R v Diallo & Ors (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 853

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Diallo & Ors (No 2) [2024] NSWSC 853 Hearing dates: 1-3 July 2024 Date of orders: 15 July 2024 Decision date: 15 July 2024 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Hamill J Decision: The evidence of YA's statement recorded on the body worn video is inadmissible Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – evidence – admissions by conduct – lies and consciousness of guilt – statements made by accused near the scene of the murder – no adult, lawyer or support person present – statutory prohibition on admissibility – whether exception to prohibition established – where questions asked in urgent circumstances – accused member of suburban gang – differences leading to violent confrontation – overview of prosecution case – eye witness testimony by other witnesses – taking the contempt charge rather than an affirmation or oath – repeated mantra of "no comment" – circumstantial case – assessment of accused's vulnerability – palpable fear and confusion – satisfactory explanation of absence of adult – a lot happening – other factors militating against admission of evidence – evidence not admissible Legislation Cited: Child Welfare Act 1939 (NSW), s 81C Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW), ss 3, 13, 13(1)(a), 13(1)(b) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 128 Cases Cited: McAuliffe v The Queen (1995) 183 CLR 108; [1995] HCA 37 Miller v The Queen; Smith v The Queen; Presley v Director of Public Prosecutions (SA) (2016) 259 CLR 380; [2016] HCA 30 Mitchell v The King; Rigney v The King; Carver v The King; Tenhoopen v The King (2023) 276 CLR 299; [2023] HCA 5 R v Basha (1989) 39 A Crim R 337 R v Dunn (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW), 15 April 1992, unrep) R v H (A child) (1996) 85 A Crim R 481 R v Jogee [2017] AC 387; [2016] UKSC 8 R v KS (No 2) [2023] NSWSC 1475 R v Phung and Huynh [2001] NSWSC 115 R v Warren [1982] 2 NSWLR 360; (1982) 5 A Crim R 321 R v Williams (Supreme Court (NSW), 9 August 1982, unrep) Texts Cited: N/A Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Rex (Prosecution) Ibrahima Diallo (Defendant) AG (Defendant) YA (Defendant) AD (Defendant) Panashe Morgan Ryan Karise (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: E Balodis and J Sfinas (Rex) R Wilson SC (Diallo) M Avenell SC (AG) W Terracini SC KC and P Kondich (YA) B Robinson (AD) M Smith (Karise)