Work

Robert Stary reserved his highest praise and gratitude for his personal assistant Marco Man, familiar to all in the criminal law fraternity as Mr Stary’s indispensable right hand man.

Georgia Fields, 19, of Ferntree Gully, walked free from the Supreme Court today on bail despite allegations she plotted to kill her boyfriend’s disabled and deaf flat mate.In arguing for bail, Mr Smurthwaite said his client was not a risk to the community, would live with her parents and twin sister and adhere to a strict curfew.

Criminal lawyer Robert Stary, who took on the case a year after Ms Greensill's conviction, said in 30 years of practice it was very rare for him to be so strident about a person's innocence.

The ruckman's advocate, Sam Norton, asked the Appeals Board for leniency, noting that Minson had pleaded guilty and apologised to Chrystie on the ground and again before Tuesday night's Tribunal hearing.

Alleged jihadis would have access to religious guidance, education and psychological assessment under a bail support program being developed in Melbourne.

Police Prosecutor, Senior Constable Jacki Davis, said Clifford and his co-accused targeted only stores that used the controversial PayWay system, buying items including a diary and artist’s sketch pad, clothing, fishing lures, cigar­ettes, spirits and food.Andrew Zingler, for Clifford, said his client’s offending occurred during a period when he was trying to get his life ­together.

"There shouldn't be any pre-emptive decisions about whether this man is innocent or guilty," Rob Stary said outside court."He should be treated in same way as any other remand prisoner. He should be housed in an appropriate remand facility, not in the state's maximum security unit."

The elderly husband who has been charged with the murder of two women in Victoria nearly 24 years ago - one of them being his wife - has described the accusations as 'bizarre'.

A Melbourne security guard and homelessness volunteer accused of attempting to travel to the Middle East to join the fight against the Islamic State has been released on bail.Defence lawyer Sam Norton said Mr Williams had taken steps to engage in the conflict lawfully and was trying to join the Yekineyen Parastina Gel, a Kurdish paramilitary group that was recognised by western nations.

As part of his submissions, defence lawyer Lou Richter included a judgment from more than 20 years ago by the then-chief justice John Harber Phillips on an appeal by the man's father against his 23-year jail sentence for sex crimes.

Under questioning from Mr Stary, the detective conceded none of Mr El Sabsabi's alleged offending included any instances of violent conduct, and that he had co-operated with authorities.

Jesse Smith told Deputy Chief Magistrate Lance Martin that the legislation provided "dramatically expanded, draconian and unprecedented police powers.