NRL Player Jack de Belin Set to Face Second Trial Over Aggravated Sexual Assault Charges
Poppy Morandin. NRL star Jack de Belin and his co-accused, junior rugby league player Callan Sinclair, will face a re-trial in April 2021, after their original trial resulted in the jury being unable to deliver a unanimous or majority verdict. The jury of seven men and five women deliberated for almost 10 hours, after ...continue reading
Latest BOSCAR statistics and the need for greater focus on rehabilitation: An interview with Deputy Mayor of Dubbo and Barrister Stephen Lawrence
By Poppy Morandin. Recent release of crime statistics detailing a quarterly update for this year, have revealed that crime across most of NSW has remained stable or fallen in the two years to June 2020. A major exception to this finding was within the crime category of sexual assault, which has risen 9.4% over ...continue reading
NSW Teacher Charged With Child Grooming Offences
By Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. A 27-year-old man who formerly worked as a student teacher has been charged with sexually assaulting a 14-year-old female student. The arrest followed an investigation by the Detectives from the Child Abuse and Sex Crimes Squad beginning in June of this year, after the alleged victim reported that ...continue reading
Penalties on Publishing the Identity of Sexual Assault Survivors in NSW: Interview with Sexual Abuse Survivor, Activist and Jewish Community Leader Manny Waks
By Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. Changes to Victoria’s Judicial Proceedings Reports Act have stopped survivors of sexual assault in Victoria from utilising their real names when publicly sharing their stories of abuse. The recent changes, which took effect in February 2020, mean that it is now an offence for victims, as well as ...continue reading
The New Laws on Mental Health in the Criminal Justice System: The Diversionary Pathway
There is an available legislative framework for a NSW court to determine criminal proceedings where the accused or defendant has mental health issues relevant to the case. This legislative framework is echoed in The Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) (‘The Act’). It is a response to the increasing contact with the criminal ...continue reading
Concerns Reignited for Prisoners Amid Further Outbreaks of COVID-19
By Poppy Morandin. There are reportedly 70 inmates in lockdown within Silverwater Correctional Complex after coming into close contact with a staff member who has tested positive for COVID-19. Within their advocacy efforts, The Greens have issued an open letter to Anthony Roberts, Minister for Corrections detailing the “significant concerns…about the lockdown at Silverwater ...continue reading
Law on the Age of Criminal Responsibility in NSW: An Interview with Greens MP David Shoebridge
By Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. Despite a strong campaign to raise the age of criminal responsibility from 10 to 14, the decision has been deferred to 2021, following concerns that further work needs to be done regarding processes and services for children who exhibit offending behaviour. The issue was discussed at the meeting ...continue reading
Jury Trials Return to NSW After a 3-Month Freeze
By Poppy Morandin & Jimmy Singh. With COVID-19 related restrictions easing and business seemingly returning to normal for most of New South Wales, the District Court has begun criminal trials before juries again. The return will be done under strict measures including temperature checks and screening questions for jurors, in order to prevent individuals ...continue reading
How Does COVID-19 Affect Bail Applications in NSW?
By Fouad Awada and Jimmy Singh. On 30 March 2020, the Supreme Court of New South Wales handed down a decision granting conditional bail to Mr Abdul Rakielbakhour who was accused and charged with serious domestic violence charges. Mr Rakielbakhour was arrested and charged with common assault and assault occasioning actual bodily harm, alleged ...continue reading
Man Charged for Sexual Assault Offences After Allegedly Posing as Police Officer
By Sahar Adatia and Jimmy Singh. It is reported that on 27 March 2020, a man allegedly posed as a police officer in Adelaide’s CBD, and under his guise, entered the hotel rooms of two women who were in COVID-19 isolation, where he went on to sexually assault them. According to ABC News, police ...continue reading