Profile

Kelly practises exclusively in criminal law and regulatory matters.

She appears regularly as counsel in criminal trials.  Significant matters include:

• DPP v Liszczak & Phillips [2017] VSC 103 (14 March 2017) (as junior counsel):  Attempted murder of police officer (resolved to recklessly causing injury)
• DPP v Laux (CR-13-01935) (as junior counsel):  Intentionally causing serious injury (discontinued following defence application for a discontinuance)
• DPP v Pringle (as junior counsel): Trafficking in a commercial quantity of Methylamphetamine (all evidence against the accused ruled as inadmissible due to an illegal police search; case then discontinued by the Crown)
• DPP v CPM (as junior counsel): Sexual penetration of a child under 16
• DPP v Scott (CR-14-00737) (as sole counsel): Intentionally causing serious injury
• DPP v Parkes (CR-14-00951) (as junior counsel): Intentionally causing serious injury in circumstances of gross violence
• DPP v Meagher & Serecen [2015] VSC 28 (9 February 2015) (as junior counsel): Manslaughter
• DPP v Fitch (CR-14-01733) (as sole counsel): Armed robbery
• DPP v Bol (CR-14-00788 & CR-14-00789) (as sole counsel): Armed robbery
• DPP v Nelson [2014] VCC 1178 (as sole counsel): Armed robbery
• (The Queen v Vlahos [2013] VSC 171 (12 April 2013) (as junior counsel): Murder
• DPP v Timson (CR-10-001547) (as sole counsel): Trafficking in a large commercial quantity of MDMA.

Kelly appears for companies and individuals charged with offences under the Occupational Health and Safety Act and the Building Act.  She is also briefed to advise and appear for interested parties in Coronial matters.  Kelly has represented parties before various professional disciplinary tribunals and has appeared for witnesses in the public examinations conducted by IBAC.  She has advised and appeared in litigation involving proceeds of crime and post offence compensation.

Kelly frequently appears in County Court pleas and appeals and in bail applications in the Supreme Court.  She also has a substantial practice in the Magistrates’ Court, appearing regularly in committals, contested hearings and preliminary summary hearings.

Kelly was selected by Victoria Legal Aid to participate in the 2014/2015 Trial Counsel Development Program.  She is on the Victoria Legal Aid Preferred Trial Counsel List and has been granted an Indictable Crime Certificate.

Kelly is a member of David Ross Chambers, a boutique criminal defence chambers comprised of 17 successful barristers practising exclusively in the criminal law.

A profile of Kelly has been published by Galbally & Rolfe, one of Melbourne’s most prestigious criminal law firms.  See their article about Kelly here: http://www.galballyrolfe.com.au/barrister-profile-kelly-mckay/