Regina v Lonie & Groom [1999] NSWCCA 319

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal CITATION : Regina v Lonie & Groom [1999] NSWCCA 319 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60087/98; 60134/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 11 May 1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 15 October 1999

PARTIES : Regina v John Russell Lonie Regina v Carla Phyllis Groom JUDGMENT OF : Barr J at 1; Greg James J at 2; Smart AJ at 11

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 97/11/0430 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER : McGuire DCJ

Appellant Lonie: R Burgess COUNSEL : Appellant Groom: P Hamill Respondent: R D Ellis SOLICITORS : Appellants: T A Murphy Respondent: C.K. Smith CATCHWORDS : Cultivation of cannabis plantation; Supply of cannabis leaf; setting a device capable of inflicting grievous bodily harm; sufficiency of evidence; warning as to reliability of evidence; corrupt police officer implicating other police in corruption; references to Police Royal Commission; meaning of "suffers or permits"; erroneous directions. Crimes Act 1900 ACTS CITED : Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 Evidence Act 1995 R v Flood [1999] NSWCCA 198 R v Vonarx, CA Vic unrep. 15 November 1995 Gipp v The Queen (1998) 72 ALJR 1012 R v Sanewski [1987] 1 Qd R 374 CASES CITED: R v Siouter (1971) Cr.App.R 403 Broad v Parish (1941) 64 CLR 588 Adelaide Corporation v Australasian Performing Rights Association (1928) 40 CLR 481 R v Horton (1998) 45 NSWLR 426 R v Reid 1999 NSWCCA 258. DECISION : GROOM: Appeal allowed; conviction quashed; verdict of acquittal entered; LONIE: (a) Appeal allowed; convictions quashed on all three counts; (b) Verdict of acquittal entered on count of setting a device capable of inflicting grievous bodily harm on any person with intent to inflict grievous bodily harm.; (c) New trial to be held on the counts of cultivation and supply.