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Does saying sorry count?

I broke my neighbour’s window and have been charged with criminal damage. I have since had the window repaired at my own cost and written my neighbour an apology letter. Will the court take this into account?
Asked in Newcastle - Newcastle and Lake Macquarie, NSW, 11-11-2015
1 Lawyer Answered
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  1. Criminal Property Law
Lawyer Answers (1): Answers from lawyers are general preliminary responses. They are not formal legal advice and cannot taken account of all your circumstances. They do not create a lawyer–client relationship.

  • Answer by Pearl Beaumont, Bronte 2024 NSW

  • Yes. These matters will be taken into account in determining your sentence.
  • The court has to take into account a whole range of factors when deciding upon an appropriate sentence. Some factors will aggravate (increase) the sentence and some will mitigate (reduce) the sentence.
  • The steps you have taken since the incident show that you are genuinely sorry and that you have taken responsibility for your behaviour. These steps should mitigate your sentence.
  • You will need to tell your lawyer exactly what you have done so that they can tell the judge or magistrate. Copies of the letter and the receipt for the repairs would also be very useful.

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