Poppy Morandin and Jimmy Singh. A Cambodian woman who was kidnapped as a child and forced into sex slavery has launched an Australian first challenge by requesting that a South Australian court should order financial compensation whilst sentencing her abuser. The unprecedented request has national significance due to how, if successful, the challenge may ...continue reading
34-year-old Melbourne Chef Graeme Walter has sexually penetrated a 16-year-old girl before giving her his clothes to wash away in order to keep the incident discreet from his wife. In June 2019, Graeme at the time was working as a chef at the Mornington Peninsula restaurant when on one night after having some drinks ...continue reading
Concerns have been raised following the recent charge of a 29-year-old police officer last Tuesday. It is alleged that the male senior constable had sexual intercourse with a teenage girl aged less than 16, more than 14. The officer who was arrested last Tuesday has been suspended without pay, and is now facing charges ...continue reading
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
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
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
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
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
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
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