R v Rumsby [2023] NSWSC 229

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Rumsby [2023] NSWSC 229 Hearing dates: 30 and 31 January 2023 1, 2 and 3 February 2023 Date of orders: 16 March 2023 Decision date: 16 March 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: R A Hulme AJ Decision: Evidence of the admissions admissible. Catchwords: EVIDENCE – pretrial ruling – two counts alleging attempted choking to commit sexual assault and murder – admissions made to an undercover police officer during covert "scenario investigation" – unsuccessful attempt to distinguish this operation from others by reference to features such as tempting accused to be a reward seeker and requiring admissions to be made to "both or none" – objections under Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) on bases of admissions made as result of oppressive conduct (s 84), unreliability (s 85), unfairness (s 90) and improperly obtained (s 138) – evidence held admissible Legislation Cited: Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW), ss 15A, 15E Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 578A Evidence Act 1900 (NSW), ss 84, 85, 90, 136, 138, 189 Cases Cited: Deacon v The Queen (2019) [2019] NTCCA21; 282 A Crim R 303; Director of Public Prosecutions v Ghiller [2003] VSC 350; (2003) 151 A Crim R 148 Em v The Queen (2007) 232 CLR 67; [2007] HCA 46 Habib v Nationwide News Pty Ltd (2010) 76 NSWLR 299; [2010] NSWCA 34 In the Matter of an Application by the Chief Commissioner of Police (Vic) [2005] HCA 18; (2005) 79 ALJR 881 Lauchlan v The State of Western Australia [2008] WASCA 227 R v Cowan; Ex parte Attorney General; [2015] QCA 87; [2016] 1 Qd R 433 R v Esposito (1998) 45 NSWLR 442 R v Jelicic [2016] SASC 57 R v Kilincer (No 2) [2021] NSWSC 829 R v Simmons; R v Moore (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 143; (2015) 249 A Crim R 82 R v Fesus (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 1467 R v Swaffield (1998) 192 CLR 159; [1998] HCA 1 R v Tarantino (No 6) [2019] NSWSC 1174 R v Weaven (Ruling No 1) [2011] VSC 442 Smith v The Queen (2001) 206 CLR 650; [2001] HCA 50 Standage v State of Tasmania [2017] TASCCA 23 Tofilau v The Queen (2007) 231 CLR 396; [2007] HCA 39 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Rex (Crown) Craig Henry Rumsby (Accused) Representation: Counsel: L Carr SC (Crown) N Broadbent with Z Alderton (Accused)