Bail Laws and the Presumption of Innocence in New South Wales
New South Wales Police Minister David Elliott is pressing for a review of bail laws after coming on board with radio ‘shock jock’ Ray Hadley to slam the grant of bail to a man accused of sexual assault. The 35-year...
District Court ‘Severity Appeals’ in NSW: Appeals from the Local to the District Court
29-year old Victorian man Anthony Khallouf was arrested in Sydney just days before the planned protest in the CBD on Saturday, 24 August 2021, after travelling down from Queensland. Days before the planned gathering, Mr Khallouf uploaded a social media...
Calls to Release ‘Low Risk’ Inmates, as COVID Spreads in NSW Prisons
The New South Wales Government has locked down prisons across the state, as the COVID-19 outbreak at the Parklea Correctional Centre hits more than 70 cases. Parklea is a large prison facility in North-West Sydney where inmates often spend their...
NSW Prisons Lockdown as Avoidable COVID Crisis Unfolds
The warnings about the threat COVID-19 poses to prison settings have been sustained over the last 18 months. And despite the current Delta variant having a heightened ability to spread and harm, NSW authorities have all but ignored correctional facilities...
The New Mental Health Regime in the NSW Criminal Courts
The Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 (NSW) (the New Act) came into effect on the 27 March 2021. Passed last June, the New Act replaces the Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) (the Old Act)...
How to Write a Character Reference for Court
When someone close to you is pleading guilty to a criminal or traffic charge, the magistrate is permitted to take into account his or her character. In fact, evidence of good character - as well as any steps taken to...
What’s the difference between a ‘surety’ and ‘security’ in a NSW Bail Application?
The mainstream media often uses the term ‘surety’ to denote money or other valuable property provided to guarantee a person’s bail.
Will My Case be Dismissed if the Alleged Victim Fails to Attend Court?
A question criminal defence lawyers are often asked is, will my criminal charges be thrown out of court if the complainant (also known as the ‘alleged victim’) fails to turn up to the defended hearing? Answering this question can raise...
Lawyers for Bail Applications at Parramatta Bail Court
Bail is a promise to attend court on the next court date. It can be unconditional, or come with conditions such as reporting to a police station on specific days, not associating with certain persons or attending certain places, and...
What Happens if a Jury Cannot Reach a Unanimous Verdict in NSW?
A jury of 11 will recommence deliberations in Downing Centre District Court today, after returning not guilty verdicts for five out of 26 criminal charges during deliberations after the trial of former Sydney swimming coach Kyle Daniels. Mr Daniels pleaded...
