Duarte v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2020] NSWCCA 351

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Duarte v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2020] NSWCCA 351 Hearing dates: 23 October 2020 Date of orders: 18 December 2020 Decision date: 18 December 2020 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1] Harrison J at [2] Bellew J at [3] Decision: (1) Question 1 – The Court declines to answer. (2) Question 2 – The Court declines to answer. (3) Question 3 – The Court declines to answer. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – Case stated by a Judge of the District Court of NSW – Applicant convicted of recklessly damaging property by fire – Three questions submitted for the Court's determination – Observations as to the purpose of the stated case procedure – Procedure does not confer a general right of appeal – Emphasis on the fact that the procedure is centred upon questions giving rise to consideration of matters of principle which are of general application – Lack of clarity in question posed – Attempt to challenge the ultimate determination which was made in the Court below – Appropriate case in which to invoke the discretion of the Court to decline to answer the questions asked Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) Inclosed Lands Protection Act 1901 (NSW) Cases Cited: Azzopardi v The Queen (2001) 205 CLR 50; [2001] HCA 25 Barca v The Queen (1975) 133 CLR 82; [1975] HCA 42 CB v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (2014) 240 A Crim R 451; [2014] NSWCA 134 Lavorato v R (2012) 82 NSWLR 568; [2012] NSWCCA 61 Mack Fleet Pty Limited v Transport for NSW (2020) 93 MVR 242; [2020] NSWCA 149 Orr v Cobar Management Pty Limited (2020) 383 ALR 352; [2020] NSWCCA 220 Plomp v The Queen (1963) 110 CLR 234; [1963] HCA 44 R v Lewis; ex parte Attorney General [1991] 2 Qd R 294 R v Madden (1996) 85 A Crim R 367 R v Porter (2004) 141 A Crim R 593; [2004] NSWCCA 32 Re Van der Lubbe (1949) 66 WN (NSW) 140 RPS v The Queen (2000) 199 CLR 620; [2000] HCA 3 Talay v R [2010] NSWCCA 308 The Queen v Baden-Clay (2016) 256 CLR 132; [2016] HCA 35 The Queen v Hillier (2007) 228 CLR 618; [2007] HCA 13 Tritton v Clarke [2018] NSWCCA 31 Weissensteiner v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 217; [1993] HCA 65 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Adelino Duarte – Applicant Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) - Respondent Representation: Counsel: D Buchanan SC and S Fraser – Applicant B Baker – Respondent