A MURDER acquittal in a case that captured the attention of the nation, the conviction of a sailor over the Hunter's largest ever cocaine importation.
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The unmaskingof a once-respected and powerful Anglican dean as a child sex offender, a dramatic fall from grace complete for a former Newcastle Knight.
And a jail term for the monster who kidnapped and raped a young girl, his cowardice and hollow remorse contrasted by the courage of the girl, now 13, who looked him in the eye and made clear the impacts of his selfish crimes.
From the conclusion of a nearly four-year legal battle for Benjamin Batterham, to convictions in the trials of former Anglican Dean of Newcastle Graeme Lawrence and well-known Newcastle sailor and musician Craig Lembke and guilty pleas from former Newcastle Knight Jarrod Mullen and sexual predator Brett David Hill, these were the most horrific or engaging criminal cases of the past 12 months.
The case: R v Benjamin Batterham
- The case of R v Benjamin Batterham began when Richard Slater broke into Mr Batterham's Hamilton home in the early hours of Easter Saturday, 2016.
What happened next would be discussed and dissected for the next 1334 days.
By everyone from magistrates and judges, forensic pathologists and toxicologists to people online and in the street. Was it murder or self-defence? What was the cause of death? What would you do in that situation?
And after a viral online petition to have him released, death threats and intimidation, six weeks in jail, a bail application, a drink-driving conviction, which uncovered six months of "brazen" breaches of bail, more time in jail, another bail application, a committal hearing, weeks of evidence, hours of expert medical testimony which examined Mr Slater's cause of death, and about $1 million in legal fees, the case of R v Batterham finally concluded on November 20 in courtroom 6.2 with a not guilty verdict.
Mr Batterham's two-week trial in Newcastle Supreme Court focused primarily on the cause of death of Mr Slater, who had a "potentially lethal" level of methamphetamine in his system, pre-existing heart disease and obesity when he was chased, held down and punched in the head after breaking into Mr Batterham's Cleary Street home in the early hours of March 26, 2016.
The prosecution case was that while he had a legal right to chase and restrain the man who he saw coming out of his young daughter's bedroom, Mr Batterham "went completely over the top" and was "exacting some form of revenge" when he repeatedly punched Mr Slater, held him in a "choke-hold" and ignored the pleas of Mr Slater and other neighbours to let him up.
In order for the jury to convict him of murder, the prosecution had to prove beyond reasonable doubt that an act perpetrated by Mr Batterham "significantly or substantially contributed" to the death of Mr Slater. But the medical evidence never reached the standard required for a murder conviction and even the prosecution medical experts opined that methamphetamine alone could have killed Mr Slater. After the acquittal, Batterham's defence barrister, Winston Terracini, SC, made a successful application for costs and, during his decision, Judge Desmond Fagan was critical of the prosecution's decision to press on with the trial in the face of overwhelming medical evidence.
The case: R v Craig William Lembke
- The case of R v Craig William Lembke was about an international drug importation syndicate who used code names like "Black Prince", "Spider Wizard", "Scarecrow" and "Brisk Eagle", a 13-metre catamaran, the journey of a lifetime and 700 kilograms of cocaine with a street value of $245 million.
But, at its heart, the trial was about knowledge. What did Lembke know about the drugs secreted inside the hulls of the yacht and when did he know?
Lembke always admitted to sailing the yacht from Tahiti to Toronto, but maintained he knew nothing of the illicit cargo on board until he arrived in Lake Macquarie. After listening to five weeks of evidence, including incriminating listening devices, the jury found Lembke guilty of importing a commercial quantity of a border controlled drug, a charge which carries a maximum penalty of life imprisonment.
He will face a sentence hearing in March, with much of the focus on when precisely he knew about the drugs on board.
The result of that factual argument will determine whether Lembke spends years or decades in jail.
The case: Graeme Lawrence faces court over historic child sex abuse
- Graeme Lawrence, then the Anglican Dean of Newcastle, told the 15-year-old boy who he sexually assaulted in 1991 that no one would believe him if he made a complaint.
"Don't bother telling anyone," Lawrence told a young Ben Giggins. "You are just a boy and I am the Dean."
But Giggins was believed, first by police and then, importantly, by Judge Tim Gartelmann, SC, who in July, following a judge-alone trial, found Lawrence guilty of aggravated sexual assault and aggravated indecent assault.
In October, Lawrence, the second most senior churchman in Australia - after Cardinal George Pell - to be convicted of child sexual abuse, was jailed for a maximum of eight years. Lawrence has filed a notice of intention to appeal against the conviction.
The case: Jarrod Mullen found guilty of supplying cocaine
- Former Knight Jarrod Mullen, once one of Newcastle's favourite sons, underwent a dramatic fall from grace in 2017 when he was banned from rugby league for four years for doping.
But the downward spiral for Mullen had just begun. Out of the public eye, Mullen developed a dangerous cocaine addiction that led him to become involved in a major Hunter drug supply syndicate and ended with him overdosing on his parents' couch.
"Just ever since my career finished, I spiraled out of control and was taking cocaine on a daily basis just to get through the day," Mullen told police. "To suppress the demons, I suppose."
Mullen pleaded guilty to supplying cocaine and will be sentenced in February.
The case: R v Brett David Hill
- Brett David Hill committed heinous acts in June, 2018, kidnapping an 11-year-old girl while she walked to school in broad daylight and subjecting her to repeated sexual assaults.
But the case of R v Brett David Hill will be remembered for the bravery of the young victim, who chose to speak in front of a packed courtroom at Hill's sentencing and outlined, in an unfaltering voice, how his decision that day would impact her forever.
"You violated me on that one long day but it has impacted the rest of my life," the girl said. "You took away my safety and my life as I know but I survived. "You will have to live with what you did to me. I can never forgive you."
Those present, many seasoned lawyers and detectives, agreed it was the most impressive victim impact statement they had witnessed. Even at her young age, the girl is cognizant of the long road ahead. But when she comes out the other side, it was clear to those in courtroom 5.1 that she will be capable of anything.
