Hanna v R [2023] NSWCCA 182

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hanna v R [2023] NSWCCA 182 Hearing dates: 10 July 2023 Decision date: 26 July 2023 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; Yehia J at [106]; Weinstein J at [107] Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal. 2. Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIME – appeal – appeal against conviction – applicant stood trial on nine counts of sexual offending in respect of the same complainant many years ago – jury returned three guilty and six not guilty verdicts – whether convictions should be set aside on the basis of inconsistency – where there was a ready explanation for not guilty verdicts, in light of unclear evidence of complainant's age at the time – whether convictions were unreasonable – various inconsistencies in evidence – whether open to jury to be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt of applicant's guilt – appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW), s 15A Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 66C, 61H, 61HA, 61M, 77, 80AE, 578A Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5, 6 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 159, 293, 294 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 38 Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW) Cases Cited: AJ v R [2022] NSWCCA 136 Chidian v The Queen (1991) 171 CLR 432; [1991] HCA 4 Collins v R [2020] NSWCCA 198 Dansie v The Queen [2022] HCA 25; 96 ALJR 728 Fairfax Media Publications Pty Ltd v Gayle (2019) 100 NSWLR 155; [2019] NSWCA 172 Fleming v The Queen (1998) 197 CLR 250; [1998] HCA 68 Jones v The Queen (1997) 191 CLR 439; [1997] HCA 56 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 MacKenzie v The Queen (1996) 190 CLR 348; [1996] HCA 35 MFA v The Queen (2002) 213 CLR 606; [2002] HCA 53 NW v R [2023] NSWCCA 134 Pell v The Queen (2020) 268 CLR 123; [2020] HCA 12 R v Baden-Clay (2016) 258 CLR 308; [2016] HCA 35 R v Markuleski (2001) 52 NSWLR 82; [2001] NSWCCA 290 TK v R (2009) 74 NSWLR 299; [2009] NSWCCA 151 Walker v R [2019] NSWCCA 4 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Abdallah Hanna (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Stratton SC and P Kondich (Applicant) E Nicholson (Respondent)