The Dangers of Joyriding
The offence of larceny, or theft, requires an element of intention to permanently deprive the owner of the item. So is it still stealing if you were just borrowing the item? ‘Joyriding’ is where a car is taken and driven...
Common Myths about ‘Section 10 Dismissals and Conditional Release Orders’
In NSW, non conviction orders are sometimes seen as a ‘second chance’ for people who are generally law-abiding citizens that ‘slip-up’ by committing relatively minor criminal offences. Getting a section 10 dismissal or conditional release order can help to avoid the potentially career-ending...
Police Blasted over Skye’s Law Tragedy
The issue of how NSW police handle pursuits is back in the spotlight after the Deputy State Coroner strongly criticised the driving of two officers involved in the chase that ended in the death of 19-month-old Sydney toddler Skye Sassine....
Judges Get Creative with Penalties
When it comes to sentencing in NSW, magistrates and judges are fairly limited in what sentences they can hand-down - but this isn’t the case everywhere. Some judges in other countries are known to impose less conventional forms punishments upon...
Government May Increase ICAC’s Power: A Good or Bad Thing?
The NSW Government is moving to quickly deal with the fall-out from the High Court’s decision in ICAC vs Cunneen, pushing urgent legislation through parliament to uphold past findings of the corruption watchdog. The Independent Commission Against Corruption Amendment (Validation)...
Would You Pay Someone to Take on Your Demerit Points?
Social media reaches into almost every aspect of our lives these days, and it has proven to be both useful and dangerous. It offers a great deal of convenience, but at the same time it has the potential to land...
High Court Cuts ICAC down to size
You may remember late last year that Crown Prosecutor Margaret Cunneen faced accusations of perverting the course of justice after her son’s girlfriend had a car accident. The allegations were that Cunneen told Sophia Tilley, the girlfriend, to fake chest...
Can Hotel Managers Be Liable for Serving a Drunk Driver?
It’s common knowledge that drink driving is dangerous - and if you’re convicted of a drink driving offence you could face heavy penalties. But what about bartenders and hotel managers who continue to serve drinks to people who are clearly...
You’re My Lawyer: Can You Downgrade My Charges?
If you are charged with a criminal offence, you will probably want the case to be over with as soon as possible, rather than having it drag out from court-date to court-date until it eventually reaches a defended hearing or...
When False Accusations Lead to Tragedy
When people make accusations against others, they normally think that they are justified. A bit of sketchy information combined with emotions like frustration and anger can all work together to make a hunch seem like solid reality. In trivial circumstances,...
