Brett Peter Cowan has lodged an appeal against his murder conviction. Last Wednesday afternoon, Tim Meehan of Bosscher Lawyers filed the notice of appeal in Brisbane. The notice lists six grounds of appeal, including the admission of the recordings of Cowan's confessions, instructions to the jury in...
This week saw the introduction of new laws targeted at both cyclists and motorists in an effort to make out roads safer for both. The new laws include a requirement on motorists to allow a metre between themselves and a cyclist when passing them in a...
Fines and penalties that rely on the state penalty unit system will now be indexed yearly, with a default rate of change of 3.5%. Previously penalty unit changes have been both sporadic and whimsical, in the last 14 years, penalty unit rates have only been increased...
Nightlife violence has been a hot issue for some time now. In January, New South Wales introduced a mandatory eight-year prison term who anyone who fatally punches another whilst under the influence of drugs or alcohol. It also included other efforts to curb violence, such...
The hallmark of our criminal justice system is that a person charged with a criminal offence is innocent until proven guilty and that all steps need to be undertaken to ensure that the accused is given a fair trial. In the wake of Brett Cowan's sentencing,...
Justice Atkinson has sentenced Brett Peter Cowan to life imprisonment with a minimum non parole period of 20 years for the murder of Daniel Morcombe. Justice Atkinson further sentenced Mr Cowan to three-and-a-half years for indecently dealing with Daniel, and two years for interfering with his...