JC v R [2023] NSWCCA 231

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: JC v R [2023] NSWCCA 231 Hearing dates: 11 September 2023 Decision date: 20 September 2023 Before: Adamson JA at [1]; Harrison J at [152]; Chen J at [155] Decision: (1) Grant leave pursuant to r 4.15 of the Supreme Court (Criminal Appeal) Rules 2021 (NSW) in respect of grounds 1 and 2. (2) Grant leave to appeal. (3) Dismiss the appeal. (4) Pursuant to s 28A(2) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), the applicant's sentence is to recommence on 20 September 2023. (5) The Court notes for the purposes of s 18(2) of the Criminal Appeal Act that the period of 217 days, being from 15 February 2023 to 19 September 2023 (inclusive of both dates), does not count as part of the sentence of imprisonment imposed in the District Court on 18 November 2022. (6) The Court notes for the purpose of s 48 of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) that: (a) the non-parole period will now expire on 27 August 2025, upon which date the applicant will be eligible for release to parole; and (b) the sentence will now expire on 25 January 2027. Catchwords: APPEALS — CRIME — appeal against conviction — indecent assault of a child — possess child abuse material — sexual interest in children and BDSM — whether trial judge reversed onus of proof — unreasonable verdict — fresh evidence — whether Court would have reached different verdict if it had been aware of evidence of witness's sexual interest APPEALS — CRIME — PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — directions — trial by judge alone — whether trial judge should have made direction in accordance with s 165 of Evidence Act — whether witness criminally concerned in events — whether trial judge should have made a Murray direction — whether trial judge failed to apply Liberato direction Legislation Cited: Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW), s 48 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61M, 91H, 91HA Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 6, 18, 28A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 133, 294AA Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 165 Supreme Court (Criminal Appeal) Rules 2021 (NSW), r 4.15 Cases Cited: Crickitt v R [2018] NSWCCA 240 Dansie v The Queen [2022] HCA 25; (2022) 403 ALR 221 Evans v The Queen (2007) 235 CLR 521; [2007] HCA 59 Fuller v R [2021] NSWCCA 194 Gallagher v The Queen (1986) 160 CLR 392; [1986] HCA 26 Hopgood v R [2019] NSWCCA 246 JL v R [2023] NSWCCA 99 Liberato v The Queen (1985) 159 CLR 507; [1985] HCA 66 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 MFA v The Queen (2002) 213 CLR 606; [2002] HCA 53 Mickelberg v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 259; [1989] HCA 35 MRW v R [2011] NSWCCA 260 Pell v The Queen (2020) 268 CLR 123; [2020] HCA 12 Quarta v R [2023] NSWCCA 173 R v Abou-Chabake [2004] NSWCCA 356; (2004) 149 A Crim R 417 R v JC [2023] NSWSC 111 R v Murray (1987) 11 NSWLR 12 Ratten v The Queen (1974) 131 CLR 510; [1974] HCA 35 Reed v R [2006] NSWCCA 314 United Mexican States v Cabal (2001) 209 CLR 165; [2001] HCA 60 Wade v R [2018] NSWCCA 85 Wentworth v R [2023] NSWCCA 143 Z (a pseudonym) v R [2022] NSWCCA 8 Category: Principal judgment Parties: JC (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: G Lewer / C Akthar (Applicant) E Nicholson (Respondent)