Arizabaleta v R [2023] NSWCCA 217

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Arizabaleta v R [2023] NSWCCA 217 Hearing dates: 1 May 2023 Decision date: 01 September 2023 Before: Leeming JA at [1]; Rothman J at [166]; McNaughton J at [219] Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal. 2. Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIME – appeal against conviction – judge-alone trial – applicant charged with three counts of sexual intercourse without consent – applicant pleaded guilty to digital penetration, and not guilty to counts of penile vaginal penetration and cunnilingus – all offending alleged to take place upon same complainant on same occasion – applicant found guilty of second and third counts – whether primary judge's findings of guilt unreasonable and cannot be supported by evidence – significance of inconsistencies in complaint evidence – significance of primary judge's assessment of complainant's testimony – significance of complainant's language difficulties – significance of malleability of memory – consideration of appellate review on basis findings of guilt unreasonable – appeal dismissed by majority Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61HA, 61I, 578A Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 44, 53A Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5, 6 Criminal Legislation Amendment (Child Sexual Abuse) Act 2018 (NSW), Sch 4 [10] Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 132, 133, 293A, 294, 294B Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Cases Cited: AS v R [2022] NSWCCA 291 Dansie v The Queen [2022] HCA 25; 96 ALJR 728 De Silva v The Queen (2019) CLR 57; [2019] HCA 48 Fennell v The Queen [2019] HCA 37; 93 ALJR 1219 Fleming v The Queen (1998) 197 CLR 250; [1998] HCA 68 Gestmin SGPS S.A. v Credit Suisse (UK) Ltd [2013] EWHC 3560 (Comm) Hossain v R [2023] NSWCCA 18 Liberato v The Queen (1985) 159 CLR 507; [1985] HCA 65 Libke v The Queen (2007) 230 CLR 559; [2007] HCA 30 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 MFA v The Queen (2002) 213 CLR 606; [2002] HCA 53 Moubarak by his tutor Coorey v Holt (2019) 100 NSWLR 218; [2019] NSWCA 102 Mule v The Queen [2005] HCA 49; (2005) 79 ALJR 1573 Pell v The Queen (2020) 268 CLR 123; [2020] HCA 12 Prouten v Chapman [2021] NSWCA 207 RA v R [2020] NSWCCA 356 SKA v The Queen (2011) 243 CLR 400; [2011] HCA 13 Swain v Waverley Municipal Council (2005) 220 CLR 517; [2005] HCA 4 The Nominal Defendant v Cordin [2017] NSWCA 6; 79 MVR 210 Wong v National Australia Bank Ltd [2022] FCAFC 155; 318 IR 148 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Alvaro Arizabaleta (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: K Edwards (Applicant) S Lind (Respondent)