Paul Gilchrist

George Pell case will affect historical child sexual abuse victims’ preparedness

Civil Law, child abuse, Royal Commissions, crime / By Paul Gilchrist / April 15, 2020

The George Pell decision will have a deleterious impact on victims of childhood sexual abuse in profound ways. The high-profile nature of the proceedings means the decision will impact substantially on the preparedness of many victims of historical child sexual abuse to engage in the criminal justice system. On the other hand, it is also a reality […]

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COVID-19 – Changes to the Criminal Jurisdiction of the Local Court of NSW

crime, bail, Criminal Defence / By Paul Gilchrist / April 14, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused widespread disruption to the ordinary operation of the Local Court. As a result, a large number of proceedings have been impacted by delay and adjourned as the Court has moved to implement significant procedural changes in response to Government social distancing and stay at home recommendations. In NSW the rollout

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High Court quashes child sexual assault convictions for Cardinal George Pell: Pell v The Queen — [2020] HCA 12

child abuse, crime, Criminal Defence / By Paul Gilchrist / April 8, 2020

In a much-anticipated decision, the High Court has today delivered judgment for the appeal of Cardinal George Pell, the highest ranking Catholic official to ever be charged and convicted of child sexual assault offences. By an unanimous judgment, those convictions have now been quashed and Cardinal Pell is a free man. This case will obviously

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Cardinal George Pell was found guilty of five charges for child sexual offences.

“Stay Clear of This Place!”: Cheng v Lok, a successful defamation suit against an erroneous Google Review

Civil Law, Defamation, Criminal Defence / By Paul Gilchrist / April 7, 2020

How badly can a negative, and wholly inaccurate, Google review affect your reputation and business? Can the law properly protect your reputation in the age of anonymous, online publication? These very contemporary questions was the subject of Cheng v Lok 1 , a recent defamation action brought by Adelaide barrister Gordon Cheng (in an unaccustomed

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Recent amendments to the Evidence Act 1995 NSW: Tendency and Coincidence

child abuse, crime, Criminal Defence / By Paul Gilchrist / April 7, 2020

The law relating to tendency and coincidence evidence has recently been amended in NSW in a very significant way, in particular for child sexual assault offences. The Evidence Amendment (Tendency and Coincidence) Bill 2020 is due to commence on 1 May 2020 and will significantly amend the tendency and coincidence provisions in the Evidence Act

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Hearings, trials, appeals, bail and sentencing: Court Response To COVID-19

Criminal Defence / By Paul Gilchrist / April 2, 2020

The COVID-19 pandemic has created an extraordinary challenge for the criminal justice system, never seen before in Australian law. Within a very short period, the Courts, as an essential service in the community, have sought to adapt to the changing environment brought about by evolving health crisis with the need to adopt social distancing practices

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Bail and the COVID-19 pandemic: vulnerabilities of prison inmates

Criminal Defence / By Paul Gilchrist / April 2, 2020

SUMMARY: Rakielbakhour v DPP [2020] NSWSC 323. Correctional facility inmates not included in COVID-19 epidemic response laws The COVID-19 pandemic is a crisis on many fronts. From 31 March 2020, new laws came into effect that prohibits persons from leaving their place residence without a reasonable excuse. This is one of many reforms that is

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Police Powers and COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Lockdown Laws in New South Wales

human rights, police, crime, Criminal Defence / By Paul Gilchrist / April 2, 2020

At midnight on Tuesday 31 March 2020, strict new laws came into effect for residents in New South Wales which have effectively brought about a tough lockdown as part of the Government’s response to slow the transmission of the coronavirus causing COVID-19. By virtue of the COVID-19 Legislation Amendment (Emergency Measures) Bill 2020, the NSW

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O’Brien Solicitors: “Business as Usual” during COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Civil Law, Criminal Defence / By Paul Gilchrist / March 27, 2020

O’Brien Criminal and Civil Solicitors continues to operate during the COVID-19 Coronavirus pandemic. Some key operational changes to the firm are listed below. Importantly, our areas of specialisation- Criminal Defence, Civil Litigation for Police Misconduct, and Defamation – continue to accept new clients. Additionally, all current legal matters with existing clients are progressing as per

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Defamation claim of the Yolngu people in the Northern Territory versus Channel 7 and the Sunrise program

Defamation, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander, Civil Law / By Paul Gilchrist / December 16, 2019

Our principal lawyer Peter O’Brien, and solicitor Stewart O’Connell, were in the news last week. This publicity related to the defamation claim of the Yolgnu people in the Northern Territory versus Channel 7 and content broadcast on their Sunrise program. You can discover more about the media coverage in the following links: Guardian: Channel Seven settles defamation

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George Pell case will affect historical child sexual abuse victims’ preparedness

COVID-19 – Changes to the Criminal Jurisdiction of the Local Court of NSW

High Court quashes child sexual assault convictions for Cardinal George Pell: Pell v The Queen — [2020] HCA 12

“Stay Clear of This Place!”: Cheng v Lok, a successful defamation suit against an erroneous Google Review

Recent amendments to the Evidence Act 1995 NSW: Tendency and Coincidence

Hearings, trials, appeals, bail and sentencing: Court Response To COVID-19

Bail and the COVID-19 pandemic: vulnerabilities of prison inmates

Police Powers and COVID-19 (Coronavirus) Lockdown Laws in New South Wales

O’Brien Solicitors: “Business as Usual” during COVID-19 (Coronavirus)

Defamation claim of the Yolngu people in the Northern Territory versus Channel 7 and the Sunrise program

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