SUTHERS v. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS & ANOR [2002] NSWSC 719

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : SUTHERS v. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS & ANOR [2002] NSWSC 719 CURRENT JURISDICTION: Common Law FILE NUMBER(S) : SC No. 11201 of 2002 HEARING DATE(S) : Wednesday 14 August 2002 JUDGMENT DATE : 14 August 2002

PARTIES : SUTHERS, Alan v. DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS & ANOR JUDGMENT OF : Greg James J at 1

LOWER COURT Local Court JURISDICTION : LOWER COURT N/A FILE NUMBER(S) : LOWER COURT H. Hannan JUDICIAL OFFICER :

COUNSEL : Plaintiff: M. Marty Defendant: G. Smith SOLICITORS : Plaintiff: MacMahon Associates Defendant: S.E. O'Connor CATCHWORDS : Criminal law - proceedings before magistrate - onus and standard of proof - reasoning displaying error of the kind referred to in Robinson (1989) 180 CLR 106 - application of s.141 of the Evidence Act 1995 - error of law - question of consequent relief stood over. Justices Act 1902 LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes Act 1900 Evidence Act 1995 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Fleming (1998) 158 ALR 379 Gipp (1998) 194 CLR 106 Giam (1999) 104 A. Crim. R. 406 Kneebone [1999] NSWCCA 279 Kennedy [2000] NSWCCA 487 CASES CITED : Robinson (1988-89) 180 CLR 531 Robinson (1995] 80 A. Crim. R. 358 Brotherton (1993) 29 NSWLR 95 Reeves (CCA, unreported 13 September 1993) Asquith (1994) 72 A. Cirm. R. 250 Stafford (1993) 67 ALJR 510 DECISION : Quash the conviction and the sentence passed. To that extent, the plaintiff succeeds on the summons. I order the conviction of the plaintiff for the offence of aggravated indecent assault be quashed and that the sentence of the plaintiff for that offence also be quashed.