Controlling Youth Crime: Victorian Summit May Lead to Results
Crime and youth experts have attended a Victoria Police Summit aimed at addressing issue of youth violence. The Summit was held in response to a spike in property and violent crimes - including car jackings, burglaries and larceny offences –...
If It Smells Like Sh#%, You Must Acquit
How could anyone forget American defence lawyer Johnny Cochran’s legendary line, ‘If it doesn’t fit, you must acquit’? There are all sorts of explanations about why the glove produced as an exhibit during the trial of OJ Simpson didn’t fit -...
Accused ‘Home Invasion Killer’ Released on Bail
Accused ‘burglar killer’ Ben Batterham says he is ‘very relieved’ to be out of custody, after being granted bail by Magistrate Robert Stone in Newcastle Local Court yesterday. Battherham was granted bail on a $200,000 security. He will need to...
Examples of Why Crime Doesn’t Pay
Just for laughs, we’ve rounded up some of the funniest (attempted) offences from around the globe. 1. A low high A trio of thieves breaking into a home discovered three jars of cocaine, and couldn’t believe their luck! They took...
11-Year Old Makes Burglar ‘Cry Like a Baby’
11-year old Chris Gaither was just hanging around at home with his dogs, when he heard a strange noise coming from upstairs. The quick thinking boy grabbed a knife and went to investigate, only to see an armed intruder coming...
Accused Murderer Visits Dreamworld on Bail
Despite breaching her bail, a mentally impaired Melbourne woman accused of murder has had her bail continued, albeit on tougher conditions. Georgia Fields and two men, Jake Fairest and Warwick Toohey, are accused of murdering Robert Wright, who fell to...
Danger: ‘Superpredators’ Are Coming, Again!
As reported in an earlier blog, Victorian Chief Police Commissioner Graham Ashton claims that a rise in that state’s crime is largely attributable to the ‘Grand Theft Auto Generation’ – young criminals who mimic the stylised crimes in violent video...
Protecting Your Home from Intruders
A great deal of media attention has surrounded a recent case, where a Newcastle home-occupier was charged with murder after allegedly confronting and killing an intruder. The case has left many wondering about their rights if someone illegally enters their...
New Zealand’s ‘Three Strikes and You’re Out’ Policy
Since 2010, New Zealand has implemented a ‘three strikes policy’ to crack down on repeat offenders. The laws take power away from the courts when it comes to determining penalties for those convicted of multiple serious offences, and can lead...
Jury Convicts Aboriginal Man on Unreliable CCTV Footage
Imagine being convicted of a crime based on about four seconds of grainy CCTV footage taken at night. This was the reality for Aboriginal man Richard James Slater - who was unfairly convicted of several serious offences on the basis...