TL v R [2020] NSWCCA 265

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: TL v R [2020] NSWCCA 265 Hearing dates: 8 July 2020 Decision date: 19 October 2020 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1]; Adamson J at [303]; Bellew J at [319] Decision: (1) Leave is granted to extend the time within which the application for leave to appeal against conviction can be brought. (2) Leave to appeal against conviction is granted. (3) The appeal against conviction is dismissed. (4) Leave to appeal against sentence granted. (5) The appeal against sentence is dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – CONVICTION APPEAL – offence of murder – victim a two year old child – identity of offender in issue – whether hearsay evidence wrongly admitted – whether tendency evidence wrongly admitted – whether direction pursuant to s 165 of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) should have been given to the jury – appeal against conviction dismissed – SENTENCE APPEAL – whether level of objective seriousness of offending properly assessed – whether sentence was manifestly excessive – no lesser sentence warranted in law – appeal against sentence dismissed. Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) – s 18(1)(a) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) – s 21A Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) – ss 5(1)(b), 6(1), 10(1)(b) Criminal Appeal Rules 1970 (NSW) – r 4 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) – ss 65, 66, 97, 98, 101, 137, 165 Cases Cited: Apps v R [2006] NSWCCA 290 Aravena v R (2015) 91 NSWLR 258; [2015] NSWCCA 288 ARS v R [2011] NSWCCA 266 Baines v R [2016] NSWCCA 132 Bin Sulaeman v R [2013] NSWCCA 283 Bryant v R (2011) 205 A Crim R 531; [2011] NSWCCA 26 Clarkson v R (2007) 209 FLR 387; [2009] NSWCCA 70 Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 Donohoe v R [2012] NSWCCA 176 Ellis v R (2003) 58 NSWLR 700; [2003] NSWCCA 319 FL v R [2020] NSWCCA 114 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 Hofer v R [2019] NSWCCA 244 Hughes v The Queen (2017) 263 CLR 388; [2017] HCA 20 Ilievski v R; Nolan v R [2018] NSWCCA 164 IMM v The Queen (2016) 259 CLR 300; [2016] HCA 14 Kanaan and Ors v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 109 LN v R [2020] NSWCCA 131 LS v R [2020] NSWCCA 120 KT v R [2008] NSWCCA 51 McPhillamy v The Queen (2018) 92 ALJR 1045; [2018] HCA 52 Minister for Aboriginal Affairs v Peko-Wallsend Limited (1986) 162 CLR 24 at 40 (Mason J); [1986] HCA 40 Moodie v R [2020] NSWCCA 160 O'Keefe v R; R v O'Keefe [2009] NSWCCA 121 Pfennig v The Queen (1995) 182 CLR 461; [1995] HCA 7 Pfitzner v R [2010] NSWCCA 314 Poniris v R [2014] NSWCCA 100 R v Abrahams [2013] NSWSC 952 R v Ambrosoli (2002) 55 NSWLR 603; [2002] NSWCCA 386 R v Dennis [2009] NSWSC 1357 R v Ford (2009) 201 A Crim R 451; [2009] NSWCCA 306 R v JK [2018] NSWSC 250 R v LN; R v AW [2017] NSWSC 1387 R v Mostyn (2004) 145 A Crim R 304; [2004] NSWCCA 97 R v Pfitzner [2009] NSWSC 1267 R v Stewart (2001) 52 NSWLR 301; [2001] NSWCCA 260 R v Straffen (1952) 2 QB 911 R v TL [2017] NSWSC 426 R v TL [2019] NSWSC 715 R v Warren Ross (No 2) [2013] NSWSC 2042 Shepherd v R [2011] NSWCCA 245 Sutton v R (1984) 152 CLR 528; [1984] HCA 5 Taleb v R [2015] NSWCCA 105 The Queen v Dennis Bauer (a pseudonym) (2018) 92 ALJR 846; [2018] HCA 40 Vagg v R [2020] NSWCCA 134 Versluys v R [2008] NSWCCA 76 Vickers v R [2006] NSWCCA 60 Williams v R (2000) 119 A Crim R 490; [2000] FCA 18 1868 Zuffo v R [2017] NSWCCA 187 Category: Principal judgment Parties: TL – Applicant Regina – Respondent Crown Representation: Counsel: M Ramage QC/T Liu – Applicant E Balodis – Respondent Crown