R v Johnston [2004] NSWCCA 58

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : R v Johnston [2004] NSWCCA 58 HEARING DATE(S) : 12 November 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 18 March 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Santow JA at 1; James J at 2; Whealy J at 245 DECISION : Leave to withdraw abandonment of appeal against conviction refused

CATCHWORDS : Criminal law - appeal against conviction for murder - notice of abandonment of appeal - application for leave to withdraw notice of abandonment - evidence by person who might reasonably be supposed to have been criminally concerned - Evidence Act s 165(1)(d) - evidence by co-accused - prior consistent statement - Evidence Act s 108(3) - admissions made while in custody - separate trials - right to silence - hearsay evidence - Evidence Act s 165(1)(a) - whether manslaughter verdict available - evidence of prisoner informer - cross-examination of accused LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes Act 1900 Evidence Act Doney v The Queen (1990) 171 CLR 207 McKinney v The Queen (1990-1991) 171 CLR 468 Pemble v The Queen (1971) 124 CLR 107 Pollitt v The Queen (1991-1992) 174 CLR 558 R v Baartman [2000] NSWCCA 298 R v Clark [2003] NSWCCA 308 R v Clough (1992) 28 NSWLR 396 R v Fernando [1999] NSWCCA 66 CASES CITED : R v Henning (unreported CCA 11 May 1990) R v Middis (unreported 27 March 1991) R v Ngo [2003] NSWCCA 82 R v Patsalis and Spathis (1997) 107 A CrimR 432 R v Symss [2003] NSWCCA 77 R v Stewart [2001] NSWCAA 260 Stanoevski v The Queen (2001) 202 CLR 115 Webb v The Queen (1993-1994) 181 CLR 41 Webb and Hay v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 41 PARTIES : Regina v Mark Anthony Johnston FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60250/02 COUNSEL : P Boulten SC/ S Torpey - Applicant D Howard - Crown SOLICITORS : J North - Applicant Solicitor for Public Prosecutions