Jonathan is experienced in criminal law. He has appeared unled for defendants in District Court trials, sentences, appeals and costs applications, Supreme Court bail applications, Local Court hearings, sentences, bail and mental health diversion applications and Children’s Court criminal matters.
Jonathan is experienced in various areas of public law, appearing unled in the Supreme Court for defendants in applications for extended supervision orders under the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006, for the Attorney General in applications for forensic patient extension orders under the Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020, for Local Health Districts in appeals against Community Treatment Orders under the Mental Health Act 2007 and in the Mental Health Review Tribunal for forensic patients seeking conditional release under the Mental Health Act 2007.
Jonathan has appeared led for defendants in the Supreme Court for defendants in applications for extended supervision orders and continuing detention orders under the Terrorism (High Risk Offenders) Act 2017 and Part 5.3 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code.
Jonathan is experienced in inquests and inquiries. He has appeared unled for State agencies and Senior Next of Kin at inquests in the Coroners Court, and for witnesses at the Law Enforcement Conduct Commission. Jonathan has appeared led as Counsel Assisting at inquests and inquiries in the Coroners Court.
Prior to being called to the Bar, Jonathan was employed by Legal Aid NSW, including at the High Risk Offender Unit, at the Aboriginal Legal Service (NSW/ACT) Limited and in private practice, and worked at regional locations including Tamworth, Griffith, Broken Hill and Gosford. Jonathan regularly appeared as an advocate in his 7 years as a solicitor before being called to the Bar.
Jonathan completed an internship at the Trial Chamber of the United Nations Assistance to the Khmer Rouge Trials in Phnom Penh, Cambodia.
Jonathan is a reporter for the Council of Law Reporting for NSW, which is the publisher of the NSW Law Reports.
Jonathan is on the following panels:
Select cases:
Coroners Court of New South Wales
Inquest into the death of Andrew Seton (unled for Senior Next of Kin) – search and rescue response into missing person in back country skiing incident – recommendations made (2024)
NSW Bushfires Coronial Inquiry (led by A Casselden SC and D Ward SC, Counsel Assisting) – recommendations made (2022-2023)
Inquest into the death of Mark Murphy (unled for Senior Next of Kin) – occupational SCUBA diving training death – recommendations made (2022)
Court of Criminal Appeal of New South Wales
Chesworth v R [2023] NSWCCA 115 (unled for applicant) – error established but appeal dismissed
Court of Appeal of New South Wales
Rigby v State of New South Wales [2022] NSWCA 14 (led by M Avenell SC for appellant) – appeal against making of an ESO under the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 (CHRO Act) – error established but appeal dismissed
Supreme Court of New South Wales
State of New South Wales v Hollaway (Preliminary) [2024] NSWSC 1509 (unled for defendant) – interim supervision order under the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 – scheduling, place restriction, financial oversight and internet conditions not imposed, BAC alcohol consumption condition imposed
State of New South Wales v Burke (Final) [2024] NSWSC 119 (unled for defendant) – extended supervision order under the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 – time-limited scheduling condition imposed, financial oversight condition not imposed
Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Australia v Uweinat (Supreme Court of New South Wales, Sweeney J, 3 November 2023) (led by C O’Donnell SC for defendant) – interim supervision order under Div 105A of the Criminal Code (Cth) – summons dismissed with costs
State of NSW v Colebrook [2023] NSWSC 792 (unled for defendant) – revocation of extended supervision order under the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 Act
State of New South Wales v Cornwall (Preliminary) [2023] NSWSC 278 (unled for defendant) – summons for extended supervision order under the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 dismissed with costs – construction of Act – interim supervision order imposed under fresh summons
State of New South Wales v Hardy [2022] NSWSC 1724 (led by D McLure SC for defendant) – interim supervision order under the Terrorism (High Risk Offenders) Act 2017 (THRO Act) imposed
State of New South Wales v Briar (Final) [2022] NSWSC 467 (led by T Anderson SC for defendant) – extended supervision order under the Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006
State of New South Wales v Holt (Preliminary) [2021] NSWSC 1076 (led by T Anderson SC for defendant) – interim detention order under the Terrorism (High Risk Offenders) Act 2017– construction of Act
State of New South Wales v Church (Final) [2021] NSWSC 713 (led by J Stratton SC and T Hennessy for defendant) – application for extended supervision order under the Terrorism (High Risk Offenders) Act 2017 – summons dismissed with costs
