Holmes v R [2024] NSWCCA 233

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Holmes v R [2024] NSWCCA 233 Hearing dates: 18 November 2024 Date of orders: 13 December 2024 Decision date: 13 December 2024 Before: N Adams J at [1] Ierace J at [3] Chen J at [5] Decision: (1) Grant leave to the applicant to appeal against his conviction. (2) Allow the appeal. (3) Quash the applicant's conviction and sentence imposed on 15 September 2023. (4) Order that there be a new trial. (5) List the matter for arraignment on 20 December 2024 in the District Court at Sydney at 9:30am. Catchwords: CRIME – Appeals – Appeal against conviction – Incompetence of counsel – Where applicant charged with single count of sexual intercourse without consent – Where sole issue in trial was whether the sexual intercourse was consensual – Where applicant's trial counsel consented to the admission of inadmissible evidence contained within the body worn videos of police and ERISP – Unfair prejudice to the applicant through admission of evidence contained in body worn video established – Slight forensic advantage to the applicant outweighed by significant forensic disadvantage – Miscarriage of justice established – Conviction and sentence quashed Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Supreme Court (Criminal Appeal) Rules 2021 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ahmu v R; Director of Public Prosecutions v Ahmu [2014] NSWCCA 312 Ali v The Queen [2005] HCA 8; (2005) 79 ALJR 662 Baini v The Queen (2012) 246 CLR 469; [2012] HCA 59 Duke v The Queen (1989) 180 CLR 508 Gallagher v The Queen (1986) 160 CLR 392; [1986] HCA 26 GBF v The Queen (2020) 271 CLR 537; [2020] HCA 40 Hamilton (a pseudonym) v The Queen (2021) 274 CLR 531; [2021] HCA 33 HCF v The Queen [2023] HCA 35; (2023) 97 ALJR 978 Hofer v The Queen [2021] HCA 36; (2021) 95 ALJR 937 Hughes v R [2018] NSWCCA 2 Nudd v The Queen [2006] HCA 9; (2006) 80 ALJR 614 Obeid v R (2017) 96 NSWLR 155; [2017] NSWCCA 221 Orreal v The Queen (2021) 274 CLR 630; [2021] HCA 44 R v Birks (1990) 19 NSWLR 677 TKWJ v The Queen (2002) 212 CLR 124; [2002] HCA 46 Trevascus v R (2021) 104 NSWLR 571; [2021] NSWCCA 104 Weiss v The Queen (2005) 224 CLR 300; [2005] HCA 81 Zhou v The Queen [2021] NSWCCA 278 Texts Cited: J D Heydon, Cross on Evidence (13th ed, 2021, LexisNexis) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Adam Holmes (Applicant) Rex (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P Krisenthal / B Bickford (Applicant) T Abdulhak (Respondent)