Successful Submission of No Case to Answer and Acquittal in Multi-Handed Theft and Offensive Weapons Case

Anna Wright represented two young clients jointly charged with six offences, including theft and taking of motor vehicles without consent (“TWOC”). One client also faced two charges of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place.

The younger client, aged 17 at the time of the offences, was sent to be tried in the adult magistrates’ court alongside the adult co-defendant. A third co-defendant entered guilty pleas to the matters and was remitted to the youth court.

Anna conducted careful cross-examination of five police officers. She robustly challenged the reliability of CCTV evidence purporting to identify the clients, GPS tracking and mapping material, circumstantial evidence on the location of arrest, and adequacy of the forensic enquiries conducted.

Anna made successful half time submissions on four of the six offences, supported by detailed written submissions.

Anna secured acquittals on the remaining offensive weapon charges, calling two defence witnesses and submitting that the Crown had failed to establish requisite knowledge, notwithstanding that the weapons were found in the client’s bedroom.

Both clients left court having preserved their good character.

Anna was instructed by Paul Turnbull of Martin Murray & Associates.