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

Tiffany Cooper KC, Tiffany Cooper Barrister
Tiffany has been a litigator for 20 years and has been practising as a barrister sole since 2014. Tiffany has done in excess of 250 jury trials in both the District Court and High Court as lead counsel. Tiffany also has experience representing clients before the Parole Board and at coronial inquests. She regularly represents clients for appeal matters including pre-trial appeals and appeals against conviction and sentence. Tiffany’s practice primarily consists of criminal defence work, however, she also works as a prosecutor on the Crown panel in both Auckland and Manukau and is regularly appointed as amicus curiae. She has extensive experience across all criminal matters, including multi-accused trials. She has particular expertise in sexual cases, serious violence (including homicide) and drug trials. She has worked with and instructed experts in numerous areas including child abuse, sexual abuse, drugs, fingerprinting, DNA, blood spatter and computer/ digital technology. She has also trained experts to give evidence in trial.


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.


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.