Hunter Valley murder charges, Coalition support plummets, Australia's predator hunter

Security cameras have captured the arrest of an alleged murderer following the shocking death of a young mother in the New South Wales Hunter Valley.

Core support for the Coalition has plummeted to a record-low.

A vigilante paedophile hunter, praised for trapping predators into on camera confessions, has been given 'a green light' to continue by police if he doesn't jeopardise their investigations.

7NEWS Headlines with Edwina Bartholomew for November 03, 2025.

For more news, head to www.7news.com.au 

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:03):
Good morning.

Speaker 2 (00:04):
Two states are bracing for more storm chaos this morning,
after destructive weekend that could cost millions of dollars in
just the Sunshine State. Tennis sized hailballs pelted people in Queensland,
leaving them bloody and needing medical help. Thunderstorms and strong
winds struck in South Australia as well yesterday, cutting power
to hundreds of homes. A rainband stretching from Tasmania to

(00:27):
the Top End is expected to move east today and tomorrow,
bringing more wet weather to the East Coast to be
Thunderstorms are possible in and around Sydney, northern New South Wales,
and from Brisbane to central Queensland. Security cameras have captured
the arrest of an alleged murderer following the shocking death
of a young mother in the New South Wales Hunter Valley.

(00:49):
Thirty seven year old Christopher Malochney is accused of shooting
his partner, thirty nine year old Raqueya Lake. The horrific
attack allegedly occurring in front of another family member. He
has now been charged with murder, weapons and drug offenses.
The Nationals party room is voted to dump net zero
claiming the climate policy has pushed power bills up by

(01:11):
eight hundred dollars per household.

Speaker 1 (01:13):
The Nationals supporting a mix of.

Speaker 2 (01:15):
Coal, nuclear gas and renewables, harving Australia's emissions reduction target
by twenty thirty five.

Speaker 1 (01:22):
This is the response from Labor.

Speaker 2 (01:24):
The idea that you would hand over climate and energy
policy to the likes of Matt Canavan and the ghost
of Barnaby.

Speaker 1 (01:31):
Joyce is like handing Dracula the keys to the blood bank.

Speaker 2 (01:34):
Opposition leader Susan Lee and the Liberal Party are still
reviewing their energy plan. Core support for the coalition has
plummeted to a record low at just twenty four percent.
In fighting between the Liberal Party and the Nationals has
burnt public support support for One Nation, minor parties and
independents has hit new highs or Labor has thirty six

(01:56):
percent of primary fote. The victims in the shocking stabbing
attack on board a British train remained in a critical
condition this morning as police continue to question men arrested
at the scene. Lif You Cross won at Jaqueline Robson Jackie.
Four of the injured have been released from hospital.

Speaker 3 (02:14):
In some good news, Yes certainly Eddie and quite remarkable
given that initially nine passengers were taken to hospital in
life threatening conditions. The train where this stabbing frenzy took
place remains here at Huntingdon station and forensics are continuing
to go through the carriage now close to twenty four

(02:34):
hours on. You can see inside people's bags have been
left behind in their hurried attempt to escape this stabbing rampage.
Video has emerged of one of those alleged defenders being arrested.
A taxi driver says that the man was yelling at
police waving a knife before he was taken out by
a taser. Police earlier today said that they had two

(02:57):
British born men in their custody, both aged in their
thirties and both held on suspicion of attempted Murderate reports
are coming through as we speak that police may now
be solely focused on the thirty two year old man
as the prime suspect, but they have ruled out terrorism
for now. Take a listen.

Speaker 4 (03:17):
British Transport Police declared a major incident yesterday and counter
Terrorism Policing we're initially supporting our investigation. However, at this
stage there is nothing to suggest that this is a
terrorist incident.

Speaker 3 (03:33):
And we are starting to hear some incredible stories of
courage and bravery, with passengers leaping in front of other
members of the public to try and save them, including
an elderly man stepping in front of a young woman
and he suffered injuries to his neck and head.

Speaker 1 (03:48):
Eddie, thank you, Jackie. Back home now.

Speaker 2 (03:51):
And a crash in Melbourne's North has left a motorbike
rider dead. Overnight emergency crews are called after a car
and motorbike collide and rockthrough park after ten The male
writer died at the scene, while the female driver of
the car was not injured. Officers are now working to
understand the circumstances of the crash and urge witnesses to
contact police. One car has been torched and another damage

(04:15):
in an overnight arson attack in City South.

Speaker 1 (04:18):
Emergency services were called after.

Speaker 2 (04:20):
An audi was found well a light outside a home
in Brighton Lessans. Firefighters extinguished the blaze, but the vehicle
was destroyed and flames spread to a nearby car. Police
this morning on the hunt rather after the firebugs responsible.
A vigilante pedophile hunter praise for trapping predators into on

(04:40):
camera confessions has been given a green light to continue
by police if he doesn't jeopardize their investigations. Known online
as Fayse Nighthawk, he's been joined in the fight by
an American YouTube star, but legal experts of warning their
campaign for justice could seriously backfire and set offenders free.

Speaker 5 (05:03):
The stings are simple.

Speaker 6 (05:05):
She did tell you multiple times that she was thirteen?
Correct in the messages? Yes, she did tell me that
she was fifteen.

Speaker 7 (05:11):
Correct.

Speaker 6 (05:11):
You're that guy who came to meet a thirteen year
old girl and also an eleven year old girl.

Speaker 5 (05:15):
Isn't it men online thinking they're chatting with underage girls?
The messages sexual and lurid?

Speaker 6 (05:21):
She never said she was sixteen, right?

Speaker 7 (05:23):
Yep? She said she was fourteen.

Speaker 1 (05:25):
Last day she told me there was a couple of
naughty photos.

Speaker 6 (05:27):
A couple naughty photos.

Speaker 7 (05:29):
Yes, so would this be your prayer?

Speaker 5 (05:30):
He's a vigilante in a beanie online name Fase Nighthawk.

Speaker 6 (05:35):
Why is it wrong? They're underage?

Speaker 5 (05:38):
He cholls internet dating apps posing as an underage girl,
but his targets won't meet a minor, just a camera.
I'm sorry, but this month his crusade took a dramatic turn.

Speaker 7 (05:52):
Wait, hold on, you just got here takes. Let's just
have a conversation, mate.

Speaker 5 (05:57):
One of America's highest profile vigilante flew in to team
up with Australia's Nighthawk.

Speaker 7 (06:03):
Listen, We're not going to hurt you. You're okay. Here
to shake my hand.

Speaker 5 (06:06):
Us YouTuber Jideon jid On Adams has eight point five
million followers, and.

Speaker 7 (06:12):
Do you have a way for anything you do? Does
your wife know you're here?

Speaker 5 (06:16):
They call it pread catching, coaxing confessions from suspected predators
with promises the videos will never go public.

Speaker 6 (06:23):
This is just for our documentation too.

Speaker 5 (06:25):
It's not going to go anywhere, and that police won't
be called.

Speaker 6 (06:28):
He admitted everything however.

Speaker 5 (06:30):
They are and the evidence hand it over.

Speaker 7 (06:32):
But there's a problem.

Speaker 4 (06:34):
It may not hold up at all.

Speaker 5 (06:35):
It's likely inadmissible in court. Police pleading for cooperation instead, we.

Speaker 2 (06:42):
Support the notion of catching predators online and working with
the community to do that.

Speaker 5 (06:47):
Warnings that the vigilantes could face charges themselves harassment, assault, stalking,
illegal recording, defamation, breaking the law in their attempts to
enforce it and even work us.

Speaker 4 (07:00):
You may possibly destroy any capacity we have of bringing
these people to justice.

Speaker 5 (07:05):
Condemning too the visiting vigilante as they apply their public
shaming on partners too.

Speaker 6 (07:12):
We actually went to his wife's house to let him
know what was going on.

Speaker 5 (07:15):
Who died and made them God Chris Reason seven News.

Speaker 2 (07:19):
The West Australian government is defending its multimillion dollar on
campaign in eastern States, aiming to protect the state's share
of GST. The battle will head to camberd today with
the Premier sent to make his case to the Prime Minister.
Mister Abernezi has already promised not to change WA's deal,
which sees the state keep seventy five cents of every
GST dollar, but the Cook government isn't taking any chance

(07:42):
at spending big to sell its message.

Speaker 1 (07:44):
In the country's east.

Speaker 2 (07:46):
Some Brisbane holmes earned more than their owners in the
past year, adding more value than the average Australian wage,
according to prop Track report. New data from Catality says
national home prices rose over six percent in the line
last year. Perth's properties grew the most of all capital cities,
followed by Brisbane. We'll checking Monday's whether now showers and

(08:08):
a possible late storm in Brisbane. Thirty one degrees is
at Volatile weather continues a possible late shower in Sydney
in twenty eight showers developing in Canberra and twenty seven
degrees rain for Melbourne and sixteen degrees rain for Hobart,
twenty degrees in Tazzi. Showers in Adelaide are called sixteen
degrees and sunny in Perth and thirty one degrees Darwin,

(08:29):
thirty four and a bit stormy in the top end.