R v Abdaly; R v Hosseinishoja (No 3) [2022] NSWSC 1511

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Abdaly; R v Hosseinishoja (No 3) [2022] NSWSC 1511 Hearing dates: 25-31 October 2022, 1-3 November 2022 Date of orders: 07 November 2022 Decision date: 07 November 2022 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Criminal Before: Hamill J Decision: (1) Pursuant to s 132 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), the trial of Sayed Anush Abdaly and Sayed Amirmohammad Hosseinishoja for the murder of Nikola Srbin will be conducted by a judge sitting without a jury. (2) The trial will commence on Wednesday, 9 November 2022. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – trial by judge alone – relevant considerations – prejudicial media coverage – gangland crime – where co-accused subject to extensive media coverage – multiple murders – drug deal gone wrong – glitches in dealings – Rebels – capacity of jury to follow directions – extensive delay in trial – one accused refused bail for six years – need for trial to be completed – risk of discharge of jury – where significant issue of credibility of principle witness – witness criminal concerned in the offence – whether assessment of credibility involves community standards – whether significant factor in favour of a jury trial – stirring exaltation of jury system – context – where both accused elect for trial by judge order – finely balanced application – interests of justice – order for trial by judge made Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 132, 132A Jury Act 1977 (NSW), s 68C Cases Cited: AK v Western Australia (2008) 232 CLR 438; [2008] HCA 8 Alameddine v R [2022] NSWCCA 219 Arthurs v The State of Western Australia [2007] WASC 182 Coats v Western Australia [2009] WASCA 142 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Farrugia [2017] NSWCCA 197 Director of Public Prosecutions v Lehrmann (No 5) [2022] ACTSC 296 Dupas v The Queen (2010) 241 CLR 237; [2010] HCA 20 Filippou v The Queen (2015) 256 CLR 47; [2015] HCA 29 Gilbert v The Queen (2000) 201 CLR 414; [2000] HCA 15 Hoang v The Queen [2022] HCA 14; (2022) 96 ALJR 453 R v Abdaly; R v Hosseinshoja (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 1510 R v Belghar [2012] NSWCCA 86; (2012) 217 A Crim R 1 R v David Peter Cain (No.1) [2001] NSWSC 116; 121 A Crim R 365 R v Dawson [2022] NSWSC 552 R v Dawson [2022] NSWSC 1131 R v Gittany (No 4) [2013] NSWSC 1737 R v GSR (No 3) [2011] NSWDC 17 R v Hutchison & Wilkinson [2018] NSWSC 1759 R v JH (No 3) [2014] NSWSC 1966 R v McNeil [2015] NSWSC 357; 250 A Crim R 12 R v Qaumi & Ors (No 14) [2016] NSWSC 274; (2016) 265 A Crim R 575 R v Qaumi & Qaumi [2016] NSWSC 1473 R v Qaumi & Qaumi (No 12) [2017] NSWSC 134 R v Simmons and Moore (No 4) [2015] NSWSC 259; (2015) 249 A Crim R 120 R v Sio (No 3) [2013] NSWSC 1414 R v Skaf & Anor (2004) 60 NSWLR 86; [2004] NSWCCA 37 R v Stanley [2013] NSWCCA 124 Redman v R [2015] NSWCCA 110 Smith v R (2010) 79 NSWLR 675; [2010] NSWCCA 325 The Queen v Glennon (1992) 173 CLR 592; [1992] HCA 16 Texts Cited: J O'Leary, "Twelve angry peers or one angry judge: An analysis of judge lone trials in Australia" (2011) 35(3) Criminal Law Journal 154 Lord Devlin, Trial by Jury, (rev ed, 1966) M Bagaric, "The community interest in bringing suspects to trial trumps the right to an impartial decision maker – at least in Victoria" (2010) 34(1) Criminal Law Journal 5 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Rex (Plaintiff) Sayed Anoush Abdaly (Defendant) Seyed Amirmohammad Hosseinishoja (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: D Patch (Rex) M Cunneen SC (Abdaly) G Brady SC with M Ayache (Hosseinishoja)