A Legal Victory
by the Inner City Legal Centre
(The Gender Centre advise that this article may not be current and as such certain content, including
but not limited to persons, contact details and dates may not apply. Where legal authority or medical related matters are
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A trany client of the Inner City Legal Centre has successfully received a payout in excess of $10,000 from the Victims Compensation
Tribunal. The award determined a couple of weeks ago was particular pleasing said solicitor Richard Funston as the criminal charge of
assault occasioning actual bodily harm against the Defendant had previously been dismissed. It seems that the magistrate hearing the
criminal charge was not satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the actions of the Defendant were criminally wrong. The Defendant argued
that he was acting in self defense, and according to Funston the court must have accepted his argument.
After the criminal charge was dismissed the Victims Compensation Tribunal requested from the Inner City Legal Centre written legal
argument to show that an act of violence had been committed on the balance of probabilities. The legal test at the Victims Compensation
Tribunal is not as rigorous as a criminal hearing and the Legal Centre was able to submit a strong argument to support the client's
application. Apart from the act of violence the Legal Centre had to argue against contributory behaviour and aspects of evidence that came
out of the criminal hearing. Funston said the fact that photos were taken at the time of his clients injuries added significant weight to
the application.
At the end of the day this is a good result for all tranys. Any person wanting to discuss possible Victims Compensation Applications or
any other legal matter is welcome to phone the Inner City Legal Centre on 02) 9332 1966.
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