Shiv v R [2021] NSWCCA 245

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Shiv v R [2021] NSWCCA 245 Hearing dates: 1 September 2021, further submissions 14, 15 September 2021 Decision date: 13 October 2021 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; Hamill J at [144]; Lonergan J at [150]. Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal confined to ground 1 of the notice of appeal. 2. Appeal allowed. 3. Quash the conviction on count 2 entered on 4 August 2020 and in lieu thereof enter a verdict of acquittal on count 2. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – appeal against conviction – unreasonable verdict – inconsistent verdicts – whether guilty verdict on count 2 irreconcilable with not guilty verdicts on counts 1, 4, 5 and 6 – applicant charged with three counts of indecent assault and two counts of sexual intercourse without consent – all events occurred on same evening and upon the same complainant – complainant made almost immediate complaints of counts 1, 4, 5 and 6 – complainant's initial complaints did not refer to count 2 – basis for reconciling conviction on count 2 and not guilty verdicts on indecent assault counts – whether different verdicts on counts of sexual intercourse without consent reconcilable – complainant gave unequivocal testimonial evidence of both counts of sexual intercourse without consent – no apparent distinction between quality of complainant's evidence on counts 2 and 4 – no other witnesses – no other evidence capable of reconciling not guilty verdict on count 4 with guilty verdict on count 2 – appeal allowed and conviction quashed Legislation Cited: Bail Act 2013 (NSW), s 22 COVID-19 Legislation (Emergency Measures) Act 2020 (NSW) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61H, 61I, 61L, 578A Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5(1)(b) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 356 Supreme Court (Criminal Appeal) Rules 2021, r 4.15 Cases Cited: AH v R [2019] NSWCCA 152 Burrell v R [2009] NSWCCA 193 Caleo v R [2021] NSWCCA 179 Dellow v R [2020] NSWCCA 301 Ganiji v R [2019] NSWCA 208 Gilbert v The Queen (2000) 201 CLR 414; [2000] HCA 15 Jones v The Queen (1997) 191 CLR 439; [1997] HCA 56 Keen v R (2020) 102 NSWLR 178; [2020] NSWCCA 59 Kurdi v R [2011] NSWCCA 179 Mackenzie v The Queen (1996) 190 CLR 348; [1996] HCA 35 MFA v The Queen (2002) 213 CLR 606; [2002] HCA 53 Nguyen v R [2021] NSWCCA 85 R v Markuleski (2001) 52 NSWLR 82; [2001] NSWCCA 290 Roos v R [2019] NSWCCA 67 Shi v R [2020] NSWCCA 258 TK v R (2009) 74 NSWLR 299; [2009] NSWCCA 151 White v R [2019] NSWCCA 168 Youkhanis v R [2014] NSWCCA 220 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Balram Shiv (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: A Francis (Applicant) H Roberts (Respondent)