Murder | Manslaughter Charges

Murder is when death results from an intention to kill or cause grievous bodily harm, or from an act or omission done with reckless indifference to human life. All other punishable homicides are manslaughter, which can occur voluntarily or involuntarily.

Voluntary manslaughter is where a death would normally amount to murder, but the culpability of the accused's conduct is reduced by reason of excessive self defence, provocation, or substantial impairment by abnormality of mind.

Involuntary manslaughter is where the accused did not intend to cause death or grievous bodily harm, but where the actions causing death amounted to gross negligence, an unlawful or dangerous act or an intention to injure.

Homicide is a particularly complex area of the law. It is our principal Mr U. Nedim's speciality and he has successfully defended a range of extremely difficult and complex murder and manslaughter trials throughout his career.

Examples include the trial of Mr Hoang Thanh Lu who was charged with murder after stabbing another inmate 67 times. The man he killed was a convicted murderer and Vientamese 'Five T' gang member who was promoted to the position of 'sweeper' within the prison system. The deceased was convicted of a horrific crime at a 'lovers lane' on the banks of the Georges River, where he and two other men confronted a couple, tied up the male, then gang raped and murdered his girlfriend in front of him. The male survived. The deceased had been raping other inmates in prison for several years. On the day in question, inmates were working at the prison tailor shop when the deceased attempted to drag Mr Lu's friend into the toilet area to rape him. Mr Lu attempted to stop the deceased who then pulled out a knife. Mr Lu grabbed scissors and stabbed the deceased 67 times to his face and body in two sustained attacks lasting 2-3 minutes. Mr Lu was intent on pleading 'not guilty' on the ground of self-defence. He was advised by other lawyers that he could not do so as the attack was too lengthy and vicious to constitute self defence. Mr Nedim defended Mr Lu who was found 'not guilty' of all charges.

Other examples include the 2003 'gang wars' between the Darwiche and Razzak families, which involved a number of 'drive by' and 'assassination-style' murders. Those matters are still being adjudicated by the courts. Mr Nedim also represented well-known accused murderers Patrick Parkinson and Jeffrey Wayne Tucker. He is currently defending a 28 year old Bankstown man charged with murder and recently succeeded in having all proceedings withdrawn against a 41 year old Hunters Hill man charged with manslaughter. In fact, Mr Nedim has constantly represented clients accused of homicide throughout his career.

Clients will certainly benefit from the experience, clout and expertise of Sydney Criminal Lawyers in these extremely serious criminal cases.