Case History

Greg Walsh & Co acted for all three accused in this significant District Court matter, with Mr Walsh appearing as solicitor advocate for Andrew Colquhoun. This case concerned a fraud prosecution brought against three members of the Colquhoun family, alleging the dishonest obtaining of real property at 61 Boyce Street, Glebe, formerly belonging to the deceased estate of Ansis Neilands. The Crown alleged a joint criminal enterprise spanning some two decades, with the first accused, Peter Colquhoun, a former solicitor, said to have used his professional knowledge of the property to facilitate its ultimate transfer into family ownership. Prior to trial, Greg Walsh & Co successfully pursued a number of important pre-trial applications before Abadee DCJ in the NSW District Court. These included applications to exclude evidence of alleged professional misconduct and associated disciplinary investigation material, challenges to the admissibility of two expert reports, and an application for trial by judge alone. His Honour granted the application for trial by judge alone, accepting that the cumulative weight of factors including the legal and factual complexity of the case, the inherent prejudicial character of the disciplinary investigation material, and the layered nature of the joint enterprise allegations made it in the

In this matter Greg Walsh represented Tyson Will in the most tragic of circumstances. On Tuesday 24 July 2018, Tyson Will drove a motor bike on a farm situated at Delungra, approximately 90 km south of Moree. Tyson, who was 32 years of age at the time, had been brought up in the farming life, from a very young age. He had been riding motor bikes on his parents’ farm since he was 6 years of age. Tyson was happily married with three (3) beautiful children, namely Harper, Hunter and Montana. The farm, which was owned by Tyson’s father, consisted of 3,000 acres and operated as a cattle and cropping farm. Tyson’s father, Ivan, had noticed that some cattle had got out of a paddock, no doubt due to the chronic drought conditions. At about 9.00 am Tyson decided to take Harper and Montana over to see “Pop”. Harper and Montana were placed in front of’ Tyson, on a Honda motorbike. Neither child was wearing a helmet or protected clothing. The motorbike had been in use for about thirteen (13) years and was not registered, as is the case with such motorbikes, as used on rural properties. Tyson drove the

On 11 September 2018, Mossop J delivered judgement as to the application for a permanent stay of the special hearing by John Chute. Greg Walsh appeared on behalf of the Accused. The history of the matter is set out in a number of judgments of the Supreme Court; R v Chute [2017] ACTSC 246; R v Chute (No 2) [2017] ACTSC 347; R v Chute (No 3) [2017] ACTSC 409. On 19 June 2018, the ACAT appointed William Tarrant, a member of the Marist Brothers religious order, as guardian for the accused with power to make an election for the proceedings to be by judge alone. On 26 July 2018, Mr Tarrant made an election for the special hearing to be a trial by a single judge without a jury. On 9 and 20 August 2018, the parties indicated that they did not wish to be further heard in relation to the application for a stay. The basis of the application for a stay was previously set out in the judgement of Mossop J at [2] in R v Chute (No 2) [2017] ACTSC 347. The history of the Accused was set out in Mr Walsh’s Affidavit of 10 October 2017.3

On 17 November 2017, Mossop J gave reasons for his conclusion that the fact that the procedure in s.316(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 (ACT) had been overlooked, did not avoid the obligation to determine whether or not the accused was capable of making an election to have a special hearing conducted as a trial by judge alone: see R v Chute (No 2) [2017] ACTSC 347. Greg Walsh appeared as Counsel for John Chute. An Affidavit of Mr Walsh dated 20 November 2017 was relied upon in the further hearing of the matter. A forensic psychiatrist, Dr John Albert Roberts, gave evidence and his Honour had set out the psychiatrist’s findings in respect of an examination of the Accused at the age care facility where he resided. Dr Roberts was of the opinion that the Accused was not capable, by virtue of his mental state, of appreciating matters that he would need to consider in coming to a decision in relation to the need for him to elect a judge alone trial or a trial by judge and jury. Mossop J at [10], concluded that the evidence of Dr Roberts was consistent with the evidence of Mr Walsh, arising

In this matter Greg Walsh acted for Chute. On 24 July 2017, Murrell CJ found that John Chute was unfit to plead to an indictment containing 16 counts; R v Chute [2017] ACTSC 246. On 12 October 2017, the Accused sought an order that there be a permanent stay of the special hearing. Mossop J in R v Chute (No 2) [2017] ACTSC 347 at [2] set out the grounds of the application on behalf of the Accused. Greg Walsh appeared as Counsel for the Accused in respect of the hearing of the application. On 15 and 16 November 2017, argument took place in relation to the application for a stay. In the course of the argument, it became apparent that following this decision of Murrell CJ, neither of the parties nor the Court had given consideration to the operation of s.316(2) Crimes Act. That permits a person who has been found unfit to plead to elect, either directly or via a guardian to have a special hearing conducted as a trial by judge alone as opposed to a trial by jury. Mossop J considered the interrelationship between s.316(1)(2) Crimes Act and section 68A & B of the Supreme Court

Greg Walsh acted for Adam Filippone (‘The Accused”) who was charged with murdering Peter Wayne Murphy (“The Deceased”) on 17 August 2008. In the alterative, he was charged with one count of assisting Gregory Alan Russell (“Russell”), who had committed the murder in order to enable Russell to escape prosecution. Russell committed suicide on 7 May 2010 and was never charged for the homicide. The Deceased resided in Central Australia. He had for some time lived and worked in Yuendumu Community. In the six (6) weeks prior to his death he had been living in Alice Springs. The Deceased went missing on or about 17 August 2008. The Crown case was that between August 2008 and May 2010 Adam Filippone and Russell had relocated to Queensland in late 2008. Prior to his suicide, Russell spoke to his then partner, Wendy Hassett, who recorded that conversation. Russell admitted killng the Deceased and said that “Wog” (Adam Filippone) was present and involvéd in the killing. He marked the map depicting where the murder took place and where the Deceased’s body could be found. Police then located the Deceased remains in a shallow grave. The autopsy established that the Deceased suffered two bullet

On the night of 30 April 2008 a group of friends attended the Commonwealth Hotel in Balmain to celebrate before the pub was handed to a new owner the next day. After the celebrations 14 people in various states of intoxication boarded a working boat to travel from Balmain to Watson’s Bay in order to deliver some keys to some people. Mr Reynolds was the ‘skipper’ in charge of navigating the boat, though he handed the boat to Mr Small to navigate. Mr Small was heavily intoxicated and unfamiliar with navigating vessels. Tragically, he crashed the boat into another vessel on the harbour which resulted in 6 deaths. Mr Walsh acted for Mr Small at trial and sentencing. Mr Small was convicted of 6 counts of dangerous navigation resulting in death and after considering the special circumstances raised by Mr Walsh and Counsel he was sentenced to a reduced sentence of 7 and a half years with a non-parole period of 5 years. A full copy of the judgement can be read here  

In this matter Greg Walsh acted for Maria Fitzsimons who was the subject of a complaint of professional misconduct by the Council of the Law Society of New South Wales. The Council of the Law Society of New South Wales alleged that Maria Fitzsimmons was guilty of professional misconduct on 3 matters, namely: The Solicitor misappropriated trust monies The Solicitor misled or attempted to mislead the Law Society The Solicitor made a false Statutory Declaration Maria Fitzsimons is the wife of Christopher Ronald  Fitzsimons who employed her as a Solicitor.  On 2 December 2005 the sum of $603,097.47 was deposited into the joint account of the Solicitor and her husband and in doing so it was contended by the Law Society that she mis-appropriated that sum.  A sum of $603,097.47 funded other withdrawals from the joint account. The deposit slip was forensically examined by Mr Paul Westwood a forensic doctor and examiner who concluded that it was highly probable that the questioned documents were written by the writer of the M Fitzsimons specimens. The solicitor was admitted in the Supreme Court of NSW on 19 May 1990.  She filed to reply in which she denied the allegations and facts pleaded

In this matter Greg Walsh acted for JF who had been charged with a number of counts of sexual assault involving his step-daughter. The Director of Public Prosecutions no billed each of the charges.  The circumstances that led to the decision of the Director involved an argument in respect of sexual assault communications privilege.  A large amount of documentation was provided to the Court and a number of email communications between the Complainant and various counsellors were released by His Honour to the parties. An application was made for a Certificate under the Costs in Criminal Cases Act 1967. The application was opposed. The Crown took a jurisdictional point and contended that the Court did not have jurisdiction to grant a Certificate.  The Crown asserted that there had been no practical purpose for the arraignment of the Accused and that steps ought to have been taken at an earlier time for access to be sought to the subject material that was the subject of sexual communications privilege. The Crown relied upon reported decisions of the District Court namely Kaldon Karout (unrep, 15/10/2004) NSW DC per Blackmore DCJ) and Leslie Evans (unrep, 21/04/2005 per Armitage DCJ).   In effect the Crown argued

On 7 September 2012, Greg Walsh appeared for Mr Edward John Saffin in sentencing proceedings before his Honour Judge Black QC at District Court, Lismore. Edward John Saffin had pleaded guilty to a charge of “Accessory After the Fact of Armed Robbery”. He had been remanded in custody for a period of approximately six and a half months and admitted to an intensive rehabilitation program for a period of seven and a half months. His Honour granted a remand pursuant to s.11 of the Crimes (Sentencing and Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) on condition that the offender undertake supervision by the Adult Probation and Parole Service and continue to undertake supervision by the Adult Probation and Parole Service, as well as continued psychiatric and drug and alcohol treatment. The Offender faithfully complied with conditions imposed by His Honour, including regular attendances upon his treating psychiatrist, psychologist and counsellor. His Honour imposed a sentence of two (2) years wholly suspended on the condition that the Offender continue to attend upon his treatment.

On 6 September 2012, Greg Walsh appeared for Edward John Moffat at the District Court, Mackay in respect of his plea to a count contrary to s. 474.19(1)(1) of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (CTH). The sentencing proceedings were heard by her Honour Judge Dick SC. The offender had a prior conviction of ‘Indecent Dealing’ and also an extensive subjective history. He had entered a plea at the earliest opportunity and had fully cooperated with investigating police. At the time of the execution of the search warrant the offender made admissions as to his conduct. The total number of images accessed by the offender amounted to 1,640 of which 98.5% were at level 1 on the Child Exploitation Tracking System (CETS) scale. His Honour sentenced the offender to a term of imprisonment of eight (8) months with an actual term of imprisonment of three (3) months and then a period of supervision for fifteen (15) months.

In this matter Greg Walsh acted for the Plaintiffs in proceedings heard before P Taylor SC DCJ. The Defendant made an application for a stay of proceedings during related criminal proceedings.  An application was also made by the Defendant to restrict access to subpoena documents arising out of related criminal proceedings. Greg Walsh acted for each of the Plaintiffs in respect of an incident that occurred on Monday 26 September 2011 at Colyton.  Two police officers attended this address when one of the Plaintiffs, Mr McMaster was shot in the abdomen by one of the police officers in the presence of the other two Plaintiffs. Mr Walsh swore an affidavit opposing that the documents produced by the State of NSW “have not been accessed, uplifted or copied by” he or any of his staff or to his knowledge “any other person on behalf of the Plaintiff.” In our argument the Plaintiff’s position was supportive of the criminal proceedings which arose out of the invasion of the home of the Plaintiffs and which had occurred just prior to the shooting of the incident in which Mr McMaster was shot by police. The Defendant asserted that each of the Plaintiffs should not

In this matter Greg Walsh acted for International Australian Champion Golfer, Wayne Riley, and his mother who were charged with assault occasioning actual bodily harm and affray. The charges arose as a result of an incident after Wayne’s father, Graham Riley, 71, was involved in an altercation with a youth two days before Christmas in 2010. Wayne who has played in the European Golf Circuit for 20 years and has been a British Television Sports Commentator, denied emphatically that he was guilty of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, common assault and affray. His mother Jeanette also strenuously denied her guilt. The incident occurred when the Riley family were on their way to a local restaurant at Oatley when the youth was involved in a ‘push and shove’ incident with Wayne’s father. The 1991 Australian Open Champion Golfer had been heading to a bottle shop when the scuffle between his father and the youth occurred. On his return to where his father was with the youth, Wayne allegedly got into an altercation with the youth. A number of neighbours, including a police officer, came onto the scene. The Court then heard that Mrs Riley also became involved and ended up on