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Defend yourself: facing a charge in court

Defend yourself: facing a charge in court

Defend yourself: facing a charge in court.  3rd ed Cover

by Tim Anderson.
3rd edition, The Federation Press, 2014.

A practical guide to defending a criminal charge in court which covers arrest and questioning, bail, dealing with lawyers, court procedure, how to plead, hearings and trials, preparation, evidence, proof, examination in court, sentencing, and appeals.

About the author

Tim Anderson is a writer and academic in political economy. He has been through every stage of the criminal system and successfully represented himself in court several times.

Copies of this book are also available in the Find Legal Answers Tool Kit at your local public library. The Tool Kit is a collection of up to 20 plain language books held in NSW public libraries which answer everyday questions about the law.

 

Chapters

Chapter eleven

Evidence

This section explains the basics of evidence and witnesses, proof, examination, cross-examination, re-examination, some important categories of evidence and making objections.

Chapter twelve

Sentencing

This section covers evidence and submissions, possible sentences, sentence indications and costs.

Chapter thirteen

Appeals

This section covers how to appeal, appeals against magistrate and jury convictions, appeals against sentence and special inquiries.

Chapter fourteen

Character references and warrants

A character reference is a statement from someone who knows you well and can say something generally good about you. Such a person will usually make a written statement, but may then be called to give evidence and be cross-examined on her or his statement. 

Outstanding warrants (for example, for unpaid fines) maybe used against you at any time. They usually do not expire or have any time limit. Police can and do regularly run checks on people (for example, the drivers of cars) to see if there are outstanding warrants.

Chapter fifteen

Glossary

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Disclaimer: 

Copyright © 2014 Tim Anderson. All rights reserved.

Material reproduced from Defend Yourself: Facing a Charge in Court, 3rd edition, published by The Federation Press in Sydney, Australia. Reproduced with permission.

This publication is copyright. Other than for the purposes of and subject to the conditions prescribed under the Copyright Act, no part of it may be in any form or by any means (electronic, mechanical, microcopying, photocopying, recording or otherwise) be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted without prior written permission. Enquiries should be addressed to The Federation Press.