Gage v R [2021] NSWCCA 222

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Gage v R [2021] NSWCCA 222 Hearing dates: 6 August 2021 Date of orders: 15 September 2021 Decision date: 15 September 2021 Before: Bathurst CJ [1] Beech-Jones J [18] Fagan J [39] Decision: (1) The Applicant be granted leave to appeal against his conviction. (2) The Applicant be granted leave under Supreme Court (Criminal Appeal) rule 4.15 to raise ground 2 of his notice of appeal. (3) The appeal be allowed. (4) The Appellant's convictions be quashed. (5) A new trial be ordered. (6) List the matter in the District Court Arraignments List at Coffs Harbour on 6 October 2021 Catchwords: CRIME - appeal - conviction - unreasonable verdict –inconsistent verdicts – multiple counts of sexual offences – single complainant – consent – knowledge – acquittals able to be explained without recourse to complainant's credibility – ground rejected CRIME – appeal – conviction – jury note – apparent reversal of burden of proof in jury question – no specific correction by trial judge – no request for further direction in response to jury note – leave granted under r 4.15 – accused deprived of real chance of acquittal – miscarriage of justice – retrial ordered Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 59(1), 61I, 61L Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5(1)(b), 6(1), 8(1) Supreme Court (Criminal Appeal) Rules 2021, r 4.15 Cases Cited: Baini v The Queen (2012) 246 CLR 469; [2012] HCA 59 Black v The Queen (1993) 179 CLR 44; [1993] HCA 71 Burrell v R [2007] NSWCCA 65 Caleo v R [2021] NSWCCA 179 GBF v The Queen [2020] HCA 40 Gilbert v The Queen (2000) 201 CLR 414; [2000] HCA 15 Hamilton (a pseudonym) v R [2020] NSWCCA 80 MacKenzie v The Queen (1996) 190 CLR 348; [1996] HCA 35 MFA v The Queen (2002) 213 CLR 606; [2002] HCA 53 Phan v R [2018] NSWCCA 225 R v Jamal (2008) 72 NSWLR 258; [2008] NSWCCA 177 R v TK (2009) 74 NSWLR 299; [2009] NSWCCA 151 Smith v The Queen (2015) 255 CLR 161; [2015] HCA 27 Spies v The Queen (2000) 201 CLR 603; [2000] HCA 43 TKWJ v The Queen (2002) 212 CLR 124; [2002] HCA 46 WX v R (2020) NSWLR 467; [2020] NSWCCA 142 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Alec Gage (applicant) Regina (respondent) Representation: Counsel: A Francis (applicant) K Jeffreys (respondent)