Transport for NSW v Chapoterera [2022] NSWSC 976

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Transport for NSW v Chapoterera [2022] NSWSC 976 Hearing dates: 08 July 2022 Date of orders: 08 July 2022 Decision date: 26 July 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Walton J Decision: (1) Allow the appeal brought pursuant to s 56(1)(c) of the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001. (2) Set aside the order of the Local Court at Gosford (Magistrate A. George) on 1 December 2021 in proceedings No. 2021/00299520. (3) The proceedings be remitted to the Local Court at Gosford to be heard and determined according to law by a Magistrate other than his Honour Magistrate A. George. (4) No order as to costs. Catchwords: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – summary proceedings – where Magistrate dismissed charges on submissions by the accused without sworn evidence – where Magistrate prompted to hold a hearing but refused – where hearing was apparently not "justified" and would "waste the Court's time" – where prosecutor was denied the opportunity to make submissions on the law – process fundamentally flawed – proceedings seriously miscarried CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – hearing – examination and cross-examination of witnesses – discussion of statutory obligations in summary proceedings – Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) ch 4 pts 2 and 3 APPEALS – from Local Court to Supreme Court – procedural fairness – hearing rule – failure to comply with statutory provisions – failure to give adequate reasons – grounds of appeal upheld – consideration of judicial review or statutory appeal APPEALS — jurisdiction of appellate court — Supreme Court – whether remittal available on statutory appeal – power to make "such other order as it thinks just" – Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW) ss 56 and 59 – remittal ordered Legislation Cited: Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW), ss 56 and 59 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ch 4 pts 2 and 3, ss 190, 194, 195 and 202 Road Rules 2014 (NSW) r 300 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) s 69 Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW) pt 51B r 10 Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW) r 59.3 Cases Cited: ACN 087 528 774 Pty Ltd (formerly Connex Trains Melbourne Pty Ltd) v Chetcuti (2008) 21 VR 559; [2008] VSCA 274 AK v Western Australia (2008) 232 CLR 438; [2008] HCA 8 Annetts v McCann (1990) 170 CLR 596 Australian Gas Light Co v Valuer-General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126 Beckner v Minister for Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs (1991) 30 FCR 49 Boral Gas (NSW) Pty Ltd v Magill (1993) 32 NSWLR 501 Bradley v Senior Constable Chilby [2020] NSWSC 145s Campbelltown City Council v Vegan (2006) 67 NSWLR 372; [2006] NSWCA 284 Carly Anne Coles v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2022] NSWSC 960 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Belani [2005] NSWSC 1013 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Gatu [2014] NSWSC 192 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Lopez-Aguilar [2013] NSWSC 1019 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Mahamed [2022] NSWSC 147 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Peckham [2022] NSWSC 713 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Zhang [2007] NSWSC 308 Director of Public Prosecutions (SA) v District Court of South Australia (2005) 92 SASR 94; [2005] SASC 260 DL v The Queen (2018) 266 CLR 1; [2018] HCA 26 Federal Commissioner of Taxation v Broken Hill South Ltd (1941) 65 CLR 150 Housing Commission (NSW) v Tatmar Pastoral Co (1983) 3 NSWLR 378 International Finance Trust Company Ltd v NSW Crime Commission (2009) 240 CLR 319; [2009] HCA 49 Kostas v HIA Insurance Services Pty Ltd trading as Home Owners Warranty [2007] NSWSC 315 Lake Macquarie City Council v Morris (2005) 63 NSWLR 263; [2005] NSWSC 387 Miles v Slack [2022] NSWSC 926 O'Neil-Shaw v The Queen [2010] NSWCCA 42 Poliakov v Magistrate Andrew George (2009) 212 A Crim R 461; [2009] NSWSC 1133 Public Service Board of NSW v Osmond (1986) 159 CLR 656 R v Palu (2002) 134 A Crim R 174; [2002] NSWCCA 381 Sasterawan v Morris [2008] NSWCA 70 Stoker v Adecco Gemvale Constructions Pty Ltd [2004] NSWCA 449 TCL Air Conditioner (Zhongshan) Co Ltd v Castel Electronics Pty Ltd (2014) 232 FCR 361; [2014] FCAFC 83 Wise v Schneider [2015] NSWSC 725 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Transport for NSW (Plaintiff) Felix Chapoterera (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: B Hearnden (solicitor) (Plaintiff) A Chhabra (Defendant)