Successful Cases

Recent Wins

2010-11

    2011
    Not Guilty on wounding count in Wellington High Court
    Noy Guilty on using website to promote illegal tours
    Not Guilty on all Counts in Auckland Rape Trial
    Release from custody following High Court Appeal and Manukau disputed bail hearing
    Successful appeal in Court of Appeal and finding of miscarriage of justice in the Supreme Court.
    Acquittal after 30 minutes jury deliberation on perverting the course of Justice.
    Successful applications for name suppression for high profile clients.
    Parole board hearings - opposed recall application.
    Historical kidnapping and assault charges result in sentence of home detention following negotiated pleas. Palmerston North Court.
    Bail granted to client on class A drug charges after being in custody for 11 months.
    Bail granted to client pending appeal to the Court of Appeal (please note this type of bail is unusual and requires special circumstances).
    Discharge without conviction on medical, business and family grounds.

    2010
    Not Guilty verdicts on sexual violation and assault charges in Auckland District Court

  • 2 x historical sex cases - not guilty verdicts in High Court.
  • High Court grant of bail on serious charges overturning District Court decision.
  • High Court removal of bail conditions overturning District Court decision.
  • Successful challenge to Police and Customs searches – charges dismissed.
  • Murder - High Court jury acquits on murder charge and convicts on lesser charge.
  • Exclusion of police statement – High Court.

2009

  • Historical sexual abuse charges - speedy acquittal in District Court following appeal to the Court of Appeal where convictions from first trial quashed and retrial ordered.
  • Stabbing of teacher - electronic bail granted for accused student.
  • District Court grant bail after a one day hearing despite strong police opposition.
  • Grant of bail on serious charges despite police opposition.
  • Murder sentence - minimum non parole period set 6 months below minimum sought by Crown/Police.
  • Kidnapping - charges dropped against Manukau man.
  • Domestic violence/threatening to kill - charges dismissed in District Court.
  • Manufacturing methamphetamine - related charges dismissed for Auckland man.
  • Historical sexual charges - home detention sentence for man pleading guilty.
  • Murder/attempted murder - convicted of lesser charge of manslaughter (second counsel).

2008

  • Michele Wilkinson-Smith appointed a member of the Legal Aid Review Panel (LARP).
  • Arson – conviction quashed by Court of Appeal.
  • Murder - successful defence of Christopher Kahui on charges of murdering his infant twins (Lorraine Smith and Michele Wilkinson-Smith).
  • Arson – conviction quashed by Court of Appeal.
  • Rape - stay of proceedings granted.
  • Rape - acquittal.
  • Manufacture methamphetamine - stay of proceedings granted.
  • Manufacture methamphetamine – section 347 discharge.
  • Manufacture methamphetamine – acquittal.
  • Supply of methamphetamine – charges dropped.
  • Internet Fraud – discharge on all counts.
  • Theft and receiving – acquittal on all charges.
  • Drink drive charges – acquittal and charges withdrawn (2 cases).
  • Obtaining grants of electronic bail.
  • High Court grants of bail overturning District Court decisions.

2007

  • Manslaughter and Robbery – not guilty on both charges.
  • Manufacture Methamphetamine – not guilty.
  • Grievous Bodily Harm, wounding and assault - not guilty on all charges.
  • Grievous Bodily Harm and injuring - not guilty on all charges.
  • Rape and indecent assault – not guilty on all charges.
  • Methamphetamine charges - successful search warrant challenge – charges dismissed.
  • Rape - Court of Appeal decision quashing conviction and ordering retrial.
  • High Court grants bail on appeal overturning District Court.
  • Historical child sex allegations - successfully sought discharge of charges.
  • Child neglect - successfully sought discharge of charges.
  • 2 x counts of aggravated robbery – successful jury acquittal.
  • Serious drugs charges - High Court grants bail overturning District Court refusal.
  • Murder - Court of Appeal grants leave to appeal conviction to Supreme Court.
  • Unlawful arrest and detention - District Court awards damages against police.
  • Class A drug dealing - High Court dismisses charges on grounds of Bill of Rights breaches.

Current Workload

  • Appeals to the Court of Appeal (8 files).
  • Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act 2009 (1 files).

We are currently representing clients charged with:

  • Murder (2 files).
  • Manslaughter.
  • Import Class A drugs Methamphetamine.
  • Historical sexual abuse.
  • Internet offences and possession of objectionable pornography.
  • Organising overseas sex tours.
  • Possession of precursor substances for the production of Methamphetamine.
  • Rape.
  • Indecent assault.
  • Wound causing Grievous Bodily Harm.
  • Participation in a criminal group
  • Driving related offences.
  • Domestic Violence.