R v Geeves; R v Geeves (No. 3) [2024] NSWSC 862

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Geeves; R v Geeves (No. 3) [2024] NSWSC 862 Hearing dates: 10 July 2024 Date of orders: 15 July 2024 Decision date: 15 July 2024 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Lonergan J Decision: Evidence comprising the 9 July 2024 statement of Angela Fitzpatrick will not be admitted. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – murder trial – whether representation made by an unavailable witness, (Amber Haigh), should be received into evidence pursuant to s 65(2)(c) of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) – whether probative value of evidence is outweighed by the danger of unfair prejudice to the defendants Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 65(2)(c), 137 Cases Cited: Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 196 CLR 297; [1999] HCA 37 R v BD (1997) 94 A Crim R 131 R v Dawson [2022] NSWSC 814 R v Suteski (2002) 56 NSWLR 182; [2002] NSWCCA 509 Category: Procedural rulings Parties: Rex (Crown) Robert Samuel Geeves (Accused) Anne Margaret Geeves (Accused) Representation: Counsel: P.W. Kerr (Crown) P Coady (Robert Samuel Geeves) M.P. King (Anne Margaret Geeves)

Solicitors: Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions NSW (Crown) Legal Aid NSW (Robert Samuel Geeves) Longman Hill Solicitors (Anne Margaret Geeves) File Number(s): 2022/00128350 2022/00128454 Publication restriction: Section 15A of the Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW) applies to protect the identity of Amber Haigh's child. Any publication of that child's name or anything that might identify that child is prohibited.