Stephanie Beckedahl
Stephanie started her career as a criminal defence lawyer in NSW, before relocating to the ACT where she has practiced for a number of years. She appears in court on an almost daily basis in both the ACT and NSW.
She is a skilled criminal defence lawyer who regularly appears in complex criminal hearings involving charges such as sexual assault, drug trafficking, and fraud.
She understands that when you are looking for a criminal lawyer it is generally because you are experiencing one of the most challenging and difficult times in your life. She is compassionate and understanding, with an eye for detail, and a commitment to getting you the best possible outcome.
Stephanie has also been repeatedly recognised by her colleagues in the Doyle’s Guide as a Leading and Recommended Criminal Defence Lawyer in the ACT.
Frequently Asked Questions: Criminal Lawyer Canberra
Seeking legal advice for criminal charges as early as possible from a criminal lawyer Canberra locals trust is strongly advisable.
If police contact you about an investigation or ask you to attend an interview, you should seek legal advice as early as possible and before you speak to police. A criminal defence lawyer can explain your rights, help you understand whether you need to answer questions and advise you on the safest way to respond.
Until you have gotten independent and specific advice about your situation, it is best to avoid discussing your case with other people, including friends or on social media, particularly where serious criminal offences or criminal appeals are involved.
Anything you say could potentially be used in evidence against you (particularly if it is in writing), and, in some circumstances, police can and do use covert surveillance techniques like telephone intercepts to monitor calls and discussions. All these things can affect the outcome of your situation later.
Your lawyer is the best person to interpret your situation, explain your options and advise you on whether you need to take urgent action.
If police contact you, it is important to stay calm and seek legal advice before answering questions or providing a statement. For example, if police contact you in relation to a drink driving matter, a drink driving lawyer is well placed to explain your rights and speak with law enforcement on your behalf.
Exercising your right to silence can help prevent misunderstandings or statements that may later be used as evidence against you. That said, you may still need to provide certain personal details if lawfully required. A lawyer can provide sound criminal legal advice on what you are and are not obligated to provide in your specific circumstances.
Before participating in any police interview, you have the right to ask for and speak with a lawyer and obtain legal advice about your situation. A criminal lawyer in Canberra is well placed to explain your rights and the nature of the allegations in your particular case.
They can also advise you on the most appropriate course of action. In situations involving assault, for example, an assault lawyer can assess whether answering police questions is in your best interests and advise you on actions that may affect your case. Obtaining legal advice early can make it easier to protect your rights and make informed decisions throughout the legal process.
Keep all documents you receive from the police or the Court and, ideally, send them through to your lawyer in advance of your conference. It will make your initial conference much more productive if your lawyer is able to have this information before them at the time of their initial call with you.
Generally speaking, if you have a copy of a Court Attendance Notice, Fact Sheet, Bail conditions or a Family Violence Order or Personal Protection Order, these documents will contain important information that any criminal lawyer in Canberra will be able to assist in reviewing.
You do not need to prepare detailed summaries or chronologies for the purposes of an initial appointment. Your lawyer will be able to provide you with guidance and advice about the next steps and what will assist them to give you advice.
Having complete and detailed paperwork allows them to assess the situation more accurately, especially when they explain the legal process and provide advice based on the details of the case.
In the ACT, it is generally ill-advised to participate in an interview at all, but you should be aware that this advice does not apply the same in every state in Australia because of different criminal laws.
You have a right to silence. Usually, there is no legal obligation to participate in an interview with police, and it is usually a bad idea to do so. This is the case for more serious indictable offences as well as domestic violence charges.
In some situations, you might be subject to an obligation to provide certain information to the police, and there might be consequences (like additional criminal charges) if you don’t. This is precisely why it is incredibly important to get legal advice specific to your situation before you speak to the police.
The other thing to be aware of is that there is a big difference between refusing to participate in an interview (which you can usually, and should usually do) and sitting in an interview but refusing to answer some questions. Selective answering in police interviews can be incredibly problematic from an evidential perspective, and it is not advisable to do this.
Sometimes, you may only need to provide basic identifying details about yourself, such as your name and address, if police lawfully ask for them.
Getting legal advice from a Canberra criminal lawyer can help you understand your rights and make informed decisions about how to respond to the police.
Whether you need to speak in Court depends on your case, the stage of the proceedings and whether you have a lawyer. Your lawyer will be able to advise you on what you need to do and what to expect, from start to finish.
In some matters, your lawyer may appear in Court without the need for you to be present. In other cases, such as sentencing hearings, you may need to appear in person.
While it is not required by law, it is best to get advice about Court appearances from a criminal lawyer. Similarly, seeking advice from an experienced criminal lawyer before making decisions about Court appearances is strongly recommended.
Missing a Court appearance can have serious consequences. Depending on the circumstances, the Court may proceed in your absence, adjourn the matter or issue a warrant for your arrest. If your attendance was required by a bail condition or Court order, failing to appear may also affect your case in other ways.
It’s ideal to seek legal advice or legal representation as soon as possible if you’ve missed a Court date. If there was a genuine reason for your absence, a Canberra criminal lawyer can advise you on how to best rectify this situation to minimise any damage.
In some circumstances, this might involve needing to get a warrant executed, or if you were sentenced in your absence, an application can be made to reopen the Court proceedings.
Not every criminal case in Canberra will go to a defended hearing or trial. If you plead guilty, generally there will be no hearing (and no witnesses attending Court) unless there is a factual dispute.
The severity of your charges does not diminish the value of seeking legal advice. Criminal solicitors, or a criminal lawyer in Canberra, can assist with matters ranging from traffic offences to serious criminal charges. You can contact Armstrong Legal today to discuss your situation.
The time it takes to finalise a criminal matter in the ACT depends on several factors, including the nature of the charges, the plea entered, the amount of evidence involved and the Court’s availability.
A criminal lawyer in Canberra can explain the likely timelines and stages involved, as well as potential delays such as additional evidence being obtained, legal issues being disputed or Court scheduling requirements.
Each case unfolds differently, and reliable criminal defence services can keep you informed of relevant developments and what to expect at each stage. Get an appointment with a criminal defence lawyer now.
