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.

Anoushka Bloem, Principal, Bloem & Associates
Anoushka is the Director and founder of Bloem Law, a specialist criminal defence practice in Auckland. She has 21 years’ experience in criminal law and specialises in jury trials involving serious offending. Anoushka appears in the District Court, High Court and appellate courts and represents clients facing charges involving violence, dishonesty, drugs and sexual offending. She holds Bachelor of Laws with Honours and Bachelor of Commerce degrees from the University of Auckland. Anoushka is a former President of the Auckland Women Lawyers’ Association and is a member of the New Zealand Criminal Bar Association and the Defence Lawyers Association of New Zealand.

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. He is a former Crown Prosecutor with over 38 years of experience. He has a BA in psychology, LLB Honours degree and a 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. 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.

Donna Maree Cross, Barrister, Lorne Street Chambers
Maree practices in criminal and civil litigation. In addition to her LLB (Hons)/BA from the University of Auckland (graduating with a Senior Prize and Senior Scholarship respectively), she holds an LLM (graduating as a Scholar) from Columbia University, New York. Maree was full-time junior to David PH Jones KC as well as a Senior Associate in litigation at MinterEllisonRuddWatts. She joined the independent bar in 2016 at Lorne Street Chambers with Mr Jones. 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 is Convenor of one of the Auckland Standards Committees, member of the NZLS National S30 Interview Panel, and contributing author to the Thomson Reuters’ text, “Privacy Law in New Zealand”. Maree also conducts Certificate of Character interviews on behalf of NZLS.

John Munro, Director, John Munro Criminal Lawyer
John Munro is a criminal barrister and co founder of Sentinel Chambers. His career spans more than two decades and includes criminal defence, Crown prosecution and regulatory work in New Zealand and the United Kingdom. John has defended and prosecuted serious criminal matters, with his practice now focused principally on murder, manslaughter, sexual offending and drug cases. Before returning to New Zealand, he practised as a specialist defence solicitor at a leading London criminal defence firm and prosecuted medical professionals before their professional board. John takes a precise, measured and pragmatic approach to case preparation, working with forensic scientists, psychologists, investigators and other experts where required