FB v R [2020] NSWCCA 137

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: FB v R [2020] NSWCCA 137 Hearing dates: 10 February 2020 Date of orders: 24 June 2020 Decision date: 24 June 2020 Before: Basten JA at [1]; R A Hulme J at [66]; N Adams J at [243] Decision: (1) To the extent necessary, grant the applicant leave to appeal against his convictions. (2) Dismiss the appeal. (3) Order that the applicant be returned to custody to serve the balance of the sentence imposed on him in the District Court. Catchwords: CRIME – appeal - conviction – miscarriage of justice – prosecutor's statements in closing address – whether prosecutor's use of rebuttal evidence impermissible – whether prosecutor mischaracterised or undermined accused's good character evidence – Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), Pt 3.8 CRIME – appeals – conviction – unreasonable verdict – offences committed by father against son and daughter – prosecution reliance on young child complainants and their mother – defence denials and evidence of good character – rebuttal evidence EVIDENCE – character evidence – purpose and use of good character evidence – admissibility – rebuttal of good character – whether rebuttal evidence relevant to guilt or only to rebut good character – Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), Pt 3.8 Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61, 61O, 61M, 412, 413 Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), s 47A, 399 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 293A, 294; Sch 2, Pt 7 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 9, 38, 55, 59, 76, 94, 95, 97, 98, 101A, 102, 109, 110, 136 Criminal Appeal Rules (NSW), r 4 Cases Cited: ARS v R [2011] NSWCCA 266 Attwood v The Queen (1960) 102 CLR 353; [1960] HCA 15 Bishop v R (2013) 39 VR 642; [2013] VSCA 273 Braysich v The Queen (2011) 243 CLR 434; [2011] HCA 14 BRS v The Queen (1997) 191 CLR 275; [1997] HCA 47 CA v R [2017] NSWCCA 324 Cabot (a pseudonym) v R [2018] NSWCCA 265 Clegg v R [2017] NSWCCA 125 D'Agostino v Regina [2019] NSWCCA 259 Donnini v The Queen (1972) 128 CLR 114; [1972] HCA 71 Eastman v The Queen (1997) 76 FCR 9; (1997) 158 ALR 107 GAX v The Queen (2017) 91 ALJR 698; [2017] HCA 25 Gilbert v The Queen (2000) 201 CLR 414; [2000] HCA 15 Hamilton (a pseudonym) v R [2020] NSWCCA 80 Hoch v The Queen (1988) 165 CLR 292; [1988] HCA 50 Hogg v R [2019] NSWCCA 323 Hughes v The Queen (2017) 263 CLR 338; [2017] HCA 20 IW v R [2019] NSWCCA 311 James v The Queen (2014) 253 CLR 475; [2014] HCA 6 JV v R [2017] NSWCCA 49 KRM v The Queen (2001) 206 CLR 221; [2001] HCA 11 L'Estrange v R [2011] NSWCCA 89 Li, Wing Cheong v R [2010] NSWCCA 40 Melbourne v The Queen (1999) 198 CLR 1; [1999] HCA 32 Oliverio v R (1993) 70 A Crim R 5; (1993) 61 SASR 354 Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 196 CLR 297; [1999] HCA 37 Pell v The Queen [2020] HCA 12 Pemble v The Queen (1971) 124 CLR 107; [1971] HCA 20 R v El-Kheir [2004] NSWCCA 461 R v Falealili [1996] 3 NZLR 664 R v Hamilton (Court of Criminal Appeal, 6 July 1993, unreported) R v Markuleski (2001) 52 NSWLR 82; [2001] NSWCCA 290 R v Murphy (1985) 4 NSWLR 42 R v Murray (1987) 11 NSWLR 12 R v MWL (2002) 137 A Crim R 282; [2002] VSCA 221 R v Oliverio (1993) 70 A Crim R 5; (1993) 61 SASR 354 R v Rowton (1865) Le & Ca 520; (1865) 169 ER 1479 R v Stalder [1981] 2 NSWLR 9 Re OGD (No 2) 50 NSWLR 433; [2000] NSWCCA 404 Simic v the Queen (1980) 144 CLR 319; [1980] HCA 25 TKWJ v The Queen (2002) 212 CLR 124; [2002] HCA 46 Vagg v R [2020] NSWCCA 134 Texts Cited: Criminal Practice and Procedure NSW, (LexisNexis) Royal Commission into Institutional Responses to Child Sexual Abuse, Criminal Justice Report (2017) The Law Reform Commission, Report No 26, Interim – Evidence (1985) Category: Principal judgment Parties: FB (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms G Bashir SC (Applicant) Mr B Hatfield (Respondent)