Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited v John Marsden [2001] NSWCA 32

Reported Decision : 122 A Crim R 166

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited v John Marsden [2001] NSWCA 32 revised - 5/06/2001 FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40204/2000 HEARING DATE(S) : 05/03/01, 06/03/01, 07/03/01 JUDGMENT DATE : 27 April 2001

PARTIES : Amalgamated Television Services Pty Limited v John Marsden JUDGMENT OF : Powell JA at 1; Giles JA at 3; Ipp AJA at 21

COUNSEL : (Claimant): W H Nicholas QC/N J Williams (Opponent): In Person SOLICITORS : (Claimant): Mallesons Stephen Jaques (Opponent): In Person CATCHWORDS : CONTEMPT - criminal contempt - standard of proof "beyond reasonable doubt" - CONTEMPT - knowledge of orders essential element of contempt charges - level of knowledge required - knowledge of substance of orders sufficient - lack of evidence showing requisite knowledge - CRIMINAL LAW - "no case" submission - can be made at close of claimant's case in criminal contempt - standard of proof "beyond reasonable doubt" - difference between jury trials and cases where judge/magistrate sitting alone - whether it is permissible for judge/magistrate sitting alone to assess evidence qualitatively and make factual findings - "no case" submission question of law - determination of guilt question of fact - preference to keep questions of fact and law separate - wrong for judge/magistrate to make factual findings at "no case" submissions stage. D Re De Beaufeu's Application [1949] Ch 230 Re X [1975] Fam. 47 Re R [1975] Fam. 89 Re F [1977] Fam. Re X [1984] 1 WLR 1422 P v P (1985) 2 NSWLR 401 John Fairfax & Sons Pty Limited v Police Tribunal of New South Wales (1986) 5 NSWLR 465 R v Bilick & Starke (1984) 36 SASR 321 Witness v Marsden ((2000) 49 NSWLR 429 Witham v Holloway (1995) 183 CLR 525 R v Murphy (1985) 63 ALR 53 R v Serratore (1999) 48 NSWLR 101 CASES CITED: Jones v Dunkel (1959) 101 CLR 298 Protean (Holdings) Limited v American Home Assurance Company [1985] VR 187 Commissioner for Corporate Affairs v Green [1978] VR 505 Rasomen Pty Limited v Shell Company of Australia Limited (1997) 75 FCR 216 Zanetti v Hill (1962) 108 CLR 433 Haw Tua Tau v Public Prosecutor [1982] AC 136 Torrance v Cornish (1985) 79 FLR 87 Short v Davey, Ex Parte Short [1980] Qd R 412 R v Sutton [1986] 2 Qd R 72 Myers v Claudianos (1990) 100 FLR 362 Cox v Salt (1994) 12 WAR 12 Morrison v Kiwi Electrix Pty Limited (1998) 19 WAR 482 Sun Newspapers & Ors v Brisbane TV Limited & Ors (1989) 92 ALR 535 Attorney-General for New South Wales v Mayas Pty Limited (1988) 14 NSWLR 342 DECISION : 1. No case submission by Opponent upheld; 2. Application dismissed; 3. The Claimant to pay the Opponent's costs.