Murder and manslaughter are considered to be the most serious of criminal offences and therefore carry the most serious penalties a court can impose, being life imprisonment.
Causing the death of another person is the primary element of both offences however, the main distinguishing feature between them is the element of fault. In particular, for murder, the prosecution will assert what you intended to do, whereas in the case of manslaughter, whether you were negligent or reckless in causing the death of another person may be relevant.
We advise you to contact us immediately if you have been charged with one of these offences, as the consequences of failing to obtain legal representation with such serious charges can have a disastrous impact on your case. We have experience in advising and representing clients together with senior barristers with respect to murder trials both in Western Australia and the Northern Territory.
read moreSexual offences are considered to be very serious and the assistance of an experienced sexual assault lawyer is often necessary. Subjecting another person to physical contact of a sexual nature without obtaining their consent may be deemed a sexual offence. Sexual assaults not only include penile intercourse, but also digital penetration (i.e. any object other than a penis) and oral sex. A child under the age of 16 is incapable at law of giving consent to sexual intercourse or other sexual acts and therefore any sexual act with a minor can be deemed an offence. Terms of immediate imprisonment are often ordered for sex-related crimes.
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The possession, sale, supply or manufacture of illegal drugs is deemed a criminal offence under the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981. A prohibited drug covers a wide range of drugs and is set out in section 4 of the Misuse of Drugs Act 1981, which includes but is not limited to:
If a person has attempted to take or has taken something from another person,in circumstances of force, intimidation or threats, this could be deemed to be a Robbery. This offence can occur at any time and any place. If a weapon is used when carrying out the offence the robbery could be considered to be an “armed” robbery, which is an even more serious offence.
In any event, a charge of robbery is very serious and severe penalties such as terms of immediate imprisonment are ordinarily imposed.
Burglary is the act of entering someone’s property without that person’s consent, with an intent to commit an offence within that property. There are a variety of aggravating factors that have the ability to increase the seriousness of the charge such as being in company with other persons, threatening to kill or injure and being armed or pretending to be armed with a dangerous weapon.
There are a multitude of ways in which the offence of stealing can present itself. It could be taking a chocolate bar from the shop without paying for it or stealing a $60,000 diamond necklace. In each case, the penalty imposed will be proportionate to the offence. For example, a mere fine may be imposed for the theft of the chocolate bar but a term of imprisonment may be considered for the diamond necklace.
Other variations of stealing include stealing as a servant (theft from an employer) or stealing a motor vehicle.
We are experienced in providing advice and representation in relation to all levels of property offending, including but not limited to serious robberies involving co-offenders and weapons in which victims have been assaulted, to numerous break ins and home invasions, as well as low level stealing such as shoplifting.
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If someone has purported to make a personal or financial advantage by using deception, lying or dishonesty, this could be considered fraud. Fraud is a serious charge in which a term of imprisonment can be imposed, particularly in circumstances where the amount of fraud alleged is around $10,000 or greater.
At Sharleena Ramdhas Barrister & Solicitor, our fraud lawyers in Perth have extensive experience in providing advice and representation with respect to all levels of fraud. Our background includes, but is not limited to, fraud involving significant sums of money obtained from employers, as well as Centrelink fraud and frauds against other government agencies and banks.
read moreThere are a variety of traffic offences ranging from the manner of driving (reckless driving, dangerous driving, careless driving), to driving without a licence (driving whilst disqualified etc), or drink driving and driving under the influence, and more.
Convictions for dangerous driving and reckless driving can result in the imposition of a term of imprisonment. Similarly, repeated convictions for drink/drug driving and driving without a valid licence/driving whilst disqualified can eventually lead to a term of imprisonment. The other penalties that are frequently imposed for traffic offences can include large fines and cancelling or suspending your driver’s licence.
Although traffic offences are thought of as being less serious than criminal offences, traffic offences can still have serious consequences, which could impact on your employment or your family if your ability to drive is affected. Therefore, it is important that you contact one of our experienced traffic lawyers for advice and/or representation when you have been charged with a traffic offence. We can represent you in court and encourage the Magistrate to impose the minimum fine or licence suspension period.
The professional team of traffic lawyers at Sharleena Ramdhas Barrister & Solicitor are experienced in providing advice and representation in relation to all levels of traffic offending, ranging from dangerous driving in which someone is injured, to numerous police chases, as well as lower level traffic offences relating to drink driving and driving whilst disqualified, and almost all cases where clients have pleaded guilty, we have obtained the lowest penalty available for them.
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A restraining order is an order made by the Magistrates Court when there has been an act of abuse and such abuse is likely to occur again. Our professional VRO lawyers are experienced in identifying the many forms of abuse which can include physical, verbal, emotional, psychological, and financial.
There are a number of ways to resolve a restraining order matter which will avoid the need for the stress and discomfort of a trial, such as the parties agreeing to a Conduct Agreement Order or an Undertaking.
We have significant experience in advising and representing both applicants and respondents in restraining order proceedings at numerous final order hearings. We have been successful in obtaining positive outcomes for our clients whether that be by way of winning the final order hearing or negotiating favourable outcomes for our clients to alleviate the need for a trial.
read moreAssault can come in many forms. The basis for any assault is the application of force by one person to another person, without their consent. Assaults are also categorised based on the seriousness of the injuries that are sustained by the victim, for example, ranging from the least serious assault of common assault, to assault occasioning bodily harm, to the most serious form of assault casuing grievous bodily harm. If you are charged with an assault offence, it’s paramount you seek the legal advice of a professional and skilled assault lawyer. The team at Sharleena Ramdhas Barrister & Solicitor are on hand to assist with the particulars of your case to achieve the best possible outcome.
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