Should Evidence Gained from “Mr Big” Operations Be Inadmissible?
Police have a number of different ways they gather evidence against suspects. While some are straightforward, others involve a more complex process that can potentially affect the reliability of the evidence obtained. Convictions that rely on a confession by the...
How can you represent someone like that?
“How can you represent someone like that?” It’s the question many criminal lawyers dread. As a defence lawyer who deals with people charged with serious crimes, it’s the question that pops up most often. I recently represented a client who...
Euthanasia – Will it Finally be Made Legal in Australia?
Recent events have led to a vast amount of media attention being placed on issues surrounding euthanasia and the law in Australia. Although the euthanasia debate has been ongoing for a number of years, it has recently been reignited due...
When can Police Suspend my Licence on the Spot?
Sometimes police can suspend your driver’s licence on the spot if they allege you have committed a serious traffic offence. They can do this immediately after you have been pulled-over, or within 48 hours afterwards. Driving licence suspension notices take...
Do Men Commit More Crimes than Women?
Men have always had a reputation for being more inclined to criminal behaviour than women, especially when it comes to committing violent offences such as assault or murder. The statistics would appear to support this, with only one fifth of...
How Accountable Should Police Be In Domestic Violence Cases?
In Western Australia, the family of a victim of domestic violence is suing the state government and the police service for failing to act or investigate breaches of domestic violence orders which took place. This failure in the duty of...
Unacceptable Risk in Bail Laws: What Does it Mean?
Under the new NSW Bail Act, it is up to the bail authority to determine whether a defendant poses an unacceptable risk to the community if they are released on bail pending their court date. A bail authority can be...
Sale of E-Cigarettes Declared Illegal in WA
Western Australia is the first state in the country to ban the sale of e-cigarettes, even though it is still legal to sell and purchase ordinary tobacco products. In a recent landmark ruling, Perth e-cigarette seller Vince Van Heerden was...
Catfishing: A Disturbing Type Of Recent Fraud In NSW
‘Catfish’, not only the name of a rather unattractive type of fish, is also a term increasingly being used to describe a person who pretends to be someone else online, often in the context of romantic relationships. Catfish, in the...
David Eastman Conviction May Be Quashed Due to Miscarriage of Justice
Convicted murderer David Eastman may be pardoned and set free after a commission set up to review his case revealed a significant miscarriage of justice. Eastman was convicted in 1995 of shooting assistant police commissioner Colin Winchester and has already...
