General Law News

Steve Austin – 612 ABC Radio

Guns on the Gold Coast

Bill Potts

Gun licences on the Gold Coast have risen by 36 per cent over the past two years, nearly double the figure for the rest of the state.

There’s also been a growing increase in the number of gun related incidents.

Some say fear of growing home invasions is driving the rise in ownership while others point to an increase in criminal gangs. So what is it? Bill Potts is a criminal lawyer based on the Gold Coast.

Mayor commands email interception probe

Bill Potts speaks to Channel 9 about the decision by the Department of Environment and Resource Management (DERM) to execute a search warrant on a residence in Southport. The Gold Coast bat population needs to be addressed by DERM.

A man charged with identity fraud was represented by Potts Lawyers in a bail hearing.

A man charged with identity fraud was represented by Potts Lawyers in a bail hearing.

Gold Coast residents living in fear

VIOLENCE: The crime scene at the third in a spate of recent Gold Coast shootings which the Queensland deputy premier has said is linked to organised crime. Picture: Mike Batterham Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

Shooting accused argues self-defence

A GILSTON father-of-three charged with shooting dead a man outside his house has been granted bail after arguing he acted in self-defence during a violent home invasion.

Lawyer Bill Potts said Kane Ronald Cook was the true victim and had wrestled a 9mm Luger from a balaclava-clad robber before shooting him in the leg.

Gold Coast’s best cop fined for drink-driving

A police officer named the Gold Coast’s best has been fined for drink-driving.

But the officer dodged a conviction that could have resulted in him being kicked out of the force.

Teen thief hospitalised, victim investigated for assault

Teenager allegedly bashed by victim

A teenager winds up in intensive care after allegedly being chased and bashed after trying to break into the garage of a Nerang home.

Mark Williams represents a client charged with drug-driving whose charge is ultimately dismissed

OVERDOSE: Police officer Lynette Jones escaped a drug-driving charge after her lawyers successfully argued she didn’t know what she was doing because she had taken the controversial sleeping drug Stilnox. Picture: Kate Czerny Source: Gold Coast Bulletin

A SUSPENDED Gold Coast policewoman has beaten a drug-driving charge after her lawyers successfully argued she was “sleep-driving” and did not even know she was at the wheel.

Mandatory sentencing “over-reaction”

THE Queensland Police Union has made its position clear – if you assault a cop you should go straight to jail, but a leading Gold Coast defence lawyer believes calls for mandatory sentencing are a “massive over-reaction.”

No jail time over senseless death

ONE of the witnesses said it himself — put testosterone, alcohol and the early hours of the morning together and nothing good was ever going to come of it.

A jury yesterday acquitted Elanora graphic designer Mark Leslie Fitzgerald of manslaughter, but it came after years of “hell” for all involved with a group of young, drunk men who got into a fight outside the Big Chief burger shop at Coolangatta on Father’s Day, 2009.