Bruce Lehrmann’s defamation claim against Channel 10 and Lisa Wilkinson is now finalised. In the Federal Court Justice, Michael Lee found that Bruce Lehrmann had in fact raped Brittany Higgins in Parliament House in the early hours of March 23, 2019. His Honour found that Channel 10 and Lisa Wilkinson had not defamed Bruch Lehrmann
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Criminal Cases
The #MeToo Movement – Watering Down Prosecution Due Diligence
An article published in The Australian Newspaper, Saturday 17 June 20223: Judges slam ‘Me Too’ trials mirrors exactly what I have blogged here since 2019. The article takes a slightly different angle in which NSW District Court judge Paul Conlon comments: ….cases of alleged sexual assault are: ….being pursued with no reasonable prospect of conviction…
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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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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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Johnny Depp Wins & Amber Heard Loses
The jury in the Depp-Heard defamation trial unanimously ruled in favour of Johnny Depp finding that the editorial written and published by Amber Heard in the Washington Post in 2018 defamed her former husband. What Heard wrote centred on domestic abuse and the jury had to decide on whether during their 15-month marriage Depp was
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School Leavers Mandated Covid-19 Vaccinations
Some 10,000 WA school leavers will soon be venturing out to take part in end-of-year schoolie celebrations. The most popular spots are Dunsborough and Rottnest Island. Students have been warned that Covid-19 vaccination certificates are mandatory. Those attending organised events in Dunsborough for example must provide proof of vaccination through an app. Fraudulently Obtained Vaccination
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My Name is Cleo
The finding of little Cleo Smith is a magnificent outcome giving relief to her parents and all concerned including the public across Australia and around the World. Western Australia Police detectives found Cleo after 18 days since she had gone missing from a campsite at the blowholes just outside of Carnarvon. Detectives and lawyers all
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Bill Cosby’s Conviction Overturned
Bill Cosby’s 2018 conviction for the sexual assault of Andrea Constand in 2004 was overturned yesterday by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. The 2018 conviction was heralded as the first high profile man in Hollywood to fall to the #MeToo Movement and set the scene for a floodgate of allegations. Why the Cosby Conviction Was Overturned?
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Swimming Australia Abuse And Sexual Misconduct Complaints
The complaints levelled at Swimming Australia (SA) concerning physical and psychological abuse and sexual misconduct are concerning. Elite swimmer Madeline Groves has complained about social media about her treatment at training. In doing so, Ms Groves has given life to the #MeToo Movement to swim coaching across Australia. The extent and nature of the problem
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