Criminal Law Casebook - Developments in leading appellate courts

Aimed at promoting the study of technical aspects of criminal law and procedure, this site considers selected cases from the top appeal courts of Australia, Canada, the UK, the USA, the European Court of Human Rights and New Zealand. From August 2004 there have been approximately 800 entries, including book reviews.

Thursday, May 11, 2017

The meaning of means: mental elements of drug importation in Australia

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To find out what the law is you first look for relevant legislation. When deciding how to explain the law about the state of mind required...

Saturday, May 06, 2017

Interesting decisions pending

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As you know by now, much of law involves waiting. Waiting for decisions of appellate courts gives law much of its suspense. Perhaps. Here a...

Monday, February 13, 2017

The Arnold Solution

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I ask, just for fun, whether you have read Thurman Arnold’s “The Role of Substantive Law and Procedure in the Legal Process”. It is availab...

Friday, October 21, 2016

Proving propensity

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Propensity evidence is evidence about the defendant’s conduct, not directly connected to the presently alleged offending, but which sh...

Tuesday, September 27, 2016

Error and injustice

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In Booth v R [2016] NZSC 127 the Court changed the interpretation of the Parole Act 2002 to make some prisoners eligible for release earl...

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About Me

Don Mathias: I practised as a barrister from December 1978 to retirement in February 2018. In 1980 I completed my PhD in criminal law. I have taught Advanced Criminal Law at the University of Auckland, and I wrote "Misuse of Drugs", our textbook on drug offences published by Thomson Reuters NZ Ltd. I was a contributing and updating author of "Adams on Criminal Law", and co-author of the first three editions of "Criminal Procedure in New Zealand" (Thomson Reuters, 3rd ed 2019).

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