Peter Hayes (lawyer)
Encyclopedia
Peter Hayes, QC
(c
.1953 – 21 May 2007) was a prominent barrister
in Melbourne
, Australia
. He was a director of the Melbourne Football Club
from 2000 to 2003.
in 1988. He was a specialist in banking, finance and corporations law. Hayes was involved in a number of high profile cases, including defending Steve Vizard
's bookeeper, Roy Hilliard, who was subsequently convicted of falsifying accounts, sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and ordered by the Supreme Court of Victoria to repay over $2 million of misappropriated funds. Other work included defending suspects in the drug-related death of Dianne Brimble
and counsel for Perth
socialite
Rose Porteous
.
on 21 May 2007, 11 days after being found naked and unconscious in an Adelaide
hotel room. He was discovered by former Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club member Tony Sobey, whom Hayes was defending against investment fraud charges. Two women visited Hayes in his hotel room on the night of his death, and were tracked down via hotel security footage. One was a 21-year old woman with a history of prostitution charges, and the other - a 28 year old woman - was subsequently charged with administering a drug of dependence to Hayes. His death is currently under coronial investigation, but it has been alleged that toxicology revealed he had ingested cocaine and heroin immediately before his death, and lethal drug overdose was the cause of death
After Hayes' death, Victorian Bar Council chairman Michael Shand QC declined to comment on the original complaint of cocaine use, stating "the Bar Council is vigilant at maintaining the highest standards of practice at the bar" and would investigate the issues surrounding Mr Hayes' death. When asked about drug use in the legal profession Australian Government Solicitor-General
David Bennett
QC replied:
), a son and two daughters.
Queen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
(c
Circa
Circa , usually abbreviated c. or ca. , means "approximately" in the English language, usually referring to a date...
.1953 – 21 May 2007) was a prominent barrister
Barrister
A barrister is a member of one of the two classes of lawyer found in many common law jurisdictions with split legal professions. Barristers specialise in courtroom advocacy, drafting legal pleadings and giving expert legal opinions...
in Melbourne
Melbourne
Melbourne is the capital and most populous city in the state of Victoria, and the second most populous city in Australia. The Melbourne City Centre is the hub of the greater metropolitan area and the Census statistical division—of which "Melbourne" is the common name. As of June 2009, the greater...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
. He was a director of the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
from 2000 to 2003.
Professional life
Hayes was admitted to the bar on 1 March 1973 and was appointed Queen's CounselQueen's Counsel
Queen's Counsel , known as King's Counsel during the reign of a male sovereign, are lawyers appointed by letters patent to be one of Her [or His] Majesty's Counsel learned in the law...
in 1988. He was a specialist in banking, finance and corporations law. Hayes was involved in a number of high profile cases, including defending Steve Vizard
Steve Vizard
Stephen William Vizard, born 6 March 1956 in Richmond, Victoria, is an Australian media personality, comedian, businessman and writer.-Early life:...
's bookeeper, Roy Hilliard, who was subsequently convicted of falsifying accounts, sentenced to 3 years imprisonment and ordered by the Supreme Court of Victoria to repay over $2 million of misappropriated funds. Other work included defending suspects in the drug-related death of Dianne Brimble
Dianne Brimble
Dianne Elizabeth Brimble died aboard a P&O Cruises cruise ship of a drug overdose. She is alleged to have been neglected and received callous treatment at the hands of passengers she was with at the time of taking the drug...
and counsel for Perth
Perth, Western Australia
Perth is the capital and largest city of the Australian state of Western Australia and the fourth most populous city in Australia. The Perth metropolitan area has an estimated population of almost 1,700,000....
socialite
Socialite
A socialite is a person who participates in social activities and spends a significant amount of time entertaining and being entertained at fashionable upper-class events....
Rose Porteous
Rose Porteous
Rose Porteous , a Filipino-born Australian, is best known for her marriage to Lang Hancock, a West Australian iron ore mining magnate, and the protracted legal battle with her step-daughter, Gina Rinehart, over the circumstances that lead to the death of Hancock, and the distribution of his estate...
.
Allegations of drug use
In 2005 Hayes was subject to a professional complaint made by solicitor Isaac Brott to the Ethics Committee of the Victorian Bar. The solicitor, who worked with Hayes, asked that Mr Hayes be tested for drug use accused him of being an "inveterate cocaine user". The complaint was dismissed as vexatious and lacking in credibility.Death and drug charges
Hayes died in the Royal Adelaide HospitalRoyal Adelaide Hospital
The Royal Adelaide Hospital is Adelaide's largest hospital, with 680 beds. Founded in 1840, the Royal Adelaide provides tertiary health care services for South Australia and provides secondary care clinical services to residents of Adelaide's city centre and inner suburbs.The hospital is situated...
on 21 May 2007, 11 days after being found naked and unconscious in an Adelaide
Adelaide
Adelaide is the capital city of South Australia and the fifth-largest city in Australia. Adelaide has an estimated population of more than 1.2 million...
hotel room. He was discovered by former Gypsy Joker Outlaw Motorcycle Club member Tony Sobey, whom Hayes was defending against investment fraud charges. Two women visited Hayes in his hotel room on the night of his death, and were tracked down via hotel security footage. One was a 21-year old woman with a history of prostitution charges, and the other - a 28 year old woman - was subsequently charged with administering a drug of dependence to Hayes. His death is currently under coronial investigation, but it has been alleged that toxicology revealed he had ingested cocaine and heroin immediately before his death, and lethal drug overdose was the cause of death
After Hayes' death, Victorian Bar Council chairman Michael Shand QC declined to comment on the original complaint of cocaine use, stating "the Bar Council is vigilant at maintaining the highest standards of practice at the bar" and would investigate the issues surrounding Mr Hayes' death. When asked about drug use in the legal profession Australian Government Solicitor-General
Solicitor-General of Australia
The Solicitor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the Second Law Officer to the Attorney-General of Australia. The holders of this office are not members of parliament....
David Bennett
David Bennett (barrister)
David Michael John Bennett AC, QC is an Australian barrister and former Solicitor-General of Australia.-Early years:...
QC replied:
"...barristers as a group would use illegal drugs less than the general community because they are likely to be concerned about breaking the law..."
Personal life
He was survived by his former wife Mary Stephen (daughter of Sir Ninian StephenNinian Stephen
Sir Ninian Martin Stephen, is a retired politician and judge, who served as the 20th Governor-General of Australia and as a Justice in the High Court of Australia.-Early life:...
), a son and two daughters.