Kitchingman v R [2023] NSWCCA 4

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Kitchingman v R [2023] NSWCCA 4 Hearing dates: 29 November 2022 Date of orders: 3 February 2023 Decision date: 03 February 2023 Before: Basten AJA at [1]; Dhanji J at [45]; R A Hulme AJ at [46] Decision: (1) Grant the applicant leave to appeal from the judgment in the District Court of 2 November 2022 refusing a permanent stay. (2) Dismiss the appeal. Catchwords: CRIME – procedure – interlocutory appeal – application for permanent stay – applicant unfit to stand trial – charge of buggery with child – special hearing to be conducted – refusal by trial judge to permanently stay proceedings – reliance on delay, cognitive impairment and physical infirmity – whether judge erred in not finding continuation of proceedings unacceptably unfair Legislation Cited: Bail Act 2013 (NSW), s 6(1) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 79 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5F Mental Health Act 1958 (NSW), ss 23, 24 Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 (NSW), ss 49-51; Pt 4, Div 3; ss 56(1), 57, 59, 63(2); Sch 2, cl 7 Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) Pt 2, s 22A Cases Cited: Derley v R [2016] NSWCCA 60 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Jago v District Court of New South Wales (1989) 168 CLR 23; [1989] HCA 46 Moubarak bht Coorey v Holt (2019) 100 NSWLR 218; [2019] NSWCA 102 R v Edelsten (1989) 18 NSWLR 213 R v Mailes (2001) 53 NSWLR 251; [2001] NSWCCA 155 R v Steffan (1993) 30 NSWLR 633 R v WRC (2003) 59 NSWLR 273; [2003] NSWCCA 394 Subramaniam v The Queen (2004) 79 ALJR 116; [2004] HCA 51 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Allan Kitchingman (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Watts (Applicant) B Hatfield (Respondent)