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Zarah Garde-Wilson

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Zarah Garde-Wilson
Born (1978-02-02) 2 February 1978 (age 46)[1]
Armidale, New South Wales, Australia
Alma materUniversity of Western Australia
OccupationLawyer
Known forCriminal defence attorney
Websitegardewilson.com.au

Zarah Garde-Wilson is an Australian criminal defence lawyer known for her involvement in the Melbourne gangland killings[2] and the Lawyer X[3] scandal. She has represented notorious Australian criminals such as Carl Williams,[4] Roberta Williams,[5] Tony Mokbel,[6] Fadi Haddara,[7] and Rob Karam.[8] Garde-Wilson is noted for her outspoken views on corruption within the Australian criminal justice system and the subsequent erosion of defendants' rights.[4] She is the principal partner at Garde Wilson Lawyers.

Early life & education

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Garde-Wilson was born in 1978, the second of two children of Gregory John Garde-Wilson and Judith Kemp. She received secondary education at Fairholme College, in Toowoomba, Queensland.[9] She commenced studies in law at James Cook University and at 20, Garde-Wilson moved to Perth, Western Australia, to complete her studies at the University of Western Australia, where she resided at St George’s College and graduated with a Bachelor of Laws in 1998.[9]

Early career

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Garde-Wilson took up an article clerkship at the law firm Pryles & Defteros,[9] working on criminal defence. After being admitted as a solicitor and barrister of the Supreme Court of Victoria in 2002, Garde-Wilson began practising law independently in 2004.

Melbourne gangland killings

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Garde-Wilson became a significant figure during the Melbourne gangland killings through her representation of individuals linked to these events.[10] She acted for several persons investigated by the Victoria Police from 1998 to 2006 and came into the public eye during the high-profile trials of Carl Williams and Tony Mokbel.[4][6] During this time, Garde-Wilson became aware that fellow barrister, Nicola Gobbo, had been recruited by Victoria Police as an informant against her own clients.[11]

Garde-Wilson was the girlfriend of convicted murderer Lewis Caine,[12][13] who was murdered in the gangland killings.[14]

In 2005, Garde-Wilson was found guilty of Contempt of court after refusing to testify in the trial of the two men charged with the murder of her boyfriend Lewis Caine, claiming that she feared for her life.[15]

Involvement in Lawyer X scandal

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Garde-Wilson's role in uncovering the Lawyer X scandal originated from her first-hand experiences during the Melbourne gangland wars.[11] As a criminal defence lawyer, she represented several high-profile clients who were unknowingly compromised by their own attorney, Nicola Gobbo, who was secretly acting as a police informant under the codename "Informer 3838".[16] Garde-Wilson's concerns about leaks within the legal system and her public questioning of the legal integrity of Victoria Police began to intensify during the late 2000s.[17][18] However, her calls for broader public and legal scrutiny that eventually exposed Nicola Gobbo's role as "Informer 3838" escalated significantly around 2018 when the media first publicly disclosed Gobbo's role as an informant.[19]

Following the revelations surrounding Nicola Gobbo's dual role as a lawyer and a police informant, the Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants was established.[11] Garde-Wilson provided testimony during this inquiry, which scrutinized the conduct of Victoria Police[4] and the implications of using a legal professional as an informant. In response to the Commission's findings and the subsequent impact on public trust in the justice system,[20] Garde-Wilson, along with other prominent Australian lawyers, called for significant reforms.[21] In July 2023, following the closure of the Lawyer X Office of the Special Investigator, these legal practitioners, including Garde-Wilson, demanded an official apology from former Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews, emphasizing the need for reforms to restore integrity within the judicial system.[21]

Notable cases

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In 2005, she represented Carl Williams,[4] a key figure in the Melbourne gangland killings, who was convicted of multiple murders. Another significant case involved defending Tony Mokbel,[6] a notorious drug lord who was eventually convicted of large-scale drug trafficking.

In 2016, Garde-Wilson filed an appeal for the first Lawyer X case concerning convicted trafficker Rob Karam, who was involved in Australia's largest MDMA importation known as the "Tomato Tins" case.[8] Convicted in 2012, Karam was implicated in smuggling 4.4 tonnes of ecstasy pills, valued at $122 million,[22] hidden in tomato tins – a scheme purportedly orchestrated by the Calabrian Mafia.[23] This case drew significant media attention due to the scale of the drug importation and the controversial involvement of Nicola Gobbo, who provided information to police about her clients, including Karam.[24][25]

In 2019, Athar Almatrah was represented by Garde-Wilson in a case involving an alleged setup using a fake Instagram account to ambush Rocco Curra, a member of the Mongols motorcycle gang.[26] During the proceedings, Garde-Wilson disputed the evidence against Almatrah, challenging the claims about her client's intent and the credibility of the testimony from co-accused individuals.[27]

In 2022, Garde-Wilson represented Osman El-Houli[28] in the Supreme Court of Queensland,[29] where he was acquitted of charges related to an alleged 400kg cocaine smuggling plot.[30] El-Houli was accused of driving from Melbourne to Queensland to collect the cocaine, but the jury found him not guilty after deliberating for four hours and he was acquitted of all charges.[30]

In 2022, Garde-Wilson acted as the defence attorney for Tony Larussa before the Court of Appeal in Western Australia.[31] Tony Larussa, initially sentenced over involvement in a methamphetamine operation,[32] successfully appealed the conviction and was acquitted of all charges.[31]

In 2024, Garde-Wilson represented reputed Melbourne underworld boss Fadi Haddara[33] who faced legal proceedings regarding firearms charges. The charges included possession of unregistered firearms and handling a stolen Glock handgun.[34] These charges were part of a broader investigation by Victorian Police Operation Taskforce Luna, which was examining the Haddara crime syndicate's involvement in the Australian illicit tobacco industry.[35]

Defamation case against Avi Yemeni

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In June 2021, Garde-Wilson initiated a defamation lawsuit against Avi Yemini,[36][37] a journalist associated with the Canadian-based conservative website Rebel News. The case was filed in the Federal Court of Australia under the title "ZARAH GARDE-WILSON v AVI YEMINI & ANOR". The proceedings concluded with a settlement in October 2021, although the specific terms of the settlement were not made public.[38]

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In 2020, Garde-Wilson initiated legal action against Google,[39] aiming to unmask an anonymous online reviewer she suspected was a rival trying to damage her reputation.[40] In the case, Justice Bernard Murphy had ordered Google, which didn’t object to the application, to provide the registration information of the account along with IP addresses of the reviewer, however it wasn’t enough to identify who was behind the posts.[41] Garde-Wilson tried to get more information including phone numbers and email addresses used to recover account details when they were lost or verify the account when it was created. Google claimed that due to the length of time since the account was deleted, any relevant data associated with the reviewer had been “permanently deleted”.[42] Ms Garde-Wilson said in a statement to The Age newspaper that she would issue proceedings against Google for destroying the account data and failing to save the reviewer's information in a 'timely way'.[43][44]

Professional recognition

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In 2024, Garde-Wilson was listed among "The 8 best criminal lawyers in Melbourne" by The Canberra Times.[45] She was named in the Herald Sun on June 5, 2022, as one of "Melbourne's top female lawyers,"[46] and previously in a September 9, 2021, article highlighting "Melbourne’s top legal eagles".[47]

Personal life

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Garde-Wilson was romantically involved with Lewis Caine,[12] a notable figure in Melbourne's underworld, who was murdered on May 8, 2004.[48] Caine, also known by the aliases Sean Vincent and Adrian Bligh,[49] had extensive connections within the Melbourne criminal milieu, which were often highlighted in media reports about his life and death.[50]

Zarah Garde-Wilson is a mother to three children. She gave birth to her daughter Samantha in late 2008, and twins Max and Sophie in September 2010.[51]

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Zarah Garde-Wilson's presence in popular culture is notably marked by her portrayals in two significant Australian television series. In 2008, she was portrayed by Kestie Morassi in the series Underbelly. Later, in 2014, Zoe Cramond played her in Fat Tony & Co. These portrayals contributed to her recognition beyond the legal sphere, highlighting her connections to high-profile criminal cases and bringing her career to the attention of a broader audience.[52]

References

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  1. ^ "The underworld's lawyer"[permanent dead link], 14 May 2005, The Age[dead link]
  2. ^ "Women of the Crime World". Daily Telegraph.
  3. ^ "Glamorous gangland lawyer the mastermind behind exposing police". 9news.com.au. 5 December 2018. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  4. ^ a b c d e "Gangland lawyer calls Victorian justice system 'disgracefully corrupted'". The Age.
  5. ^ "A Current Affair: Roberta Williams' Lawyer X interview ends in attack on reporter". 18 February 2019.
  6. ^ a b c "Lawyer appeals to Supreme Court over licence". ABC.
  7. ^ "Melbourne underworld identity Fadi Haddara charged with multiple gun offences". Herald Sun.
  8. ^ a b ""Tomato tin ecstasy drug Gobbo Lawyer X," Australian Broadcasting Corporation, December 14, 2023".[dead link]
  9. ^ a b c "Dangerous liaisons with clients". NZ Herald. 10 June 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  10. ^ ""Glamorous gangland lawyer hits back," News.com.au, December 5, 2018".[dead link]
  11. ^ a b c "Glamorous gangland lawyer the mastermind behind exposing police," 9News, October 30, 2022". 9 News.[dead link]
  12. ^ a b "Guilty lawyer tells of love for gangster". The Sydney Morning Herald. 17 November 2005. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  13. ^ "Dead man had links to city's underworld". The Age. 13 May 2004. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  14. ^ "Chronology of Melbourne's gangland war". ABC News. 19 April 2010. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  15. ^ Mills, Tammy (18 March 2021). "Zarah Garde-Wilson loses bid to find who was behind bad Google reviews". The Sydney Morning Herald. Retrieved 20 September 2024.
  16. ^ Estcourt, David (10 February 2024). "Gobbo played double agent in risky underworld game with Mokbel". The Age. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  17. ^ "Informer 3838: Royal commission to examine how gangland lawyer turned on her clients, news.com, December 5, 2018".
  18. ^ ""'Tip of the iceberg': Gangland lawyer claims she tried to expose Informer 3838," The Age, December 4, 2018". The Age.
  19. ^ "Lawyer X identified as Nicola Gobbo after court lifts suppression order on Informer 3838, ABC News, March 15, 2019".
  20. ^ "Royal Commission into the Management of Police Informants". rcmpi.vic.gov.au. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  21. ^ a b "Lawyers condemn comments from Daniel Andrews over Lawyer X special investigation". ABC News. 17 July 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  22. ^ "Men jailed for importing $122m of ecstasy in tomato tins". ABC News. 4 July 2014. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  23. ^ "World's biggest ecstasy bust: How a Google search foiled Aussie tomato tin mafia's drug plots, Herald Sun, February 13, 2015".
  24. ^ "Court rejects tomato-tin ecstasy importer's appeal to have conviction overturned". ABC News. 14 December 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  25. ^ "Papers that led to tomato tin ecstasy bust were fed to police by Gobbo, inquiry hears". ABC News. 8 August 2019. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  26. ^ "Bikie girlfriend jailed for setting up ambush shooting". 9news.com.au. 7 June 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  27. ^ "Melbourne woman allegedly used fake Instagram account to lure bikie to near-fatal ambush, News.com, December 22, 2020".
  28. ^ "Truckie charged over alleged 400kg coke smuggling plot found not guilty, The Courier Mail, May 26, 2023".
  29. ^ "Truck driver found not guilty over 400kg cocaine plot - InQueensland". www.inqld.com.au. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 11 June 2024.
  30. ^ a b "Truck driver found not guilty over 400kg cocaine plot". 9news.com.au. 26 May 2023. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  31. ^ a b "West Aussie cattle farmer a secret meth kingpin". The West Australian. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  32. ^ "The country cattle breeder turned WA meth kingpin". PerthNow. 25 July 2022. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  33. ^ Juanola, Chris Vedelago, Marta Pascual (12 April 2024). "When the head of a crime family found trackers on his car, he knew the game was up". The Age. Retrieved 10 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  34. ^ Juanola, Chris Vedelago, Marta Pascual (15 December 2023). "Guns seizure leads to arrest of alleged gangland boss targeted in tobacco firebombings". The Age. Retrieved 10 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  35. ^ contact=13 28 65, scheme=AGLSTERMS AglsAgent; corporateName=Australian Taxation Office; address=GPO Box 9990 Canberra ACT 2600. "Lunar and VIPER seize over $2 million of illicit tobacco products". ato.gov.au. Retrieved 10 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link) CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link)
  36. ^ "210+ notable Australian defamation battles". maynereport.com. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  37. ^ Pick, T. J. I. "Alt-right activist Avi Yemini sued by Melbourne gangland lawyer over defamatory post". thejewishindependent.com.au. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  38. ^ Hutchinson, Stephen Brook, Samantha (13 October 2021). "Gangland lawyer and alt-right activist settle defamation case". The Age. Retrieved 10 June 2024.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  39. ^ "Communications Law Bulletin". austlii.edu.au. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  40. ^ "Barrister launches court action to unmask Google reviewer she suspects is rival lawyer". ABC News. 19 February 2020. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  41. ^ Mills, Tammy (18 March 2021). "Zarah Garde-Wilson loses bid to find who was behind bad Google reviews". The Age. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  42. ^ Mills, Tammy (18 March 2021). "Zarah Garde-Wilson loses bid to find who was behind bad Google reviews". The Age. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  43. ^ Mills, Tammy (18 March 2021). "Zarah Garde-Wilson loses bid to find who was behind bad Google reviews". The Age. Retrieved 26 June 2024.
  44. ^ Fenner, Martin (19 September 2007). "You can now share Powerpoint presentations online with Google Presently". doi:10.53731/r294649-6f79289-8cw8x. Retrieved 26 June 2024. {{cite journal}}: Cite journal requires |journal= (help)
  45. ^ "The 8 best criminal lawyers in Melbourne". The Canberra Times. 31 January 2024. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  46. ^ ""Named: Melbourne's top female lawyers," Herald Sun, June 5, 2022".
  47. ^ ""Melbourne's top legal eagles," Herald Sun, September 9, 2021".
  48. ^ Grand, Chip Le (21 May 2021). "The last night of Lewis Caine". The Age. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  49. ^ "Dumped body identified as convicted killer". The Sydney Morning Herald. 13 May 2004. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  50. ^ Grand, Chip Le (21 May 2021). "New evidence raises fresh doubt over who killed Lewis Moran". The Age. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  51. ^ Team, Mamamia (9 December 2017). "Where are the women of Underbelly now?". Mamamia. Retrieved 10 June 2024.
  52. ^ "Women of the crime world". The Daily Telegraph. 25 October 2018.
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