Political Prosecutions: Abusing the Justice Process for Political Advantage
The former first minister of Scotland’s devolved parliament was served papers which read, ‘Her Majesty’s advocate v Alexander Elliot Salmond’. It was a prosecution on 14 sexual offences alleged to have occurred whilst Mr Salmond, the former leader of the...
Social Media Influencers Under Investigation for Fraud
Australia’s securities regulator, the Australian Securities and Investment Commission, or ASIC, is investigating more than 100 ‘influential’ social media accounts over reports of misleading and false advertising that has cost those who buy in millions, and could amount to the...
Interpreting Blood Stain Patterns: Science or Speculation?
In the TV-show Dexter, the titular character leads a double life as both a forensic scientist and a serial killer. Dexter’s unique forensic speciality is bloodstain pattern analysis, which is an attempt to help in the reconstruction of violent crimes...
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...
Former Sexual Assault Suspect Sues Media Giants for Defamation
A man whose career and reputation were ruined through heavily-biased media coverage of a claim of sexual assault in Parliament House, Canberra, has commenced defamation proceedings against mainstream media companies and its reporters. Bruce Lehrmann has filed two civil claims...
What is the Definition of Sexual Consent in New South Wales?
The Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Consent Reforms) Act 2021 came into effect on 1 June 2022 (NSW), repealing the definition of sexual consent contained in section 61HE of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) and inserting a new Subdivision 1A into Division...
Peter Hollingworth to Face Secret Hearing for Allegedly Enabling Child Sexual Abuse
Former Governor General Peter Hollingworth is facing an internal tribunal hearing held behind closed doors within the Anglican Church - to determine whether he should be defrocked over his alleged role in covering up child sexual abuse within the church. ...
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...
