Name Robert Richter | ||
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Robert Richter QC is a prominent Australian barrister, based in Melbourne. Born in Kyrgyzstan c 1946, Richter's family arrived in Australia in 1959. Richter was admitted to the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws in the late 1960s. He was called to the bar on 5 August 1971. A prominent critic of human rights violations and advocate for the rule of law, he often represents plaintiffs unpopular in public opinion, some of them high profile. He is an Adjunct Professor at Victoria University.
Contents
- Personal life
- Tertiary education
- Membership of statutory bodies and professional organisations
- Notable cases
- References
Personal life
Richter was born c 1946 in the then Kirghiz Republic, a federal state of the former Soviet Union. After living for ten years in Israel, Richter's family moved to Melbourne, Australia, following an uncle who had an already established business in the Rag Trade. Along with rest of his family, the 13-year-old Richter arrived in Australia with little or no English. It has been reported that he taught himself English with the aid of Television programs and dictionaries.
Richter's son Louis is a rock musician who has been a member of Australian indie pop bands Mid-State Orange and The Lucksmiths.
Tertiary education
Richter was admitted to the degrees of the Bachelor of Arts, and the Bachelor of Laws with honours from the University of Melbourne. Richter was Editor of the Melbourne University Law Review.
Membership of statutory bodies and professional organisations
Richter was a committee member of the then "Criminal Bar Association of Victoria", and the Victorian Bar Council from 1997 to 1999. Richer was President of the Victorian Council for Civil Liberties from 1994 to 1996. In addition to his business as a barrister, Richter was also a part-time Commissioner of the Law Reform Commission of Victoria from 1989 to 1992. He was appointed a silk on 26 November 1985.
Notable cases
In 1996 Richter successfully defended John Elliott against charges that he allegedly illegally moved A$ 66.5 million from Elders IXL, to "Equiticorp Tasman Ltd", a shelf company Elliot was alleged to control.
In 2002 Richter acted for Ray Williams in the HIH Insurance Royal Commission and the inter-related court cases.
In 1998 Richter led the defense for now convicted "Hoddle Street Massacre" perpetrator Julian Knight.
In 1987, Richer acted for surgeon Dr Ian McGoldrick who was indicted on 11 charges of procuring abortions contrary to the then sections 64 to 66 of the Victorian Crimes Act 1958 The case was dismissed at committal hearings, the presiding Justice following Justice Menhennitt's reasoning in 1969 matter of R v Davidson [1969] VR 667 at 670
In 1994, Richter successfully defended Victorian Police officer Cliff Lockwood in the Supreme Court of Victoria against charges that Lockwood allegedly murdered Walsh Street police shootings suspect Gary Abdallah in 1989.
In 2000 and 2003, Richter acted for then ATSIC chairman Geoff Clark.
In 2005, Richter successfully defended Melbourne underworld crime figure Mick Gatto against the charge of murdering suspected underworld hitman Andrew Veniamin.
In 2017, Richter was retained by Cardinal George Pell after Pell was charged by Victoria Police in relation to multiple allegations of historical child sexual abuse.