NZ@9am: 26/01/11 - Most popular stories online on Wednesday | Hawkes Bay News | Local News in Hawkes Bay

The most popular stories online on Wednesday morning include the latest news about the Indian woman who was burned alive near Hamilton and the release of new video footage from the Pike River mine. Top stories include drivers continuing to flout the ban on using cell phones while driving, a sex offender tricking his minders and the ongoing investigation into the woman who was burned alive. 

The Google News New Zealand lead headline is from nzherald.co.nz and reads "Burnt-alive suspect expected to be a priest." It says in the most popular story the husband of an Auckland woman burnt to death is the son of a Hindu high priest and was nearly deported from New Zealand for overstaying, Herald inquiries reveal.  Another top story, from nzherald.co.nz, says the Department of Conservation will lay charges against two men who admitted beating a seal pup with a boat oar and left the bloodied mammal to float down a West Auckland creek. And it carries a TVNZ story which says five deaths and 182 crashes on the road last year can be attributed to drivers using cellphones while driving, new figures show.

The nzherald.co.nz lead headline online says "Get off the phone." The web site says drivers are flouting the ban on hand-held cellphones - new figures show a phone-related car crash almost every two days, dozens of injuries and five deaths last year.  It says the husband of an Auckland woman burnt to death is the son of a Hindu high priest and was nearly deported from New Zealand for overstaying, Herald inquiries reveal.  And it says a teenager faces firearms charges following the death of a 20-year-old woman in the Far North last night. And the most popular story says the family of a young mother burnt to death in the Waikato have been stunned by her death.

The Stuff.co.nz top headline says "Sex Offender Fooled Minders."  The web site says the organisation responsible for monitoring a high-risk convicted sex offender round the clock admits it failed but says he hoodwinked his minders and sneaked a 14-year-old girl into his bed. It says the British monarchy saga The King's Speech leads the Academy Awards with 12 nominations, including best picture and acting honours for Colin Firth, Helena Bonham Carter and Geoffrey Rush. Another top story reports on the court appearance of Trent Owen Ngaruhe Hapuku, 21, who is accused of killing 5 month old baby Mikara Ranui Jarius Reti in Hastings. The most popular story says new Pike River video footage confirms some of the dead men's bodies are intact, the father of one miner says.

The Radio New Zealand lead headline online says "Limited Pike River details given to families."  It says the police have given expert reports about the Pike River Coal mine disaster to the families' lawyers on condition that the files themselves are not released directly to the families.  The web site says Prime Minister John Key will today outline the Government's economic agenda in his first speech of the year, which he says will focus on savings and investment. And it says the Labour Party has made a pitch to traditional supporters, promising to give low-income earners more tax relief. 

The 3 News top story online has the headline "Cellphone-related car crashes continue."  It says hundreds of drivers are still using cellphones while driving and causing crashes, new figures show. The web site says Fiji has said they will cooperate with extraditing a man at the centre of a homicide inquiry back to New Zealand. And it says while the Department of Conservation (DOC) is laying charges against two men for attacking a young fur seal, they continue to hunt for those responsible for killing 25. And the most popular story says she has been the country's most high profile sex worker, but a couple of week’s back Lisa Lewis announced she was giving up the game for love.

The One News lead headline says "Burnt woman returned to husband 'for sake of son.'" It says in the most popular story the woman burnt alive in Waikato returned to her husband for the sake of their son less than a month before she was killed, it has been revealed. The web site says five deaths and 182 crashes on the road last year can be attributed to drivers using cellphones while driving, new figures show. ANd it says Michael Jackson's personal physician declared "I am an innocent man" as he pleaded not guilty to a charge of involuntary manslaughter today, two weeks after he was ordered to stand trial for his role in the pop star's 2009 death.

The Newstalk ZB lead headline says "NZ Police to decide on burnt body case."  The web site says New Zealand Police will decide how to proceed with the investigation into a woman burnt alive after the victim's husband was found in Fiji.  It says Prime Minister John Key will have his turn to make a state of the nation speech today and will focus on the economy at Trust Stadium in West Auckland. And it says the King's Speech and The Social Network are the front runners in this year's Oscar nominees.