple, who kidnapped a 14-year-old boy, held him hostage for 20 days, raped him multiple times and plotted to murder him, are being allowed to share a prison unit. Robbie Wheeler and Victor Urquhart have outraged the boy’s parents, who say they should be held away from one another. WA corrective services minister Margaret Quirk, however, has refused to split the pedophiles, citing the need for psychiatric tests. Although the two men do not share a cell they can spend several hours each day together socialising.

GAY SOLDIER FIRED, HIRED, THEN FIRED AGAIN

An American soldier who was discharged under the military’s controversial Don’t ask, don’t tell policy, and then called up for active service a year later, is to be fired for a second time. According to the Windy City Times, officials informed Jason Knight, from Pennsylvania, that they would be once again discharging him because of his sexuality. He rejoined the navy in July 2006 and has been serving in Kuwait ever since. Knight said his colleagues know of his sexuality and added, The military isn’t bad -“ it’s just full of bad people. Following his discharge he hopes to work within the gay community.