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WHAT IS A SERIOUS DOMESTIC ABUSE PREVENTION ORDER? On 24 September 2024, the Crimes (Domestic ad Personal Violence) and Other Legislation Amendment Bill 2024 was passed by both Houses of the New South Wales Parliament, amending the Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (‘the Act’) to, among other things, introduce Serious Domestic Abuse Prevention Orders.

THE CASE: A Sydney man charged with supply large commercial quantity (22 kilograms of methylamphetamine) was represented in court by Sydney criminal lawyer Steven Mercael, who successfully had the charge downgraded to supply an indictable quantity of prohibited drug.  Mr Mercael successfully argued that whilst the offender was aware there were drugs in the car, he was unaware of

A teen has been charged with displaying a terrorist organisation’s symbol after she allegedly marched with a Hezbollah flag around her shoulders at a protest in Sydney’s CBD over the weekend. Police launched a public appeal on Wednesday to identify a woman depicted at a pro-Palestine and Hezbollah protest in the city’s centre on Sunday

A Sydney man has been found not guilty of several sexual offences against children after raising evidence that he was asleep and suffering from ‘sexsomnia’ during the incidents, and that he was therefore acting involuntarily – a requirement for the legal defence of automatism in New South Wales. There have been rising concerns about the

Sydney Criminal Lawyer, Steven Mercael, had a great week representing clients throughout NSW courts. Our 32-year-old client avoided a criminal conviction for drug possession and drink driving offences Our 22-year-old client avoided a jail sentence for being an accessory after the fact of an assault and stealing offences. Our 27-year-old client was found not guilty

THE PLAN: Australia plans to establish a minimum age limit for children to use social media due to concerns over mental health and a decline in kids getting active, angering our youth advocates.  Despite concerns about the proposed law, the government is pressing ahead with what many have described as a flawed response to online

OPERATION RAID The New South Wales Police Force have conducted several high visibility operations over the years and once again, from 12:01am on Thursday 5 September t0 4am on Sunday 8 September Police will be conducting targeted operations following concerning road trauma trends across the state. One of the main focuses with be drink driving

HAVE YOU BEEN CHARGED WITH A CRIMINAL OFFENCE? WHAT HAPPENS NOW? SHOULD I PLEAD GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY? When you have been charged with a criminal offence, the first question ordinarily is – Should I plead guilty or not guilty? Whilst you may think that you should plead guilty, a specialist criminal lawyer can advise

WHAT IS A GEL BLASTER?  A gel blaster is a life-like toy gun that is designed to shoot a gel pellet that has been soaked in water. It is also known as a gel ball blaster, hydro blaster, gel gun or BB guns. A gel blaster could look like a firearm and it an offence