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Hi all. I would like to thank Ms Lisa Riley for all her help with my legal issues this past month. It was the most harrowing experience of my life and thanks to her expertise, professionalism and knowledge of the law, I came out almost unscathed. I have no hesitation in recommending Lisa Riley and Armstrong Legal if you need help. The service is amazing and the cost was very minimal for the great outcome. Thank you Lisa for helping me in the most difficult time.
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I just want to thank you from the bottom of my heart. My whole life I was thrown away, you made me feel like I did mean something. I could not have asked for a better lawyer. Your compassion and love for your job is inspiring. Your upfront and honesty were muchly appreciated, you are a beautiful person. Thank you for not giving up on me and thank you for all the work you put in. I wish you all the best for the future and I will be recommending you to everyone I know. You're amazing!!!!
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I just wanted to thank you for representing me on Monday, I was overjoyed & relieved with the outcome. I don’t think it could have gone any better. All the best, I hope you got to celebrate this one instead after work, you forever made a difference in my life.
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I know I thanked you before we parted company but please allow me to reiterate in writing my sincere deepest thanks for defending me in court today. … Armstrong Legal certainly has a great Lawyer you are a credit to the company and I'm quite sure you will secure a very successful future! … My Kindest Regards and Thanks
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Throughout Angela has been the consummate professional. She maintained a calm, yet strong demeanour remained informative and completely open in her communication and took complete ownership of the situation. We felt confident we finally had an advocate to steer us out of the nightmare we were in, and she did so with great respect and sincerity. I cannot speak more highly of Angela. She has literally rescued our family from what looked very much like a hopeless future.
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Words can’t describe how grateful I am to Trudie Cameron being my solicitor and to Andrew Tiedt presenting my case in the court. They both have been very supportive and amazingly professional and effective. I’ve got an absolutely fantastic outcome I couldn’t even dream about.
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Soon after meeting Andrew I knew he was the solicitor I wanted to handle my matter. He immediately sprang into action which brought me stability and hope during a tumultuous time in my life. Andrew was never afraid to give me straight answers to my tough questions which is a true mark of integrity. He is clearly at ease in the court environment and I believe his calm and measured demeanour went a long way to helping me secure the best result from my day in court. I would certainly recommend you approach Andrew if you need assistance.
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"Andrew Tiedt was very professional and considerate to personal circumstances and gave sound advice that resulted in the best outcome possible. Highly recommended."
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This article was written by Fernanda Dahlstrom - Content Editor - Brisbane
Fernanda Dahlstrom has a Bachelor of Laws, a Bachelor of Arts and a Graduate Diploma in Legal Practice. She has also completed a Master’s in Writing and Literature. Fernanda practised law for eight years, working in criminal defence, child protection and domestic violence law in the Northern Territory and in family law in Queensland.
How Long After An Assault Can You Press Charges? (WA)
How long after an assault can you press charges? This is a question criminal lawyers are often asked. Contrary to common perceptions, the decision to lay criminal charges is made by the police and not by the alleged victim of a crime. The limitation period for laying charges depends on the nature of the alleged conduct. While there is a short limitation period for laying summary charges, serious offences like aggravated assault and murder are not subject to any limitation period.
How Long After A Simple Assault Can You Press Charges?
Under section 21 of the Criminal Procedure Act 2004, police must lay a charge of a simple offence within 12 months of the alleged offence except where legislation provides otherwise.
A simple offence is an offence that is finalised in the Magistrates Court. Examples of simple offences include common assault under section 313 of the Criminal Code and disorderly behaviour in public under section 74A of the Criminal Code. Traffic offences such as drink driving are also simple offences.
This means that persons who may have committed simple offences in Western Australia are liable to be charged with the offences only for a period of 12 months after the offence occurred.
How Long After An Indictable Assault Can You Press Charges?
Under section 3(6) of the Criminal Code, there is no limitation period for laying charges of indictable offences or either-way offences except where legislation provides for one.
This means that police in Western Australia can charge a person with an indictable offence, such as a serious assault, theft or murder, many years after the alleged offences or even decades later.
Why are there limits on how long after an assault you can press charges?
The limitation period that exists in respect of simple offences has been created so that there is certainty about which matters are going to have legal consequences. When a relatively minor offence has been committed, it is not in anyone’s interest for uncertainty to continue as to whether or not charges will result. It is also not practical for charges to be laid and prosecutions pursued in respect of minor offences that were committed long ago.
When a serious offence has been committed, it is in the public interest for prosecutors to have the power to commence an investigation and lay charges even when a lot of time has passed since the events in question. This is particularly the case in respect of violent offences and sexual offences which can have long-term consequences for their victims.
Victims of domestic violence and sexual assaults may have good reasons for being unable or unwilling to report offences and pursue a prosecution at the time the offences were committed and failure to do so should not prevent them from seeking justice once their circumstances have changed.
Historical offences
Offences that occurred long ago are often referred to as ‘historical offences.’ In some situations, it can be more difficult to secure a conviction in relation to a historical offence as witnesses’ memories may have faded and physical evidence may no longer exist.
In other situations, it can in fact be easier to secure a conviction for a historical offence than it was at the time of the offence. This may be because technologies – such as collecting and analysing DNA evidence – now exist that did not exist back then.
Reporting historical offences
If you have been the victim of an assault that was not reported or prosecuted at the time, you may want to consider making a report and giving a statement to police. Whether a prosecution will be able to commence will depend on how much time has passed and whether the assault was a simple offence or an indictable offence.
Ultimately, the decision as to whether to lay charges against an accused person is at the discretion of the police and this decision will depend on how serious the allegations are, how likely the accused is to be found guilty, and other factors.
If you require legal advice in relation to how long after an assault you can press charges or in any other legal matter, please contact Armstrong Legal.
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WHERE TO NEXT?
If you suspect that you may be under investigation, or if you have been charged with an offence, it is vital to get competent legal advice as early as possible. Our lawyers are highly specialised in criminal law and will be able to guide you through the process while dealing with the various authorities related to your matter.
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