SJB v R [2024] NSWCCA 244

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: SJB v R [2024] NSWCCA 244 Hearing dates: 21 October 2024 Date of orders: 19 December 2024 Decision date: 19 December 2024 Before: Ward P at [1]; McHugh JA at [333]; Rothman J at [339] Decision: 1. Leave to appeal is granted. 2. Appeal allowed. 3. The guilty verdicts on Counts 6, 9, 11, 13 and 14 are quashed, and verdicts of acquittal are to be entered on each of those counts. Catchwords: CRIME – Appeals – Appeal against conviction – Unreasonable verdict – Child sex offences – Where offending occurred over a period of four months – Whether complainant's lack of credibility and inconsistencies in evidence were such that jury should have had reasonable doubt as to applicant's guilt – Appeal allowed CRIME – Appeals – Appeal against conviction – Inconsistent verdicts – Where logical basis to find applicant not guilty on counts where date essential element – Where no logical basis to distinguish other verdicts – Appeal allowed Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5(1), 6(1) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 293A Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 191 Mental Health Act 2007 (NSW) Cases Cited: AH v R [2019] NSWCCA 152 AJ v R (2022) 110 NSWLR 339; [2022] NSWCCA 136 AS v R [2022] NSWCCA 291 Bayliss v R [2023] NSWCCA 84 Collins v R [2020] NSWCCA 198 Dadley v R [2021] NSWCCA 267 Dansie v The Queen (2022) 274 CLR 651; [2022] HCA 25 Davis v The King [2024] NSWCA 120 Ganiji v R [2019] NSWCCA 208 Hawi v R [2014] NSWCCA 83 Jones v The Queen (1997) 191 CLR 439; [1997] HCA 56 Kim v R [2020] NSWCCA 288 Liberato v The Queen (1985) 159 CLR 507; [1985] HCA 66 LS v R [2024] NSWCCA 110 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 MacKenzie v The Queen (1996) 190 CLR 348; [1996] HCA 35 Martin v R [2020] NSWCCA 192 MFA v The Queen (2002) 213 CLR 606; [2002] HCA 53 Papakosmas v R (1999) 196 CLR 297; [1999] HCA 37 Pell v The Queen (2020) 268 CLR 123; [2020] HCA 12 Qualtieri v R (2006) 171 A Crim R 463; [2006] NSWCCA 95 R v ACK [2000] NSWCCA 180 R v Kirkman (1987) 44 SASR 591 R v KRL [2007] NSWCCA 354 R v Markuleski (2001) 52 NSWLR 82; [2001] NSWCCA 290 R v TK (2009) 74 NSWLR 299; [2009] NSWCCA 151 RM v R [2024] NSWCCA 148 Rossi v R [2024] NSWCCA 17 SKA v The Queen (2011) 243 CLR 400; [2011] HCA 13 Category: Principal judgment Parties: SJB (Appellant) Director of Public Prosecutions (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Quilter (Appellant) E Nicholson (Respondent)