R v Chamma; R v Hicks (No 1) [2023] NSWSC 558

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Chamma; R v Hicks (No 1) [2023] NSWSC 558 Hearing dates: 24 May 2023 Date of orders: 26 May 2023 Decision date: 26 May 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: McNaughton J Decision: In relation to the Accused Chamma, the Court makes the following orders: (1) The fire pit evidence is admissible. (2) The telephone intercept evidence is admissible. Catchwords: EVIDENCE – criminal trial – admissibility of evidence – section 137 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) – whether the probative value of evidence is outweighed by danger of unfair prejudice – evidence of burning clothes in firepit – evidence of telephone intercept – no danger of unfair prejudice – evidence admissible Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 18, 98 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 88, 137, 192A Cases Cited: Festa v The Queen (2001) 208 CLR 593; [2001] HCA 72 IMM v The Queen (2016) 257 CLR 300; [2016] HCA 14 R v SJRC [2007] NSWCCA 142 R v Yates, Parry, Hyland, Powick [2002] NSWCCA 520 Webb v R; R v Webb [2012] NSWCCA 216; (2012) 225 A Crim R 550 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Rex Samir Chamma (Accused) John Hicks (Accused) Representation: Counsel: S Hughes (Crown) A Norrie (Chamma) T Anderson SC (Hicks)

Solicitors: Solicitors for Public Prosecutions (Crown) Ross Hill & Associates Lawyers (Chamma) Andrew Scali Solicitors (Hicks) File Number(s): 2021/319239 (Chamma) 2021/354317 (Hicks) Publication restriction: No publication until the conclusion of the trial.