ZL v R [2023] NSWCCA 279

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: ZL v R [2023] NSWCCA 279 Hearing dates: 20 October 2023 Decision date: 13 November 2023 Before: Adamson JA at [1]; Price J at [153]; Fagan J at [164] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Dismiss the appeal. Catchwords: APPEALS — CRIME — appeal against conviction — unreasonable verdict — credibility of complainant —evidence of Crown witnesses contrary to Crown opening and closing addresses — whether evidence was challenged — whether prosecutor should have sought leave to cross-examine pursuant to s 38 of Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) — whether open to jury to consider that witnesses were mistaken Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61M,61N, 66C Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 159 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 38, 137 Cases Cited: Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Crickitt v R [2018] NSWCCA 240 Dansie v The Queen (2022) 274 CLR 651; [2022] HCA 25 Livermore v R (2006) 67 NSWLR 659; [2006] NSWCCA 334 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 MFA v The Queen (2002) 213 CLR 606; [2002] HCA 53 MWJ v The Queen [2005] HCA 74; (2005) 80 ALJR 329 Ngo v R [2023] NSWCCA 201 Onassis v Vergottis [1968] 2 Lloyds Rep 403 Pell v The Queen (2020) 268 CLR 123; [2020] HCA 12 R v Kennedy [2000] NSWCCA 487; (2000) 118 A Crim R 34 R v Macfie (No 2) (2004) 11 VR 215; [2004] VSCA 209 R v Tangye (1997) 92 A Crim R 545 R v Teasdale [2004] NSWCCA 91; (2004) 145 A Crim R 345 Regina v Walton [1999] NSWCCA 452; (1999) 113 A Crim R 308 Soames v R [2012] NSWCCA 188 The Queen v Baden-Clay (2016) 258 CLR 308; [2016] HCA 35 Z (a pseudonym) v R [2022] NSWCCA 8 Category: Principal judgment Parties: ZL (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: D Dalton SC / D Carroll (Applicant) G Newton SC (Respondent)