Wiggins v R [2020] NSWCCA 256

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Wiggins v R [2020] NSWCCA 256 Hearing dates: 6 April 2020 Date of orders: 7 October 2020 Decision date: 07 October 2020 Before: Simpson AJA at [1] Fagan J at [133] Ierace J at [147] Decision: 1. Leave to appeal against conviction granted; 2. Appeal allowed; 3. Conviction set aside; 4. There be a new trial. Catchwords: CRIME — appeals — appeal against conviction — miscarriage of justice – summing up – directions to jury – circumstantial case – applicable principles – McKell v The Queen (2019) 264 CLR 307; [2019] HCA 5 – whether summing up so lacking in balance and unfair as to occasion a miscarriage of justice – three complaints of substance – complaints made out relevant to the two most significant circumstances relied on in the Crown case – unfairness in the manner in which the jury was directed established Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5(1)(b) Criminal Appeal Rules (NSW), r 4 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 38 Cases Cited: Barca v The Queen (1975) 133 CLR 82; [1975] HCA 42 Green v The Queen (1971) 126 CLR 28; [1971] HCA 55 McKell v The Queen (2019) 264 CLR 307; [2019] HCA 5 Peacock v The King (1911) 13 CLR 619; [1911] HCA 66 R v Hillier (2007) 228 CLR 618; [2007] HCA 13 R v Hodge 2 Lewin C.C. 227 R v Sinanovic [2000] NSWCCA 396 R v Zorad (1990) 19 NSWLR 91 RPS v The Queen (2000) 199 CLR 620; [2000] HCA 3 Taleb v R [2006] NSWCCA 119 The Queen v Baden-Clay (2016) 258 CLR 308; [2016] HCA 35 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Matthew Paul Wiggins (Applicant) The Crown Representation: Counsel: T F Woods (Applicant) D Patch (Crown)