By Paul Gregoire and Ugur Nedim Czaba “Chubby” Magyari ran a well-organised drug syndicate selling large quantities of heroin and cocaine. The Hungarian national lived in a Drummoyne unit and had a premises in Bexley North he ran as a drug safe house. His groups was comprised of seven members – his ex-girlfriend Lilla Toemoeskoezy, who… Read more »
NSW Courts Articles
Competence and Compellability of Witnesses
It is integral to our justice system that parties be able to require the attendance of witnesses at court to answer questions. A party, such as the defence or prosecution, will normally require the attendance of a witness by issuing them with a subpoena to ‘give evidence’ (ie testify). Failure to attend can result in… Read more »
High Court Rules on Whether Child is Guilty of Sexual Assault
By Paul Gregoire and Ugur Nedim Doli incapax refers to the presumption that a child under the age of 14 is incapable of a crime under legislation or common law. This is presumed because a young child has not yet developed the intellectual or moral capacity to appreciate the difference between right or wrong. This… Read more »
Eddie Obeid: from mansion to prison cell
By Ugur Nedim and Sonia Hickey Eddie Obeid looked solemn and downcast as he learned his fate in the NSW Supreme Court in Sydney. The 73- year old former Labor Party kingpin has spent his first night behind bars at Silverwater Metropolitan Remand and Reception Centre, but is likely to eventually be transferred to Long… Read more »
Brothers for Life Gang Leaders on Trial for Murder
By Blake O’Connor and Ugur Nedim Blacktown Brothers for Life gang leader, Farhad Qaumi, and his second in charge, Mumtaz Qaumi, are currently on trial in the NSW Supreme Court over the murder of construction industry figure Joseph Antoun, who was executed by a third party outside his Strathfield home on 16 December 2013. The… Read more »
Family Court Decides on Whether Abusive Father Can Visit Child
By Zeb Holmes and Ugur Nedim The Family Court of Australia examined the distinction between lawful physical discipline of a child and unlawful abuse in a recent child custody dispute. The case involved a father who beat his two eldest children with a cricket bat, but argued he should still be allowed to see his six-year-old… Read more »
Susan Kiefel: from Legal Secretary to Chief Justice of the High Court
By Sonia Hickey and Ugur Nedim Susan Kiefel QC AC, aged 62, will officially take up her appointment as the Chief Justice of the High Court of Australia next January. Justice Kiefel is the first female to be appointed to the position. But she is no stranger to ‘firsts’- in 1987, she was the first… Read more »
New Magistrates Join the NSW Local Court
By Sonia Hickey and Ugur Nedim The New South Wales local court has appointed 11 new magistrates – the largest appointment in several years. Attorney General Gabrielle Upton says the addition is an important step forward in achieving gender equality across the legal profession, as six of the new magistrates are women. Closing the gender… Read more »
One Nation Senator Defiant in the High Court
One Nation senator Rod Culleton was defiant when he recently chose to represent himself in the High Court of Australia. Mr Culleton is reported to have used his court appearance to air “all the grievances” he had with the federal government. In a sign of things to come, Culleton said he refused legal aid on… Read more »
Deaf Woman’s Fight to be a Juror
By Sonia Hickey and Ugur Nedim Section 80 of the Australian Constitution guarantees the right to a trial by jury for those who are tried on indictment for criminal charges; in other words, who are dealt with in the higher courts such as the District or Supreme Court. However, there is no express right to… Read more »