Articles
Author: Callan Lloyd
Defences to criminal charges
When charged with a criminal offence, it is the accused’s right to defend the charges in court. There are a number of defences available for criminal charges. This article briefly considers some of the more common defences which may be available in criminal matters in Queensland.
Read more
A guide to Commonwealth criminal charges
If you are charged with a Commonwealth offence, it will usually be very complex and expert legal advice is crucial.
Read more
What is the Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court?
The Queensland Drug and Alcohol Court is an established specialist court in Brisbane that focuses on assisting defendants with severe substance dependencies or addictions.
Read more
Drug diversion programs Queensland
This article addresses some of the alternative avenues for people charged with drug offences, including police drug diversion, court-ordered drug diversion and Drug and Alcohol Assessment Referral (DAAR) courses.
Read more
What is a committal hearing?
A committal hearing is a preliminary hearing held in the Magistrates Court to determine whether there is sufficient evidence for an accused person to stand trial in a higher court.
Read more
Criminal trials before a jury or judge alone
There are numerous factors that weigh into the issue of whether a criminal prosecution will have a trial by jury or by judge alone. In Queensland, trials in the District and Supreme Courts are generally held in front of a jury and judge, while trials in the Magistrates Court are determined, by the presiding Magistrate alone.
Read more
Character witnesses – providing character evidence at trial
When a person charged with a criminal offence seeks to rely upon character evidence, it usually falls into one of two categories. In this article, we look at the form of evidence that someone charged with an offence may rely upon at trial in the defence of the allegations.
Read more
How do I appeal my Magistrates Court conviction?
A person convicted of a criminal offence in the Queensland Magistrates Court has a right to appeal the court decision. There is no requirement to seek 'leave' or 'permission'.
Read more
What is unlawful striking causing death?
Unlawful striking causing death is a criminal offence that was introduced to Queensland’s Criminal Code in 2014. It is aimed at criminalising ‘coward punches’, particularly where such violence is alcohol fuelled. The offence also gets referred to as the ‘one punch law’.
Read more