Category Archives: Criminal law

Imprisonment can do a grave injustice to the intellectually impaired

Posted on 10 January 2012 by

Date: 29/12/2011 Source: The Age – http://www.theage.com.au/opinion/politics/imprisonment-can-do-a-grave-injustice-to-the-intellectually-impaired-20111228-1pcso.html Author: Graeme Innes (Opinion) Synopsis: After more than 10 years in prison without a conviction, a 29-year-old Aboriginal man with an intellectual disability will finally be released. Marlon Noble was deemed unfit to … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal law, Detention, Indigenous, Intellectual disability, Prisons, WA | Leave a comment

Guilty plea rejected by judge

Posted on 20 December 2011 by

Date: 18/11/2011 Source: The Courier Mail, Page 24 Synopsis: District Court Judge Terry Martin has refused to accept a guilty plea from a wheelchair-bound man on charges involving threats to shoot hospital staff. Tracy Mossop, the Barrister for the man … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal law, Disability, Physical disability | Leave a comment

2011 Law Week Hypothetical

Posted on 28 September 2011 by

Date: 17/05/2011 Source: Video and transcript at the Legal Aid Queensland website Synopsis: On 17/05/11, Legal Aid Queensland held its annual law week hypothetical, this year focussing on people with intellectual disability in the criminal justice system. The case study … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal law, Intellectual disability, Qld | Leave a comment

Why do we imprison the mentally ill?

Posted on 26 September 2011 by

Date: 15/08/2011 Source: ABC Radio National, Counterpoint http://www.abc.net.au/rn/counterpoint/stories/2011/3290471.htm (audio) Synopsis: What is the extent of mental illness among prisoners and what sort of treatment do they receive while they’re in jail? To examine the problem we speak to Kat Armstrong, … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal law, Mental health, Prisons | Leave a comment

Mental Health Move in Kill Trial

Posted on 12 August 2011 by

Date: 05/08/11 Reporter: Tony Keim Source: Courier Mail, pg 18 Synopsis: A teenage schoolboy accused of the murder of a 12 year old student is to have his case referred to the Mental Health Court, a court has been told. … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal law, Mental health, Qld, Youth | Leave a comment

Bus driver accused of assaulting disabled children

Posted on 23 June 2011 by

Date: 21/06/2011 Source: ABC News http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2011/06/21/3249635.htm

Posted in Abuse, Criminal law, SA, Youth | Leave a comment

Earsay column

Posted on 3 June 2011 by

Date: 03/6/2011 Source: Courier Mail, p 20 Reporter: Mark Oberhardt Synopsis: Justice Fryberg raised issue with the lack of psychiatrist report provided to the sentencing judge in relation to a man charged with domestic violence offences.

Posted in Criminal law, Mental health, Qld | Leave a comment

$425k Payout ‘Miserly’ For Deaf-mute’s Jail Hell

Posted on 3 June 2011 by

Date: 03/06/2011 Source: The Australian, p 5 Reporter: Amanda O’Brien Synopsis: The Western Australian Government has awarded a deaf-mute man $425,000 for spending 15 years in jail for a murder he did not commit. Darryl Beamish was convicted 50 years … Continue reading →

Posted in Criminal law, Physical disability, WA | Leave a comment

Care home ‘abuse’ caught on film

Posted on 2 June 2011 by

Date: 01/06/2011 Source: BBC Panorama – http://news.bbc.co.uk/panorama/hi/default.stm Synopsis: Police in Bristol have arrested four people after secret filming by BBC Panorama found a pattern of serious abuse at a residential hospital.

Posted in Abuse, Autism, Criminal law, Human rights, Intellectual disability, International, Learning, behavioural, emotional disorder, Mental health | Leave a comment

Shooter dragged screaming from court

Posted on 27 May 2011 by

Date: 27/05/2011 Reporter: Unreported Source: Courier Mail P23 Synopsis: Jared Lee Loughner has been declared incompetent to stand trial after he went on a shooting rampage in Arizona, killing six people. Health experts concluded that Loughner suffers from schizophrenia, so … Continue reading →

Posted in International, Mental health, Unsoundness of mind | Leave a comment