Committal Hearing Lawyer Cairns — Fixed Fee
$5,800 — Fixed Fee
Committal hearing — $5,800 fixed Covers : full review of the prosecution brief, assessment of cross-examination application, disclosure management, preparation for and appearance at the committal hearing in the Cairns Magistrates Court. No hidden fees. One invoice. This fee applies to matters headed to trial — where you intend to contest the charge. If you are pleading guilty in the District Court, the committal is included in the District Court Plea fee ($12,000) and you do not need to engage…
- Committal hearing — trial track: $5,800
What Is Included
Full review of the prosecution brief — witness statements, physical evidence, forensic material, body-worn camera footage Advice on the strength of the prosecution case and realistic prospects at trial Assessment of whether an application to cross-examine prosecution witnesses at the committal stage is warranted Disclosure management — identifying gaps in the prosecution material and requesting…
What a Committal Hearing Is
Before a serious criminal charge can proceed to trial in the District Court, it must first pass through the Magistrates Court at a committal hearing. The Magistrate examines the prosecution evidence and decides whether there is sufficient evidence to put you on trial. Most committals in Queensland are now "paper committals" — the prosecution presents its brief, and the Magistrate makes the…
Why the Committal Matters
The committal stage is not a formality. It is the first point at which the prosecution's evidence is tested — and the last opportunity before trial to identify weaknesses in the case that can shape your defence strategy. Disclosure. The prosecution must serve a full brief of evidence before the committal. This is where gaps in the evidence are identified — missing CCTV, outstanding forensic…
What Sacha Focuses On
The committal stage is where the trial preparation begins. Every piece of prosecution evidence is reviewed — not as a summary exercise, but as the start of identifying the defence case. Sacha focuses on three things at the committal stage: Completeness of the brief. Is everything disclosed? Are there missing witnesses, outstanding forensic results, or gaps in the physical evidence? If the…
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is the difference between a committal and a trial? A committal is a Magistrates Court hearing that determines whether there is enough evidence to send a matter to the District Court for trial. A trial is the District Court hearing — before a jury or, where a no jury order is made, a judge alone — where the court decides whether the prosecution has proved the charge beyond reasonable doubt.…