Russell v R [2023] NSWCCA 272

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Russell v R [2023] NSWCCA 272 Hearing dates: 31 July, 1-3 August, 1 September 2023 Date of orders: 03 November 2023 Decision date: 03 November 2023 Before: Bell CJ; Stern JA; N Adams J Decision: 1. In relation to Count 1 the appeal against conviction is allowed, the conviction is quashed and a verdict of acquittal is entered. 2. Leave is granted to appeal in relation to grounds 3, 4, 8 and 9. 3. The appeal against conviction in relation to Counts 2 and 3 is dismissed. 4. The aggregate sentence imposed by Syme DCJ on 4 July 2022 is quashed and, in lieu thereof, the Appellant is sentenced to an aggregate sentence under s 53A of the Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) of 7 years to commence on 15 September 2021 and expire on 14 September 2028 with a non-parole period of 5 years and 3 months imprisonment to commence on 15 September 2021 and expire on 14 December 2026. The Appellant is first eligible for parole on 14 December 2026. Catchwords: CRIME – appeals – appeal against conviction – female genital mutilation – whether excision of part of the labia minora of complainant was contrary to s 45 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) – whether purpose of s 45 was to prevent female genital mutilation being performed on female children – whether statements as to purpose of s 45 by High Court in The Queen v A2 (2019) 269 CLR 507 required s 45 to be read down so as only to apply to female children – where actual text of s 45 does not support such a reading – principles of statutory interpretation – purposive construction – departure from literal meaning of statute CRIME – appeals – appeal against conviction – whether consent available as a defence to a charge of infliction of grievous bodily harm – where body modification artist performed "tummy tuck" surgery on complainant who consented to such surgery – consideration of the role of consent in cases of actual and grievous bodily injury – whether considerations of autonomy should render consent a defence CRIME – appeals – appeal against conviction – unreasonable verdict – judge-alone trial – manslaughter by criminal negligence – where the Appellant inserted a silicon implant into the hand of the deceased – whether evidence capable of establishing beyond reasonable doubt that the Appellant's treatment of the deceased was criminally negligent CRIME – appeals – appeal against conviction – unreasonable verdict – judge-alone trial – manslaughter by criminal negligence – causation – where multiple possible causes of death – whether evidence capable of proving beyond reasonable doubt that septicaemia was a significant or substantial cause of death – whether multi-drug toxicity was the sole or a contributory cause of death CRIME – appeals – appeal against conviction – miscarriage of justice – failure to give a "Shepherd direction" that the Crown had the burden of proving beyond reasonable doubt that septicaemia was present in the deceased at the time of her death and that it was a significant or substantial cause of her death – standard of proof in finding that septicaemia was a significant or substantial cause of the deceased's death SENTENCING – appeal against sentence – severity – whether sentence manifestly excessive – objective seriousness – whether indicative sentences adequately took into account the consent of the victims to body modification procedures Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 4, 18(1)(b), 33(1)(b), 43A(1), 45, 60DF, 61AA(6), 66EB(1), 91FA, 93AC(1) Crimes Amendment (Female Genital Mutilation) Act 2014 (NSW) Crimes (Female Genital Mutilation) Amendment Act 1994 (NSW) Crimes (High Risk Offenders) Act 2006 (NSW) ss 5A, 25C Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) ss 53A, 44(2A) Domestic Abuse Act 2021 (UK) s 71 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 177 Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) s 63(1) Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW) s 33 Offences against the Person Act 1861 (UK) s 47 Private Health Facilities Act 2007 ss 4, 33, 39 Private Health Facilities Regulation 2010 (NSW) regs 3, 3A Private Health Facilities Regulation 2017 (NSW) regs 3, 4, 13A Public Health Act 2010 (NSW) s 39A Cases Cited: A2 v The Queen [2018] NSWCCA 174 Attorney-General's Reference (No 6 of 1980) [1981] QB 715 Baker v R [2023] NSWCCA 262 Bugmy v The Queen (2013) 249 CLR 571; [2013] HCA 37 Burns v The Queen (2012) 246 CLR 334; [2012] HCA 35 C.A.L. No 14 Pty Ltd (t/as Tandara Motor Inn) v Motor Accidents Insurance Board (2009) 239 CLR 390; [2009] HCA 47 Campbell v The Queen [1981] WAR 286; (1980) 2 A Crim R 157 Carroll v The Queen [2009] HCA 13; (2009) 83 ALJR 579 CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384; [1997] HCA 2 Clyne v Deputy Commissioner of Taxation (1981) 150 CLR 1; [1981] HCA 40 Dansie v The Queen [2022] HCA 25; (2022) 96 ALJR 728 Davis v Chief of Army [2011] ADFDAT 1; (2011) 278 ALR 199 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v De La Rosa (2010) 79 NSWLR 1; [2010] NSWCCA 194 DL v The Queen (2018) 265 CLR 215; [2018] HCA 32 Dowling v R [2020] NSWCCA 290 DS v R; DM v R [2022] NSWCCA 156 Fantakis v R [2023] NSWCCA 3 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd (2007) 230 CLR 89; [2007] HCA 22 Filippou v The Queen (2015) 256 CLR 47; [2015] HCA 29 Freeburn v The Queen [2020] VSCA 155 Hill v Zuda Pty Limited [2022] HCA 21; (2022) 96 ALJR 540 John Pfeiffer Pty Ltd v Rogerson (2000) 203 CLR 503; [2000] HCA 36 Kapua v R [2023] NSWCCA 14 Lange v Australian Broadcasting Corporation (1997) 189 CLR 520; [1997] HCA 25 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 Macdonald v R [2023] NSWCCA 250 Maloney v The Queen (2013) 252 CLR 168; [2013] HCA 28 McCarthy v R [2019] EWCA Crim 2202 Mc-Graw-Hinds (Aust) Pty Ltd v Smith (1979) 144 CLR 633; [1979] HCA 19 Neal v R (2011) 32 VR 454; [2011] VSCA 172 Nydam v R [1977] VR 430 Pallante v Stadiums Pty Ltd (No 1) [1976] VR 331 Paterson v R [2021] NSWCCA 273 Pell v The Queen (2020) 268 CLR 123; [2020] HCA 12 Perre v Apand (1999) 198 CLR 180; [1999] HCA 36 R v Barnes [2005] 1 WLR 910 R v Brown [1994] 1 AC 212 R v Coney (1882) 8 QB 534 R v Cuerrie [1998] 2 SCR 371 R v Davidson (2009) 75 NSWLR 150; [2009] NSWCCA 150 R v Dica [2004] QB 1257 R v Dominico Peter Turchino; R v HMF [2005] NSWSC 1214 R v Donovan [1934] 2 KB 498 R v Eriksson [2001] NSWSC 781 R v Gary Gow [2006] NSWDC 78 R v HA [2008] NSWSC 1368 R v Hennigan [1971] 3 All ER 133 R v Jobidon [1991] 2 SCR 714 R v Keenan [2009] HCA 1; (2009) 83 ALJR 243 R v Konzani [2005] EWCA Crim 706 R v Lee [2006] 3 NZLR 42 R v M(B) [2018] EWCA 260 R v McIntosh [1999] VSC 358 R v Moffatt [2000] NSWCCA 174; (2000) 112 A Crim R 201 R v Mwai [1995] 3 NZLR 149 R v O'Brien [2003] NSWCCA 121 R v Raabe [1985] 1 Qd R 115 R v Richardson [1999] QB 444 R v Stein (2007) 18 VR 376; [2007] VSCA 300 R v Walker [2023] NSWCCA 219 R v Wilson [1997] QB 47 Reeves v The Queen [2013] HCA 57; (2013) ALJR 215 Registrar of Titles (WA) v Franzon (1975) 132 CLR 611; [1975] HCA 41 Rogers v Whittaker (1992) 175 CLR 479; [1992] HCA 58 Royall v The Queen (1991) 172 CLR 378; [1991] HCA 27 Schloendorff v Society of New York Hospital (1914) 105 N.E. 92 Secretary, Department of Health & Community Services v JWB (1992) 175 CLR 218; [1992] HCA 15 Shepherd v The Queen (1990) 170 CLR 573; [1990] HCA 56 Slattery v R [2023] NSWCCA 117 Swan v The Queen (2020) 269 CLR 663; [2020] HCA 11 Sydney Seaplanes Pty Ltd v Page (2021) 106 NSWLR 1; [2021] NSWCA 204 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 262 CLR 362; [2017] HCA 34 The Queen v A2 (2019) 269 CLR 507; [2019] HCA 35 The Queen v Baden-Clay (2016) 258 CLR 308; [2016] HCA 35 The Queen v Hillier (2007) 228 CLR 618; [2007] HCA 13 The Queen v Lavender (2005) 222 CLR 67; [2005] HCA 37 The Queen v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270; [1999] HCA 54 Towse v R [2022] NSWCCA 252 Ussher-Clarke v R [2018] NSWCCA 61 Texts Cited: A J Watkins, "Score and Pierce: Crimes of Fashion? Body Alteration and Consent to Assault" (1998) 28 Victoria University of Wellington Law Review 371 B Bix "Assault, Sado-masochism and Consent" (1993) 109 Law Quarterly Review 540 D Kell, "Social Disutility and the Law of Consent" (1994) 14 Oxford Journal of Legal Studies 121 Family Law Council, Female Genital Mutilation, (June 1994) K J Arenson, "Consent as a Common Law Defence to Non-Sexual Assaults: The Effect of Neal v The Queen" (2014) 33(2) The University of Tasmania Law Review 300 Law Commission for England and Wales, Consent in the Criminal Law: A Consultation Paper (1995) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Brendan Russell (Appellant) The Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: