Work | Stary Norton Halphen

Epping man accused of trying to join fight against Islamic State granted bail

A Melbourne security guard and homelessness volunteer accused of attempting to travel to the Middle East to join the fight against the Islamic State has been released on bail.Defence lawyer Sam Norton said Mr Williams had taken steps to engage in the conflict lawfully and was trying to join the Yekineyen Parastina Gel, a Kurdish paramilitary group that was recognised by western nations.

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Judge finds sex offender needs rehabilitation rather than jail

As part of his submissions, defence lawyer Lou Richter included a judgment from more than 20 years ago by the then-chief justice John Harber Phillips on an appeal by the man's father against his 23-year jail sentence for sex crimes.

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Melbourne man charged with funding Islamic State 'defending innocent brothers and sisters'

Under questioning from Mr Stary, the detective conceded none of Mr El Sabsabi's alleged offending included any instances of violent conduct, and that he had co-operated with authorities.

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Activists promise to be good after Parliament protest

Jesse Smith told Deputy Chief Magistrate Lance Martin that the legislation provided "dramatically expanded, draconian and unprecedented police powers.

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Australia launches anti-terrorism offensive

"You have a great risk of people who travel to any of those locations then being charged with an offence, and then having to establish their innocence, quite probably whilst they are in custody. If they're exonerated, they get no recompense, and that will result in enormous injustice" Robert Stary said.

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Napthine government to introduce sexting laws

Chair of the Law Institute of Victoria's criminal law section Sam Norton said: “Young people were placed on the sex offenders register and had their career ruined. These changes are to be applauded.

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Death driver sentenced to six years

Defence lawyer Sam Norton had said that his client's relationship with a woman had ended on Christmas Eve and in a letter to the court Davis apologised to the Hussain family.

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The politics of "home-grown terror" in Australia

Defence lawyer, Rob Stary discusses the political context of latest anti-terror raids, past cases based on entrapment and dubious evidence, and the danger of new legislative norms creeping into the realm of industrial relations and protest policing.

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Conviction threatens international career of champion bocce player Ivan Pepe

Katarina Ljubicic submitted her young client had shown "extraordinary insight" into his offending which had had a "profound impact on him".

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'Mr Big' police sting tactic faces legal threat

Melbourne lawyer Rob Stary agreed, saying Mr Big stings have been criticised for years. The police tactic created by Canadian police in the 1990s was adopted in Victoria to solve at least four unsolved murders.

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Good Samaritans who took law into own hands over Bourke Street assault of woman escape conviction

Rob Stary, for Martinelli, who pleaded guilty to recklessly causing serious injury, said police had agreed for the case against both men to proceed by way of a diversion hearing on Thursday morning, but another magistrate had refused to grant the application.

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Three men accused of buck's weekend rape found not guilty

A groom and two friends accused of raping a young woman during a buck's weekend trip to Melbourne have been found not guilty by a jury.

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