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About

Sam Macedone LL.B

Accredited Specialist Criminal Law

Sam joined the law firm that is now known as Macedone Christie Willis of Jannali and Miranda in 1971, and became a partner in that firm one year later. He retired from Macedone Christie Willis in June 2007 to start his own firm, Macedone Legal, at Suite 2, 18 Gibbs Street, Miranda, New South Wales, 2228.

Sam holds a Bachelor of Laws degree from Sydney University and was admitted to practise as a solicitor in 1970.

Sam has a wide range of legal experience gained over 36 years of practical application, but predominantly in the field of litigation. He has had the conduct of matters during that period in the Local Courts, District Courts, the Supreme Court, the Court of Criminal Appeal and in the High Court of Australia.

As an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist, he is mainly involved in criminal advocacy work and some selected commercial litigation. He has been notably involved in a number of high profile cases, both criminal and civil.

He is particularly dedicated to the preservation of the legal rights of the individual and the prevention of the innocent being convicted of a criminal offence.

Sam is a past president and current life member of the St George Sutherland Regional Law Society and an honorary solicitor of various organisations and associations. Sam was a past Chairman and Executive Director of Austlaw Pty Limited which is an association of 19 independent law firms throughout New South Wales and Victoria and Queensland.

Sam’s escape from his otherwise hardworking regime is his main hobby/sport, golf.

Sam may be contacted at sam@macedonelegal.com.au or at the Miranda office on (02) 9525 3700.

 

 Jason Keane  B.A, LL.B

Senior Solicitor - Criminal Law

Jason joined Sam Macedone’s criminal law team at Macedone Christie Willis at the start of 2007, and was invited to join Sam when the opened his new firm, Macedone Legal.  A natural advocate with a thorough knowledge of criminal law and procedure, Jason has an excellent record of delivering outstanding results for his clients in Court in both defended hearings and in sentencing matters.

He has dedicated his career to the criminal law and has worked extensively in both private practice and in the criminal justice public sector. He is also the author or co-author of several legal publications on subjects such as sentencing and the law of homicide in NSW.

Jason has represented clients in a wide variety of criminal matters, and has also developed a niche area of expertise advising and representing firearms owners and professional and sporting shooters. He has assisted many clients in defending firearms related charges and helped them to retain their licenses and firearms.

Jason studied law at the University of Newcastle, and also holds a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Canberra University. He is working towards his goal of obtaining Specialist Accreditation in Criminal Law in the near future.

Outside Court, Jason is a long-serving Grade cricketer and an A Grade golfer of alarming inconsistency.

Jason is only too willing to help you with your particular legal problem, so why not give him a call at our Miranda office on 02 9525 3700 to find out what he can do for you.

 

 




DNA Review Panel

A DNA Review Panel has now been created.  This is to allow testing of people who have been convicted of crimes who insist they are innocent and who believe DNA evidence can prove their claims.

If someone wishes to apply to the Panel, it will then do various searches to locate any crime scene samples which contain a DNA speciman and to then test that DNA with the person's DNA to see if there is any comparison.

The DNA Panel cannot overule convictions.  They can recommend to the Court of Criminal Appeal that a review of a particular conviction should be undertaken. 

DNA that is found at crime scenes, such as blood, semen, skin, saliva, sweat or hair, are used to identify perpetrators.  This is called DNA profiling.

These samples can come from such things as fabrics, cigarettes, tools, utensils, or minute samples of biological material, no matter how old it is or how degraded it has become.  Not all samples are, however, forensically useful.  When two samples do not match it can be said positively that they do not come from the same source.  If two samples do match it means that they may have come from the same source.  A ratio of probability as to a match is usually given.

A person can apply to the Panel for a review of:

  • their claim of innocence may be affected by DNA;
  • the person was convicted before 19.9.2006 for an offence punishable by life imprisonment or 20 years or more;
  • that the Panel thinks there are special circumstances that warrant the application;
  • the person is still subject to the sentence (in custody or parole) or still subject to supervision under the Crimes (Serious Sex Offenders) Act 2006.

Application forms are available at all NSW Correctional facilities.  Otherwise ring (02) 9228 8073.  Alternatively, contact us at Macedone Legal and we will assist you with your application.

Any DNA sample provided to the DNA Panel will NOT be placed on the DNA database.

 

 

 
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