Criminal Law
Legal updates, articles, and radio segments categorized under Criminal Law.
Legal Ethics, Second-Hand Goods Refunds and Probate: Your Legal Questions Answered
Every lawyer swears an oath that puts the court ahead of the client, and that single rule explains almost everything people find …
Legal Matters: Police Roadside Stops Part 2, Settlement Extensions and Family Provision Claims
Whether police can look through your car at a roadside stop turns almost entirely on one thing: whether you agreed to it. In …
Legal Matters: Citizen's Arrest, Self-Defence and Card Surcharges
Stopping a suspected offender can turn a witness into an accused if the arrest or the force used is unlawful. In Episode 33 of …
Legal Matters: Wills, Property Insurance, Land Tax and Probate
Property contracts, wills and probate can create expensive problems when people rely on assumptions rather than checking the …
Legal Matters: Self-Defence, Defending Others and Estate Planning
Self-defence in Queensland is about stopping an unlawful assault, not punishing the person who started it. In Episode 35 of Legal …
Can I carry something in my car for self-defence in Queensland?
No. Self-defence is not a reasonable excuse for carrying a knife in public in Queensland, and everyday objects kept as weapons can …
Can I Use Force to Defend Another Person in Queensland?
Queensland law can protect a person who acts in good faith to defend someone else from an unlawful assault. It does not give a …
Can I Use Force to Protect Property or Remove a Trespasser in Queensland?
Queensland law allows only limited force to protect property or remove a trespasser. Ownership does not give a person permission …
Can Verbal Threats Justify Self-Defence in Queensland?
Verbal abuse alone will not ordinarily justify hitting someone in Queensland. Threatening words combined with gestures, proximity …
When Does a Criminal Conviction Become Spent in Queensland?
An eligible Queensland conviction may become spent after the statutory rehabilitation period, but it is not deleted from police …
Can a Security Guard Detain or Search a Suspected Shoplifter in Queensland?
A Queensland security guard does not become a police officer by wearing a uniform, carrying equipment or working for a large …
Can You Make a Citizen's Arrest in Queensland?
A citizen’s arrest is lawful in Queensland only within the narrow circumstances set by the Criminal Code 1899 (Qld). It is …
How Do I Complain About Police Conduct After an RBT in Queensland?
A complaint about police conduct after a Queensland random breath test should be factual, prompt and supported by every available …
Domestic and Family Violence in Queensland: The Complete Legal Guide
Queensland’s domestic violence laws prioritize safety through Protection Orders and the recent criminalisation of coercive …
The Southport Litigant's Handbook: Everything You Need to Know About the Southport Courthouse
The Southport courthouse at Corner Davenport and Hinze Streets is home to the Queensland Magistrates Court, District Court, the …
Can I Claim Self-Defence to an Assault Charge in Queensland?
A claim of self-defence in Queensland turns on whether the assault was provoked, whether the force used was reasonably necessary …
Understanding Criminal Charges: From Summary to Indictable Offences
Criminal charges in Queensland are broadly categorized into two types: summary offences and indictable offences. Understanding the …