R v Skapik [2025] NSWCCA 19

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v Skapik [2025] NSWCCA 19 Hearing dates: 4 February 2025 Date of orders: 24 February 2025 Decision date: 24 February 2025 Before: Stern JA at [1]; Garling J at [84]; N Adams J at [85]. Decision: (1) Extension of time until 10 October 2024 for the question of law to be submitted is granted. (2) The answer to the stated question of law on the case stated is "No". Catchwords: CRIME – meaning of the phrase "mental illness within the civil law of the State or Territory" in s 20BQ of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) – whether this is to be determined with reference only to the definition of "mental illness" in s 4 of the Mental Health Act 2007 (NSW) Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Crimes Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1989 (Cth) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) Mental Health Act 1958 (NSW) Mental Health Act 1962 (WA) Mental Health Act 1977 (SA) Mental Health Act 1981 (WA) Mental Health Act 1983 (ACT) Mental Health Act 1983 (NSW) Mental Health Act 1990 (NSW) Mental Health Act 2007 (NSW) Mental Health and Cognitive Impairment Forensic Provisions Act 2020 (NSW) Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) Mental Health Ordinance 1983 (ACT) Miscellaneous Acts (Mental Health) Repeal and Amendment Act 1990 (NSW) Cases Cited: Aid/Watch Inc v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2010) 241 CLR 539; [2010] HCA 42 Alcan (NT) Alumina Pty Ltd v Commissioner of Territory Revenue (Northern Territory) (2009) 239 CLR 27; [2009] HCA 41 Attorney-General for NSW v Brewery Employees Union of NSW (1908) 6 CLR 469; [1908] HCA 94 Attorney-General for the State of New South Wales v X (2000) 49 NSWLR 653; [2000] NSWCA 199 B v Medical Superintendent of Macquarie Hospital (1987) 10 NSWLR 440 Barker v The Queen (1983) 153 CLR 338; [1983] HCA 18 CCR v PS (No 2) (1986) 6 NSWLR 622 DW v JMW [1983] 1 NSWLR 61 Fingleton v The Queen (2005) 227 CLR 166; [2005] HCA 34 Gala v Preston (1991) 172 CLR 243; [1991] HCA 18 Hazeldell Ltd v Commonwealth (1924) 34 CLR 442; [1924] HCA 36 Kelly v Saadat-Talab (2008) 72 NSWLR 305; [2008] NSWCA 213 Ngatayi v The Queen (1980) 147 CLR 1; [1980] HCA 18 Orr v Cobar Management Pty Ltd (2020) 103 NSWLR 36; [2020] NSWCA 220 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355; [1998] HCA 28 R (Cth) v Petroulias (No 36) [2008] NSWSC 626 R v M'Naghten (1843) 8 ER 718 R v Porter (1933) 55 CLR 182; [1933] HCA 1 R v Rohan [2024] HCA 3 RAP v AEP [1982] 2 NSWLR 508 Roads and Traffic Authority (NSW) v Graincorp Operations Ltd [2010] NSWCA 317 Skapik v R [2024] NSWDC 427 Stapleton v The Queen (1952) 86 CLR 358; [1952] HCA 56 SZTAL v Minister for Immigration and Border Protection (2017) 262 CLR 362; [2017] HCA 34 Taylor v Attorney-General (Cth) (2019) 268 CLR 224; [2019] HCA 30 Tritton v Clarke [2018] NSWCCA 31 Uren v John Fairfax & Sons Pty Ltd (1996) 117 CLR 118; [1966] HCA 40 Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525; [1995] HCA 3 Texts Cited: Australian Law Reform Commission, Sentencing (Report No 44, 25 August 1988) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Rex (Applicant) Daniel Skapik (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Sharp KC and C J Tran (Applicant) D McMahon (Respondent)