R v NE [2021] NSWCCA 54

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v NE [2021] NSWCCA 54 Hearing dates: 24 March 2021 Date of orders: 24 March 2021 Decision date: 31 March 2021 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL Campbell J Hamill J Decision: 1. Allow the appeal under s 5F(2) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW). 2. Vacate the orders made by Judge Grant on 22 March 2021. 3. And in lieu thereof: a. Order that the jury be discharged; b. Order that the trial be vacated; and c. Remit the matter to the District Court at 2.00pm, 24 March 2021 for mention and/or to set a new trial date. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – procedure – application to vacate trial date – where complainant not available for medical reasons – refusal of adjournment application – where accused consented to Prosecutor's application – where evidence to be used as tendency evidence in respect of other complainants – role of Prosecutor – role of trial Judge – case management – tail wagging dog – whether decision unreasonable or plainly unjust CRIMINAL LAW – application to discharge jury – antecedent adjournment application not dealt with – where trial Judge insists on empanelling jury – where jury made aware of complainant who was unavailable – application of wrong test – question is not whether there may be a "substantial miscarriage of justice" Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5, 6(1) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), Pt 5, ss 3, 294D, 306A, 306H, 306I Cases Cited: Ambury v R [2018] NSWCCA 275 Bell v Imrie & Anor (Unreported, Supreme Court of NSW, Yeldham J, 24 February 1989); 8 Petty Sessions Review 3905 Crofts v The Queen (1996) 186 CLR 427; [1996] HCA 22 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Chaouk and Anor [2010] NSWSC 1418 Hamide v R (2019) 101 NSWLR 455; [2019] NSWCCA 219 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 JV v R [2017] NSWCCA 49 Libdy v R [2021] NSWCCA 34 Miller v R [2015] NSWCCA 206 Nitiva v Director of Public Prosecutions & 2 Ors [1999] NSWCA 332 Noble v Director of Public Prosecutions & Others [2000] NSWSC 920 Pasoski v R [2014] NSWCCA 309 R v Lamb; R v Mason; R v Hill [2016] NSWCCA 135 R v Reid [1999] NSWCCA 258 R v Shortland [2018] NSWCCA 34 Stevens v R [2015] NSWCCA 235 Thornberry v The Queen (1995) 69 ALJR 777 Tootle v R [2017] NSWCCA 103 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Regina (Applicant) NE (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P McGrath SC (Applicant) N Steel (Respondent)