Weekly News Roundup

Women accuse Morgan Freeman of inappropriate behavior, harassment

A young production assistant thought she had landed the job of her dreams when, in the summer of 2015, she started work on “Going In Style,” a bank heist comedy starring Morgan Freeman, Michael Caine and Alan Arkin.

But the job quickly devolved into several months of harassment, she told CNN. She alleges that Freeman subjected her to unwanted touching and comments about her figure and clothing on a near-daily basis. Freeman would rest his hand on her lower back or rub her lower back, she said.

In one incident, she said, Freeman “kept trying to lift up my skirt and asking if I was wearing underwear.” He never successfully lifted her skirt, she said — he would touch it and try to lift it, she would move away, and then he’d try again. Eventually, she said, “Alan [Arkin] made a comment telling him to stop. Morgan got freaked out and didn’t know what to say.”

Freeman’s alleged inappropriate behavior was not limited to that one movie set, according to other sources who spoke to CNN. A woman who was a senior member of the production staff of the movie “Now You See Me” in 2012 told CNN that Freeman sexually harassed her and her female assistant on numerous occasions by making comments about their bodies.

“He did comment on our bodies… We knew that if he was coming by … not to wear any top that would show our breasts, not to wear anything that would show our bottoms, meaning not wearing clothes that [were] fitted,” she said.

Two workers dead, multiple critical after toxic gas leak at paper mill near Albury

TWO workers have died and another is fighting for life after a toxic gas leak at a paper mill near the Victorian border.

Up to 150 workers were evacuated from the Norske Skog paper mill in Ettamogah near Albury about 1.30pm yesterday after several staff became “overcome by fumes”.

A 36-year-old man died overnight, an Albury Wodonga Health spokeswoman confirmed.

A 28-year-old worker died in hospital yesterday.

A man aged 22, from Victoria, remains in a critical condition at Albury Base Hospital.

One of those who died is from Victoria, the other New South Wales.

A further 15 workers were taken to hospital.

One worker remains in hospital in a stable condition while the remaining workers were released overnight.

Sydney grandmother sentenced to death by hanging

A SYDNEY grandmother has been sentenced to death by hanging in Malaysia after an appeal court unanimously overturned her earlier acquittal on drug smuggling charges.

Maria Elvira Pinto Exposto, 54, from Cabramatta West, was today found guilty by three judges in the Court of Appeal.

The mother of four was caught with 1.5kg of crystal methamphetamine, also known as ice, at Kuala Lumpur International Airport on December 7, 2014.

“We find the merits of the appeal, we allow the appeal and set aside the judgment of the judge and find her guilty as convicted. The only sentence under law is death by hanging,” the judges found.

Court of Appeal judge Mohtarudin Baki, told Ms Exposto: “The only sentence under the law is death by hanging. You have another round of appeal and we wish you luck.”

Ms Exposto’s lawyer Shafee Abdullah today told the court her client would exercise her right for a further appeal.

“You will win and you will walk away,” Ms Abdullah told Ms Exposto.