R v Thornton [2024] NSWDC 77

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Thornton [2024] NSWDC 77 Hearing dates: 18 March 2024 Date of orders: 20 March 2024 Decision date: 20 March 2024 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: J Smith SC DCJ Decision: See [69] Catchwords: CRIME – Judge alone trial – s 53 of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) – meaning of "other misconduct" STATUTORY INTERPRETATION – statutory words – considering context and legislative purpose – eiusdem generis rule – consolidating legislation Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Criminal Law Amendment Act 1849 (NSW) Criminal Law Amendment Act 1883 (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Highway Act 1835 (UK) Offences Against the Person Act 1861 (NSW) Stage Carriages Act 1835 (NSW) Cases Cited: AB (a pseudonym) v Independent Broad-based Anti-Corruption Commission [2024] HCA 10 Alcan (NT) Aluminium Pty Ltd v Commission of Territory Revenue (2009) 239 CLR 27 Aslan v R [2015] NSWDC 185 Chatterton v Parker (1914) 3LT 381 Chief Commissioner of State Revenue v Tasty Chicks Pty Ltd [2012] NSWCA 181 CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384 Fleming v The Queen (1998) 197 CLR 250 Maybury v Plowman (1913) 16 CLR 468 Texts Cited: Herzfeld P and Prince T, Interpretation (2nd edition, Thomson Reuters, 2020) Oxford English Dictionary (1st edition, 1884) Sir Alfred Stephen and Alexander Oliver, Criminal Law Manual (1883, Thomas Richards, Government Printer) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Director of Public Prosecutions NSW (Crown) Louise M Thornton (Accused) Representation: Counsel: T Bailey (Crown) H White (Accused)