Defending Common Assault Charges in the Local Court – What You Need to Know

If you have been charged with Common Assault or a similar offence like Intimidation, its natural to feel anxious. For many people, this is their first time in Court. The good news? With the right advice and preparation, you can face the Local Court process with confidence.

Why does defending yourself properly matter? Because an Intimidation or Assault Conviction doesn’t just affect your record, it can impact your employment, travel visas and even family law matters.

Defending Common Assault Charges in the Local Court - Londi Gramelis Beverly Hills NSW

What Happens in the Local Court?

1.     Your First Local Court Date (Mention) - This is the starting point. You don’t have to have all the answers right away- often the best step is to ask for time to get legal advice or for the police to provide their evidence (the “brief”).

2.     The Police Brief of Evidence - This includes Witness Statements, CCTV, Police Body Camera Footage or medical reports. Your lawyers job is to comb through this material and find weaknesses, gaps or inconsistencies.

3.     The Hearing - If the case proceeds, the Magistrate hears both sides. Police call their witnesses, who can be cross examined. You may call your own witness or give evidence and Legal arguments are made about the strength of the case.

     The prosecution must prove the charge beyond reasonable doubt-a high standard

4.   The Decision - The Magistrate can dismiss the charges or find them proven and move to the sentencing which could be an outcome of no conviction (section 10), fines, good behaviour bond or in serious cases, imprisonment.

ALWAYS GET LEGAL ADVICE by experienced criminal lawyers like First Choice Family Lawyers before making any decisions, to understand whether you have a defence and ensure that you present the best possible case to the Court.  Contact First Choice Family Lawyers today on (02) 9579 5555 for professional advice and legal representation.