Courts Are Becoming Sympathetic to the Cause of Medicinal Cannabis
It’s estimated that around 100,000 patients are using cannabis medicines across the country. And even though the federal government legalising medicinal cannabis close to three years ago, most of these patients are forced to access their medicine on the black market. Despite...
Accused Murderer Granted Bail
Former high school teacher Lynette Dawson disappeared in 1982, just two weeks before her daughter was due to commence kindergarten. The mother-of-two was last seen at the Bayview home shared with her husband, Chris Dawson. Mrs Dawson’s body has never...
Police Officer Charged With Hacking After Leaking Address of Victim
The Queensland Police officer who was found to have unlawfully accessed a police database and leaked a domestic violence victim’s details to his friend, the woman’s abusive former partner, has been charged with multiple criminal offences. An internal police investigation...
Government Limits Power of Courts to Impose Alternatives to Imprisonment
Section 5(1) of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (‘the Act’) makes clear that a court “must not sentence an offender to imprisonment unless it is satisfied, having considered all possible alternatives, that no penalty other than imprisonment is appropriate.” This is the statutory...
Another NRL Star Accused of Sexual Assault
Just weeks after NRL star Jarryd Hayne was charged with aggravated sexual assault over an incident on Grand Final night, another NSW State of Origin player has found himself accused of the very same offence. 27-year old St George Dragons...
Pensioner Imprisoned for Ongoing Drug Supply
A pensioner who sold crystal methamphetamine and heroin to his neighbours has been sentenced to a minimum term of three-and-a-half years in prison for drug supply. Mr Elefterios ‘Terry’ Skoumbourdis is an unemployed cancer survivor who set up a drug...
Drug Charge Against Ray Hadley’s Son Dismissed Due to Mental Health
Former police officer Daniel Hadley, the son of ‘tough on crime’ radio shock-jock Ray Hadley, has had a drug charge for cocaine possession dismissed on mental health grounds. Mr Hadley was reported to have been arrested while attempting to purchase cocaine...
Can NSW Police Demand Phone and Computer Passwords?
It has been reported that police in the United States compelled a suspect to unlock his iPhone X using its facial recognition technology, triggering debate about the legality of forcing people to unlock devices using their password or biometric capabilities....
More Music Festival Overdoses, But Still No Pill Testing
Another music festival, another death from a drug overdose – and the festival season is just beginning. 19-year Callum Brosnan from Baulkham Hills is dead and three other young adults are in critical conditions after suspected drug overdoses at the...
Tough New Laws Against Child Sexual Abuse
A range of tough new laws to combat child sexual abuse in NSW came into effect on 1 December, which complete one of the most comprehensive overhauls of the state’s criminal laws in history. The recently enacted laws follow a...
