R v Al-Qas Soomo [2024] NSWSC 1461

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Al-Qas Soomo [2024] NSWSC 1461 Hearing dates: 11-13 November 2024 Date of orders: 19 November 2024 Decision date: 19 November 2024 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Campbell J Decision: (1) On the limited evidence available, the defendant committed the offence of intimidation charged by Count 1. (2) On the limited evidence available, the defendant committed the offence charged by count 3 of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Soneevia Al-Qas Soomo. (3) On the limited evidence available, the defendant committed the offence charged by Count 3 of assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Sonia Al-Qas Soomo. (4) On the limited evidence available, the defendant committed the offence of the manslaughter of Samar Shlemoon as an alternative to Count 4 in the indictment. (5) Direct the Registrar to forward to the Mental Health Review Tribunal a copy of my published reasons, the psychiatric evidence contained in Exhibit A; Tab B, and a copy of the transcript of the concurrent evidence of Dr Eagle and Dr Martin. (6) List the matter for proceedings on fixing the limiting term before Justice Campbell on 2:00 p.m., Friday 7 March 2025. Catchwords: MENTAL HEALTH – criminal proceedings – person unfit to be tried – special hearing – domestic violence – murder – obsessive and delusional jealousy – whether mental health impairment – whether condition was such that the defendant did not know that the act was wrong – mental health impairment defence not made out for Counts 1 to 3 – partial defence under s 23A Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) made out for the charge of murder – verdict of on the limited evidence available, the defendant committed an available alternative of manslaughter Legislation Cited: Crimes (Domestic and Personal Violence) Act 2007 (NSW), s 13 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 18, 23A, 59 Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 (NSW), ss 4, 28, 33, 36, 40, 46, 49, 53, 54, 55, 56, 59, 63, 78, 80 Cases Cited: Alford v Magee (1952) 85 CLR 437; [1952] HCA 3 Carter v R [2019] NSWCCA 11 Hawkins v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 500; [1994] HCA 28 R v Hadfield (1800) 27 State Trials 1281 R v Minani (2005) 63 NSWLR 490; [2005] NSWCCA 226 R v Pratt [2009] NSWSC 1108 R v Rodrigues [2010] NSWSC 198 R v Codere [1916] 12 CR App R 21 R v M'Naghten (1843) 8 ER 718 Stanton v the Queen [2003] HCA 29; 77 ALJR 1151 Stapleton v R (1952) 86 CLR 358; [1952] HCA 56 The King v Porter (1933) 55 CLR 182; [1933] HCA 1 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rex (Crown) Alam Al-Qas Soomo (Defendant) Representation: Counsel: M Hay (Crown) S Corish (Defendant)