R v GALLAGHER [2001] NSWSC 462

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : R v GALLAGHER [2001] NSWSC 462 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Common Law FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 70080/99 HEARING DATE(S) : 26/03/2001, 27/03/2001, 28/03/2001, 29/03/2001, 30/03/2001, 30/04/2001, 02/05/2001, 04/05/2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 4 May 2001

PARTIES : REGINA v Gerard Joseph GALLAGHER JUDGMENT OF : Barr J at 1

COUNSEL : Crown: P Barrett Accused: R Greenwood QC, P Young SOLICITORS : Crown: S E O'Connor Accused: Paton Lawyers CATCHWORDS : Evidence - whether evidence of DNA test results was based on the witness' specialised knowledge based on training, study and experience - Held: Yes. - Evidence - whether evidence of DNA test results had substantial probative value - Held: Yes. - Evidence - whether admission of evidence of DNA test results gave rise to danger of unfair prejudice to accused - Held: No. LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 70, 79, 135, 137 R v Argue, District Court of New South Wales, Nader ADCJ, QC, 1 March 2001, unreported Daubert v Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals (1993) 509 US 579 Frye v United States 293 F 1013 (1923) R v Gilmore [1977] 2 NSWLR 935 CASES CITED : HG v R [1999] HCA 2 Idoport Pty Limited v National Australia Bank [1999] NSWSC 828 R v Karger Supreme Court of South Australia, Mullighan J, 29 March 2001, unreported R v Pantoja (1996) 88 A Crim R 554 Papakosmas v The Queen [1999] HCA 37 Perpetual Trustee Co Limited v George, Supreme Court of New South Wales, Equity Division, Einstein J 1 December 1997, unreported DECISION : Evidence held admissible