David Jones KC
David has appeared in thousands of matters, including around 300 to 400 jury trials, appeals, applications, and inquiries.
David’s practice is not limited to criminal law, and he is often briefed to advise on evidentiary matters and prospects of success, regulatory prosecutions, inquiries, summary hearings and domestic violence hearings.
In November 2022, David was appointed King’s Counsel, and in 2023, he was appointed Adjunct Professor (School of Law and Justice) with the University of Southern Queensland.
David is primarily based in the Darling Downs but frequently appears in Brisbane, Canberra and Melbourne.
Three examples of cases David has appeared in since joining the private bar include:
DPP v Rapisarda (No 2) 2024 VSC 217, where David successfully made a no-case submission at the end of the third week of a murder trial in the Melbourne Supreme Court.
R v Halcrow [2022] QSCPR 11, involved a case where David represented the applicant who was charged with murder and grievous bodily harm. David successfully severed the counts on the indictment and had a large body of the Crown’s evidence ruled inadmissible.
R v Dayney (No 1) (2020) 10 QR 638, involved a successful appeal against a murder conviction where the law as it related to self-defence was modified.
Career History
David graduated with a Bachelor of Laws with Honours and completed his graduate diploma in legal practice. In 2006, before being admitted to practice, he successfully graduated from the bar practice course. Shortly after that, David was admitted as a Legal Practitioner in Queensland and in 2007, he was admitted as a barrister in the High Court of Australia. At 24, David received his permanent commission as a Crown Prosecutor. In 2010, he was appointed as a Senior Crown Prosecutor. David left the Crown in 2016 and commenced practice at the Queensland bar.
Military Experience
In 2013, David received his commission as an officer in the Australian Army Reserves and graduated from the Royal Military College with the Sword of Honour. In 2014, David completed the Regimental Officer Basic Course at the School of Infantry at Singleton, where he was awarded top place. In 2016, David was transferred from the Infantry Corp to the Legal Corp. He now appears in Defence Force Magistrate Trials and Court Martials for both the prosecution and the defence. He also appears in his civilian capacity in the Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal for the Chief of Army and for members.
Since 2021, David has held a statutory appointment as an Assistant to the Inspector-General of the Australian Defence Force, where he is engaged to assist in the conduct of coercive Inquiries into the deaths of Australian Defence Force members.
Areas of Practice
Appellate
Commissions of Inquiry
Criminal
Disciplinary proceedings
Inquests
Military
Regulatory prosecutions
Contact
David Jones KC
Murray Gleeson Chambers
Level 31, Hitachi Building
239 George Street
Brisbane, 4000
Phone: +61 7 3175 4600
Mobile: 0407 922 884
Email: dpjones@qldbar.asn.au