Michael Anthony Woodhall, a 52-year-old man, has been sentenced to 20 years in prison for a series of violent sexual assaults that occurred in Western Australia during the 1990s.

Woodhall, who evaded law enforcement for nearly three decades, pleaded guilty to charges related to three brutal sexual attacks and a home invasion.

The first incident occurred in March 1995, when Woodhall threatened a 49-year-old woman with a knife in Carine Open Space before dragging her into nearby bushland and sexually assaulting her.

A year later, in March 1996, he sexually assaulted a 19-year-old woman in her Scarborough residence after breaking in while she slept.

The third assault took place in February 1998 in Crawley, where Woodhall again threatened an 18-year-old woman with a knife in a student accommodation.

Following these attacks, a lengthy investigation yielded an unidentified male DNA profile from the crime scenes.

Despite thorough forensic examinations, the case went cold.

However, advancements in investigative genetic genealogy (IGG) techniques allowed for a breakthrough in identifying Woodhall as a suspect, culminating in his arrest in July 2023.

Woodhall was charged with 16 offences, including six counts of aggravated sexual penetration without consent and three counts of deprivation of liberty.

This case marks a significant milestone as it is the first instance of IGG being utilized in a criminal investigation leading to charges in Australia.

Detective Sergeant Justin Meeres from Cold Case Investigations emphasized the commitment of the Western Australia Police to pursuing justice for historical crimes, stating that no matter how much time has passed, perpetrators should be wary of eventual justice.

In a separate incident, a man was shot dead at a home in Condell Park, Sydney, late on a recent night.

Emergency services were called to the scene, where they found a man in his 20s suffering from gunshot wounds.

Despite efforts to revive him, he was pronounced dead at the scene.

Shortly after, a nearby vehicle was discovered ablaze, which authorities are treating as suspicious.

Investigations are ongoing as police urge anyone with information to come forward.

In Melbourne, a 29-year-old woman, Crysta Healey, was allegedly attacked with a machete during a carjacking at a petrol station in Dandenong.

The incident occurred as she was filling her vehicle with fuel, and witnesses described the assault as aggressive and brazen.

Police have launched an investigation and seek to identify the suspects involved.

Additionally, a 70-year-old man was found dead in Ballarat, Victoria, prompting police to arrest a suspect in relation to the incident.

Specialists are investigating the suspicious circumstances surrounding the death.

Moreover, a 23-year-old man from Melbourne has been charged with murder following the discovery of a body at a residence in Glenroy.

The victim, a 28-year-old man, was found during a welfare check conducted by police early in the morning.

These events underline ongoing concerns over violent crimes and the challenges of law enforcement in addressing criminal activity across Australia.