R v Roberts [2001] NSWCCA 163

Reported Decision : 53 NSWLR 138 124 A Crim R 60

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : R v Roberts [2001] NSWCCA 163 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60039/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 20 September 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 5 October 2001

PARTIES : R v Bruce Roberts JUDGMENT OF : Giles JA at 1; Howie J at 49; Carruthers AJ at 59

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : 060039/01 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL Stewart ADCJ OFFICER :

COUNSEL : R Hulme - Crown S Odgers SC - Appellant SOLICITORS : S E O'Connor - Crown D J Humphreys - Appellant CATCHWORDS : CRIME - sexual offences - complaint 20 years after the events the subject of the charges - trial 3 years thereafter - no Longman direction - no request for direction - whether direction required - whether appeal should be upheld although no request for direction - failure of Crown and defence counsel to fulfil duty to Court. D. Crampton v The Queen (2000) 176 ALR 369; Doggett v The Queen (2001) 75 ALJR 1290; Longman v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 79; R v Abusafiah (1991) 24 NSWLR 531; R v Aziz (1982) 2 NSWLR 322; R v Clarke (1995) 78 A Crim R 226; R v DH (2000) NSWCCA 360; R v Fordham (1997) 48 A Crim R 359; R v Fuge (2001) NSWCCA 208; CASES CITED: R v The King (2000) NSWCCA 507; R v Johnston (1998) 45 NSWLR 362; R v Mahoney (2000) 114 A Crim R 130; R v Melville (1956) 73 WN 579; R v PAH (NSWCCA, 18 December 1998, unreported); R v Parker (1974) 1 NSWLR 14; R v Tripodina (1988) 35 A Crim R 183; R v Roddom (2001) NSWCCA 168; Whittaker (1993) 68 A Crim R 476; Wilde v The Queen (1987-1988) 164 CLR 365. DECISION : Appeal allowed, convictions and sentences quashed and new trial ordered.