Chief of the General Staff v Stuart, Lieutenant Colonel Russell Alexander [1995] FCA 1005

CATCHWORDS DEFENCE AND WAR - Defence Forces - Offences - United Nations Transitional Authority in Cambodia - appeal from a Defence Force Magistrate - appeal from Defence Force Discipline Appeal Tribunal - offence against s.44 Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 - loss of service property - whether Magistrate misconstrued s.44 - mens rea - whether an offence of strict liability or absolute liability - offence against s.60 Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 - direction to subordinate - conduct likely to prejudice the discipline of the Defence Force - conviction under s.60 dependent upon Magistrate's conclusion of guilt under s.44 - whether blameworthiness descriptive of mens rea or an element of offence under s.60. CRIMINAL LAW - mens rea - whether strict liability offence - extent to which mens rea an ingredient in the offence of loss of Defence Force service property contrary to s.44 Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 - whether Defence Force Magistrate erred in applying a test of honest and reasonable belief. CRIMINAL LAW - appeals - whether verdict unsafe or unsatisfactory. DEFENCE AND WAR - CRIMINAL LAW - costs - whether acquitted person may be awarded costs - s.37 Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955. ss.44,60 Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 s.37 Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955 s.40 Army Act 1881 (UK) (44 & 45 Vict. c.58) He Kaw Teh v The Queen (1985) 157 CLR 523 Proudman v Dayman (1941) 67 CLR 536 Zecevic v Director of Public Prosecutions (Victoria) (1987) 162 CLR 645 Lim Chin Aik v The Queen [1963] AC 160 Re Cottingham's Appeal (Courts-Martial Appeal Tribunal No.1 of 1972) unreported, Sydney, 8 June 1972 Sherras v De Rutzen [1895] 1 QB 918 Bahri Kural v R (1987) 162 CLR 502 Pereira v Director of Public Prosecutions (1988) 63 ALJR 1 Morris v The Queen (1987) 163 CLR 454 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534 Chidiac v The Queen (1991) 171 CLR 432 Mraz v The Queen (1955) 93 CLR 493 The Queen v Clough (1992) 28 NSWLR 396 Heddon v Evans (1919) 35 TLR 642 Anning's Appeal DFDAT No.5 of 1989 (Woodward J., President, Cox and Gallop JJ.) CHIEF OF THE GENERAL STAFF v. LIEUTENANT COLONEL RUSSELL ALEXANDER STUART No. NG 350 of 1994 Black CJ, Davies, Lockhart, Lee and Heerey JJ 14 December 1995 Sydney