Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law 2 Comments on Neil Andrew Pentland found not guilty of murder of Philip Carlyle After a lengthy judge-only trial, Pentland was acquitted.
In 1996, Neil Pentland and his wife Dianne set up a company called ATNET Pty Ltd. Pentland was a director and the secretary of the company. The shares were held by him and his wife. The initial operation of the company involved assisting clients to set up email accounts and with basic internet functions. Mr Carlyle was employed by the company as its marketing manager from late 1996. He was not a shareholder but there was an agreement which would have allowed him to buy 30% of the company’s shares for $30,000 at a later time.
Philip Carlyle was murdered on 13 April 1997. He had been lured, or coerced, into a small, sound-proofed plant room in an office building at Robina. He was then shot in the head and neck with four .32 calibre steel jacket bullets. The weapon used to kill Mr Carlyle has never been found.
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Author adminPosted on Categories Industrial relations, Professional discipline 2 Comments on Bangalow lawyer loses appeal against successful sexual harassment suit Former solicitor Owen Hughes, who likened himself to “a sleek kangaroo” and novelist Jane Austen’s noble brooder Mr Darcy in Pride and Prejudice, has lost his appeal against a judgment for sexual harassment he perpetrated against an employee.
This blog had previously reported on the Owen Hughes sexual harassment case brought by a former employee of his law practice.
Junior/trainee solicitor Catherine Mia Hill began working with Owen Hughes’ Bangalow based law firm Beesley and Hughes Lawyers in May 2015. Soon after, Hughes offered to represent her in a mediation for her own family law matter, and she agreed.
A couple of months later, Hughes started his course of sexual harassment by sending Hill emails telling her that he thought she was attractive, and he wanted to be in a relationship with her.
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Author adminPosted on Categories Industrial relations Leave a comment on James Cook University wins appeal against Professor Peter Ridd
In a blow to academic freedom, James Cook University (JCU) has won its appeal against a judgment in favour of a sacked academic who challenged climate science alarmism.
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Author adminPosted on Format VideoCategories Legal profession Leave a comment on BRISBANE LAWYERS
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Author adminPosted on Categories Industrial relations 3 Comments on Employee caught stealing alcohol ‘unfairly dismissed’
The Fair Work Commission (FWC) is known for sometimes making unfair dismissal decisions which arguably are counter-intuitive and/or contrary to community standards and expectations. The following case, in which a Qantas employee was caught stealing and later lied about the stealing, is an excellent example.
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Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law, Human rights 2 Comments on Why you shouldn’t talk to the police
Outside of the legal realm, telling your side of the story at the earliest opportunity may be often a good idea. But in legal matters, things work very differently. In many situations, saying less is better than saying more, and saying nothing at all is better than saying anything.
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Author adminPosted on Categories Legal profession, Professional discipline Leave a comment on When the Solicitor-Barrister relationship turns sour
The distinction between solicitors and barristers is a traditional feature of English legal systems, including Australia’s. The main difference between the two today is that barristers specialise in court advocacy and are normally instructed by solicitors, who deal with clients directly, operate trust accounts and also do non-court work such as writing correspondence, conveyancing, preparing legal documents and handling estates.
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Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law, Liberty 2 Comments on Appeal bail refused for Kleenmaid director despite Covid-19 risks
Former Kleenmaid director Andrew Eric Young was convicted after a trial of two counts of fraud with circumstances of aggravation and 17 counts of insolvent trading. Prior to trial the Mental Health Court held he was fit for trial and the proceedings should continue according to law, and the trial judge refused to put that issue to the jury.
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Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law 2 Comments on Cardinal George Pell interview with Andrew Bolt
Andrew Bolt interviews Cardinal George Pell about his convictions for indecent dealing and subsequent acquittals in a unanimous High Court that resoundingly re-affirmed the presumption of innocence and the criminal standard of proof.
They also talk about the Catholic Church’s historical mishandling of allegations of sexual abuse of children.
Author adminPosted on Categories Criminal law 4 Comments on George Pell convictions quashed on appeal to High Court Today, the High Court has allowed former Cardinal George Pell’s appeal against his convictions.
In December 2018, controversial Catholic Church Cardinal George Pell was convicted by a jury of one count of sexual penetration of a child under the age of 16 and four counts of an indecent act with a child under the age of 16 over allegations of abusing choirboys at Melbourne’s St Patrick’s Cathedral in the 1990s. This followed a previous trial that had resulted in a hung jury.
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