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...
DPP response to conflict of interest
In relation to recent allegations aired in the media on 26 July 2023, the assertions are factually incorrect. The DPP did not have a conflict of interest as asserted. The DPP has never acted for Simon Overland in any personal capacity and has in fact never met him. Recent media...
OPP Crown Prosecutor Robyn Harper appointed County Court Judge
Victorian Government Attorney-General Jaclyn Symes has appointed Robyn Harper as Judge of the County Court of Victoria. Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd KC congratulated Ms Harper on her appointment and thanked for her service to Chambers where she will be greatly missed. “Robyn has made a tremendous contribution to Crown...
OPP Statement
On 27 February 2023, the County Court of Victoria imposed sentence on Jeffrey Corfe for an offence of sexual penetration of a child under 16 years. The sentence was a term of imprisonment for 12 months, wholly suspended for two years. The Director of Public Prosecutions has carefully considered this...
OPP Statement
The Director has carefully considered the sentence imposed on Steven Cleary. In light of all of the relevant sentencing considerations, there is no reasonable prospect that the Court of Appeal would consider the sentence to be manifestly inadequate. Those sentencing considerations include the application of the Verdins principles, the utilitarian...
OPP Statement
The Herald Sun recently published an article entitled ‘Tradie demanding answers over failed rape trial’ authored by Mark Buttler and Andrew Rule. The article reports the views of the acquitted man, Phoenix Cooper, namely that the OPP failed in our obligations of disclosure to him, and that the case ought...
New tools for navigating the prosecution process
The Attorney-General, the Hon. Jaclyn Symes has launched the Office of Public Prosecution’s new website and a new video series aimed at helping victims, witnesses and the broader community gain a better understanding of what to expect during the prosecution process. The OPP engaged with focus groups made up of...
New OPP Crown Prosecutor Appointed
Daniel Porceddu has been appointed as a new OPP Crown Prosecutor. The Director of Public Prosecutions Kerri Judd QC and Chief Crown Prosecutor Brendan Kissane QC welcomed the appointment. "We are pleased to welcome Mr Porceddu as a Crown Prosecutor. He has a wide range of experience to bring to...