Need expert guidance on preparing sexual assault matters for trial? Would it assist your trial preparation to navigate cross examination including what are the key issues associated with the pre-recording of cross-examinations in trial proceedings? Dive into the essentials of effectively defending a sex trial by exploring step-by-step trial preparation, mastering cross-examination technique & the best practice and practical implications of directions when conducting your sexual assault matters.

Presenters

Jasper Rhodes, Barrister, Jasper Rhodes Barrister
Jasper is a recent member of the independent bar, practising as a criminal barrister since December 2021. Prior to that, Jasper was a Crown prosecutor for 11 years, first in Tauranga and then in Manukau since 2015, becoming classified as a senior prosecutor in early 2017. During his time at the Crown, Jasper prosecuted well over a hundred criminal jury trials of all types and levels, with a particular expertise in trials involving vulnerable complainants, and particularly in relation to alleged sexual offending. As part of leading a High Court trial with 18 complainants of sexual offending over 30 years, in 2018 Jasper briefed and led the first example of culturally-focused counter-intuitive evidence in New Zealand courts. Jasper has also conducted many appeals in the Court of Appeal and High Court for the Crown. Jasper remains on the prosecution panel for the Manukau Crown Solicitor. Since joining the independent bar, Jasper has continued to work on criminal files at the highest levels. Jasper has a Master’s degree in international human rights law from the University of Oxford.


Ms. Anoushka Bloem, Principal,
Anoushka Bloem founded Bloem and Associates as one of the only specialist criminal defence practices in Auckland. Anoushka specialises in jury trials for serious crime. She conducts jury trials in the Auckland region District Courts and the High Court. She also conducts appeals in the Court of Appeal. Anoushka represents people charged with the full spectrum of criminal charges. She regularly defends clients charged with sexual, violence drug and dishonesty offending. Anoushka has 15 years’ experience in the area of criminal law. Anoushka was admitted to the bar in 2004. She is a member of the Criminal bar association, is the Vice President of the Auckland Women Lawyer’s Association and is a committee member of the Auckland District Court sexual violence pilot.


Philip Hamlin, Barrister, Hamlin Law
Philip is an experienced Criminal Barrister with extensive involvement across a wide range of criminal trials, appeals, and related civil hearings. Philip is a former Crown Prosecutor with over 40 years’ of experience. Phil is recognised for his expertise in a number of important areas including sex crimes, child abuse and homicides, expert evidence cases, appeals, pornography and computer-internet crime. He has appeared in a number of significant trials including murder, attempted murder, serious assaults, drugs, fraud and sex crimes. Phil is an expert in defending his clients at trial, advising them on practical options in relation to each step in the process, engaging a range of experts to assist in their defence, and dealing with the many issues that arise when appearing in Court as a defendant.


Maree Cross, Barrister, Lorne Street Chambers
Maree practices civil and criminal law from Lorne Street Chambers in Auckland City. In addition to her LLB(Hons)/BA from the University of Auckland, she holds an LLM (graduating as a Scholar) from Columbia University in the City of New York, where she specialised in trial and appellate practice. Maree was previously a Senior Associate at MinterEllisonRuddWatts as well as full-time junior counsel to David PH Jones QC. She has acted for a number of high-profile individuals and appears regularly in the District and High Courts, with particular expertise in the criminal jury trial jurisdiction. She also writes the chapters on surveillance and the Privacy Act in the Thomson Reuters’ text, Privacy Law in New Zealand. Maree joined the Independent Bar in February 2016.


Philip Hamlin, Barrister
Philip is an experienced Criminal Barrister with extensive involvement across a wide range of criminal trials, appeals and related civil hearings. He is a former Crown Prosecutor with over 38 years' of experience. He has a BA in psychology, LLB Honours degree and an Master of Jurisprudence from Auckland University. Phil is recognised for his expertise in criminal law, specifically in sex crimes, child abuse and homicides, expert evidence cases, appeals, mental health, pornography and computer-internet crime. More recently Phil has been involved in the case of R v Tongia which has revisited the scope of fitness hearings and trial rights for mentally unfit defendants. Outside of his defence work Philip is the chairman of the National Office for Professional Standards for The Catholic Church in Aotearoa New Zealand. He advises on practical protocols to respond to sexual abuse complaints and to correct and further prevent abuse within the Church by implementing safeguarding programmes.


John Munro, Barrister, Meldrum and Hyland List
John Munro, specializing in criminal defense, offers advice and protection to individuals facing criminal and regulatory charges. He provides robust advocacy in court, ensuring fair trials and thorough defense representation for his clients, supported by a team of experts in their respective fields.