On behalf of the Office of Public Prosecutions, Director Brendan Kissane KC, Chief Crown Prosecutor Diana Piekusis KC and Solicitor for Prosecutions Abbey Hogan congratulate Senior Crown Prosecutors Kristie Churchill and David Glynn on their appointments to Senior Counsel.The Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria announced the appointments...
Media statement – Victim Consultation
There has been recent reporting in the media suggesting that the Office of Public Prosecutions (OPP) is excluding victims of crime from the justice system. The figures do not support this suggestion. This reporting is based upon the number of victim and witness consultations conducted in 2023/2024 being fewer than...
Welcoming Victoria’s newest Crown Prosecutors
The Office of Public Prosecutions is delighted to announce the appointment of four new Crown Prosecutors. On Monday, the Director of Public Prosecutions Brendan Kissane KC, Chief Crown Prosecutor Diana Piekusis KC and Solicitor for Public Prosecutions Abbey Hogan welcomed the appointments of Jim Shaw, Nadia Kaddeche, Ariadne French, and...
Media Statement – Decision not to directly indict William Swale
On 19 September 2024, the Magistrates' Court found that there was insufficient evidence to commit Mr Swale to stand trial. Two medical experts gave evidence at the committal that they could not rule out that Mr Swale, a long-term type 1 diabetic, was suffering a severe hypoglycaemic episode that commenced...
Media statement – Matter of William Swale
The Office of Public Prosecutions acknowledges the decision of Magistrate Guillaume Bailin not to commit Mr William Swale for trial over the tragic crash in Daylesford last year. As is the usual course, His Honour’s decision will be carefully reviewed in accordance with Prosecution Guidelines with a view to considering...
Judicial Appointment of Kerri Judd KC
It is with great pleasure that the Office of Public Prosecutions celebrates the appointment of its outgoing Director of Public Prosecutions, Kerri Elizabeth Judd KC, as a Justice of the Supreme Court of Victoria. The appointment marks a fitting conclusion to the Hon. Justice Judd’s eight-year tenure with the Office...
Appointment of Brendan Kissane KC to DPP
The Office of Public Prosecutions is delighted to announce the appointment of Chief Crown Prosecutor Brendan Kissane KC as Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr Kissane, who boasts over 40 years’ legal experience as solicitor (1980-85), counsel (1985 onwards) and senior counsel (2014 onwards), is one of the Australia’s most respected...
Appointment of Diana Piekusis KC to Chief Crown Prosecutor
The Office of Public Prosecutions sincerely congratulates Diana Inara Piekusis KC on her historic elevation to the office of Chief Crown Prosecutor. Ms Piekusis, who is the first woman in Victoria to be appointed Chief Crown Prosecutor, has long been one of the state’s foremost prosecutors, having regularly appeared in...
Neill Hutton and the OPP’s Justin Lewis appointed senior counsel
The Office of Public Prosecutions sincerely congratulates Senior Crown Prosecutor Justin Lewis and former Crown Prosecutor Neill Hutton on their appointment to senior counsel. Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd KC and Chief Crown Prosecutor Brendan Kissane KC said the appointments reflect the exceptional contribution both Mr Lewis and Mr...
Update on Court Services Victoria Cyber Security Incident
On 18 January 2024, Court Services Victoria (CSV) published an update about the cyber security incident. CSV advised that while the investigation into the incident remains ongoing, they can confirm that recordings of some hearings in the Supreme Court, County Court and Coroners Court on the audio-visual system were prior...