When Small Matters Turn Into Large Legal Problems
Two recent incidents have cast a spotlight on how small matters can quickly turn into monumental legal issues. A Queensland man caused a hijacking scare on a flight to Bali on Friday after mistaking the cockpit for the toilet, while...
How much do you trust your lawyer?
It may sound incredible but a US man, Jonathan Fleming was only just freed after serving 25 years in jail for a murder he didn’t commit. Fleming was in Florida at the time the murder was committed in New York,...
The Reliability of Confessions in the Daniel Morcombe Case
The highly publicised trial of child sex offender Brett Peter Cowan for the murder of 13-year-old Daniel Morcombe has cast a spotlight on a number of different legal issues, including the reliability of confessions. Cowan was earlier this month convicted...
What Does the Law Say About Extreme Provocation?
Murder is considered to be the most serious criminal offence and comes with a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, which in NSW means that those who are found guilty can spend the rest of their lives in prison. There are...
Should We Bring Back the Death Penalty?
The death penalty is a controversial issue the world over. Globally, human rights organisations campaign to put an end to execution as a form of punishment, while some countries maintain that the death penalty is necessary, and has a valid...
What the Law Says About “King Hit” Attacks
Our video and blog post below discusses what the law says about ‘king hit’ attacks. Alcohol-related violence has been in the media spotlight recently, particularly the growing number of king hit incidents - which some have called “coward punches” –...
How long a Sentence is Life?
It can be extremely distressing when you find out a loved one has been given a sentence of life imprisonment. Life sentences can be given to someone who is guilty of a very serious crime, such as Murder; Aggravated Sexual...
What Types of Cases Appear at Parramatta District Court?
The NSW court system is divided into three different levels of court. The local court deals with less serious matters. Local court hearings are presided over by a magistrate rather than a judge and jury. The district court is where...
What is Provocation in Criminal Law?
Provocation is a valid partial defence to a murder charge, and can result in a reduction of the charges from murder to manslaughter. If you are facing a charge of murder, you could of course serve a long-term jail sentence...
