On a recent trip to Singapore – one could not help but tune into the current debate among the legal profession, lawmakers and prosecutors as well has human rights groups on whether the current exemption for men over 50 years of age are to be spared from being caned, for sex offences against children. Caning
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Blogs
The Bruce Lehrmann – Brittany Higgins Trial Is NOT OVER
The collapse of the Lehrmann-Higgins trial is a travesty of justice. Neither party received a just outcome. The outcome is at odds with the Rule of Law. This is a real concern. Rape trials are a common occurrence in Australian courts and further afield. The parties just get on with it and it is very
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Lehrmann Trial Discontinued
The ACT Director of Public Prosecution’s (DPP) decision to discontinue the Bruce Lehrmann-Brittany Higgins trial is an extremely rare decision by a prosecuting authority, especially in alleged rape cases. It was revealed today that the DPP had received expert medical advice that a retrial would pose an unacceptable risk to Brittany Higgins life. She is
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Sexual Offending in Western Australia
The number of reported sexual offences has steadily increased by more than three-fold from 2,286 (2013) to 7,889 (2020). 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2,286 4,845 5,465 5,739 6,052 6,292 6,056 7,889 7,399 Source: https://www.police.wa.gov.au/Crime/CrimeStatistics#/start There is little evidence to explain the rise in complaints to WA Police (WAPOL). Any explanation
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When School Romance Turns Into Sexual Assault
We are receiving an unprecedented number of inquiries from parents of boys and young men aged anywhere between 12 years and 19 years charged with sexual offending against a fellow female students at school. These inquiries come with a myriad of facts such as age of the parties and where, when and what is said
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Aborted Trial – Brittany Higgins Comments
The trial of Bruce Lehrman was aborted this morning after it came to light that a juror had brought into the jury room research material from external sources (see corresponding Blog). This blog puts the comments made by the defence and the comments made by Brittany Higgins outside court into a legal framework. Outside court,
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Lehrman Trial – Jury Discharged Trial Aborted
When a jury retires to consider its verdict they must only rely on evidence presented in court. Judges direct jurors to consider only what the witnesses said in court and documents, exhibits and for example video evidence admitted as evidence in court. Judges go one-step further and direct jurors not undertake their own research, not
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The Queen Is Dead, Long Live the King
The passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II brings great sadness to the World. The Queen’s 70-year reign marks an unwavering, unconditional devotion to serving the people of the Commonwealth. The Queen is sadly missed by lawyers and staff of this practice and our sincere condolences go out to the Royal family. What may not
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Bail Amendments In Child Sex Abuse Cases
If you are an adult accused of sexually abusing a child, a person under the age of 18, and the person is still a child at the time bail is being considered then recent amendments to the Bail Act 1982 compel bail decision makers to consider the safety and well-being of the child before bail
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