Sydney Barrister Found Dead Following Child Abuse Material Charges
Mark Dennis, a 60-year-old top barrister from Sydney, was discovered deceased at his residence in Leichhardt, located in the city's inner west, at approximately 7:30 PM on Tuesday. This tragic event occurred just weeks after he had been released on bail for charges related to possessing child abuse material.
Legal Career and Controversial Writings
Dennis had been practising criminal law since 1992 and was appointed as Senior Counsel in 2018. In 2021, he founded a children's charity named Reasonable Cause Inc, aimed at supporting disadvantaged Cambodian youth. Throughout his career, he authored numerous legal articles for Criminal Continuing Professional Development (CPD), providing defence lawyers with insights on handling various cases.
Among his publications was a 21-page document from March 2017, titled Defending Child Sexual Assault in the Local Court. In this guide, Dennis detailed strategies for gaining the trust of children during cross-examination. He emphasised the importance of non-verbal cues, suggesting that smiling and speaking in a friendly tone could make a child more receptive. He also advised asking simple questions quickly to dismantle the prosecution's case before the child becomes emotional, which could influence a jury.
Other Publications and Arrest Details
Dennis wrote other articles, including a profanity-laden guide on police interactions titled A Pack of F***** Boys in Blue Skirts and a discussion on offensive language laws called Dog A*** C****. His final article, from November 2025, titled Thirty-Five Fatwas of Cross-Examination, discussed identifying the underlying emotions in criminal trials, noting that child sexual assault cases evoke strong negative feelings.
Dennis was arrested at Sydney International Airport on January 20 after returning from a trip to Cambodia. Australian Border Force officers conducted an intelligence-led screening of his luggage, leading to the discovery of child abuse material on a mobile phone. The Australian Federal Police were alerted and allegedly found sexualised conversations with minors. Additional electronic devices, including a laptop, tablet, and USB, were seized from his luggage and home during subsequent searches.
Court Proceedings and Bail Conditions
He faced charges including two counts of using a carriage service to access child abuse, one count of possessing child abuse material, and one count of intentionally importing a prohibited tier-two good without approval. The prosecution opposed his bail, citing the seriousness of the offences and concerns about evidence deletion. However, the defence argued that Dennis would comply with strict conditions, cease legal practice, and highlighted his health issues, such as type-1 diabetes and a prior stroke.
The magistrate granted bail with stringent conditions, requiring Dennis to report to police five days a week, avoid contact with children under 16, and refrain from using the internet or social media.
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