‘Sexsomnia’ and the Legal Defence of Automatism in New South Wales
A Sydney man has been found not guilty of a string of sexual offences against children after raising evidence that he was asleep and suffering from ‘sexsomnia’ during the incidents, and that he was therefore acting involuntarily – a requirement...
The Offence of Sexual Intercourse with a Child Aged Between 10 and 14 Years in NSW
A sitting member of New South Wales parliament has resigned from the Liberal Party after being charged with multiple child sexual offences. Pittwater MP Roderick “Rory” Gilmore Amon was charged on Friday, 30 August 2023 with 10 sexual offences, comprising...
NSW District Court Judge and Director of Public Prosecution at Loggerheads
New South Wales District Court Judge Penelope Wass has lodged a complaint to the Office of the Legal Services Commissioner against the state’s Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) Sally Dowling, citing a series of grievances that have strained their professional...
Judge’s Complaint Against DPP Highlights the Injustice of Prosecuting Meritless Sexual Assault Claims
New South Wales District Court Judge Penelope Wass has made a formal complaint to the Legal Services Commissioner against the state’s chief prosecuting lawyer, Director of Public Prosecutions, Sally Dowling SC, after Ms Dowling allegedly raised ‘secret grievances’ about Judge...
DPP Discontinues Sexual Assault Proceedings Against Jarryd Hayne
Former rugby league star Jarryd Hayne’s six-year legal battle has officially ended, with the sexual assault proceedings against him being formally discontinued. The New South Wales Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) has determined that …’having carefully considered...
What Factors Are Considered When Determining Whether to Pursue a Retrial in NSW?
Former NRL star Jaryd Hayne walked from prison a free man last week, after having his convictions for sexual assault offences quashed on appeal. His fight for his freedom and reputation has been drawn out and complex, and the Office...
The Proposed Federal Offence of Sharing Deepfake Adult Porn in Australia
Federal attorney general Mark Dreyfus has introduced legislation that proposes new criminal offences to prevent the sharing of nonconsensual sexually explicit material online, including deepfakes, and making these offences consistent across the nation. Indeed, it’s the images created by artificial...
Jarryd Hayne’s Successful Appeal: The Reasons for the Result
Former NRL star Jarryd Hayne was released from custody this week after the highest criminal court in the state, the New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal (NSWCCA) quashed his conviction for sexual assault after finding a miscarriage of justice...
Australian Governments Promise to Crackdown on Domestic Violence Offences
Welcome, Anthony Albanese, to the ‘national crisis’ of domestic violence offences predominantly - but certainly not always - committed by men against women. In response to thousands of women, men and children rallying over the weekend against the epidemic of...
Law, Penalties and Defences for Assaulting Frontline Emergency and Health Workers in NSW
New South Wales Police have charged a 31- year old man over allegations he sexually touched and threatened a female paramedic who was trying to help him. Police allege the incident occurred inside an ambulance on 30 March 2024, while...
