Should Having Kids be a ‘Get out of Jail Free’ Card?
Should those who commit crimes be allowed to avoid prison if they have kids? Should family responsibilities even come into the equation when it comes to sentencing? One UK man certainly thought so, and argued this before the Court of...
Police Shooting Victim is Stripped of Compensation
His story might sound like something out of a nightmare, but for Justin McMaster, it’s a harsh reality. In the early hours of September 26, 2011, the then-19-year-old was sleeping with his family at home in Colyton in Sydney’s west,...
Police Power to Pick Who to Prosecute
We recently wrote a blog about NSW Premier Mike Baird, who was caught doing an illegal U-turn and not wearing a seat belt during a double demerits long weekend. The highway patrol officer who pulled Baird over decided to let...
NRL’s Fifita Brothers in Hot Water
Footy players are increasingly in the media for their behaviour off-the-field, and not just their contributions to schools and the community. Cronulla players Andrew and David Fifita are under investigation after a weekend game where it is alleged that they...
Overturning a Jury Verdict: The Case of M v The Queen
For centuries, juries have played an important role in criminal trials, scrutinising all the evidence that is presented by both sides before attempting to reach a unanimous verdict. But is a jury’s verdict always the end of the matter -...
Ten Celebrity Arrests
They might live a life of glitz and glamour, but A-list stars have a knack of finding themselves on the wrong side of the law. The mega trials of Michael Jackson, OJ Simpson and the ‘Blade Runner’ are known to...
Should Individual Police Officers Have to Pay for Breaking the Law?
George Wilson was an ordinary teenager walking home from a nightclub in Liverpool in the UK one winter night, when he happened to notice a homeless man on the street nearby. He approached and handed the man a £1 coin....
Naturopath Faces Charges for Prescribing Alternative Remedies
2015 has been a tough year for those who profess to support alternative medical treatments. April saw Belle Gibson’s empire crumble after it was revealed that she faked brain cancer in a bid to extort millions from members of the...
Pets of Domestic Violence to Receive Funding
The issue of domestic violence has been making headlines of late, with many calling for increased funding for women’s shelters and community support services. But in the midst of all the media attention, we often forget about what happens to...
Parents Behaving Badly: the ‘Ugly Parent Syndrome’
The term ‘Ugly Parent Syndrome’ is used to describe parents who are verbally and/or physically abusive while supervising children. It is most often witnessed at children’s sports events. Parents yelling at their kids, swearing at referees, and abusing other participants...
