R v Bourke (a pseudonym) [2021] NSWDC 665

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Bourke (a pseudonym) [2021] NSWDC 665 Hearing dates: 30 November 2021, 1 December 2021, 2 December 2021, 3 December 2021, 7 December 2021 Date of orders: 9 December 2021 Decision date: 09 December 2021 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Haesler SC DCJ Decision: Verdict of Not Guilty Catchwords: CRIME – assault occasion actual bodily harm – victim 3 week old child CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - Trial - Judge alone - Reasons of trial judge - expert evidence that a medical cause of injury highly unlikely - actual mechanism for injuries unknown - conflict of evidence - possibility of accident - who done it? - witnesses lie on oath – accused and key witness drug affected - reasons for not accepting key witnesses – suspicion is not proof beyond reasonable doubt CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - Trial - Judge alone - fundamental principles applied Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 Cases Cited: Azzopardi v The Queen, (2001) 205 CLR 50; [2001] HCA 25; Barca v The Queen (1975) 133 CLR 82; [1975] HCA 42 Evidence Act 1995 Fox v Percy [2003] HCA 22; (2003) 214 CLR 118 Meissner v The Queen (1994-1995) 184 CLR 132; [1995] HCA 41 Plomp v The Queen1963) 110 CLR 234; [1963] HCA 44 RPS v The Queen (2000) 199 CLR 620; [2000] HCA 3 The Queen v Baden-Clay [2016] HCA 35 The Queen v Hillier (2007) 228 CLR 618; [2007] HCA 13 Weissensteiner v The Queen [(1993) 178 CLR 217; [1993] HCA 65. Zoneff v The Queen (2000) 200 CLR 234; [2000] HCA 28 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Steven Bourke (the accused) Director of Public Prosecutions Representation: Counsel: Mr P Williams (for the accused) Mr M Fox, Crown Prosecutor