O'SULLIVAN v THE QUEEN [2002] NSWCCA 98

Reported Decision : (2002) 128 A Crim R 371

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : O'SULLIVAN v THE QUEEN [2002] NSWCCA 98 FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60781/01 HEARING DATE(S) : 27 February 2002 28 February 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 28 March 2002

PARTIES : Michael John O'Sullivan - Applicant Crown - Respondent JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Grove J at 48; Simpson J at 52

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION : District Court LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : Gosford 1992 LOWER COURT JUDICIAL McGuire DCJ OFFICER :

COUNSEL : E Conditsis - Applicant D Woodburne - Crown SOLICITORS : Conditsis & Associates - Applicant S E O'Connor - Crown CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW AND PROCEDURE - whether confession was voluntary - plea of guilty - fresh evidence - Police Royal Commission - miscarriage of justice - convictions quashed - acquittal Crimes Act 1900 LEGISLATION CITED : Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Royal Commissions Act 1923 Johns (1999) 110 A Crim R 149 Mickelberg v The Queen (1989) 167 CLR 259 R v Boyd [2000] NSWCCA 110 R v Liberti (1951) 55 A Crim R 120 R v Murphy [1965] VR 187 R v Forde [1923] 2 KB 400 CASES CITED: Davies (NSWCCA, 16 December 1993, unreported) Cincotta (NSWCCA, 1 November 1995, unreported) Maxwell v The Queen (1996) 184 CLR 501 Vastag (NSWCCA, 12 May 1997, unreported) R v Pavic (1998) 151 ALR 98 R v Fernando (NSWCCA, 14 April 1999, unreported) R v Turner [1970] 2 QB 321 McKinney v The Queen (1991) 171 CLR 468) DECISION : 1 Appeal upheld; 2 Conviction on each charge quashed; 3 Direct that a judgment and verdict of acquittal be entered on each charge.