LF v R [2023] NSWCCA 232

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: LF v R [2023] NSWCCA 232 Hearing dates: 7 June 2023 Date of orders: 20 September 2023 Decision date: 20 September 2023 Before: Meagher JA at [1]; Wilson J at [187]; Sweeney J at [190] Decision: (1) Grant leave to the applicant, LF, to appeal against his convictions on grounds 1, 2 and 3. (2) Dismiss his appeal against conviction on each of grounds 1, 2 and 3. Catchwords: CRIME — appeals — appeal against conviction —applicant convicted of three sexual offences against two child complainants — where application under Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 306Y for order that one complainant's evidence not be given by JIRT interview — whether judge erred in not being satisfied that not in "interests of justice" for that evidence to be given — where trial judge gave a direction and warning that JIRT interview evidence may be unreliable due to manner in which interview conducted — whether that direction and warning was sufficient having regard to Evidence Act, ss 165, 165A — whether guilty verdicts on three offences unreasonable Legislation Cited: Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW), s 15A(1) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 66C(2), 66DB(a), 80G, 91A(2), 578A(2) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5(1)(b), 6(1) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 294AA, 306O, 306U, 306V, 306Y, Sch 2 Criminal Procedure Amendment (Vulnerable Persons) Act 2007 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 37, 135, 137, 138, 165, 165A Cases Cited: AK v R [2022] NSWCCA 175 AL v R [2017] NSWCCA 34; (2017) 266 A Crim R 1 Azzopardi v The Queen (2001) 205 CLR 50; [2001] HCA 25 Bektasovski v R [2022] NSWCCA 246; (2022) 407 ALR 125 Burns-Dederer v R [2023] NSWCCA 191 Dansie v The Queen [2022] HCA 25; (2022) 96 ALJR 728 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v JG [2010] NSWCCA 222; (2010) 220 A Crim R 19 Domican v The Queen (1992) 173 CLR 555; [1992] HCA 13 Edwards v The Queen (2021) 273 CLR 585; [2021] HCA 28 Elomar v R [2014] NSWCCA 303; (2014) 316 ALR 206 Filippou v The Queen (2015) 256 CLR 47; [2015] HCA 29 Hofer v The Queen (2021) 274 CLR 351; [2021] HCA 36 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 Mahmood v Western Australia (2008) 232 CLR 397; [2008] HCA 1 MJK v R (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW), 21 April 1995, unrep) Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 196 CLR 297; [1999] HCA 37 Pell v The Queen (2020) 268 CLR 123; [2020] HCA 12 PJ v R [2023] NSWCCA 105 R v A2 ; R v KM; R v Vaziri (No 20) [2016] NSWSC 23 R v A2; R v KM; R v Vaziri (No 21) [2016] NSWSC 24 R v Bauer (2018) 266 CLR 56; [2018] HCA 40 R v Lewis [1991] 1 NZLR 409; (1990) 6 CRNZ 350 R v LF (District Court (NSW), Traill DCJ, 17 December 2020, unrep) R v LF (No 2) [2022] NSWDC 465 R v TJF [2001] NSWCCA 127; (2001) 120 A Crim R 209 Raad v R [2012] NSWCCA 268 RGM v R [2012] NSWCCA 89 Su v R [2023] NSWCCA 21 The Queen v Ellis (1994) 1 NZCrimC 592; (1994) 12 CRNZ 172 The Queen v GW (2016) 258 CLR 108; [2016] HCA 6 Tully v The Queen (2006) 230 CLR 234; [2006] HCA 56 Wade v R [2006] NSWCCA 295; (2006) 164 A Crim R 583 Weiss v The Queen (2005) 224 CLR 300; [2005] HCA 81 Texts Cited: New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 25 November 1997 Category: Principal judgment Parties: LF (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Johnston SC and PA Jones (Applicant) D Scully (Respondent)