“I Hope It’s Overturned”: Former Magistrate Heilpern on Revoking of Drug Driving Mistake Defence
The drug driving regime in this state, as in the rest of the country, has always been controversial, as the testing model used, which ultimately sees people charged and lose their driver licence, doesn’t test for impairment levels, like drink...
Is Being of ‘Good Behaviour’ an Implied Condition of Bail in NSW?
Good behaviour bonds ordered by courts for those who plead guilty to, or are found guilty of, criminal offences in New South Wales will always require that the defendant be of “good behaviour”; in other words, not commit further crimes...
Brian Houston Found Not Guilty of Concealing Child Sexual Abuse
Hillsong Church Founder Brian Houston has been cleared of accusations he concealed child sexual offences committed by his father, Frank Houston, in the 1970s. Brian Houston, who is a long time friend of former Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison, was...
The Law, Penalties and Defences for Making Bestiality Pornography in NSW
A Queensland couple has been charged with engaging in a series of sexual acts involving dogs and capturing it on video. 37-year old Crystal May Hoare and 28-year old Jay Wade Veenstra, 28 are each charged with five counts of...
The Commonwealth Offence of Dishonestly Obtaining a Financial Advantage by Deception
A member of a motorcycle club in Sydney has been charged with a string of Commonwealth criminal offences in relation to a social media scam that has allegedly cost the Australian taxpayers $1.6 billion. According to investigators, the fraud came...
The Criminal Offence of Breaking and Entering in New South Wales
A man is accused of breaking into a property in rural New South Wales and stealing farm equipment. According to police, the 38-year old entered the property near Muswellbrook – a town in the Upper Hunter Region of New South...
Sexual Offences Against Young Persons Under ‘Special Care’ in New South Wales
The story of Chris Dawson, a high school teacher who married one of his former student’s after his wife Lynette’s disappearance in 1982 is a case that has gripped the nation. And justice for Lynette’s family has been a long...
Thin-Skinned, Heavy-Handed Policing: A Worldwide Trend
Seven police officers rushed the home of a 16-year old autistic girl on Monday 7 August 2023 and performed a heavy-handed arrest on the teen for making an “offensive homophobic comment” towards one of the officers, before dragging the girl...
What Happens If a Domestic Violence Complainant Fails to Attend Court?
Criminal defence lawyers are often asked what will happen if the complainant - also known as the alleged victim - in a case involving accusations of domestic violence fails to attend the Local Court on the ‘hearing date’, which is...
Can Sending Excessive Text Messages Amount to a Criminal Offence?
Criminal defence lawyers are often called upon to represent clients in cases where there is animosity between two parties but no accusation of violence, deprivation of liberty or appropriation of property - but where the conduct which forms the basis...
