WX v R [2020] NSWCCA 142

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: WX v R [2020] NSWCCA 142 Hearing dates: 15 May 2020 Date of orders: 30 June 2020 Decision date: 30 June 2020 Before: Payne JA at [1] Beech-Jones J at [3] N Adams J at [98] Decision: (1) The Appellant be granted leave to raise ground 2 of his notice of appeal. (2) The appeal be allowed. (3) The Appellant's convictions be quashed. (4) A new trial be ordered. (5) List the matter in the District Court Arraignments List at Parramatta on 17 July 2020. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – appeal – appeal against conviction – offence of indecent assault on a child under sixteen years of age contrary to s 61M(2) of the Crimes Act 1900 – offence of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of ten years contrary to s 66A(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 – first trial aborted – Crown tendered complainant's evidence at second and third trial – accused applied under s 306J of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 to compel complainant to give evidence – application refused – trial judge erred in construction of s 306J of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 – whether Crown Prosecutor's closing address reversed the onus of proof – ground dismissed – appeal allowed – whether new trial or acquittal – new trial ordered Legislation Cited: Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 Crimes Act 1900 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Criminal Procedure Amendment (Evidence) Act 2005 Cases Cited: ALS v R [2013] NSWCCA 63 Attorney General v Coroner of South Yorkshire [2012] EWHC 3783 BHP Billiton Ltd v Schultz (2004) 221 CLR 400; [2004] HCA 61 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Castle v The Queen (2016) 259 CLR 449; [2016] HCA 46 Cusack v Regina [2009] NSWCCA 155 Doe v R [2008] NSWCCA 203; (2008) 187 A Crim R 328 Filippou v The Queen (2015) 256 CLR 47; [2015] HCA 29 Gilham v R [2012] NSWCCA 131 Haoui v R [2008] NSWCCA 209; (2008) 188 A Crim R 331 Hogan v Australian Crime Commission (2010) 240 CLR 651; [2010] HCA 21 Jiminez v The Queen (1992) 173 CLR 572; [1992] HCA 14 Kalabasi v The Queen (2018) 264 CLR 62; [2018] HCA 7 MRW v R [2011] NSWCCA 260 Nudd v The Queen [2006] HCA 9; 80 ALJR 614 Palmer v The Queen (1998) 193 CLR 1; [1998] HCA 2 Ratten v R (1974) 131 CLR 510; [1974] HCA 35 Reed v R [2006] NSWCCA 314 R v Davies (1995) 83 A Crim R 502; (1996) 39 NSWLR 450 R v Smith [2000] NSWCCA 468 R v Taufahema (2007) 228 CLR 232; [2007] HCA 11 R v Tyrone Chishimba [2010] NSWCCA 228 Spies v The Queen (2000) 201 CLR 603; [2000] HCA 43 TKJW v The Queen (2002) 212 CLR 124; [2002] HCA 46 Weiss v The Queen (2005) 224 CLR 300; [2005] HCA 81 Texts Cited: Criminal Procedure Amendment (Sexual and Other Offences) Bill 2006 Category: Principal judgment Parties: WX (Appellant) Regina (Crown) Representation: Counsel: S Lawrence (Appellant) M Kumar (Crown)