VARUN GHOSH, a barrister of Indian descent, has become the first ever Australian senator to take the oath of office on the revered Hindu scripture Bhagavad Gita.
Ghosh, 38, of the Labour Party on Tuesday (6) filled the party’s senate seat, which was left vacant after the retirement of Patrick Dodson last month due to health reasons.
Taking to X, Australian minister for foreign affairs and senator for South Australia Penny Wong said, “Welcome to Varun Ghosh, our newest senator from Western Australia. Senator Ghosh is the first ever Australian senator sworn in on the Bhagavad Gita.
“I have often said, when you’re the first at something, you’ve got to make sure you’re not the last. I know senator Ghosh will be a strong voice for his community and for West Australians. Wonderful to have you on the Labour senate team."
According to a report in The Sunday Morning Herald newspaper, Ghosh joined the Labour party in Perth aged 17 after his parents moved from India in the 1980s and began working as doctors.
He is a barrister at Francis Burt Chambers and has worked in commercial and administrative law, as well as industrial relations and employment law.
Ghosh has an honours degree in law and arts from UWA where he also served on the Guild Council as chair and guild secretary. He also has a masters in law from Cambridge University in the UK.
(PTI)
Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in northwest of London, in July 2024. (Photo: Hertfordshire Police /Handout via REUTERS)
Crossbow murderer found guilty of raping ex-girlfriend
A 26-YEAR-OLD man who murdered three women in a crossbow and stabbing attack has been found guilty of raping one of them, his ex-girlfriend, a British court ruled on Thursday.
Kyle Clifford had previously pleaded guilty to the murders of BBC sports commentator John Hunt’s wife and two daughters at their home in Bushey, northwest of London, in July 2024.
The attack led to a manhunt before Clifford was found injured hours later in a north London cemetery.
A jury at Cambridge Crown Court on Thursday convicted Clifford of raping 25-year-old Louise Hunt before killing her.
His sentencing for all the crimes is scheduled for Tuesday.
Clifford had admitted to murdering Carol Hunt, 61, and her daughters Louise and Hannah, 28. He had also pleaded guilty to charges of false imprisonment and possessing offensive weapons but denied raping Louise.
During the trial, the court heard that after killing Carol Hunt, Clifford waited for an hour before attacking Louise, tying her up, raping her, and then killing her with a crossbow. He later killed Hannah when she returned home from work.
The prosecution described Clifford, a former soldier, as committing a "violent, sexual act of spite" and said he was "enraged" after Louise ended their 18-month relationship. They told the court that he had "carefully planned" the attack.
Less than 24 hours before the killings, Clifford had searched for a podcast by social media influencer Andrew Tate, according to the prosecution. They argued that the murders were driven by the "violent misogyny promoted" by Tate.
Justice Joel Bennathan called Clifford’s crimes "dreadful" and "almost unspeakable".
(With inputs from AFP)