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Two Strikes & You’re In

THE State Government has pushed through controversial mandatory sentencing laws for repeat child sex offenders despite warnings the new laws could risk child murders. The government also was warned there would likely be long delays in court processes if people had little incentive to plead guilty, with a consequential impact on child victims and their families. Explanatory notes issued with the Criminal Law (Two Strike Child Sex Offenders) Amendment Bill 2012 – which was rushed through parliament on Tuesday night – acknowledge opposition to the law change. “Disturbingly, two stakeholders, the Queensland Police Service and the Bar Association of Queensland, warned of the...

Parliament Should Put Brakes on Cop Chase Law

Parliament is being urged to reject a new law with tough mandatory penalties for drivers failing to stop for police, with criminal defence lawyer Cameron Browne saying the penalties are worse than for some drink-driving offences. The proposed new law would carry a mandatory $5000 fine and two year licence suspension for anyone convicted of failing to stop a vehicle when ordered to do so by police. Mr Browne, a Director of Potts Lawyers, Queensland’s biggest private criminal defence law firm, said the Criminal Law Amendment Bill 2012 currently before the Queensland Parliament, had major flaws in it and was not needed...

Sentencing Should Stay With Courts

PREMIER Campbell Newman should confirm the Government’s axing of its Sentencing Advisory Council means that mandatory sentencing – proposed by the former government – has finally been abandoned.

There is disquiet about mandatory sentencing. The previous government set up the sentencing council to find a way to introduce it. The council instead came out against a policy which took the decision-making process from the courts.

Sentencing Should Stay With Courts

PREMIER Campbell Newman should confirm the Government’s axing of its Sentencing Advisory Council means that mandatory sentencing – proposed by the former government – has finally been abandoned.

There is disquiet about mandatory sentencing. The previous government set up the sentencing council to find a way to introduce it. The council instead came out against a policy which took the decision-making process from the courts.

Murder Charge Over High-Rise Fall

POLICE will allege Tumara Cousins’ fatal high-rise fall earlier this month came after a soured drug deal for $21,000 of methamphetamines.

New information of his terrible death came to light today as police brought charges of murder, robbery charges and drug possession against Christopher Cairns before the Southport Magistrates Court.

Police Step Up Search for Mother of 3 Allison Baden-Clay, Missing in Brookfield

MAJOR CONCERN: Police have set up a command centre at Brookfield Showgrounds as SES volunteers mount a search for Allison Baden-Clay (pictured with husband Gerard). Source: The Sunday Mail (Qld)

Lawyers Backed in Battle to End War on Drugs

Criminal lawyers who have long been calling for an end to the criminalisation of drugs have been backed by a group of eminent Australians.

The Australia21 group, which includes Foreign Affairs Minister Bob Carr and former NSW Director of Public Prosecutions Nicholas Cowdery QC, released a report titled The Prohibition of Illicit Drugs is Killing and Criminalising our Children and We Are Letting It Happen on 3 April, calling for an end to the 40-year war on drugs.

Man in Court over McDonalds Video

A Gold Coast McDonalds manager charged with secretly filming young employees getting dressed in a change-room will be sentenced in May.

Police allege Leigh Shannon Dauncey, 21, blu-tacked a video recording device on a change room shelf at the southern Gold Coast restaurant in February this year.

Road Rage Leaves Family in Fear

A FAMILY of five feared for their lives as a driver tormented them on a major highway in a wild road rage incident.

Bryan Clerk David, 27, believed a father driving another car had cut him off, so he performed a dangerous maneuvre as two lanes moved on to the Centenary Hwy.

Whistle-blowers in Fear of Witch-hunts

A culture of fear among police whistle-blowers has emerged as Queensland’s top cop vowed to hunt the source of an alleged police bashing video.

Police Commissioner Bob Atkinson has pledged a “full, thorough and exhaustive” investigation into the alleged bashing of 21-year-old chef Noa Begic in the bowels of the Surfers Paradise police station. Mr Begic had his hands cuffed behind his back when officers were seen kneeing and punching him.