Criminal Law, Murder - Jan 8, 2012 23:54 - 0 Comments

Serious Errors in Sex Killers Release

The Police and Corrective Services have admitted that their systems need to an overhaul after several opportunities were missed to re-arrest a man who had escaped from a mental health facility. In 2006 Trent Jennings was found not guilty by reason of mental illness of the murder of a man in 2003. Since that time he has been incarcerated at […]

Criminal Law, Sentencing - Dec 12, 2011 22:11 - 0 Comments

Sentencing in Victoria

In July the Victorian government announced it would be running a survey through the tabloid newspaper, The Herald Sun. The stated purpose of the survey was to allow the public to provide feedback and air their views about sentencing in Victoria. It provided a number of hypothetical circumstances and then asked the survey respondent to indicate what sentence they felt […]

Criminal Law, Manslaughter - Dec 7, 2011 2:38 - 0 Comments

Dramatic events surrounding the release of Jeffrey Gilham

The media has been fascinated in recent days by the dramatic events surrounding the release of Jeffrey Gilham. In 1993, Jeffrey Gilham’s parents and brother were killed. Mr Gilham’s story has consistently been that his brother killed his parents. When Jeffrey arrived home and found his brother standing over the bodies of his parents, Mr Gilham claims he flew into […]

Criminal Law, Drink Driving - Nov 23, 2011 1:43 - 0 Comments

Victorian government moving to close a drink driving “loop hole”

The Herald Sun reported yesterday that the Victorian government was moving to close a drink driving “loop hole” in relation to drinking while driving. Whilst every state has laws forbidding persons driving with a blood alcohol level over a certain point, it appears that only some states have laws against drinking while driving. In NSW, Regulation 298-1 of the Road […]

Criminal Law, Euthanasia - Nov 18, 2011 2:14 - 0 Comments

Dying with Dignity – legalising voluntary euthanasia

On 15 November 2011 there was a Dying with Dignity forum held at NSW Parliament. The forum was hosted by NSW Greens MP Cate Faehrmann in preparation for her introducing a Bill to Parliament in the second half of this year to legalise voluntary euthanasia. Voluntary euthanasia refers to a Doctor or other person assisting a person in ending their […]