SA teachers to strike today

Half-day strike in SA schools over pay.

Some South Australian public schools will be closed this morning as teachers rally for a pay increase from the State Government.

Teachers unanimously knocked back the Government's pay offer of a 12.5 per cent rise over three years, and are still demanding 21 per cent.

More than 400 schools and preschools will close until a 12.15pm, while nearly 360 will operate as normal.

Anne Crawford from the Education Union says teachers are insulted by the Government's offer.

"The wage rise they have offered is fundamentally less than the cost of living, less than the CPI and the Government has completely forgotten about school leaders, preschool directors, TAFE employees and non-teaching staff," she said.

The Union's state president, Correna Haythorpe, says teachers voted unanimously to strike for a bigger rise.

"We know that over 80 per cent of our members have voted in favour for the stop-work action and parents are advised to make contact with their local schools," she said.

Jan Andrews from the Education Department says parents should already know if their children will be affected by today's strike.

She says year 12 students will not be disadvantaged.

"Schools are prioritising the needs of those students and I'm told that the AEU has had some regard to that as well," she said.

"But the programs in schools that have been affected have been tailored around the year 12s so that their work won't be interrupted even if those children are working at home."

Man fled police, fell over cliff: coroner

A coroner has found that a Malaysian man who overstayed his visa drowned in the Murray after evading police.

South Australian coroner Mark Johns has given his findings on the death of Wah Aun Chan, whose body was found in the river near Waikerie, in September 2006.

Chan had been pulled over for a breath test on the Sturt Highway, where police discovered he was staying in Australia illegally.

He resisted arrest then ran off toward the river.

Mr Johns found that Chan fell from a cliff and most likely hit rocks before he landed in the water.

He said spinal injuries would have made it hard for the man to swim to safety.

No jail for doctor who raped patient

The District Court in Adelaide heard that in 1989, when Tori Barnes was 16, she was on a houseboat holiday at Renmark in the South Australian Riverland with family and friends.

A friend of her parents, who was also the family's GP, woke her and raped her twice.

It was not until 2001 that Ms Barnes reported it to police.

A jury found the doctor, now 58, guilty.

Judge Peter Herriman today said he was hesitant about suspending a two-year jail sentence.

He told the doctor his conduct was exploitative and disgraceful and there had been no sign of remorse.

Outside the court, Ms Barnes said she was disappointed at the suspension of the jail term but pleased that the six-year court process was over.

The name of the doctor has been supressed.