Aug 7, 2026
The Coroners Court of Victoria is a specialist court that investigates certain deaths and fires under the Coroners Act 2008 (Vic). It gets involved when a death is a “reportable death,” such as a death that is unexpected, unnatural, or violent, a death in custody or care, or a death where the cause is unknown. A coroner works out who died, how, and why, and can make recommendations to prevent similar deaths. It does not decide whether anyone is guilty of a crime, but it can refer a matter for possible prosecution.
Aug 6, 2026
Aggravated burglary is a serious indictable offence under section 77 of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic). It is a burglary made more serious by an aggravating factor, such as being armed with a weapon, or entering a building knowing or being reckless that someone was inside. It carries a maximum penalty of 25 years imprisonment.
Aug 5, 2026
Bail for young people in Victoria is decided under the same Bail Act 1977 (Vic) as for adults, but with an extra layer of child-specific considerations in section 3B, such as the child’s age and maturity, the importance of keeping them in school and with family, and the harm custody can do. Since 26 March 2025, community safety is the overarching consideration for all bail, including for children, and the old wording that treated remand of a child as a “last resort” was removed.
Aug 4, 2026
Yes. In Victoria, police can use your phone data as evidence against you, including messages, photos, call and location records, and app data. They can get it by seizing your phone, using a warrant, or with your consent, and a court order can even compel you to unlock it. Refusing a valid order to provide access is a separate offence.
Aug 3, 2026
In Victoria, indictable criminal charges are tried by a jury of 12, not by a judge alone. Unlike New South Wales and some other states, Victoria has no general judge-alone trial option. The judge-alone trials introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic were temporary, needed a pandemic declaration to be in force, and have since lapsed. So for most people facing a County Court or Supreme Court trial, the real question is not judge versus jury, it is how best to run the defence.
