Dawson v R [2024] NSWCCA 98

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Dawson v R [2024] NSWCCA 98 Hearing dates: 13 – 15 May 2024 Decision date: 13 June 2024 Before: Ward P at [1]; Payne JA at [6]; Adamson JA at [31] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Dismiss the appeal. Catchwords: CRIME — appeals — appeal against conviction — alleged significant forensic disadvantage by reason of delay in prosecution — where applicant convicted of murder four decades after offending conduct — whether trial judge erred in failing to direct himself pursuant to s 165B of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) CRIME — appeals — appeal against conviction — application of proviso — whether trial judge's erroneous use of lies as evincing a consciousness of guilt gave rise to a substantial miscarriage of justice — whether applicant's guilt was proved beyond reasonable doubt on admissible evidence notwithstanding error CRIME — appeals — appeal against conviction — lies as evidence of consciousness of guilt — where Crown at trial identified five lies it intended to rely on for such purpose — whether trial judge erred in relying on other lies — whether trial judge's reasons why lies supported a consciousness of guilt were inadequate — application of Edwards v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 198 — use of lies in criminal proceedings CRIME — appeals — appeal against conviction — unreasonable verdict — whether verdict of guilty of murder following trial by judge alone was unreasonable — where Crown case was wholly circumstantial — whether hypothesis consistent with innocence was excluded beyond reasonable doubt Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), s 18 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5, 6 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 132, 133 Evidence Act 1929 (SA), s 34CB Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 137, 165B Cases Cited: AK v Western Australia (2008) 232 CLR 438; [2008] HCA 8 Binns v R [2017] NSWCCA 280 Brown v R [2022] NSWCCA 116 Cabot (a pseudonym) v R (No 2) [2020] NSWCCA 354 Collector of Customs v Pozzolanic Enterprises Pty Ltd (1993) 43 FCR 280; [1993] FCA 456 Cooper v The Queen (2012) 293 ALR 17; [2012] HCA 50 Dansie v The Queen (2022) 274 CLR 651; [2022] HCA 25 Dawson v R (2021) 108 NSWLR 96; [2021] NSWCCA 117 De Silva v The Queen (2019) 268 CLR 57; [2019] HCA 48 Demirok v The Queen (1977) 137 CLR 20; [1977] HCA 21 DL v The Queen (2018) 266 CLR 1; [2018] HCA 26 Edwards v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 193; [1993] HCA 63 EE v R [2023] NSWCCA 188 Filippou v The Queen (2015) 256 CLR 47; [2015] HCA 29 Firbank v R [2011] NSWCCA 171; (2011) 223 A Crim R 301 Fleming v The Queen (1998) 197 CLR 250; [1998] HCA 68 Groundstroem v R [2013] NSWCCA 237 Hofer v The Queen (2021) 274 CLR 351; [2021] HCA 36 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Jarrett v R (2014) 86 NSWLR 623 Kalbasi v State of Western Australia (2018) 264 CLR 62; [2018] HCA 7 Lane v The Queen (2018) 265 CLR 196; [2018] HCA 28 Longman v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 79; [1989] HCA 60 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 McNamara v The King [2023] HCA 36; (2023) 98 ALJR 1 Orreal v The Queen (2021) 274 CLR 630; [2021] HCA 44 Pell v The Queen (2020) 268 CLR 123; [2020] HCA 12 Potts v R [2012] NSWCCA 229; (2012) 227 A Crim R 217 Pratten v R [2021] NSWCCA 251 R v Cassebohm (2011) 109 SASR 465; [2011] SASCFC 29 R v Dawson [2020] NSWSC 1221 R v Dawson [2022] NSWSC 552 R v Dawson [2023] NSWSC 1632 R v GJH [2001] NSWCCA 128; (2001) 122 A Crim R 361 R v Rose (2002) 55 NSWLR 701; [2002] NSWCCA 455 Shanmugam v R [2021] NSWCCA 125 Shepherd v The Queen (1990) 170 CLR 573 at 579-580; [1990] HCA 56 Small v K & R Fabrications (W'gong) Pty Ltd [2016] NSWCA 70 Weiss v The Queen (2005) 224 CLR 300; [2005] HCA 81 Wilde v R (1988) 164 CLR 365; [1988] HCA 6 Zoneff v The Queen (2000) 200 CLR 234; [2000] HCA 28 Texts Cited: Criminal Procedure Amendment (Sexual and Other Offences) Bill 2006 (NSW) Explanatory Memorandum, Evidence Amendment Bill 2007 (NSW) New South Wales Legislative Assembly, Parliamentary Debates (Hansard), 26 October 2006 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Christopher Michael Dawson (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: B Rigg SC / C Wasley (Applicant) B Hatfield SC / E Nicholson (Respondent)