Regina v Frederick Westley [2004] NSWCCA 192

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : Regina v Frederick Westley [2004] NSWCCA 192 HEARING DATE(S) : 13 May 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 6 August 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Dunford J at 1; Hidden J at 52; Adams J at 53 DECISION : Leave to appeal granted - appeal allowed - order of the District Court set aside and in lieu thereof prosecution permanently stayed

CATCHWORDS : Criminal Law and Procedure - indecently assault female under 16 years - carnal knowledge - interlocutory appeal - application for permanent stay of proceedings - principles applicable - delay - uncertainty of dates - whether unfair prejudice to accused - illness of accused and his wife - prosecutions barred by statute if complainant over 14 years at time of alleged offences - whether evidence capable of satisfying jury complainant under 14 years at relevant time - whether prosecutions doomed to failure LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes Act 1900 ss 71, 76, 78 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 s 5F Dyers v The Queen [2002] HCA 45, 210 CLR 285 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499 Jago v The District Court of New South Wales (1989) 168 CLR 23 Longman v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 79 R v Alexandroaia (1994) 81 A Crim R 286 R v Austin (1995) 84 A Crim R 374 R v BWT [2002] NSWCCA 60, 54 NSWLR 241 CASES CITED : R v Davis (1995) 81 A Crim R 156 R v Hakim (1989) 41 A Crim R 372 R v Helmling (CCA - 11 November 1993) R v Kennedy (unrep - NSWCCA - 9 December 1998) R v Littler [2001] NSWCCA 173, 120 A Crim R 512 R v Nicholson (1998) 102 A Crim R 459 R v Tolmie (CCA - 7 December 1994) Rodway v The Queen (1990) 169 CLR 515 PARTIES : Regina v Frederick Westley FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60002/04 COUNSEL : D C Frearson (Crown) P Byrne SC (Applicant) SOLICITORS : S Kavanagh (Crown) Holman Webb Solicitors (Applicant)