Our client, we’ll call him Callum*, was facing four separate sets of criminal proceedings at once. These included a defended hearing and three further matters listed for sentence and mention. Between them, the criminal charges spanned domestic violence, an alleged AVO contravention, larceny, and offences against the police.
Rather than let each matter run its own course, our criminal solicitors worked to bring all four together. We resolved them as quickly and favourably as possible.
Multiple criminal charges defence
The charges arose from several separate incidents. Some of these related to alleged offending against a former partner. Others arose from an earlier hospital admission, where Callum was restrained by police during medical treatment, and from a later incident at a police station.
With four separate court files open at once, Callum was facing the prospect of each matter being dealt with separately. If this happened, it would extend his time before the courts and, potentially, his time in custody.
Common assault and intimidation with intent to cause fear
Callum faced multiple criminal charges. These included:
- Common assault (domestic violence) under section 61 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW),
- Intimidation with intent to cause fear of physical or mental harm and contravening an Apprehended Domestic Violence Order under the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (NSW),
- Larceny under section 117 of the Crimes Act,
- And assaulting and hindering police in the execution of their duty under section 60 of the Crimes Act.
Taken together, and combined with Callum’s prior criminal history, the charges put him at real risk of an extended period in custody.
Read more of our criminal law case studies.
Defence for multiple criminal offences
Rather than dealing with each matter in isolation, our criminal defence lawyers focused on negotiating the strongest available position across all four at once. We entered detailed negotiations with the prosecution, which resulted in the domestic violence intimidation charge, the AVO contravention charge and the larceny charge all being withdrawn.
On instructions, Callum entered a plea of guilty to the offences against police. Rather than delaying sentence on those charges while the remaining matters continued, we advised bringing everything to a single sentence hearing so all four matters could be finalised together.
That strategy meant Callum was sentenced to a short term of imprisonment with a release date only a short time later. This outcome was preferable compared to him facing a longer period in custody, while multiple matters worked their way separately through the courts.
What happens when someone is facing multiple criminal charges at once?
Where a person has several matters before the courts at the same time, timing and sequencing matter as much as the individual charges themselves.
A criminal lawyer can often negotiate to have weaker charges withdrawn and remaining matters finalised together, which can significantly affect how quickly a person is released. Our fact sheet on larceny charges in NSW explains how theft-related offences like these are typically dealt with.
*We always change the names and other identifiable details in case studies to protect client privacy.
Past results do not guarantee future outcomes. Every case is assessed on its individual merits.
This content is for general information purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. You should seek independent legal advice relevant to your specific circumstances.
The outcome
Three of the four charges were withdrawn entirely. Callum was sentenced on the remaining offences to a short term of imprisonment, with a release date reached only a short time after sentence.
Given the number of charges, the number of separate court proceedings, and Callum’s criminal history, this was a strong outcome.
This case reflects the value of careful negotiation and forensic judgment in finalising multiple charges quickly, in the same way we approach other clients facing common assault and ADVO charges together.
Facing several criminal charges at once?
When multiple matters are before the courts at the same time, how and when they are resolved can matter just as much as the charges themselves.
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