Li v Regina; Regina v Li [2003] NSWCCA 290

Reported Decision : 139 A Crim R 281

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : Li v Regina; Regina v Li [2003] NSWCCA 290 HEARING DATE(S) : 07/10/03 JUDGMENT DATE : 23 October 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Ipp JA at 1; Whealy J at 137; Howie J at 138 DECISION : (1) Appeal against conviction dismissed (2) Crown appeal against sentence upheld (3) Set aside sentences imposed by Shadbolt DCJ and in lieu thereof impose a head sentence of 15 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 11 years 3 months. Based on commencement date of 25 August 2001 (as determined by Shadbolt DCJ) the head sentence will expire on 24 August 2016 and the non-parole period on 24 November 2012.

CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - Appeal against conviction dismissed - Admissibility of expert voice similarity evidence - Admissiblity of visual identification evidence - Warnings to the jury - Bias of expert evidence does not render evidence inadmissible - Crown appeal against sentence upheld - Set aside trial judge's sentence periods and in lieu thereof appellant sentenced to 15 years imprisonment with a non-parole period of 11 years 3 months. LEGISLATION CITED : Customs Act 1901 (Cth), s 235 Evidence Act 1995, ss 76, 79, 114(1), 137,165(2) Collins Thomson v Clayton [2002] NSWSC 366 FGT Custodians Pty Ltd v Fagenblat [2003] VSCA 33 Kirch Communications Pty Ltd v Gee Engineering Pty Ltd [2002] NSWSC 485 R v Adler (2000) 116 A Crim R 38 CASES CITED : R v Butera (1998) 164 CLR 180 R v Chan (2002) NSWCCA 217 R v Leung (1999) 47 NSWLR 405 R v Menzies [1982] 1 NZLR 40 Smith v The Queen (2001) 206 CLR 650 PARTIES : Alan Siu Lun Li v Regina Regina v Alan Siu Lun Li FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60206/03; 60510/02 60206/03 G Nicholson QC/G Stanton (Appellant) COUNSEL : D J Fagan SC (Crown) 60510/02 D J Fagan SC (Crown) G Nicholson QC/G Stanton (Respondent) 60206/03 J Rigg (Appellant) SOLICITORS : Commonwealth DPP (Crown) 60510/02 Commonwealth DPP (Crown) J Rigg (Respondent)