Bail

Our firm recently secured a Not Guilty verdict for a client charged with possessing a prohibited weapon after airport security identified an item believed to be pepper spray during a routine screening. The prosecution alleged that our client knowingly possessed the prohibited item, relying on claims that the item had been concealed and that there were inconsistencies in our client’s explanations to authorities.

At hearing, we successfully argued that the prosecution had failed to prove the key element required for the offence — that our client had actual knowledge that the item was pepper spray.

Through careful analysis of the evidence, including CCTV and body-worn footage, we demonstrated that the item was heavily covered with stickers and that our client’s behaviour, including spraying the item on himself believing it to be deodorant, was inconsistent with someone who knew it was a prohibited weapon.
His Honour ultimately accepted that the prosecution had not proved beyond reasonable doubt that our client knew the item was pepper spray. The Court found our client Not Guilty, and the charge was dismissed. This outcome highlights the importance of careful legal advocacy and ensuring that the prosecution is held to the strict burden of proving every element of an offence.

March 2026

Mr Zhai, without the assistance of a barrister, successfully applied for and was granted Local Court Bail for a young client in his 20s with no criminal history who was charged with more than 10 charges of sexual assault and filming the assaults without consent.