R v Johnston [2021] NSWDC 321

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Johnston [2021] NSWDC 321 Hearing dates: 09 July 2021 Date of orders: 16 July 2021 Decision date: 16 July 2021 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See paragraph 43 Catchwords: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – sexual assault offence – prosecutor inadvertently omitted to inform Magistrate of the Director of Public Prosecution's election for trial on indictment – guilty plea entered in Local Court – permanent stay application – whether ex officio indictment abuse of process – whether loss of inadvertent advantage to avoid the imposition of a sentencing option generates unfairness which warrants a permanent stay Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 61KC Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) s 58 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) s 263 Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 (NSW) s 7 Inclosed Lands Protection Act 1901 (NSW) s 4 Cases Cited: Adler v District Court of New South Wales (1990) 19 NSWLR 317 Barton v The Queen (1980) 147 CLR 75 Hermanus v R (2015) 44 VR 335 Iqbal v R [2012] NSWCCA 72 Island Maritime Ltd v Filipowski (2006); 226 CLR 328 Jago v District Court of New South Wales (1989) 168 CLR 23 Johnston v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2021] NSWSC 333 Peiris v R (2014) 240 A Crim R 114 Petroulias v R (2007)176 A Crim R 302 R v Bartalesi; R v Fragassi (1997) 93 A Crim R 274 R v Edwards (2009) 83 ALJR 717 R v El Masri [2005] NSWCCA 167 R v Moore (2015) 91 NSWLR 27 Tony Strickland (a pseudonym) v DPP (Cth) (2018) 266 CLR 32 Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 378 Watson v Attorney-General (NSW) (1987) 8 NSWLR 685 Webb v R; Webb v R (2012) 225 A Crim R 550 Williams v Spautz (1992) 174 CLR 509 Texts Cited: Nil. Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) Mr P Johnston (applicant) Representation: Counsel: Mr T Anderson for the applicant Mr C Triscari (solicitor advocate) for the Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW)