Robbery Lawyer Cairns — Fixed Fee
$5,500 — Fixed Fee
Robbery plea — $5,500 (Magistrates Court) | $12,000 (District Court) Robbery under s 409 of the Criminal Code is an indictable offence. Most robbery matters proceed to the District Court. The $5,500 fee applies where the matter is dealt with summarily — typically youth matters or lower-value matters where the prosecution elects summary disposition. District Court matters are covered under the District Court Plea fixed fee . Covers : initial consultation, review of the prosecution brief, bail advice, charge and facts negotiation, sentencing submissions, and court appearance. No hidden fees. One invoice. All fees +10% GST.
What Is Included
Initial consultation to review your charge, the prosecution brief, and the circumstances of the alleged offence Honest advice on the likely penalty range — including whether imprisonment is a realistic risk in your matter Review of all prosecution material including CCTV, witness statements, and co-accused material Advice on whether the charge or the facts alleged can be negotiated with the prosecution Preparation of written sentencing submissions tailored to your circumstances Guidance on character references and supporting material Full appearance by Sacha at your sentencing hearing Post-sentence advice on any conviction recorded and parole eligibility What Robbery Means in Queensland Law Robbery is one of the most serious offences in Queensland. Under section 409 of the Criminal Code Act 1899 (Qld), robbery involves stealing — or attempting to steal — combined with actual violence or the threat of violence to any person. The penalties are set out in section 411 of the Criminal Code . The combination of dishonesty and violence is what elevates robbery above stealing and makes it an offence courts treat with consistent severity. Robbery without a weapon carries a maximum penalty of 14 years' imprisonment. Robbery with a weapon — or robbery committed in circumstances of aggravation — carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment. Robbery in company — committed with one or more other persons — is an aggravating circumstance that increases the available sentence significantly. Most robbery matters proceed to the District Court. The $5,500 Magistrates Court fee applies where the matter is dealt with summarily — typically youth matters or lower-value matters where the prosecution elects summary disposition. District Court robbery matters are covered under the District Court fixed fee.
The Sentencing Range and What Affects It
Robbery carries a wide sentencing range. The factors that determine where a matter sits within that range are the ones Sacha addresses before the hearing. The nature and degree of violence. A threat of violence with no physical contact is treated differently from a sustained physical assault. The court will consider what actually happened, not just the charge as laid. Where the prosecution's account of the violence is exaggerated or inconsistent with the evidence, that is addressed in the submissions. Whether a weapon was involved. The presence of a weapon — even if not used — is a significant aggravating factor. Whether the item was a weapon in the legal sense, and whether it was used in a threatening manner, are questions that arise in many robbery matters. Your role. Where multiple people were involved, the role of each participant matters to sentencing. A person who played a minor role — who was present but did not participate actively — is in a different position from the person who planned and led the offence. Sacha will address your specific role in the submissions. Your age and personal history. A first offence for a young person with no prior record sits at the lower end of the available range. The court considers age, maturity, background, and the circumstances that led to the offending. Sacha will prepare submissions that bring this material before the court in full. Steps taken since the charge. Completion of programmes, counselling, employment, or other positive steps since the charge demonstrate genuine rehabilitation and reduce the perceived risk of reoffending. The timing matters — the earlier these steps are taken, the more weight the court gives them. What Sacha Focuses On The brief is reviewed in full before submissions are prepared. Robbery matters often involve CCTV footage, multiple witnesses, and co-accused material. Where the evidence is weaker than the charge suggests — where identification is uncertain, or where the prosecution's account is inconsistent — Sacha will identify those issues and advise on whether a defended hearing is the right course. For plea matters, the written submissions address the specific circumstances of the offence, your role and background, any steps taken since the charge, and the mitigating factors that bear on the sentencing range. Where a non-custodial outcome is available on the facts, Sacha will make that case clearly.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Will I go to prison for robbery? Imprisonment is within the sentencing range for robbery, and for serious matters it is the likely outcome. For a first offence with limited violence, no weapon, genuine mitigating factors, and thorough submissions, a non-custodial outcome is achievable in the right case. Sacha will give you an honest assessment at the first consultation. What is the difference between robbery and stealing? Stealing does not involve violence or the threat of violence. Once violence or threats are used in connection with stealing — before, during, or immediately after — the charge becomes robbery. Robbery carries significantly higher maximum penalties and is treated with much greater seriousness by the court. What if I was involved but did not use violence myself? Your role in the offence is relevant to sentencing. A person who was present and participated but did not personally use violence is in a different position from the person who did. This does not reduce the charge but it affects the sentence. Sacha will assess your specific role and address it in the submissions. What if the identification evidence is weak? Robbery prosecutions often rely on CCTV footage, eyewitness identification, and circumstantial evidence. Where the identification is uncertain or contested — where the footage is unclear, or where the witness account is inconsistent — Sacha will advise on whether a defended hearing is worth pursuing. Do not plead guilty to an offence you say you did not commit without getting advice on the evidence first. What if there were co-accused? Co-accused matters raise issues about relative culpability, the admissibility of statements made by co-accused, and the approach to sentencing where different roles were played. Sacha will advise on how your matter is affected by any co-accused and how to approach the sentencing submissions.