R v Pethybridge (No.2) [2022] NSWDC 180

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Pethybridge (No.2) [2022] NSWDC 180 Hearing dates: 10, 11, 12, 13, 16, 17, 18, 19 May 2022 Date of orders: 26 May 2022 Decision date: 26 May 2022 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Abadee DCJ Decision: See paragraph 606 Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – defendant unfit to be tried – 'special hearing' under Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 (NSW) – determination by judge alone – historical charges of indecent assault and sexual offences against children by multiple complainants Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 62, 61A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) ss 56, 59, 133, 293A, 294, 306 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 108,165 Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 (NSW) ss 54, 56 Cases Cited: Ewen v The Queen (2015) 250 A Crim R 544 Fitzgerald v Kennard (1995) 38 NSWLR 184 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118 Hughes v The Queen (2017) 263 CLR 338 R v Daly [1968] VR 257 R v Markuleski (2001) 52 NSWLR 82 R v Murray (1987) 11 NSWLR 12 R v O'Donoghue (2005) 151 A Crim R 597 R v Sorlie (1925) 42 W.N (NSW) 152 R v Winner (1995) 79 A Crim R 528 Societe d'Avances Commerciales (Societe Anonyme Egyptienne) v Merchants' Marine Insurance Co (The "Palitana") (1924) 20 Ll L Rep 140 The Queen v Bauer (2018) 266 CLR 56 Texts Cited: R Watson & H Purnell, Criminal Law in New South Wales: Vol 1 (The Lawbook Co, 1971) T Buddin, 'Revision of Sexual Offences Legislation: A Code for New South Wales?' (1977) 2 UNSWLJ 117 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mr R Pethybridge (defendant) Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (ODPP) Representation: Counsel: Ms K Nightingale for the ODPP Ms L McSpedden for the defendant