What Is Voluntary Manslaughter?
In 2010, a street-based sex worker named Patricia Mary Butler was solicited by a client named Brendan Potter on the corner of Bourke and William street. After performing sexual acts on Mr Potter in Rushcutters Bay Park, both parties went...
The Duty of Care Owed by Corrections Officers Towards Prisoner Inmates
The preventable death of Indigenous woman Veronica Nelson at the Dame Phyllis Frost Detention Centre in Victoria, has understandably provoked concerns by prisoners (and their loved ones) over their safety whilst in custody. The law recognises that prison officers owe...
Tips For Testifying in Court as a Witness
Receiving a subpoena to attend court as a witness can be nerve-wracking, particularly if all you know about giving evidence - also known as ‘testifying’ – is from courtroom dramas where a lawyer eviscerates a hapless person on the stand...
Is BDSM a Criminal Offence in New South Wales?
New South Wales man James-Robert Davis is facing several fresh criminal charges after having already spent 21 months behind bars on remand over what has been described as an “obedient BDSM relationship” with numerous women. The alleged leader of ‘House...
Taking The Piss: Is Urinating in a Public Place a Crime in New South Wales?
At around 9.20pm on Saturday 16 July 2022, a 31-year old man allegedly climbed to the rooftop of a packed Sydney Cricket Ground during a Wallabies test match and appeared to relieve himself . Shortly thereafter, police arrested the man...
DNA Evidence is Not as Reliable as Many Believe it to Be
TV-shows like CSI and Bones, have seared in the public consciousness the image of the faultless crime fighting forensic scientist and infallibility of DNA evidence. But the reality is that DNA evidence is not what many believe it to be...
What is A Voir Dire?
A lot of legal jargon is outdated, confusing, unnecessary and even counter-productive to ensuring the law is comprehensible to all people - whether represented by a lawyer or self-represented - and that access to justice is fair, regardless of whether...
The Offence of Inciting a Person to Sexually Touch Another Without Consent
High-profile rugby union player Kurtley Beale is facing several charges relating to sexual offences arising from an incident that allegedly occurred in Sydney’s eastern suburbs late last year. Although details of the alleged offence are sparse, it has been reported that...
The Offence of Involuntary Manslaughter Under New South Wales Law
Hollywood movie star Alec Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of the upcoming movie Rust. Hutchins was killed when Baldwin fired a pistol during rehearsals believing the weapon to...
Is It a Crime to Have Sexual Intercourse in a Public Place?
The atmosphere is heating up in Sydney, as our nation’s most populated city gets ready for World Pride 2023, an internationally recognised event celebrating the LGBTQ community which will run from 17 February until 5 March. The event will showcase...
