Applications for discharge without conviction
Police v JS – Elderly man with high standing in the community charged with indecent assault of a woman in a massage parlour. Despite police opposition the court granted a discharge without conviction on the basis a conviction would severely undermine the man’s mana within his community R v R – Manager of a […]
Fraud/Dishonesty
R v K – Successful defence after four-day trial of client charged with concealing considerable property and funds whilst bankrupt. Defence based on interpretation of certain documentation. Result: Not guilty on all charges. R v M – Represented client charged with one of the largest ever ACC frauds in New Zealand. M was a […]
Serious Violence
R v T – After a three-week trial T avoided conviction of two substantial armed robberies of a money shop and an armed security van despite the crown relying upon propensity evidence and gang associations in an attempt to convict T. R v C – Secured acquittal of client charged with grievous bodily harm […]
Drugs Cases
R v D – Client faced various charges of supplying methamphetamine. After considerable analysis of the evidence and negotiation with crown counsel the charges were significantly amended, and the amounts of methamphetamine considerably reduced. Result: The defendant pleaded guilty to amended charges and sentenced to a community-based sentence not a three-four year term of imprisonment. […]
Sex Cases
R V P – Successful defence of a man, P, who was charged with an historical rape offence and kidnapping which allegedly occurred 13 years before. DNA evidence linked him with the complainant who alleged he had kidnapped her from a street corner and then raped her. The defence was that all sexual activity was […]
Murder / Manslaughter
R v T – Represented a young man who was charged with the murder of a 2-year-old girl during the 2021 lockdown. Lester was highly praised for his skilful cross-examination of the main crown witnesses and his lengthy and emotive closing address. R v BR – BR charged, along with 2 others, of murdering […]