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DISCHARGE WITHOUT CONVICTION – DRINK DRIVING

Mar 14, 2024

BT was charged with driving with excess breath alcohol. BT was assisted by Ciara and pleaded guilty early in the proceedings and applied for a discharge without conviction. 

The incident occurred after BT made the erroneous decision to drive after celebrating her university graduation with friends, going to bed and sleeping for a number of hours before waking up early in the morning to leave the address. When stopped by Police, BT returned an alcohol-breath reading of 662 mcgs.

At sentencing Ciara outlined for the judge how BT had a difficult past which she had overcome to obtain a degree as a healthcare professional. However, the impact of a conviction would stymie the progression of her career, which was only at an early stage and BT had completed various courses to make amends for her actions.  

The application was successful and a discharge without conviction was granted. 

DISCHARGE WITHOUT CONVICTION – DRINK DRIVING

Dec 22, 2023

GJ was charged with driving with excess breath alcohol. She was assisted by Ciara, pleaded guilty early in the proceedings and applied for a discharge without conviction.

At sentencing, Ciara argued the impact of a conviction on GJ would be out of all proportion to the gravity of the offence. On the day of the incident, GJ was responding to a distressed call from a family member, was stopped by Police and returned an alcohol-breath reading of 584 mcg.

The impact of a conviction on GJ was that she and her family would lose a critical source of income. GJ had also engaged with various courses and completed community work to atone for the wrongdoing.

The matter was opposed by Police Prosecutions but GJ’s application was successful and a discharge without conviction was granted.

DISCHARGE WITHOUT CONVICTION GRANTED

Apr 29, 2022

Matt successfully obtained a discharge without conviction for YK, who was originally charged with blackmail and dishonestly accessing a computer system at Auckland District Court.

The judge accepted the offending was at the lower end, expert reports showed she was remorseful and convictions would prevent her obtaining employment and future plans to travel overseas.

Media

How police and homeowners brought down a Wellington drug syndicate

How police and homeowners brought down a Wellington drug syndicate

Jan 23, 2024

“… Matthew Goodwin spoke of his client’s journey since his second arrest, labelling it “transformational…

Former builder faced Judge Peter Hobbs for sentencing in the Wellington District Court, hoping for the home detention sentence his lawyer fervently argued for. He wasn’t granted home detention – but did receive a 70 per cent discount off his prison sentence.” Read full article here.

The MDMA in the juice bottle and the Brazilian cocaine: Auckland drug runner jailed for cartel role

The MDMA in the juice bottle and the Brazilian cocaine: Auckland drug runner jailed for cartel role

Aug 15, 2023

A former Auckland drug runner who served as a minion in one of New Zealand’s largest ever syndicates has been sentenced to a shade under a decade in prison. Matt Goodwin, said his client had been seduced into the sprawling and sophisticated syndicate amid financial difficulties, cultural pressure and personal tragedy with the death of his grandfather, his “mainstay of support”. Read full article here.

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