PJ v R [2023] NSWCCA 105

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: PJ v R [2023] NSWCCA 105 Hearing dates: 8 May 2023 Date of orders: 17 May 2023 Decision date: 17 May 2023 Before: Basten AJA at [1]; Walton J at [65]; Hamill J at [75] Decision: (1) Extend to 8 March 2023 the time within which to seek leave to appeal from the ruling of Traill DCJ on 8 February 2023, refusing an application for the complainant and her brother to give further evidence pursuant to Sch 2, cl 87 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW). (2) Dismiss the application for leave to appeal. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – child sexual assault – pre-recorded evidence – failure to put matters raised by accused in interview with police – leave sought to re-call witness – lengthy delay – change of defence counsel – "interests of justice" – purpose of reducing trauma to child witnesses CRIMINAL APPEALS – interlocutory judgment or order – competence of application – whether ruling of trial judge amenable to appeal under Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5F Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW) Pt 6 Div 3, Sch 2 Pt 29, ss 306Y, 306ZB Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 66A, 66DA Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5F Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 249C, 294CB, 306S, 306U, Pt 2 Sch 2 cls 84-85, 87, 88, 89 Criminal Procedure Amendment (Child Sexual Offence Evidence Pilot) Act 2015 (NSW) Supreme Court (Criminal Appeal) Rules 2021 (NSW), r 3.5(4) Cases Cited: AF v R [2015] NSWCCA 35 Brown v R [2022] NSWCCA 121 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R. 67 DAO v The Queen (2011) 81 NSWLR 568; [2011] NSWCCA 63 Hofer v The Queen (2021) 95 ALJR 937; [2021] HCA 36 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 King v Snow (1915) 20 CLR 315 KN v R (2017) NSWCCA 249; [2017] NSWCCA 249 Oldfield v The Queen (2006) 163 A Crim R 242; [2006] NSWCCA 219 Palmer v The Queen (1998) 193 CLR 1; [1998] HCA 2 R v Bozatsis and Spanakakis (1997) 97 A Crim R 296 R v F (2002) 129 A Crim R 126; [2002] NSWCCA 125 R v Jovanovic (1997) 42 NSWLR 520 R v Powch (1988) 14 NSWLR 136 R v RAG [2006] NSWCCA 343 R v Steffan (1993) 30 NSWLR 633 SC v R (2020) 104 NSWLR 257; [2020] NSWCCA 314 WX v R (2020) 102 NSWLR 467; [2020] NSWCCA 142 Texts Cited: New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 22 October 2015 Category: Principal judgment Parties: PJ (Applicant) The King (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Avenell SC and S Orman-Hales (Applicant) M Kumar and S Beaumont (Respondent)