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Specialist Services
Experienced Specialist NSW Criminal Lawyer
Access to an accredited trial and court specialist with 30 years experience. Arrests, searches, Police interviews. Attendances at:
- Arrests
- Police interviews
- Execution of search warrants
- ICAC, National Crime Authority, NSW Crime Commission, Royal Commissions
Searches take place at all hours. An inexperienced and frightened client will try and talk his way out of trouble and may achieve the opposite. It is vital that from the outset legal advice is there to protect a client.
Knowing Your Rights
When stopped by the police whether in a car or otherwise you MUST do the following:
- Only give your name and address and ask if you can speak to your solicitor and don't say anything else until you have spoken to me.
- Never invite or agree to a police search of your person, car or house. Object loudly but do not hinder them as that is an offence and don't go with police unless you are arrested.
- If you are arrested, do not give an interview or make any statement and don't go on camera even to confirm you don’t want to give an interview or agree to giving a DNA swab or fingerprints or participating a lineup.
- There are now new Rules as to your Right to Silence that will require you speaking to your solicitor and getting advice as to your rights.
Remember – get advice first from Michael Bowe.
Drugs
Michael Bowe has had several decades of experience defending clients against all types of drug charges ranging from possession inside a pub to large commercial quantities of importing and trafficking detected by Australian Federal Police.
All of these events and charges require a meticulous and an analytical approach for the person charged. Every charge is of immediate and significance to a defendant. Accordingly, any defence requires an insight into potential outcomes and to the strategy to be adopted.
Bail Applications
Preparing Bail Applications – Local Court, Supreme Court or pending appeal. The prospects of retaining liberty can considerably be improved by asserting the client’s rights in the period immediately prior to their arrest and by the effective preparation and presentation of a Bail Application. The Bail Act requires that bail for certain serious offences be refused unless the accused Show Cause why detention is not justified. Only one application can be considered by the Local Court for a release application. If unsuccessful an applicant has two options which are available, either to apply to the Supreme Court of NSW which entails usually a delay of 3 to 4 months, or establish a change of circumstances after the first unsuccessful bail application and make a second application in the Local Court.
Generally a magistrate wants the issues of the safety of witnesses and flight risk addressed at the release application and any risk o such a breach resolved. In difficult applications for release a client may have to raise an acceptable money surety or suggest the use of a monitoring device. Obviously this requires the discussing he approach with Michael.
The Bail Act requires authority to consider additional material for the unacceptable risk test for all offence and categorises the matters the court must consider.
The Court Process
The process of going to court is characterised by many procedures. First the obtaining and ensuring that all prosecution or opponents documents are provided which may even require the issue of subpoenas. The correct advice on what plea to make, guilty or not guilty, the evidence, jurisdiction and choice of counsel, if necessary. The drafting and securing of statements, preparing accurate documents for litigation liaising with witness applications to cross-examining witnesses, knowing and researching the law. Having the latest internet and legal research technology, a large database, a large legal library, case base and system information systems. This information is readily available with Michael Bowe.
Expert Witnesses
In trials and hearings successful court results may require well planned interaction with science and technical information, forensic, DNA, fingerprints and ballistic experts. To understand the complexities of the cause of criminal behaviour such as attention deficit and hyperactive disorder and post traumatic and stress disorders requires psychiatric solutions through the use of forensic psychiatrists. Years of experience in defending the accused in all types of crimes leads to an innate understanding and anticipation of what is required for an all embracing defence.
Today so many criminal cases have become incredibly complex regarding the facts and issues and juries struggle to understand the details. For a successful defence lawyer has to become an expert himself on the relevant subject matter. The defence has to make decisions to gather the best opinions, the brightest experts. We have a history of making those successful decisions.