The Evolving Legal Status of Aboriginals in Australia
High Court Justices Deane and Gaudron famously acknowledged how the law allowed extreme prejudice suffered by Indigenous Australians in Mabo v Queensland: “The official endorsement, by administrative practice and in judgment of the courts, of those two propositions [of terra...
‘Making a Murderer’: Is Steven Avery Innocent or Guilty?
Over the Christmas and New Year break, many of us spent precious time with loved ones, eating, drinking, and being merry. Others were glued to their TV screens, binge-watching the Netflix true crime series, Making a Murderer, which was released...
5 Crazy Crimes Committed by Lovers
We’ve all heard horror stories of jilted ex-lovers who seek revenge - some even go so far as to take the law into their own hands. Here we discuss five crazy crimes committed by current and former partners. 1. Woman...
Legal Aid May Fund Adrian Bayley’s Appeal
If you’ve been following the news, you may be aware of the uproar surrounding convicted killer Adrian Bayley’s proposed appeal against his convictions. In 2013, 44-year-old Bayley pleaded guilty to sexually assaulting and murdering ABC employee Jill Meagher, who made...
Man charged with murder after shooting dead body
Trying to kill an already dead person may sound impossible - but one Victorian man, 39-year-old Daniel Darrington, found out that murder charges can result from shooting a corpse. In March 2014, Mr Darrington and 31-year-old Rocky Matskassy were fighting...
Crazy legal defences that actually worked
There is never a dull moment in the practice of criminal law - and the situations that people find themselves in never cease to amaze. Read on to find out about some of the more unusual defences used successfully in...
Neuroscience Determining Criminal Case Outcomes
To establish liability for most criminal offences, the prosecution will need to prove that the defendant had a particular state of mind. This may involve proof of an ‘intention’ to commit the offence, or even just ‘recklessness’. A person will...
Mental Health Experts to Accompany Police to Call-Outs
The criminal justice system struggles to effectively deal with the thousands suffering from mental health conditions that come before the courts each year. Around 50% of those in custody are diagnosed with a mental health condition, and around a quarter...
Bushrangers: Aussie Legends or Vile Criminals?
Bushrangers, once a terrifying part of the Australian landscape, now only occupy pages of in history books. Yet some of these early Australian criminals were fascinating people in their own right. Early bushrangers were called ‘bolters’ because they were escaped...
Police Officer Charged with Murder After Shooting Teenager Dead
Dashcams can prove to be very handy in the event that your car is involved in a crash. But many interesting, funny, or even tragic events have also been unintentionally captured by these increasingly-popular devices. Dashcam footage has recently emerged...
