by Nicholas CrawfordAcquittal for client charged with cocaine importation – Operation Lamister.
Operation Lamister commenced in 2014 by the Australian Federal Police and involved several co-offenders charged with attempting to import almost 100 kilograms of cocaine hidden in a 13-metre yacht.
After extensive surveillance of the yacht’s route throughout Ecuador and the Pacific Islands, the yacht eventually anchored in a Gold Coast marina where the drugs were removed from the vessel.
The two co-offenders met with our client at a café nearby where they were intercepted and arrested by Australian Federal Police. Our client was subsequently charged with one count of ‘Attempting to possess a commercial quantity of border-controlled drugs’.
After a comprehensive review of the Brief of Evidence by Nick Crawford of our office, it was evident that there was no direct evidence to support a link between our client and the principal offenders, or that our client knew of the dangerous drugs located on the yacht.
Our client entered a plea of not guilty and was committed to trial before the Brisbane District Court in September 2018 with Nick Crawford instructing Doug Wilson of Counsel.
After an eight-day trial, the Jury reached their decision after deliberating for two days. The principal offenders were convicted and the Jury returned a not guilty verdict for our client.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
Related Article: Men convicted of smuggling cocaine into Queensland on luxury yacht
by Nicholas CrawfordWeapons Supply And Perjury Charges Discontinued
In 2016, our client was alleged to have supplied multiple weapons including rifles and a handgun. The unlawful supply of weapons carries a maximum of 10 years imprisonment. It can also result in mandatory minimum sentences being imposed.
Our client was provided with a summons to the Crime and Corruption Commission. He refused to answer questions at the hearing and indicated he had no knowledge of weapons supply. He was subsequently charged with perjury which carries a maximum of 14 years imprisonment.
The case against our client was comprised of statements of other witnesses who had been sentenced for their involvement in the offending. Our client maintained his innocence, and our office provided submissions to the DPP.
The DPP had indicted our client with perjury and weapons supply on the same indictment, which is contrary to High Court authority. We listed the matter for an application to sever the indictment. Prior to the application it was conceded that the indictment was incorrect and the initial trial was to proceed with respect to the weapons supply alone.
On the morning of the trial, the DPP indicated it would not proceed against our client with respect to the weapons supply due to a lack of evidence.
Our office subsequently provided a submission to the DPP with respect to the perjury, and that charge was also discontinued by the DPP.
Our client would have been facing significant time in custody were he to be convicted of these offences.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call either Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
by Nicholas CrawfordOnly 4 weeks jail for multiple counts of production of methamphetamine
On 6 January 2016, our client was intercepted by police in a car. Our client fled on foot. A search of the revealed glassware, a PH meter, containers, water pumps, hoses, methamphetamine, MSM and other utensils indicative of production of methamphetamine. (more…)
by Nicholas CrawfordOperation Papa Jersey – Trafficking charge discontinued after submission
Operation Papa Jersey commenced in July 2017 targeting individuals transporting commercial quantities of methamphetamine from Brisbane to Mackay.
Police obtained telecommunications intercepts of principal offenders which resulted in our client being identified as a person of interest.
Following two search warrants and the arrest of the principal offenders, our client was also arrested and charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs namely methamphetamine for a four-month period.
Trafficking in dangerous drugs at the time of the offence carried a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.
After review of the Brief of Evidence including extensive telecommunications material, Nick Crawford of our office sent a submission to the Director of Public Prosecutions to discontinue the charge as the brief contained no evidence of carrying on a business of trafficking in dangerous drug. The Crown accepted this submission and discontinued the trafficking charge leaving Possession charges only.
The weakness of the trafficking case was also central to successful application for bail from the Brisbane Supreme Court. On 8 November 2018, Nick Crawford appeared before Justice Davis and successfully argued for bail for the client with conditions.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
by Nicholas CrawfordOperation Oscar Ektara – Drug Trafficking with immediate parole
After a seven-month police investigation, our client was arrested in March 2017 for trafficking in the dangerous drug methylamphetamine.
With over 700 drug related messages identified by police relating to methylamphetamine purchases, the charge alleged against our client was supported by strong evidence produced by the Department of Public Prosecutions.
Nicholas Crawford instructed Christopher Wilson of Counsel in the Brisbane Supreme Court where our client entered a plea of guilty to trafficking methylamphetamine for a period of four months.
After hearing lengthy submissions and despite the strong circumstantial evidence against her, our client was sentenced to three years imprisonment with immediate parole.
If you are interested in Nicholas Crawford acting on your behalf, please contact us on 3009 8467.
by Nicholas CrawfordClient Acquitted on Armed Robbery Charges after District Court Trial
In May 2017 our client was arrested and accused of offences which occurred in August 2015 consisting of burglary while armed and armed robbery with the aggravating feature of being in company with a co-accused.
A co-accused named our client as the person armed with the firearm in the offence and the key perpetrator in the robbery.
Facing a potential four to five years imprisonment if found guilty, our client entered a plea of not guilty to both charges and had the matter set down for a jury trial.
During the trial, numerous witnesses gave evidence to describe the armed offender which conflicted with the build and identifying features of our client.
There was no supporting DNA, photographs or identification of any kind to support our client was the armed offender and no evidence to substantiate that our client could be positively identified as the gun man beyond reasonable doubt.
At the conclusion of the second day of trial, the jury returned with a not guilty verdict on both counts in under thirty minutes.
If you are interested in Nicholas Crawford acting on your behalf, please contact us on 3009 8467.
by Nicholas CrawfordTrafficking in Cannabis substituted with 5 Counts of Supply
Operation North Goldensilk was established in 2015 to investigate drug related activities. Telecommunications interception service warrants were utilised throughout the operation. As a result of intercepted communications and surveillance our client was charged with the serious charge of trafficking in the dangerous drug cannabis for a 4-month period.
Trafficking in dangerous drugs at the time of the offence carried a maximum penalty of 20 years imprisonment.
Following an extensive review of the brief of evidence, our office sent a submission to the Crown to substitute the trafficking charge with five counts of supplying dangerous drugs. The Crown accepted this submission and discontinued the trafficking charge in lieu of the five supply charges.
Counsel instructed by our office appeared with our client before the Brisbane District Court earlier this year for his sentence. The Presiding Judge sentenced our client to 12 months imprisonment for each supply count to be served concurrently. These terms of imprisonment were suspended for a period of eighteen months. This was an excellent result for our client.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
by Nicholas CrawfordWholly Suspended Sentence for 70k Fraud in Melbourne Magistrates Court
Nicholas Crawford of our office appeared before the Heidelberg Magistrates Court in Melbourne in April 2018 in relation to a false accounting and theft investigation.
The allegations spanned over a three-year period between 2003 and 2005 during the time our client was employed with Flight Centre.
While she was employed there, police alleged that our client stole over $58,000 in cash and used false accounting techniques to obtain free flights for herself, family and friends in excess of $27,000.
After reviewing the brief of evidence, our office determined that several charges were not sufficiently substantiated. Our office provided a submission to the Office of the Director of Public Prosecution’s office which resulted in the discontinuance of 10 charges.
Our client entered a plea of guilty to the remaining charges and following submissions by Counsel instructed by our office, the Presiding Magistrate sentenced our client to a wholly-suspended sentence of 12 months.
Considering the amount of money involved, this was an excellent result for our client.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
by Nicholas CrawfordSecurity Guard Acquitted of Grievous Bodily Harm Charge Following District Court Trial
In September of 2015 our client was working as a security guard at the Mon Jomo Hotel. The complainant in the matter had been asked to leave the venue by our client. As the complainant was leaving he pushed our client and our client reacted by doing the same. The complainant in the matter then again pushed our client. Our client then pushed him back. This push caused the complainant to lose his footing and land onto the tiled area at the front door of the venue. The complainant suffered extensive injuries and police alleged that these injuries were consistent with Grievous Bodily Harm.
Our client was subsequently charged with the offence of Grievous Bodily Harm. This matter was committed to the Brisbane District Court for trial as Nick Crawford, the solicitor with carriage had the view that there were high prospects of acquittal. The trial was before the Brisbane District Court in October of 2017. Our client was found not guilty by the jury for the count of Grievous Bodily Harm and was acquitted.
Grievous Bodily Harm carries a maximum penalty of 14 years imprisonment. Therefore, this acquittal was the best possible outcome for our client.
If you are interested in our criminal lawyers acting on your behalf, please call Nicholas Crawford on 3009 8467, Alan Phillips on 3009 8469 or Tyronne Thomas on 3009 8481.
by Nicholas CrawfordOperation Oscar Playwright – Wholly Suspended Sentence for Drug Trafficking
In 2017 our client was charged with trafficking in the dangerous drug methylamphetamine for a period of twelve months. In 2018 the Department of Public Prosecutions later provided a draft schedule of facts which provided for a significantly larger trafficking period of twenty-two months.
After reviewing substantial telephone intercept material in the brief of evidence, Nicholas Crawford made a submission to the Department of Public Prosecutions to reduce the trafficking period back to twelve months to reflect the contents of the brief of evidence.
This submission was accepted and our client entered a plea of guilty to trafficking in dangerous drugs for a one-year period, possessing dangerous drugs and possessing a thing used in connection with trafficking in a dangerous drug.
Nicholas Crawford appeared instructing Douglas Wilson of Counsel for the Supreme Court sentence. Our client was sentenced to three years’ probation for possessing dangerous drugs and five years’ imprisonment which was wholly suspended for a period of five years for trafficking in dangerous drugs.
If you are interested in Nicholas Crawford acting on your behalf, please contact us on 3009 8467.