Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales v Patrick (a pseudonym) [2023] NSWSC 1077

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales v Patrick (a pseudonym) [2023] NSWSC 1077 Hearing dates: 3 August 2023 Date of orders: 12 September 2023 Decision date: 12 September 2023 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: N Adams J Decision: See [64] Catchwords: CONTEMPT OF COURT – sentence – refusal to give evidence – use of foul and abusive language – where contemnor refused to give evidence due to fears for his safety – contemnor assaulted in custody for previously giving evidence – recording of evidence previously given used instead – no actual adverse consequences to the result – background of disadvantage and exposure to domestic violence – plea of guilty Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), ss 3A, 5(1), 21A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 362 Supreme Court Rules 1970 (NSW), Pt 55 rr 11(1), 13 Cases Cited: Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Cahyadi v R (2007) 168 A Crim R 41; [2007] NSWCCA 1 Commissioner for Police Integrity Commission v Walker [2006] NSWSC 964 Council of the New South Wales Bar Association v Rollinson [2022] NSWSC 407 Decision restricted [2020] NSWCCA 284 Decision restricted [2023] NSWCCA 198 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 243 FLR 28; [2010] NSWCCA 194 Dowling v Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (2018) 99 NSWLR 229; [2018] NSWCA 340 DS v R; DM v R (2022) 109 NSWLR 82; [2022] NSWCCA 156 Hili v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 In the Matter of Steven Smith (No.2) [2015] NSWSC 1141 Ireland AJ v Russell [2001] NSWSC 468 Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of NSW v Jalalabaddi [2008] NSWSC 811 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Mill v The Queen (1988) 166 CLR 59 at 63; [1998] HCA 70 Muldrock v The Queen (2011) 244 CLR 120; [2011] HCA 39 Paterson v R [2021] NSWCCA 273 Principal Registrar of Supreme Court of NSW v Tran [2006] NSWSC 1183 Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of NSW v A [2017] NSWSC 495 Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of NSW v Ceren [2016] NSWSC 1187 Prothonotary v Wilson [1999] NSWSC 1148 R v Bilal Razzak [2006] NSWSC 1366 Registrar of the Court of Appeal v Maniam [No 2] (1992) 26 NSWLR 309 Registrar of the Court of Appeal v Raad (unreported, NSW Court of Appeal, NSW, No 40585 of 1991, 9 June 1992) Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525; [1995] HCA 3 Wood v Galea (1997) 92 A Crim R 287 Wood v Staunton (No 5) (1996) 86 A Crim R 183 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Prothonotary of the Supreme Court of New South Wales (Plaintiff) Patrick (a pseudonym) (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Dr D Kell SC with Ms C Raad (Plaintiff) Mr P Coady (Defendant)