REGINA v WRC [2003] NSWCCA 394

Reported Decision : 59 NSWLR 273 143 A Crim R 503

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : REGINA v WRC [2003] NSWCCA 394 HEARING DATE(S) : 3 December 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 19 December 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Spigelman CJ at 1; Dunford J at 65; Hidden J at 66 DECISION : Appeal allowed.

CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL PROCEDURE - fitness to plead - where trial judge ordered permanent stay of proceedings as abuse of process - test for ordering permanent stay - whether procedure for determining fitness to plead in Mental Health (Criminal Procedure) Act 1990 should have been allowed to operate - relationship between Mental Health (Criminal Procedure) Act and inherent jurisdiction of superior courts. Crimes Act 1900 s81 Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) s20B LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes (Mental Disorder) Amendment Act 1983 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 s5F Mental Health (Criminal Procedure) Act 1990 ss 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 11A, 13, 14, 15, 18-28 Bropho v Western Australia (1991) 171 CLR 1 Eastman v The Queen (2000) 203 CLR 1 Jago v District Court (NSW) (1989) 168 CLR 23 Kesavarajah v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 230 Potter v Minahan (1908) 7 CLR 277 R v Burns (No 2) (1999) 169 ALR 149 CASES CITED : R v Hakim (1989) 41 A Crim R 372 R v Mailes (2001) 53 NSWLR 251 R v Presser [1958] VR 45 R v Sexton (2000) 76 SASR 534 R v Sexton (2000) 77 SASR 405 R v WRC [2002] NSWCCA 210 Walton v Gardiner (1993) 177 CLR 378 PARTIES : Regina (Appellant Crown) WRC (Respondent) FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60280/03 COUNSEL : G I O Rowling (Appellant Crown) R A Hulme SC (Respondent) SOLICITORS : C K Smith (Appellant Crown) Baker Deane & Nutt (Respondent)