CRIMINAL DEFENCE
Representing With Respect
Charged or under investigation by the authorities? We are ready to help. Phillips Crawford Lawyers has the legal knowledge, skills, and experience to advise clients on Criminal Defence matters throughout Australia.
We can assist you with all aspects of criminal and quasi criminal law including bail applications, traffic matters, trials, sentences and appeals.
SOME PREVIOUS CASES
POSSESSION OF 250KG OF MARIJUANA
Alan Phillips of our office instructed Scott Lynch of Counsel on behalf of a Vietnamese national who was intercepted with approximately 250 kilograms of cannabis in the back of his van. He was intercepted by police driving from west of Brisbane to Inala.
Following extensive negotiations with the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions, they accepted that our client was not aware of the quantity or the type of drug in the back of the van, but as the person in charge of the vehicle, should have been more diligent with what was in his vehicle. The basis of this plea meant that the client was unable to be sentenced on a commercial basis, and was therefore sentenced to time served (~8 months) and released immediately following his sentence).
https://www.gattonstar.com.au/news/1m-marijuana-seized-on-warrego-hwy/3669868/
DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGE DROPPED
Alan Phillips represented a client who was charged with trafficking in dangerous drugs in the Bundaberg region. He was intercepted with approximately $5000 cash in his backpack and smaller quantities of dangerous drugs. Police conducted an interview with him, in which he made admissions to trafficking in dangerous drugs.
The client instructed our office that he was induced to participate in the interview, as the police gave back nearly all of the cash, and promised him bail for participating in the interview, despite his extensive criminal history and being on a suspended sentence at the time.
Our office instructed Counsel at a pre-trial hearing in the Supreme Court, arguing that the record of interview should be excluded from the evidence able to be led against him at trial. We were successful in having the interview excluded, and the drug trafficking charge was discontinued, allowing him to be sentenced on the remaining offences and released on the day of his sentence.
25 MILLION DOLLAR FRAUD PROSECUTION DISCONTINUED AGAINST CLIENT
The client was prosecuted over approximately 4 years by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions regarding an alleged fraud of a Sunshine Coast property.
The alleged fraud related to a 'scam' following the issue of shares in a company established by our client. The allegation was that our client misrepresented the client and dishonestly purchased the property with the shares in the company which he purported had significant value. The complainant's version was that the shares were worthless and the client knew this all along.
Over 4 years Alan Phillips instructed Counsel at a committal hearing and three trials (following numerous juries being discharged).
Ultimately the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions was persuaded to discontinue the allegations against our client and after fighting tooth and nail for many years our client was finally exonerated.
DRUG TRAFFICKING CHARGE DROPPED AT COMMITTAL HEARING
The client was charged with drug trafficking in the Dalby region in Queensland. Alan Phillips conducted a thorough review of the extensive brief of evidence and established that there was insufficient evidence for a jury to convict the client of drug trafficking.
A submission was provided to Police Prosecutions. They rejected the submission and the matter was listed for a committal hearing, with a 'no case to answer' submission to be made on the trafficking allegation. On the morning of the hearing, police agreed with Alan Phillips and discontinued the drug trafficking charge against the client.
SUPREME COURT BAIL GRANTED FOR COMMERCIAL POSSESSION OF METH
The client was charged with commercial possession of approximately an ounce of methamphetamine. He was apprehended after an alleged police chase involving burn outs in the Brisbane area. He had approximately 7 charges before the Court. The client's history was extensive, including previous convictions for trafficking in dangerous drugs and armed robbery.
Alan Phillips made an application for bail in the Magistrates Court which was refused. Three days later, he made a further application in the Supreme Court for bail which was granted, and the client was released on strict bail conditions.