Zhao v R [2024] NSWCCA 229

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Zhao v R [2024] NSWCCA 229 Hearing dates: 26 August 2024 Date of orders: 6 December 2024 Decision date: 06 December 2024 Before: N Adams J at [1]; Ierace J at [229]; Sweeney J at [231]. Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Allow the appeal. (3) Quash the conviction and enter an order of acquittal. Catchwords: CRIME – Appeals – Appeal against conviction – Unreasonable verdict – two counts of sexual offences – where applicant found guilty on one count and acquitted on the other – whether on all of the evidence it was open to the jury to be satisfied of the applicant's guilt beyond reasonable doubt – discrepancies and inconsistencies in complainant's evidence – appeal allowed – conviction quashed. Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61HE, 61I Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Consent Reforms) Act 2021 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act (NSW), ss 5(1)(b), 6(1) Surveillance Devices Act 2007 (NSW), s 7(1)(3) Cases Cited: AS v R [2022] NSWCCA 291 Dansie v The Queen (2022) 274 CLR 651; [2022] HCA 25 Harper v R [2022] NSWCCA 211 Hodgson v R [2022] NSWCCA 72 JL v R [2023] NSWCCA 99 Krishna v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2007] NSWCCA 318; (2007) 178 A Crim R 220 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 Pell v The Queen (2020) 268 CLR 123; [2020] HCA 12 Reed v R [2006] NSWCCA 314 RM v R [2024] NSWCCA 148 SKA v The Queen (2011) 243 CLR 400; [2011] HCA 13 The Queen v Baden-Clay (2016) 258 CLR 308; [2016] HCA 35 Z (a pseudonym) v R [2022] NSWCCA 8 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Shuning Zhao (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Game SC with D McMahon (Applicant) E Nicholson (Respondent)