[HDMC]

Quote

........most people are not aware that each alleged offence in this case is actually two charges. The doubled number is reported so it looks worse for the defendent, it looks like things are twice as bad as they are. The second charge is laid for the authorisation of the alleged purchase, for example buying an ice cream is a charge, signing the credit card slip authorising payment for the ice cream is another.

Quote

At Craig’s brief appearance in Wyong Court on Thursday after his strip search which was first reported here, the magistrate handed down the conditions of bail. One of those conditions that you may have heard about is that Thomson not make contact with any sex workers that he is alleged to have seen in the past. This received quite a bit of commentary when it became known.

However, there are two things you may not have realised about that bail condition. One is that the bail conditions were determined by Victoria Police, not the magistrate. The other is that the magistrate, that’s right the judge, actually made comment that she believed that this bail condition was highly inappropriate.

Funny, I don’t recall seeing that reported anywhere else at all. Why not?

Wixxy

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[longweekend58]

HDMC, on 06 February 2013 - 03:03 PM, said:

Wixxy

If the magistrate (who is NOT a judge BTW) found the condition 'inappropriate' it would have been cancelled. However all that happened was that she was surprised by it. End of story.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[HDMC]

longweekend58, on 06 February 2013 - 03:40 PM, said:

If the magistrate (who is NOT a judge BTW) found the condition 'inappropriate' it would have been cancelled. However all that happened was that she was surprised by it. End of story.

Quote

The magistrate or judge is the person who decides what happens to your case, whether you are guilty or not guilty, whether your case will have to go to another court or be put off until another day.

When you speak to a judge and magistrates you should usually address them as 'Your Honour'.

- Dept of Justice, Victoria

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[icey]

Judge or magistrate. Still two distinctly different titles, the judge being the higher order position. And as LW pointed out, bail conditions may be argued by either party, with the decision resting with the judiciary by whatever name or title.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[icey]

Craig Thomson to face an additional five charges of fraud

And it seems there may even be some .... evidence!

Quote

A 20-volume police brief of evidence was expected to be sent to Thomson's legal team by April 17.

Thomson maintains his innocence.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[scotto]

20 volumes? sounds like a lot. We'll see what's in them eventually I guess.

A lot of those 'fraud' charges sound trivial... movies? Really?

When the proceedings get underway in May I guess we'll find out more.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[HDMC]

icey, on 06 February 2013 - 10:32 PM, said:

Judge or magistrate. Still two distinctly different titles, the judge being the higher order position. And as LW pointed out, bail conditions may be argued by either party, with the decision resting with the judiciary by whatever name or title.

I don't think Wixxy was talking about titles. As you say, "the decision resting with the judiciary by whatever name or title."

In this case the magistrate was the person making the decision, or passing judgement if you like.

She was therefore the judge of the case.

But if pedantry is the only way you can criticise the piece, go your hardest.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[icey]

HDMC, on 07 February 2013 - 07:36 AM, said:

I don't think Wixxy was talking about titles. As you say, "the decision resting with the judiciary by whatever name or title."

In this case the magistrate was the person making the decision, or passing judgement if you like.

She was therefore the judge of the case.

But if pedantry is the only way you can criticise the piece, go your hardest.

I was just commenting on LW's earlier comment.

vixy said:

The other is that the magistrate, that’s right the judge, actually made comment that she believed that this bail condition was highly inappropriate.

That said, I doubt the learned judges would regard being equated with magistrates as mere pedentary!

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[scotto]

icey, on 07 February 2013 - 04:25 PM, said:

That said, I doubt the learned judges would regard being equated with magistrates as mere pedentary!

I think in fact they would recognise this for what it is immediately.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[HDMC]

Hmm. Just how cosy are the police and the libs?

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[Bam]

HDMC, on 20 February 2013 - 04:29 AM, said:

Hmm. Just how cosy are the police and the libs?

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Abbott abused the separation of powers.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[HDMC]

Bam, on 20 February 2013 - 06:16 AM, said:

It wouldn't surprise me in the least if Abbott abused the separation of powers.

They have form.

Quote

This morning (Thu Aug 25, 2011) it was revealed shadow attorney-general George Brandis had called NSW Police Minister Mike Gallacher before sending material about the case to the NSW police.

Mr Gallacher then told NSW Police Commissioner Andrew Scipione to expect the material.

The state's Labor Opposition claims that constitutes political interference.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[HDMC]

HDMC, on 20 February 2013 - 07:24 AM, said:

They have form.

Jacksonville 44: Scooping the bottom of the barrel ---- Wixxy on the shocking revelation that Thomson once stayed at the Westin Hotel.

Quote

I am sure that police will be attempting to paint a picture that Thomson came and left the hotel at a time that fits in with a brothel visit. This will show the frankly embarrassing depths that our police force will have to sink to in order to appease George Brandis.

For what are blatantly obvious reasons, they can’t seem to find any footage of Thomson coming or leaving a brothel, so they now have to execute Plan D; D standing, of course, for desperate.



If the police have to make wild attempts to put something this desperate together, than there is no greater proof of all this being a massive fishing expedition.

I still look back and remember fondly the days when police gathered the evidence before charging someone. Now it seems if a politician wants someone found guilty, then they are charged in a huge public ceremony and then circumstantial evidence is gathered by whatever means possible to make them appear guilty.

This division is becoming a stain on the cocktail dress of the NSW Police Force, and this investigation is becoming an embarrassment to all those who wear the uniform.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[scotto]

This has gotten way beyond embarrassing. I note on Wixxy's page there is a link to a story about a guy called Rob Elliot who has been paid $150,000 a year by the HSU for the last ten years as a "consultant" despite not doing any work at all for the HSU in that time.

When this stuff comes into the open it's going to make accusations against Thomson look like a bad daydream.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[HDMC]

The Jacksonville Resource Page


So much evidence and so little action by the police.

Brandis has done his work well.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[Bam]

Craig Thomson FWA Update (WixxyLeaks)
Court rules Thomson cases to be heard separately (ABC Online)
Summary: Most civil cases against Thomson on hold until the criminal charges have been dealt with.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[longweekend58]

Bam, on 26 April 2013 - 05:54 PM, said:

Craig Thomson FWA Update (WixxyLeaks)
Court rules Thomson cases to be heard separately (ABC Online)
Summary: Most civil cases against Thomson on hold until the criminal charges have been dealt with.

according to some rather lame online bloggers this means that the Thomson case is 'falling apart'. dealing with the criminal ones first is merely a time saving manoeuvre. if he is found guilty in criminal court with its higher standard of proof, the civil court becomes almost a rubber stamp.

But you would have to say that justice in this matter has been dragged out ever so slowly... its not fair on Thomson or other parties.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[scotto]

It's hard to believe that the case is getting stronger, though, isn't it?

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[Bam]

longweekend58, on 27 April 2013 - 11:59 AM, said:

dealing with the criminal ones first is merely a time saving manoeuvre. if he is found guilty in criminal court with its higher standard of proof, the civil court becomes almost a rubber stamp.

Saving time is a reasonable motivation. However, the criminal allegations and the civil allegations do not necessarily deal with the same material. There is some overlap, but there are differences as well.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.

[Bam]

Thomson quits Labor to run as independent

Quote

Suspended Labor MP Craig Thomson has decided to quit the party and recontest his New South Wales electorate as an independent.

Register so you can post replies with ease and remove this message.
Already registered? Please login now to make this message go away.