R v Abdaly; R v Hosseinishoja (No 4) [2022] NSWSC 1529

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Abdaly; R v Hosseinishoja (No 4) [2022] NSWSC 1529 Hearing dates: 25-31 October, 1-7 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 5B of the Evidence (Audio and Audio Visual Links) Act 1998 (NSW), I direct the following witness are to give evidence by audio visual link: (a) RS 1869816; (b) RS 1546093; (c) RS 1521670; (d) RS 1777888; (e) Under Cover Operative Aaron (UCO Aaron); (f) Dr Sudipto Pal; (g) Nicholas Walker; and (h) Gail Rogers (Muscat). (2) I refuse the application for a direction under s 5B of the Evidence (Audio and Visual Links) Act that Witness A give evidence by audio visual link. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – evidence – evidence by audio visual link – application by prosecutor for AVL direction – where application opposed – trial by judge alone – relevant considerations – burden of persuasion – interests of the administration of justice – where witness critical to proof of guilt – witness criminally concerned in commission of crime – credibility – demeanour – confidential evidence tendered by police – security and safety of witness – resources issues – safety of the public – public interest in encouraging witnesses to come forward – difficult decision – powerful factors on both sides – application for direction refused Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 132 Evidence (Audio and Visual Links) Act 1998 (NSW), s 5B Cases Cited: Antov v Bokan (No 2) (2019) 101 NSWLR 142; [2019] NSWCA 250 ASIC v Rich [2004] NSWSC 467; (2004) 49 ACSR 578 Hodgson v R [2022] NSWCCA 72 Hughes v Whittens Group Pty Ltd [2017] NSWSC 329 KN v R (2017) 95 NSWLR 767; [2017] NSWCCA 249 R v Al Batat & Ors (No 1) [2020] NSWSC 967 State of NSW v Ceissman [2018] NSWSC 508 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)