Mortimer v R [2021] NSWCCA 47

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Mortimer v R [2021] NSWCCA 47 Hearing dates: 20 July 2020 Date of orders: 26 March 2021 Decision date: 26 March 2021 Before: Johnson J at [1]; Garling J at [223]; Wright J at [224]. Decision: 1. Grant the Applicant leave under Rule 4 Criminal Appeal Rules to rely upon the ground of appeal;

2. grant the Applicant leave to appeal against conviction;

3. allow the appeal and quash the convictions at the Newcastle District Court on 23 February 2018;

4. quash the aggregate sentence passed at the Newcastle District Court on 10 August 2018;

5. order a new trial of the Applicant on each of Counts 1, 2, 3, 4, 7 and 8 of the indictment dated 5 February 2018;

6. list the matter in the Arraignments List at the Sydney District Court at 9.30 am on 9 April 2021. Catchwords: CRIME – appeal against conviction – applicant convicted of child sex offences – ground of appeal challenges aspects of summing up to jury – statements by trial Judge concerning evidence of children – whether statements made exceeded permissible comment in accordance with RGM v R [2012] NSWCCA 89 and McKell v The Queen (2019) 264 CLR 307; [2019] HCA 5 – held that cumulative effect of statements gave rise to miscarriage of justice – appeal allowed – convictions quashed – new trial ordered Legislation Cited: Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 Crimes Act 1900 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Criminal Appeal Rules Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Evidence Act 1995 Cases Cited: ABR (a pseudonym) v R [2020] NSWCCA 33 AL v R (2017) 266 A Crim R 1; [2017] NSWCCA 34 Alford v Magee (1952) 85 CLR 437; [1952] HCA 3 ARS v R [2011] NSWCCA 266 CMG v R [2011] VSCA 416 Decision Restricted [2020] NSWCCA 256 Galea v Galea (1990) 19 NSWLR 263 Lane v R (2013) 241 A Crim R 321; [2013] NSWCCA 317 McKell v R [2017] NSWCCA 291 McKell v The Queen (2019) 264 CLR 307; [2019] HCA 5 NJB v R [2010] NTCCA 5 OKS v State of Western Australia (2019) 265 CLR 268; [2019] HCA 10 Pyliotis v Director of Public Prosecutions [2020] VSCA 134 R v Heron [2000] NSWCCA 312 R v Murray (1987) 11 NSWLR 12 R v Pavlukoff (1953) 106 CCC 249 R v RTB [2002] NSWCCA 104 R v Sukkar [2005] NSWCCA 54 R v Taleb [2006] NSWCCA 119 R v Wilson (2005) 62 NSWLR 346; [2005] NSWCCA 20 RGM v R [2012] NSWCCA 89 Robinson v R (2006) 162 A Crim R 88; [2006] NSWCCA 192 SC v R [2020] NSWCCA 314 Spurritt v R [2021] VSCA 7 The Queen v Dookheea (2017) 262 CLR 402; [2017] HCA 36 WX v R [2020] NSWCCA 142 Texts Cited: --- Category: Principal judgment Parties: David Mortimer (a pseudonym) (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr D Carroll; Mr P Swaine (Applicant) Ms MA Kumar (Respondent)