R v Spathis; R v Patsalis [2001] NSWCCA 476

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : R v Spathis; R v Patsalis [2001] NSWCCA 476 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60093/00; 60139/00 HEARING DATE(S) : 30/07/01, 31/07/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 29 November 2001

PARTIES : Regina v Alexios Spathis; Regina v Michael Patsalis JUDGMENT OF : Heydon JA at 1; Carruthers AJ at 201; Smart AJ at 446

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : Supreme Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 70200/97; 70002/97 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL Kirby J OFFICER :

Crown: Mr G E Smith COUNSEL : Spathis: Mr A J Bellanto QC/Mr P Lowe Patsalis: In person SOLICITORS : Crown: S E O'Connor Spathis: Patricia White & Associates CATCHWORDS : Criminal Law - Murder - Appeal - Conviction - Conduct of legal practitioners - Incompetent representation - Whether legal representatives at trial were incompetent - Whether counsel should have led further character evidence - Whether counsel should have applied for separate trials of co-accused - Whether incompetence caused prejudice to appellant creating miscarriage of justice - Criminal Law - Murder - Appeal - Application to adduce further evidence on appeal - Whether "fresh evidence" - Whether further evidence likely to lead to new trial - Whether further evidence raised possibility of miscarriage of justice - Criminal Law - Murder - Appeal - Judicial directions to jury - Whether misdirections - Whether direction necessary that jury members must all be satisfied on at least one basis of liability - Where one indictment count of murder but alternate bases of liability at trial including felony murder and mens rea murder - Whether manslaughter verdict ought to have been left open to jury - Directions re elements of felony murder - Directions re use of relationship evidence - Directions re lies of accused and consciousness of guilt - Directions re evidence from deceased witness - Criminal Law - Murder - Appeal - Evidence - Whether trial judge erred in permitting Crown to cross-examine a witness as unfavourable - Evidence Act 1995, s 38(1)(c) - Whether trial judge erred in failing to exclude evidence of lies as "admissions" - Crimes Act 1990 (NSW), s 424A. - Criminal Law - Murder - Appeal - Joint-trial - Whether trial judge ought to have ordered separate trial of co-accused - Criminal Law - Murder - Appeal - Sentence - Whether sentence excessive - Whether lack of parity between sentences imposed upon co-offenders - Whether proper consideration by sentencing judge of assistance given to police by appellant - D Crimes Act 1900 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 LEGISLATION CITED : Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (Cth) Prevention of Fraud (Investments) Act 1958 Adam v The Queen [2001] HCA 57 Barlow v The Queen (1997) 188 CLR 1 R v Birks (1990) 19 NSWLR 677 R v Boreman and Ors [2000] 1 All ER 307 R v Bowden (1981) 7 A Crim R 378 R v Kevin Brown (1983) 79 Cr App R 115 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 Bullard v The Queen [1975] AC 635 R v Burke [1983] 2 NSWLR 93 R v Carberry [1994] Crim LR 446 R v Connelly [1991] 2 Qd R 171 R v Crabbe (1985) 156 CLR 464 R v Cramp (1999) 110 A Crim R 198 R v Drummond and Domican (No 2) (1990) 46 A Crim R 408 R v Clarke; Ex parte Attorney-General of Queensland [1999] QCA 438 Edwards v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 193 R v Foley (1998) 105 A Crim R 1 Gallagher v R (1986) 160 CLR 392 R v Giannetto [1997] 1 Cr App R 1 Gilbert v The Queen (2000) 74 ALJR 676 Gipp v The Queen (1998) 194 CLR 106 R v GH (2000) 105 FCR 419 R v Hamilton (1983) 68 A Crim R 298 Harriman v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 590 R v Hauser (1982) 6 A Crim R 68 Henriques v The Queen [1991] 1 WLR 242 R v Henry (1992) 28 NSWLR 348 CASES CITED: R v Hitchins [1983] 3 NSWLR 318 R v Horton (1998) 45 NSWLR 426 R v Hunter and Sharah [1999] NSWCCA 5 R v Johns [1978] 1 NSWLR 282 Leivers & Ballinger (1998) 101 A Crim R 175 R v Mansour (unreported, NSWSC, 19 November 1996) R v Mendham & Foster (1993) 71 A Crim R 382 Mickelberg v R (1989) 167 CLR 259 Moss v Brown [1979] 1 NSWLR 114 R v Munro (1981) 4 A Crim R 67 Osland v The Queen (1998) 197 CLR 333 Palmer v R (1998) 193 CLR 1 Pemble v The Queen (1971) 124 CLR 107 R v Phan [2001] NSWCCA 29 Ratten v R (1974) 131 CLR 510 R v Reed [1999] NSWCCA 258 R v Rees [2001] NSWCCA 23 Ryan v The Queen (1966-1967) 121 CLR 205 R v Ajiit Sing Sat-Bhambra (1989) 88 Cr App R 55 R v Schneidas [1981] 2 NSWLR 713 R v Serratore (1999) 48 NSWLR 101 R v Sharah (1992) 30 NSWLR 292 R v Stewart and Schofield [1995] 1 Cr App R 441 R v Taouk (unreported, NSWCCA, 17 December 1992) R v Thatcher (1987) 39 DLR (4th) 275 R v Williamson [2000] 1 VR 58 Wilson v The Queen (1970) 123 CLR 334 Wilson v The Queen (1992) 174 CLR 313 R v Zaidi (1991) 57 A Crim R 189 DECISION : See paras 199 and 200