Author Archives: andrew

Stonewalling 101: the legal system’s dirty little secret

Andrew L. Urban Under the constitutional doctrine of the separation of powers, parliaments make laws, the executive administers and enforces laws, and the judiciary adjudicates disputes about the law. The judiciary is thus insulated from outside oversight; that’s a good … Continue reading

Posted in CCRC, General articles | 4 Comments

Inquiry into Bruce Lehrmann case begins work

The inquiry into the handling of the Bruce Lehrmann case by ACT police, the DPP and virtually anyone associated with it, can expect to come across a witches brew around the discontinued rape allegation against him by Brittany Higgins;  how … Continue reading

Posted in Case 18 Bruce Lehrmann | 7 Comments

Extinguishing reasonable doubt with unreliable allegations

Andrew L. Urban.  The 2015 double murder conviction of Marco Rusterholz presents a significant concern about the Tasmanian criminal justice system, as it extinguishes the requirement for guilt to be established beyond reasonable doubt, relying on questionable allegations.    

Posted in Case 19 Marco Rusterholz | 7 Comments

Folbigg diaries a “dump” of her emotions

Convicted child killer Kathleen Folbigg told a close friend she used her incriminating diaries to “dump” her negative emotions in her grief and blamed herself, feeling that she had “failed as a mother, a woman”, letters tendered in an inquiry … Continue reading

Posted in Case 17 Kathleen Folbigg | 51 Comments

Derek Bromley “on the steps of the High Court”

Andrew L. Urban.  On the eve of his 40th year of imprisonment, Derek Bromley “finds himself, figuratively speaking, on the steps of the High Court of Australia for the second time,” writes his long-time friend and supporter ROBYN MILERA on … Continue reading

Posted in Case 05 Derek Bromley | 10 Comments

Malpractice, Incompetence And Lies: the Manock curse – Part 2

Journalist Andrew L. Urban and retired barrister Kevin Borrick KC reveal how South Australia’s legal fraternity contributed to the ongoing scandal that began with the unqualified forensic pathologist Dr Colin Manock and spread like cancer, infecting the entire system. The … Continue reading

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser, Case 02 Henry Keogh, Case 03 David Szach, Case 04 Gordon Wood, Case 05 Derek Bromley, Forensic evidence, General articles | 22 Comments

Malpractice, Incompetence And Lies: the Manock curse – Part 1

Journalist Andrew L. Urban and retired barrister Kevin Borrick KC reveal how South Australia’s legal fraternity contributed to the ongoing scandal that began with the unqualified forensic pathologist Dr Colin Manock and spread like cancer, infecting the entire system. The … Continue reading

Posted in Case 01 Sue Neill-Fraser, Case 02 Henry Keogh, Case 03 David Szach, Case 05 Derek Bromley, Forensic evidence, General articles | 1 Comment

Did “mistakes and misdirections” prompt Marco Rusterholz murder conviction?

Andrew L. Urban.  It’s one thing for a man convicted of murder to protest the verdict. It’s quite another to painstakingly dissect the trial judge’s summing up, as Marco Rusterholz did, to point out where he thinks “mistakes and misdirections” … Continue reading

Posted in Case 19 Marco Rusterholz | 30 Comments

ALERT: ‘chip-in’ to petitions doesn’t help the cause

Don’t let your generosity be fooled: when signing a petition, you’ll be asked to ‘chip in’ to help promote the cause. ‘Chipping in’ sounds benign but it’s just a way of asking for money while you are in a vulnerable … Continue reading

Posted in General articles | 4 Comments

Calling for disclosure – why mobiles matter

The role of mobile phones in sexual assault cases is crucial, often providing exculpatory evidence – which is why some police investigations prefer not to answer the call for disclosure, as gender issues commentator BETTINA ARNDT explains with a couple … Continue reading

Posted in General articles | 1 Comment