R v AN; R v LM [2022] NSWSC 776

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v AN; R v LM [2022] NSWSC 776 Hearing dates: 9, 10, 11, 12, 13 and 16 May 2022 Decision date: 16 June 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Walton J Decision: AN (1) The accused AN is convicted of the offence charged under s 86(3) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). (2) I find the accused AN not guilty of murder. (3) The proceedings are stood over for sentencing at a date to be fixed. LM (1) The accused LM is convicted of the offence charged under s 86(3) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW). (2) I find the accused LM not guilty of murder. (3) The proceedings are stood over for sentencing at a date to be fixed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – charge of murder – judge alone trial – relevant principles and directions - causation – expert opinion – concurrent evidence – areas of disagreement in concurrent evidence – nature and extent of injuries – axonal injury and survival time – airway obstruction – positional and restraint asphyxia – interpretation of petechiae – role of methamphetamine – deliberations – acquittal on murder charge – conviction on s 86(3) charge Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 86(3) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) ss 132, 133 275C, Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) s 191 Cases Cited: AK v Western Australia (2018) 232 CLR 438; [2018] HCA 8 Batcheldor v R (2014) A Crim R 461; [2014] NSWCCA 252 Campbell v The Queen (1980) 2 A Crim R 157; [1981] WAR 286 Chamberlain v The Queen (1983) 153 CLR 514; [1983] HCA 13 Chamberlain v The Queen (No 2) (1984) 153 CLR 521; [1984] HCA 7 Dansie v The Queen [2020] SASCFC 103 Fleming v The Queen (1998) 197 CLR 250; [1998] HCA 68 Nguyen v R (2007) 173 A Crim R 557; [2007] NSWCCA 249 R v AN; R v LM [2021] NSWSC 1657 R v Anderson (2000) 1 VR 1; [2000] VSCA 16 R v Moffatt (2002) 112 A Crim R 201; [2000] NSWCCA 174 R v Shoesmith [2011] QCA 352 R v Sodo (1975) 61 Cr App R 131 Royall v The Queen (1991) 172 CLR 378; [1991] HCA 27 Spiteri-Ahern v R [2022] NSWCCA 56 Swan v The Queen (2020) 269 CLR 663; [2020] HCA 11 Ussher-Clarke v R [2018] NSWCCA 61 Velevski v R (2002) 187 ALR 233; [2002] HCA 4 Walsh v R [2012] NSWSC 1399 Texts Cited: New South Wales, Legislative Council, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 24 October 2018 Category: Sentence Parties: Regina AN (Defendant 2020/47670) LM (Defendant 2020/47688) Representation: Counsel: N Keay (Crown) C Steirn SC (AN) C Davenport SC (LM)