JD v DPP [1999] NSWSC 878

Reported Decision : [1999] 107 A Crim R 296

New South Wales Supreme Court CITATION : JD v DPP [1999] NSWSC 878 CURRENT JURISDICTION : Common Law Division FILE NUMBER(S) : 11794 of 1998 HEARING DATE(S) : 09/11/98 JUDGMENT DATE : 2 September 1999

JD (plaintiff) PARTIES : Director of Public Prosecutions (1st defendant) Mr J Williams, Magistrate (2nd defendant) Chief Magistrate of the Local Court of NSW (3rd defendant) JUDGMENT OF : Hidden J at 1

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Local Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER : Mr J Williams

COUNSEL : G Walsh (solicitor) (plaintiff) P Lakatos and W Langley (1st defendant) Greg Walsh & Co (plaintiff) SOLICITORS : Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (1st defendant) Crown Solicitor (3rd defendant) CATCHWORDS : Criminal Law - committal proceedings - order that information be withdrawn and dismissed - misapprehension by magistrate that defendant consented - whether magistrate functus officio - whether defendant could be discharged - power to award costs Justices Act 1902 ACTS CITED : Crimes Act 1900 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 R v Essex Justices, Ex parte Final [1962] 3 All ER 924 Ex parte Kelly; Re Teece (1966) 85 WN(NSW) 151 CASES CITED : Thomas v Bell (1989) 42 ACrim R 318 Reg v Phipps: Ex parte Alton [1964] 2 QB 420 Dargin v Simpson (Studdert J, SC of NSW, unreported, 24 September 1990: affirmed C of A unreported, 7 February 1992) Lay v Cleary (James J, SC of NSW, unreported 23 February 1993) DECISION : Magistrate had power to award costs.