MILLER v DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS [2004] NSWCA 90

Reported Decision : 145 A Crim R 95

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION : MILLER v DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS [2004] NSWCA 90 HEARING DATE(S) : 15 March 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 1 April 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Sheller JA at 1; Beazley JA at 31; Young CJ in Eq at 32 DECISION : 1 Appeal allowed; 2 Set aside the orders made by Dowd J on 20 February 2003; 3 In lieu thereof order: 1 Appeal allowed; 2 Set aside the order made by Acting Chief Magistrate Syme of 13 February 2002; 3 In lieu thereof grant the appellant's application to annul the conviction entered by Magistrate Lulham on 10 December 2001 in relation to charges against the appellant; 4 Remit the proceedings to the Local Court to be dealt with according to law; 4 The respondent to pay the costs of this appeal and the costs of the proceedings before Dowd J.

CATCHWORDS : Annulment of conviction - absence from court due to illness - meaning of s100K(2) Justices Act 1902 - failure to give reasons - delay in delivery of judgment Crimes Act 1900 LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes (Local Courts Appeal and Review) Act 2001 Justices (Amendment) Procedure Act 1997 Justices Act 1902 Devenish v Jewel Food Stores Pty Ltd (1991) 172 CLR 32 Hogben v Chandler [1940] VLR 285 CASES CITED : McLachlan v Pilgrim (1980) 5 Petty Sessions Review 2182 Moylan v The Nutrasweet Company & Ors (2000) NSWCA 337 R v Maxwell (unreported) NSWCCA 23 December 1998 Tennants (Lancashire) Ltd v Wilson (CS) & Co Ltd [1917] AC 495 PARTIES : Damon Charles Miller - Appellant Director of Public Prosecutions - Respondent FILE NUMBER(S) : CA 40193/03 COUNSEL : D B McGovern SC/A J O'Brien - Appellant R D Cogswell SC/J A Quilter - Respondent SOLICITORS : Appellant S C Kavanagh - Respondent