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Five were found dead in the freezer on a former dog breeder’s property, along with a burnt carcass and 18 other severely injured animals in Todd Baker's vineyard.Baker received a three year good behaviour bond for each of the 15 counts of animal cruelty, to be served concurrently, and was fined $83,577 for the cost of vet care.

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FIVE dogs were found dead in the freezer on a former dog breeder's property, along with a burnt carcass and 18 other severely injured animals.

Todd Baker, 41, faced 15 counts of animal cruelty after the RSPCA made the gruesome discovery at his Vineyard kennel on March 1, 2016.

Baker, of Vineyard, faced Penrith Local Court last week where details of the animal cruelty were revealed, including diseased dogs starving and left without water and shelter.

The court heard 18 emaciated dogs with ulcerated testicles and paws, ear infections and other health conditions were left untreated by Baker and were kept in cages covered in their own faeces and urine.

The RSPCA revealed how inspectors discovered the five dead dogs in a freezer and a dog's body which was half burnt was found in full view in the yard.

At court, Baker received a three year good behaviour bond for each of the 15 counts of animal cruelty, to be served concurrently, and was fined $83,577 for the cost of vet care.

He was also banned from owning animals for the next 10 years.

The dogs seized by the RSPCA all had serious health problems, with some conditions life threatening.

Baker's business, previously known as Herizon Kennels, bred dogs for sale.

Most of the dogs were located locked in pens without shelter.

The RSPCA said where there was drinking water available, it had turned green.

The dogs had severe medical conditions including one animal with a dead fly found embedded in an infected ear, while others were found tethered without access to food or water.

IN OTHER NEWS: RBB MEMBERS BANNED OVER BANNER

The yard was completely filled with the dogs' faeces and was ridden with flies and insects, when the scene was discovered by RSPCA inspectors.

In one pen, dried blood and a pool of bodily fluids smelt like a dead animal, the RSPCA said.

The dogs had been diagnosed with dehydration, ear infections, dental diseases, severe osteoarthritis and emaciation.

Other dogs had ulcerated paw pads and had untreated wounds which were covered in fleas.

Baker alleged the dead fly located in the ear canal of one of the dogs had been planted there by one of the RSPCA inspectors.

Baker is said to have been hostile and aggressive and verbally abusive toward RSPCA staff.

"The mind boggles how someone that has a history of breeding for profit could let so many dogs get in such horrendous conditions," RSPCA NSW Inspector James Arentz said.

"Every single dog had serious health problems - some of them truly grotesque and heartbreaking."

The RSPCA has begun the process of rehoming the dogs.

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FIVE dogs were found dead in the freezer on a former dog breeder's property, along with a burnt carcass and 18 other severely injured animals. Todd Baker, 41, faced 15 counts of animal cruelty after the RSPCA made the gruesome discovery at his Vineyard kennel on March 1, 2016.

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Muslim woman who is the wife of  a convicted Islamic State recruiter face possible jail after refusing to remove veil, stand for NSW judge .

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The wife of a convicted Islamic State recruiter is now facing jail for refusing to remove her veil and stand for a District Court judge.

NSW authorities have given the green light to prosecute Moutia Elzahed, after she stated she wouldn't "stand for anyone except Allah" when appearing before Judge Audrey Balla in December.

Elzahed is one of two women married to convicted criminal and Islamic State extremist Hamdi Alqudsi.

Convicted Islamic State extremist Hamdi Alqudsi. Source: AAP

Alqudsi was jailed last September for six years after arranging seven men to travel to Syria to fight with terrorist groups.

Elzahed had been in court to sue NSW Police over alleged violence during a raid on her family's Revesby home in 2014.

Elzahed hid from media at an earlier court appearance. Source: 7 News

Judge Balla had ruled Elzahed could not take the witness stand while she wore a niqab, and offered to close the court, or have the mother-of-two give evidence via videolink.

But Elzahed refused to remove her veil or stand for Judge Balla, and is now set to be charged with the new offence of disrespecting the court.

Elzahed's husband Hamdi Alqudsi. Source: AAP

In a statement NSW Solicitor-General Michael Sexton said contempt of court proceedings against Ms Elzahed would not go ahead, but confirmed he authorised proceedings to start under the new disrespectful behaviour in court law.

The law came into effect in NSW last September and makes it an offence for someone to intentionally behave disrespectfully to a court or judge during a case.

Elzahed could face a fine of up to $1100 or spend up to 14 days in jail if convicted.
News break - February 10

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Muslim woman faces possible jail after refusing to remove veil, stand for NSW judge

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The wife of a convicted Islamic State recruiter is now facing jail for refusing to remove her veil and stand for a District Court judge. NSW authorities have given the green light to prosecute Moutia Elzahed, after she stated she wouldn't "stand for anyone except Allah" when appearing before Judge Audrey Balla in December.

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Lawyers forGordon Wood claim the murder charge against him over the death of model Caroline Byrne was “flawed and ridiculous” and led to a miscarriage of justice.

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LAWYERS for former chauffeur Gordon Wood claim the murder charge against him over the death of model Caroline Byrne was "flawed and ridiculous" and led to a miscarriage of justice.

In November 2008, Wood was convicted over the 1995 death of his then-girlfriend Ms Byrne after her body was found at the notorious Sydney suicide spot The Gap.

His conviction was overturned in 2012 and he is now suing the state of NSW.

Lawyers for Mr Wood today opened their case in the NSW Supreme Court by heavily criticising the prosecution's reliance upon the evidence of a retired University of Sydney physicist, Associate Professor Rod Cross.

Bruce McClintock SC told the court Prof Cross had a background in plasma physics - the behaviour of high-temperature glasses - and was not qualified to speak about how a body may have left the cliff.

"The case against my client was, to put it mildly, flawed," Mr McClintock said.

"Some might say that, when one analyses it, it was actually ridiculous."

Mr McClintock said the jury was presented with a photograph of the cliff top said to have been taken in 1995, when it was actually taken in 2003.

This influenced theories about why the location was chosen - because it was obscured by bushes - and the area said to have been used for a "run up" in throwing Ms Byrne from the cliff.

Mr McClintock told the court Prof Cross admitted he knew the photograph's date was inaccurate during a Court of Criminal Appeal hearing.

"What occurred is astounding," he said.

"A man's on trial for murder - and in circumstances where it must have been obvious that the conditions of the cliff top were crucial."

Mr McClintock claimed Prof Cross also had a motive to see Mr Wood convicted because he was writing a book about the case.

"I'm not overstating this, it really is breathtaking," he said.

"It's breathtaking that this man could ever have been put up as some form of independent expert."

The court heard Mr Wood will be called as the first witness.

TIMELINE OF EVENTS SPARKED BY CAROLINE BYRNE'S DEATH

June 8, 1995 - Caroline Byrne's body found at the foot of The Gap, the ocean cliff in Sydney's east May 29, 1996 - Homicide detectives revive inquiry into her death after the state coroner said he was not satisfied it was suicide.

Feb 11, 1998 - Coroner John Abernethy records an open finding into the death, saying there was not enough evidence to make a finding of suicide and although there were suspicions that "a known person was involved in the death", there was no evidence.

Oct 22, 1998 - Inquiry into the model's death is reopened.

April 24, 2001 - Rene Rivkin loses defamation battle against the John Fairfax Press over articles which allegedly implied he arranged the death of Ms Byrne.

March 3, 2002 - NSW Appeal Court orders new defamation hearing for Mr Rivkin against Fairfax.

June 18, 2002 - Mr Rivkin awarded $150,000 damages after being found to have been defamed by a Seven Network program in relation to Ms Byrne's death.

Sept 10, 2003 - High Court rejects Fairfax bid to stop retrial of Mr Rivkin's defamation hearing.

March 9, 2004 - Police complete five-year investigation into Ms Byrne's death and send a report to the Director of Public Prosecutions.

May 1, 2005 - Mr Rivkin, 60, found dead after killing himself at his elderly mother's Sydney apartment.

April 4, 2006 - Mr Wood arrested in London, weeks after DPP agreed there was enough evidence to charge him with murder.

May 3, 2006 - Mr Wood arrives in Sydney after being extradited.

July 6, 2007 - A magistrate orders Mr Wood to stand trial for the murder of his former girlfriend.

July 28, 2008 - The murder trial begins in the NSW Supreme Court.

Aug 6, 2008 - Trial aborted after "misconduct" by jurors who planned a forbidden visit to The Gap.

Aug 25, 2008 - Jury of 15 members empanelled for Mr Wood's new trial.

Nov 21, 2008 - Jury finds Mr Wood guilty.

Dec 4, 2008 - Mr Wood jailed for minimum of 13 and maximum of 17 years four months.

August/Sept 2011 - Eight-day conviction appeal hearing.

Feb 24, 2012 - NSW Court of Criminal Appeal quashes murder conviction and orders his acquittal.

April, 2015 - Mr Wood sues the state of NSW, claiming it deliberately set out to harm him and he lost earnings between $8.9 million and $17.8 million.

Feb 20, 2017 - In his Supreme Court case against the state, Mr Wood's lawyers criticise the prosecution's reliance on the evidence of Rod Cross, former University of Sydney associate professor.

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Wood murder case 'ridiculous', court told

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LAWYERS for former chauffeur Gordon Wood claim the murder charge against him over the death of model Caroline Byrne was "flawed and ridiculous" and led to a miscarriage of justice. In November 2008, Wood was convicted over the 1995 death of his then-girlfriend Ms Byrne after her body was found at the notorious Sydney suicide spot The Gap.