DPP v Leonard [2001] NSWSC 797

Reported Decision : 53 NSWLR 227 127 A Crim R 381

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : DPP v Leonard [2001] NSWSC 797 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Common Law FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 11765 of 2001 HEARING DATE(S) : 30 July 2001 JUDGMENT DATE : 14 September 2001

THE DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS (Plaintiff)

PARTIES : v

TROY CLAUDE LEONARD (Defendant) JUDGMENT OF : James J

LOWER COURT Local Court JURISDICTION : LOWER COURT FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT Mr Dowd LCM JUDICIAL OFFICER :

P Berman SC (Plaintiff) COUNSEL : J Hart (Defendant) S E O'Connor Solicitor for Public Prosecutions SOLICITORS : (Plaintiff)

Perrot's Solicitors (Defendant) CATCHWORDS : Appeal from Magistrate - search of defendant's vehicle by police officer - consent to search - whether knowledge of right to refuse consent is critical to validity of consent - admissions - whether consent to search is admission - whether any breach of legal requirements by police officer was "deliberate" or "reckless". Justices Act s 104 (4) LEGISLATION CITED : Criminal Procedure act s 108 Evidence Act s 138 Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act s 37(4) George v Rockett (1990) 170 CLR 104 Anderson v Judge's of the District Court of NSW (1992) 27 NSWLR 701 Bunning v Cross (1977-1978) 141 CLR 54 Pollard v The Queen (1992-1993) 176 CLR 177 R v Bozatsis and Spanakakis (1997) 97 A Crim R 296 Peyton and Anor v Nobbs and Anor (2000) NSWSC 43 (Newman J) Director of Public Prosecutions v Nicholls (2001) NSWSC 523 (Adams J) Wineburg v Stafford (unreported, 22 July 1997) CASES CITED : R v Azar (1991) 56 A Crim R 414 Schneckloth v Bustamonte 412 U.S. 218 Meates v Attorney-General (1981) 2 NZLR 335 Ghani v Jones (1970) 1 QB 693 Werner v The Police (High Court of New Zealand, Gallen J, 16 April 1986) R v Horton (1998) 45 NSWLR 426 R v Esposito (1998) 45 NSWLR 442 Re A (a Child) (2000) 115 A Crim R 1 R v Tolmie (1996) 84 A Crim R 293 DECISION : Appeal allowed