R v GARDNER [2001] NSWCCA 381

Reported Decision : 123 A Crim R 439

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : R v GARDNER [2001] NSWCCA 381 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60764/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 29 August 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 25 September 2001

PARTIES : Guy Gardner - Appellant Crown - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Sully J at 26; Hulme J at 27

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 99/21/0301 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL Armitage DCJ OFFICER :

COUNSEL : G F Jauncey - Appellant R A Hulme - Crown SOLICITORS : Aboriginal Legal Service - Appellant S E O'Connor - Crown CATCHWORDS : Criminal Practice and Procedure - Admission of Evidence - whether evidence of police officers that they recognised person in photographs as the accused was relevant under s55 Evidence Act - application of Smith v The Queen (2001) HCA 50 - whether trial Judge corrected error on part of prosecutor in commenting on the accused's mother's failure to give evidence contrary to s20(3) Evidence Act - whether process of examining accused from a similar angle to that shown in photographs of the crime contravened s137 Evidence Act LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 R v Smith (1999) 47 NSWLR 419 Smith v The Queen (2001) HCA 50 Alexander v The Queen (1981) 145 CLR 395 R v Goodall [1982] VR 33 R v Palmer [1981] 1 NSWLR 209 Morrison v The Queen (unreported) NSWCCA 30 November 1995 CASES CITED: R v Tipene (unreported) New Zealand CA 30 May 2001 R v Griffith (1995) 79 A CrimR 125 R v Cook (1998) 130 NTR 28 R v Kirby [2000] NSWCCA 330 Bulejcik (1995) 185 CLR 375 Sorby (1983) 153 CLR 281 Lockyer (1996) 89 A CrimR 457 Singh-Bal (1997) 92 A CrimR 397 DECISION : 1. Appeal allowed; 2. Quash the verdict; 3. Order a new trial.