R v Coss (No 10 – Verdict) [2023] NSWSC 447

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Coss (No 10 – Verdict) [2023] NSWSC 447 Hearing dates: 30 May 2022, 31 May 2022, 1 June 2022, 2 June 2022, 3 June 2022, 6 June 2022, 7 June 2022, 9 June 2022, 18 July 2022, 27 March 2023, 28 March 2023, 30 March 2023, 31 March 2023 and 3 April 2023 Date of orders: 28 April 2023 Decision date: 28 April 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Criminal Before: Dhanji J Decision: Bruce Coss found not guilty of the murder of Darren Royce Willis. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – murder – trial by judge alone – not guilty plea entered – accused and deceased were neighbours – difficult relationship between accused and deceased – missing body – publicity surrounding the trial – local sighting of bone on property – kangaroo tailbone or human backbone – deceased skull fragments found during trial - witnesses that might be involved in the alleged crime – inconsistent versions between key crown witnesses – key witnesses affected by drugs and alcohol on the night in question – benefits received for cooperation – listening device and surveillance recordings – not guilty verdict Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 18(1)(a) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) ss 132, 133(2), 133(3) Cases Cited: R v Coss (No 2) [2022] NSWSC 792 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rex (Crown) Bruce Anthony Coss (Accused) Representation: Counsel: L Shaw (Crown) M P King (Accused)

Solicitors: Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (NSW) (Crown) Legal Aid NSW (Accused) File Number(s): 2019/336236 Publication restriction: Nil