Aug 3, 2026
Arson is a serious offence in Victoria, carrying a maximum of 15 years imprisonment under section 197 of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) for destroying or damaging property by fire. If the fire causes someone’s death it becomes arson causing death, with a maximum of 25 years, and intentionally or recklessly causing a bushfire carries up to 15 years. These cases often turn on how the fire started and whether the prosecution can prove you acted intentionally or recklessly, which is exactly where a defence is built.
Jul 29, 2026
An affray charge in Victoria is a public order offence under section 195H of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic). It covers using or threatening unlawful violence in a way that would terrify a person of reasonable firmness present at the scene. It is an indictable offence carrying up to 5 years imprisonment, or 7 years if the person wore a face covering to conceal their identity.
Jul 15, 2026
Armed robbery is one of the most serious offences in Victoria, carrying a maximum of 25 years imprisonment under section 75A of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic). It is committed when a person commits a robbery while armed with a firearm, imitation firearm, offensive weapon, or explosive. Because the penalties are so high and these cases often turn on identity and the strength of the evidence, defence strategy matters enormously. A well-run defence can challenge the identification, contest whether you were really armed, or work to reduce the charge to robbery or theft.
Jul 14, 2026
Yes. If you were convicted or sentenced in the Magistrates’ Court, you generally have a right to appeal to the County Court, and you must lodge a notice of appeal within 28 days. A County Court appeal is conducted as a rehearing under the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic), so your case is heard afresh and you are not bound by the plea you entered below. You can appeal your conviction, your sentence, or both, but the County Court can also impose a more severe sentence, which is why it must warn you first and give you the chance to abandon the appeal.
Jul 13, 2026
Affray is a serious public violence offence under section 195H of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), committed when a person uses or threatens unlawful violence in a way that would make a bystander of reasonable firmness fear for their safety. It carries up to 5 years imprisonment, or 7 years if you wore a face covering. Affray sits within a wider family of public violence offences, the most serious of which is violent disorder under section 195I, involving 6 or more people and carrying up to 10 years. The common law offence of riot was abolished in Victoria in 2017.
Jul 9, 2026
Careless driving is judged objectively, whether a reasonable, prudent driver would have acted differently, and carries fines up to 25 penalty units. Dangerous driving requires proof the manner of driving was inherently unsafe to the public, and carries up to 240 penalty units or 2 years imprisonment, plus mandatory licence disqualification.
