R v Chalabian (No. 13) [2022] NSWSC 470

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Chalabian (No. 13) [2022] NSWSC 470 Hearing dates: 5 April 2022 Date of orders: 6 April 2022 Decision date: 21 April 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Criminal Before: Johnson J Decision: 1. The application to give a Mahmood direction concerning the fact that Reece Walsh was not called by the Crown as a witness at the trial is declined. 2. Subject to any further application by the parties, the directions given to the jury concerning alternative verdicts, including a "no compromise" direction, are to stand. Catchwords: CRIME – jury trial – trial for money laundering under s.400.3(1) Criminal Code (Cth) – defence application for Mahmood direction as a result of Crown not calling person to give evidence – consideration of relevant factors – Mahmood direction declined – directions given to jury concerning statutory alternative verdicts and "no compromise" direction – charged offence required "belief" that money or property was proceeds of crime – alternative offences involving "recklessness" or "negligence" – possible relevance of s.5.4(4) Criminal Code (Cth) containing extended definition of "recklessness" – consideration of appropriate directions to jury concerning alternative verdicts Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Criminal Code (Cth) Criminal Code (WA) Cases Cited: Abdallah v R [2016] NSWCCA 275 Ansari v The Queen (2010) 241 CLR 299; [2010] HCA 18 Blackwell v R (2011) 81 NSWLR 119; [2011] NSWCCA 93 Bouch v R (2017) 80 MVR 85; [2017] VSCA 86 Country Care Group Pty Ltd v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) [2020] FCAFC 30; (2020) 387 ALR 225 Gilson v The Queen (1991) 172 CLR 353; [1991] HCA 24 Humphreys v R [2020] NSWCCA 144 King v The Queen (2012) 245 CLR 588; [2012] HCA 24 LLW v R (2012) 35 VR 372; [2012] VSCA 54 Mahmood v Western Australia (2008) 232 CLR 397; [2008] HCA 1 Mourkakos v R [2018] VSCA 26 Pratten v R [2014] NSWCCA 117 R v Ansari (2007) 70 NSWLR 89; [2007] NSWCCA 204 R v Barrett (No. 3) [2021] NSWSC 543 R v Chalabian (No. 11) [2022] NSWSC 384 R v Chalabian (No. 12) [2022] NSWSC 432 R v Currie [2002] NSWCCA 126 R v Pureau (1990) 19 NSWLR 372 R v Saengsai-Or (2004) 61 NSWLR 135; [2004] NSWCCA 108 Simms v R (2004) 148 A Crim R 433; [2004] WASCA 237 Stanton v The Queen (2003) 77 ALJR 1151; [2003] HCA 29 Texts Cited: Criminal Trial Courts Bench Book, Judicial Commission of New South Wales Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Regina (Crown) Sevag Chalabian (Accused) Representation: Counsel: Ms T McDonald SC; Ms G Wright SC (Crown) Mr GA Brady SC Mr A Williams (Accused)