Paul Coghlan is a former Trials Division and Court of Appeals justice at the
Supreme Court of Victoria
The Supreme Court of Victoria is the highest court in the Australian state of Victoria. Founded in 1852, it is a superior court of common law and equity, with unlimited and inherent jurisdiction within the state.
The Supreme Court comprises ...
. He has been practicing law since 1969 and was the principal judge of the criminal division of the Court between 2010 and 2012. Between 2000 and 2007 he served as
Director of Public Prosecutions
The Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) is the office or official charged with the prosecution of criminal offences in several criminal jurisdictions around the world. The title is used mainly in jurisdictions that are or have been members o ...
and
Chief Crown Prosecutor. He retired from the Bench in 2014.
Coghlan was appointed an
Officer of the Order of Australia
The Order of Australia is an honour that recognises Australian citizens and other persons for outstanding achievement and service. It was established on 14 February 1975 by Elizabeth II, Queen of Australia, on the advice of the Australian Gove ...
(AO) in the
2019 Queen's Birthday Honours
The 2019 Queen's Birthday Honours are appointments by some of the 16 Commonwealth realms of Queen Elizabeth II to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of those countries. The Birthday Honours are awarded as ...
for "distinguished service to the law, and to the judiciary, and to the administration and review of criminal justice".
On April 11, 2011 Coghlan sentenced Arthur Freeman to life (32 Years non parole) for throwing his 4 Year old daughter Darcey off the West Gate Bridge.
On April 14, 2021 Coghlan sentenced Mohinder Singh Bajwa to 22 Years (18 Years and 6 Months non parole) over the deaths of four police officers killed on the Eastern Freeway on April 22, 2020.
References
Judges of the Supreme Court of Victoria
Living people
Year of birth missing (living people)
Officers of the Order of Australia
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