Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Swellings [2022] NSWSC 201

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Swellings [2022] NSWSC 201 Hearing dates: 22 February 2022 Date of orders: 3 March 2022 Decision date: 03 March 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: N Adams J Decision: (1) The appeal is allowed. (2) The order of Magistrate George made on 24 March 2021 at Hornsby Local Court dismissing the charge against the defendant of assault occasioning actual bodily harm contrary to s 59(1) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) is set aside. (3) The proceedings are remitted to the Hornsby Local Court to be determined according to law. Catchwords: CRIME – appeal and review – appeal from Local Court to Supreme Court under s 56(1)(c) of the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act – question of law alone – assault occasioning actual bodily harm – domestic violence – admissions made by defendant in ERISP – Magistrate satisfied complainant and defendant both truthful to police – Magistrate failed to make factual or legal findings – requirement to make findings an aspect of judicial duty to give reasons – appeal allowed – decision set aside – proceedings remitted CRIME – appeal and review – judicial review – Supreme Court Act s 69 – failure to give adequate reasons – can be jurisdictional error – error of law on the face of the record Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 59(1) Crimes Appeal and Review Act 2001 (NSW) ss 56, 59 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) District Court Act 1973 (NSW) s 176 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 69 Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) Cases Cited: Beale v Government Insurance Office (NSW) (1997) 48 NSWLR 430 Bimson, Roads & Maritime Services v Damorange Pty Ltd [2014] NSWSC 734 Campbelltown City Council v Vegan (2006) 67 NSWLR 372; [2006] NSWCA 284 Daley v Brown; Pittman v Brown [2014] NSWSC 144; (2014) 238 A Crim R 574 Dee Why Auto Clinic v Roads and Maritime Services [2017] NSWSC 377 Director of Public Prosecutions NSW v Elias [2013] NSWSC 28 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Hughes [2017] NSWSC 492 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Illawarra Cashmart Pty Limited (2006) 67 NSWLR 402; [2006] NSWSC 343 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Kirby [2017] NSWSC 1754 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Sadler [2013] NSWSC 718 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Wililo [2012] NSWSC 713; (2012) 222 A Crim R 106 DPP (NSW) v Merhi [2019] NSWSC 1068 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 JP v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2015] NSWSC 1669; (2015) 256 A Crim R 447 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales (2010) 239 CLR 531 [2010] HCA 1 Mifsud v Campbell (1991) 21 NSWLR 725 Morse v Al-Jubouri [2011] NSWSC 1330 Mulder v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) [2015] NSWCA 92 PQR v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2020] NSWSC 731 R v PL [2009] NSWCCA 256; (2009) 199 A Crim R 199 R v PL [2012] NSWCCA 31 Roberts v Marks [2019] NSWSC 1068 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 White v Director of Public Prosecutions [2021] NSWSC 1629 Wiki v Atlantis Relocations (NSW) Pty Ltd (2004) 60 NSWLR 127; [2004] NSWCA 174 Williams v The Queen (1986) 161 CLR 278 Zhang v Andrew Pine Furniture Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 250 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (Plaintiff) Paul John Swellings (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr E Balodis (Plaintiff) Mr G Jauncey (Defendant)