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The Doyles Guide annual rankings for lawyers was recently announced, and we’re excited to share that Stary Norton Halphen and our team of criminal lawyers have received multiple rankings.

Former North Melbourne coach Dani Laidley has been backed by two of the club’s former stars in court as she promised good behaviour in the wake of stalking charges.

Mr Roberts’ solicitor, Simon Moodie, says that his client welcomes the decision of the Court, and looks forward to a fair trial. Given that there will be a re-trial he makes no further comment at this time.

Victorian AFL great Dani Laidley will have a drug charge dismissed if she writes a letter of thanks to police. The former North Melbourne coach was addressed as Ms Laidley after her lawyer Rob Stary explained his client had undergone a gender transition since her last appearance.

Western Bulldogs star Lachie Hunter has been fined $1000 and escaped conviction after he pleaded guilty to drink driving and failing to provide his details after a crash that damaged four cars earlier this year.

Victoria is considering the introduction of judge-only trials to keep the wheels of justice turning through the COVID-19 crisis and avoid a massive backlog of cases that threatens to clog the courts for years after the pandemic has passed.

The Sydney Morning Herald, October 2019Victoria Police have initiated a criminal investigation into two people suspected of being whistleblowers who exposed how ‘Helloworld Travel’ gave free international flights to the family of Finance Minister, Mathias Cormann. Detectives attended the homes of two former Helloworld Travel members and sought to question them about whether they accessed the information.Rob Stary, representative of one of the former Helloworld Travel members, said “"This sort of police activity, intentionally or not, works to frighten future whistleblowers into staying silent about possible conduct the public deserves to know about".

The Sydney Morning Herald, October 2019“How do you punish someone who has committed two very different crimes at the same time? That's the dilemma before the High Court”. Simon Moodie of Stary Norton Halphen discusses the murder sentence anomaly on ABC Radio.

The Guardian, December 2019Dr Yang Hengjun is being pushed to confess to spying allegations that potentially carry the death penalty.Dr. Yang’s Australian defence lawyer and human rights advocate, Rob Stary, said Chinese officials were attempting to isolate Yang from the outside world.Another of Dr. Yang’s lawyers, Sarah Condon, stated: “We also understand that during interrogations, which are now taking place on a daily basis, that Dr Yang’s wrists and feet are being shackled. He is being interrogated in a repetitive fashion. Despite being incarcerated now for many, many months, Dr Yang continues to be denied access to his lawyers.”

The families of women and children detained in Syria are threatening to take the Federal Government to court, claiming it is legally obliged to repatriate Australian citizens since the fall of the Islamic State group.Eighteen women and children, including two newborn babies who are the youngest Australians detained in Syria, are involved in the proposed legal action.

Yesterday, AM reported that Yuan Xiaoliang, the wife of detained Australian writer and democracy advocate Yang Hengjun, had been detained and questioned by Chinese police and prevented from leaving the country on the weekend.This morning, more details are emerging about the lengths lawyers and friends have gone to, in seeking their protection.Australian officials were asked if they could provide consular assistance and escort Mrs Yuan to the airport or even back to Australia, but those requests were denied.The ABC understands Australia doesn't have the right to offer her consular assistance, while Mrs Yuan is a permanent resident of Australia, she is not an Australian citizen.Mrs Yuan's Australian based lawyer, Rob Stary, argues more can and should be done to help her.