Murray Mulitalo was charged with supplying at least one ounce (28 grams) of methamphetamine in March and April 2020 across four occasions. Matt acted for Mr Mulitalo.

At sentencing the judge adopted a starting point of two years six months imprisonment. She allowed total discounts of 55%, taking into account a late guilty plea; a cultural report which referred to the death of Mr Mulitalo’s father, the consequential financial pressure on his family, accentuated by the demands made by the family’s church; previous good character; remorse and his determined efforts to rehabilitate, including attendance at counselling to learn about the harmful impact of methamphetamine in the community.

Mr Mulitalo was sentenced to six months community detention and 100 hours community work.

Our client, EQ had been on holiday with friends and engaged in a one-off sexual encounter with a woman. In the following weeks, a complaint was laid to Police. 

Police then contacted EQ to commence an investigation into the allegation and EQ contacted Ciara to obtain legal advice. Ciara assisted EQ throughout the investigation as well as liaising with Police.

In the end, Police advised that their investigation had concluded and a decision had been made not to charge EQ. 

OW pleaded guilty to possessing 24 grams of methamphetamine for supply. Matt acted for OW. 

At sentencing, 28 months’ imprisonment was found to be an appropriate starting point and a 20% discount was awarded for OW’s early guilty plea. Matt also obtained a cultural report which outlined our client’s troubled personal background and this attracted a further 20% discount. OW had also made significant attempts to rehabilitate himself against a background of substance abuse and was awarded a further 5% discount for this factor. 

This left OW with an end sentence of 15 months’ imprisonment which could be substituted for an electronically monitored sentence. The Presiding Judge found community detention was the most appropriate and OW was sentenced to four months community detention and also 18 months intensive supervision.  

OW had also pleaded guilty to a charge of driving with excess breath alcohol. The Presiding Judge found that the case under s. 94 of the Land Transport Act had been made out and did not disqualify OW from driving but rather, that the community detention sentence could make up the community sentence requirement (so he did not have to serve a sentence of community work).