Sneezing: A Defence Against Driving Charges?
Negligent, reckless and dangerous driving charges often follow collisions where a person is seriously hurt. As discussed in a previous blog, drivers must be acting voluntarily to be found guilty of driving offences. Being asleep, acting under duress (under threat),...
ICAC Acts Illegally with “Breathtaking Arrogance”
2015 hasn’t been a great year for the Independent Commission Against Corruption - after losing a landmark case against prominent criminal lawyer Margaret Cunneen, the body found its powers curtailed. Now, a report by ICAC Commissioner David Levine, QC spells...
Condom Mercy Mission and the Defence of Necessity
Back in 2004, 24-year-old Darwin man Lee Collinson was driving without a licence to his cousin’s home when pulled over by police. His explanation for driving was that he had to make urgent delivery: “My cousin was about to [have...
Muslim Australians Increasingly Victimised
Australia is meant to be a multicultural, accepting and inclusive country, but recent events suggest that a minority of Australians are anything but welcoming of other cultures. In the wake of a series of terrorist attacks perpetrated by violent extremists,...
Stars of Australian Sport on the Wrong Side of the Law
Our sporting stars are admired by millions of Australians, but this does not mean they are out of the law’s long reach. Here we share the stories of five icons of Australian sport who have recently faced criminal charges. 1....
‘WTF’ Cases: Oral Sex with Animals
The Supreme Court of Canada recently heard a disturbing case where it has been called upon to decide whether all sexual acts on animals constitute bestiality. The case concerned a man who coaxed the family dog into performing oral sex...
Police to Pay Costs After Assaulting Man Over Dinosaur
We recently penned a blog about removalist Rickey Caton, who was assaulted and then charged by police after he jokingly showed two officers a toy dinosaur during a roadside stop. But it seems the joke is now on the police...
No Conviction for Driving While Disqualified
Our client is a 27-year-old stay at home mother from Sydney’s inner west. She was 8 months pregnant when she drove to a corner shop to buy chocolate to satisfy her cravings, despite being disqualified from driving. She was pulled...
Making a Complaint against a Magistrate or Judge
Those who are sent to court are entitled to a fair hearing from the magistrate or judge, but unfortunately this does not always happen. Magistrates have a difficult job in our criminal justice system, often hearing large numbers of cases...
Almost Half of Aspiring Barristers Fail Ethics Exam
In the United Kingdom, 43% of those who sat this year’s Bar Professional Training Course exam failed the ethics section. The results are concerning - after all, lawyers are supposed to act ethically in the delivery of legal services and...
