Arguing your case in court

If you are charged with a criminal offence, you can ask Geoff to represent you; he has the experience you need in a criminal defence barrister.

Barristers are considered specialists in court work.^[1] The difference between solicitors and barristers is similar to the distinction between a general medical practitioner and a specialist surgeon.^[2]

It is your right to defend any charge laid against you. You are “presumed innocent until proven guilty.” Geoff will vigorously defend you in court and persuasively present your case to the judge or jury, in a manner which is clear and well organised.

There is something called early intervention, so if you get legal representation early enough, it is sometimes possible to stop the police from filing charges or convince them to file a lesser charge. Don’t delay, obtain legal representation as early as possible to give your lawyer more time to prepare your defence.

If you are charged with a criminal offence, you can choose to plead guilty or not guilty. But don’t make any reckless decisions, it’s best to get legal advice before you enter any plea. Contact Geoff to discuss the advantages and disadvantages to pleading not guilty.

As a criminal defence barrister, Geoff aims to achieve the best possible result for you, this often involves:

• presenting the strongest defence possible by leaving no stone unturned;
• preparing and researching your case in an effort to build a winning defence strategy;
• cross-examining witnesses that the prosecution puts forward;
• calling witnesses in your defence;
• presenting arguments to win over the judge or jury;
• presenting evidence to assist in your defence, or expose weaknesses in the prosecution’s evidence in an effort to make the judge see reasonable doubt, so they dismiss your charges;
• negotiate a “plea bargain” with the prosecution;
• enter a plea of mitigation. If you have a weak defence in law then it is in your best interest to plead guilty; you can often get a lower penalty for an early guilty plea. If you plead guilty then it becomes about obtaining the best sentence possible, ideally something that doesn’t involve gaol time. The judge considers a number of factors when deciding the most appropriate sentence. Give Geoff an opportunity to persuade the court as to what the sentence should be.