Williams v Chief of Army [2016] ADFDAT 3

DEFENCE FORCE DISCIPLINE APPEAL TRIBUNAL

Williams v Chief of Army [2016] ADFDAT 3 Appeal from: Defence Force Magistrate

File number: DFDAT 4 of 2015

Judges: TRACEY J (president), BRERETON AND HILEY JJ (members)

Date of judgment: 16 December 2016

Catchwords: DEFENCE – appellant convicted of one charge before Defence Force Magistrate, acquitted of two other charges – whether DFM had jurisdiction to hear and determine the charges – consideration of "service connection" and "service status" tests of jurisdiction – DFM had jurisdiction – whether DFM erred in consideration of any inconsistencies in complaint evidence – whether the DFM's finding of guilt on Charge 1 was inconsistent with acquittals on Charges 2 and 3 – appeal dismissed

Legislation: Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 (Cth) Defence Force Discipline Appeals Act 1955 (Cth), ss 20(1), 21(1)(b), 23(1)(a), 23(1)(b), 23(1)(d), 41(a) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth), s 66(2)

Cases cited: Drake v Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs (1979) 2 ALD 60 Hardcastle v Commissioner of Police (1984) 53 ALR 593 Lane v Morrison (2009) 239 CLR 230 MacKenzie v The Queen (1996) 190 CLR 348 Mills v Martin (1821) 19 Johnson's Supreme Court Reports (NY) 7 New South Wales Bar Association v Cummins (2001) 52 NSWLR 279 O'Callahan v Parker 395 US 258 (1969) Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 196 CLR 297 R v Murray (1987) 11 NSWLR 12 R v Quinn; Ex parte Consolidated Foods Corporation (1977) 138 CLR 1 R v White; Ex parte Byrnes (1963) 109 CLR 665 Re Aird; Ex parte Alpert (2004) 220 CLR 308 Re Nolan; Ex parte Young (1991) 172 CLR 460 Re Tracey; Ex parte Ryan (1989) 166 CLR 518 Relford v US Disciplinary Commandant 401 US 355 (1971) Solorio v United States 483 US 435 (1987) The Shell Company of Australia Limited v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (1930) 44 CLR 530 White v Director of Military Prosecutions (2007) 231 CLR 570