Berntsen v R [2023] NSWCCA 296

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Berntsen v R [2023] NSWCCA 296 Hearing dates: 5 September 2023 Date of orders: 29 November 2023 Decision date: 29 November 2023 Before: Ward P at [1] Dhanji J [2] Sweeney J [3] Decision: 1. Leave to appeal granted. 2. The appeal is dismissed. Catchwords: CRIME — Appeals — Appeal against conviction — Inconsistent and unreasonable verdicts — Single complainant — Child sexual assault Legislation Cited: Nil Cases Cited: Dansie v The Queen (2022) 274 CLR 651; [2022] HCA 25 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 Pell v The Queen (2020) 268 CLR 123; [2020] HCA 12 The Queen v Baden-Clay (2016) 258 CLR 308; [2016] HCA 35 MacKenzie v The Queen (1996) 190 CLR 348; [1996] HCA 35 R v Markuleski (2001) 52 NSWLR 82; [2001] NSWCCA 290 R v TK [2009] NSWCCA 151 Wheeler v R [2019] NSWCCA 255 Texts Cited: Nil Category: Principal judgment Parties: Carl Jason Berntsen (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: K Averre (Applicant) E Nicholson (Respondent)

Solicitors: Smythe Wozniak Lawyers (Applicant) Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (NSW) (Respondent) File Number(s): 2017/18391 Publication restriction: Publication of the identity of the complainant or any matter likely to lead to her identification prohibited pursuant to s 578A Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).