Professor Paul Fairall was recently appointed as the Foundation Dean of WA’s newest Law School at Curtin University, but he is keen to share his extensive knowledge of the law with more than just his students.
Professor Fairall will be joined by the Honourable Justice John McKechnie and the Honourable Justice Tom Gray to launch his book Homicide – The Laws of Australia (Thomas Reuters) on Wednesday 17 October at the Supreme Court of Western Australia.
Professor Fairall says his book will fill an important gap in the widely used encyclopaedia set The Laws of Australia.
“Homicide – The Laws of Australia provides a principles-based approach to the law relating to homicide, across all jurisdictions,” Professor Fairall said.
“Criminal law is largely a matter of state rather than federal jurisdiction and the degree of diversity can be problematic, especially for those travelling between different parts of Australia.
“Some states recognise defences that are not recognised in other parts of Australia such as provocation or diminished responsibility, or killing in response to domestic violence, while some offence provisions have no counterpart elsewhere.
“In WA, for example, if a person assaults another who dies as an indirect result of the assault, the person is liable to imprisonment for 10 years even if the death was not reasonably foreseeable. In other parts of Australia such an occurrence would probably be regarded as accidental death. Is such diversity desirable?”
Professor Fairall is one of Australia’s longest serving Law Deans and recently completed a five year term as Foundation Dean at the University of South Australia, before joining Curtin.
Curtin’s four-year Bachelor of Laws (LLB) degree will be offered from next year and will provide students with flexible study pathways to complete a degree which is specifically focused on the needs of industry.
Contact:
Professor Paul Fairall, Dean of Law, Curtin University
Tel: 9266 4298, Email: paul.fairall@curtin.edu.au
Kate Selth, Public Relations, Curtin University
Tel: 08 9266 3353, Email: kate.selth@curtin.edu.au
Web: http://curtin.edu.au
