Copycat Crimes
The “copycat effect” refers to crimes which are inspired by media coverage of a previous crimes - or movies and TV shows which document fictional offences. Over the years, there have been a number of high-profile “copycat crimes” both in...
Melbourne Mafia Lawyer Murdered
Melbourne’s close-knit legal community is mourning the loss of one of their own today - criminal defence lawyer Joseph “Pino” Acquaro was gunned down outside his Brunswick gelato shop in the early hours of yesterday morning. 54-year-old Mr Acquaro famously...
The Importance of Seeking Legal Advice Early
Being charged with a criminal offence can be a daunting and confronting experience - so it’s natural to try and put things to the back of your mind until you feel ready to deal with them. As criminal lawyers, we...
The Multi-Million Dollar Spelling Mistake
Despite masterminding one of the biggest bank thefts in history, one group of hackers narrowly failed in its recent attempt to scam money due to a humble spelling error. The Bangladesh Central Bank was the chosen target. Hacking and using...
McLibel: Taking On a Fast Food Giant
In 1986, “London Greenpeace”, a small environmental campaign group, begun distributing a pamphlet outside McDonald’s stores around the city. ‘What’s wrong with McDonald’s: Everything they don’t want you to know’ quickly became one of the most popular political pamphlets of...
Disgraced Undercover Cop Now Directing Australian Police
Yesterday, we published a blog about Helen Steel, whose world was turned upside down by a relationship with a man she knew as ‘John Baker’. Mr Baker walked into his first Greenpeace London meeting in 1987. To those in the...
NSW Anti-Protest Laws: Taking Care of Big Business
In 2014, Premier Mike Baird told a mining industry dinner that his government would “crack down” on civil disobedience and “throw the book” at people who “unlawfully enter mining sites”. This week, he appears to have made good on that...
Defendant Appeals Because Lawyer Refused to Make Complainant Cry
A man has attempted to have his conviction overturned because his criminal defence lawyer did not reduce the victim to tears during cross-examination. Francis Kofi Okrah was sentenced to seven years in prison after being found guilty of sexual assault...
Police Turn Woman’s Life Upside Down: An Exclusive Interview with Helen Steel
Helen Steel describes herself as a “gardener, union rep and campaigner for environmental and social justice.” She’s been involved in activist movements across the United Kingdom since the 1980s, and famously fought McDonald’s in what was later described as the...
Got a Parking Fine: Your Robot Lawyer Can Help!
Coming back to your car to find a parking ticket tucked under the windscreen is frustrating, but thanks to a 19-year-old university student from the UK, appealing parking fines may soon be a whole lot easier - and cheaper. Joshua...
