Regina v Peter Francis MATO Regina v Monica Charis RUSU [1999] NSWCCA 395

Reported Decision : 109 A Crim R 121

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal CITATION : Regina v Peter Francis MATO Regina v Monica Charis RUSU [1999] NSWCCA 395 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60427/98; 60418/98 HEARING DATE(S) : 30 November 1999 JUDGMENT DATE : 9 December 1999

PARTIES : Peter Francis Mato Monica Charis Rusu JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Barr J at 48; Bell J at 49

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 97/21/3133; 97/21/3132 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL OFFICER : Ford DCJ

S J Odgers / I N Asuzu - Appellant Mato COUNSEL : G P Craddock - Appellant Rusu R A Hulme - Crown Martin Ricci - Appellant Mato SOLICITORS : Barber & Massey - Appellant Rusu S E O'Connor - Crown CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - bank robbery - aiding, abetting and assisting - appeal against conviction - trial Judge left open to jury the possibility of conviction on the basis of an inappropriate inference - held; conviction was unreasonable and should be quashed - no substitution of lesser charge possible; CRIMINAL LAW - larceny as a clerk - bank robbery - appeal against sentence - held; sentence was within reasonable range. ACTS CITED : Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Crimes Act 1900 Knight v The Queen (1992) 175 CLR 495 R v McDonald (1992) 2 QdR 634 R v Browne (1987) 30 ACrim R 278 CASES CITED: R v Kyriakou (unreported) CCA, 6.8.87 R v Vidler (unreported) CCA, 23.11.93 R v Pantano (1990) 49 ACrim R 328 R v Phelan (1993) 66 ACrim R 446 DECISION : Mr Mato's Appeal No. 60427/98 ; 1. Appeal allowed; 2. The appellant's conviction on the second count in the indictment is quashed; 3. Direct a judgment and verdict of acquittal be entered; Ms Rusu's Appeal No. 60418/98; 1. Application for leave to appeal granted; 2. Appeal against sentence dismissed