Nguyen v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2023] NSWCCA 42

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Nguyen v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2023] NSWCCA 42 Hearing dates: 4 November 2022 Decision date: 10 March 2023 Before: Garling J at [1]; Adamson J at [22]; Button J at [23] Decision: Question: "In proceedings against a person for publishing an indecent article contrary to s. 578C(2) of the Crimes Act 1900, is the prosecution required to prove that the person knew or believed that the article was indecent?" Answered: "No". Catchwords: CRIME - appeal and review - stated case from District Court – publishing an indecent article – nature of mental element for the offence – whether mental element is subjective to a degree – whether mental element analogous to statutory mental element for dishonesty in New South Wales Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) Indecent Articles and Classified Publications Act 1975 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Cases Cited: Bazouni v R [2021] NSWCCA 256 Crowe v Graham (1968) 121 CLR 375 at 390 Eades v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (2010) 77 NSWLR 173 Environment Protection Authority v N (1992) 26 NSWLR 352 He Kaw Teh v The Queen (1985) 157 CLR 523; [1985] HCA 43 Munda v Western Australia (2013) 249 CLR 600; [2013] HCA 38 Purves v Inglis (1915) 34 NZLR 1051 R v Court (1988) 87 Cr App R 144 R v Harkin (1989) 38 A Crim R 296 R v Stringer (2000) 116 A Crim R 198; [2000] NSWCCA 293 R v Wampfler (1987) 11 NSWLR 541 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ngoc Nguyen (Applicant) Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T F Woods (Applicant) E Jones (Respondent)