In this Case Study, we present a summary of recent work our firm was involved in in a case which saw us achieve a significant outcome for a client in a criminal law matter relating to possible serious charges related to drugs, proceeds of crime and firearms.
Birchgrove Legal’s criminal law team represented a client who was facing a total of 18 charges, all of which were serious and carried potential sentences of lengthy terms of imprisonment.
The charges included:
- 3 counts of Supply Large Commercial Quantity of a Prohibited Drug: each of these counts attracts a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment;
- 3 counts of Dealing with Proceeds of Crime: each of which attracts a maximum penalty of 20 years’ imprisonment;
- 11 Firearm Charges – the most serious of these charges attracts a maximum penalty of 14 years’ imprisonment; and
- 1 charge for Participation in a Criminal Group – this charge attracts a maximum penalty of 10 years’ imprisonment.
In this particular case, the Birchgrove team was quick to identify a number of significant shortcomings in the prosecution case – both in the availability and veracity of evidence against our client.
This discovery lead to the grant of Supreme Court bail and the commencement of extensive negotiations with the prosecution, with an invitation for them to withdraw many of the charges on the basis that the evidence available had no reasonable prospects of leading to conviction.
Our team was successful in these negotiations and the prosecution subsequently agreed to withdraw the charges against our client. These negotiations invariably protected our client from the significant costs, time and stress that would have been associated with defending the charges at trial.
An often underestimated aspect of criminal defense law is the importance and overall utilitarian benefit of entering into negotiations with the prosecution early on in proceedings.
Birchrgove Legal continues to achieve significant outcomes for our clients in a range of criminal law matters. If you are looking for an experienced, highly skilled and pragmatic legal team that defends client interests like their own, contact us today.
