R v Chamma; R v Hicks (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 562

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Chamma; R v Hicks (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 562 Hearing dates: 24 May 2023 Date of orders: 24 May 2023 Decision date: 26 May 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: McNaughton J Decision: In relation to the Accused Hicks, the Court makes the following order: (1) The contested evidence of Ms Kerrigan and the SMS text messages concerning a knife are 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 witness and text messages discussing knife – no danger of unfair prejudice – evidence admissible Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 18, 98 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 55, 135, 137, 192A Cases Cited: IMM v The Queen (2016) 257 CLR 300; [2016] HCA 14 R v Bauer (a pseudonym) (2018) 266 CLR 56; [2018] HCA 40 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.