R v Kim Van Mai [2000] NSWCCA 517

Reported Decision : 119 A Crim R 327

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : R v Kim Van Mai [2000] NSWCCA 517 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60748/99 HEARING DATE(S) : Wednesday 6 December 2000 JUDGMENT DATE : 19 December 2000

PARTIES : Regina (appellant) Kim Van Mai (respondent) JUDGMENT OF : Meagher JA at 1; Hidden J at 2; Howie J at 22

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT JUDICIAL Freeman DCJ OFFICER :

COUNSEL : Richard Button (appellant) E Fullerton SC (Crown) SOLICITORS : Legal Aid Commission (appellant) Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (respondent) CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - appeal against conviction - knowingly concerned in importation of heroin - appellant did not give evidence at trial - direction given in accordance with R v OGD before High Court decision in RPS v The Queen - whether miscarriage of justice LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Weissensteiner v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 217 R v OGD (1997) 45 NSWLR 744 RPS v The Queen (2000) 74 ALJR 449 CASES CITED: Mraz v The Queen (1955) 93 CLR 493 R v Covill [2000] NSWCCA 231 R v Dang [2000] NSWCCA 269 R v Hannes [2000] NSWCCA 503 DECISION : Appeal allowed. New trial ordered.

IN THE COURT OF CRIMINAL APPEAL 60748/99

MEAGHER JA HIDDEN J HOWIE J

Tuesday 19 December 2000

Regina v Kim Van Mai

Judgment

1 MEAGHER JA: I agree with Hidden J. 2 HIDDEN J: The appellant, Kim Van Mai, was tried by a judge and jury in the District Court upon a charge of being knowingly concerned in the importation into Australia of a quantity of heroin. He was found guilty and sentenced to a term of imprisonment. He appeals against conviction only.