Gargan v Director of Public Prosecutions and anor [2004] NSWSC 10

Reported Decision : 144 A Crim R 296

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Gargan v Director of Public Prosecutions and anor [2004] NSWSC 10 HEARING DATE(S) : 21/11/2003, 06/01/2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 28 January 2004

JUDGMENT OF : O'Keefe J DECISION : 1. Writ of Habeas Corpus refused; 2. Summons, Statement of Claim and Notice of Motion dismissed; 3. The plaintiff is to pay the costs of both defendants and of the Attorney-General for New South Wales.

CATCHWORDS : Prerogative writ - Habeas Corpus ad subjiciendum - Jury - Prisoner in custody following conviction and sentence - Notice of intention to appeal filed - No notice of appeal or grounds of appeal filed - Damages for wrongful detention - Director of Public Prosecutions - Functions and responsibilities of Director of Public Prosecutions - Director of Public Prosecutions has no power of arrest or of detaining a person in custody - Warrant of committment - Order for removal and transfer of inmate - Validity of warrants - Separation of jury after retirement to consider verdict - Common law concerning separation of jury following retirement to consider verdict and before verdict - Validity of s 54(b) of Jury Act 1977 - Repugnancy of State law to the law of England - Conditions required for repugnancy - Validity of Australia Acts 1986 - Inconsistency between decisions of the High Court - Scripture - Coronation oath - Differences between laws of the States concerning juries - Bail - Bail Act 1978 and Habeas Corpus Judiciary Act 1903 Crimes Act 1914 (C'th) Supreme Court Act 1970 ss 17, 69, 71 The Restoration of Order in Ireland Regulations 1920 Reg 14B Habeas Corpus Act 1679 (31 Car II c. 2) 16 Car 1 c. 10 Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 s 4, Part 3 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 s 62 Crimes (Adminstration of Sentences) Act 1999 s 23 Felons (Civil Proceedings) Act 1981 Jury Act 1898 (WA) Crimes (Amendment) Act 1924 (NSW) LEGISLATION CITED : Jury Act 1912 (NSW) s 54(b) Jury Act 1977 (NSW) Juries Detention Act 1897 (UK) Colonial Laws Validity Act 1865 (UK) ss 2, 3 Criminal Justice Act 1948 (UK) Australia Act 1986 (Cth) s 1 Australia Act 1986 (UK) Community Protection Act 1994 (NSW) Customs Act 1901 (Cth) Re Criminal Proceeds Confiscation Act 2003 (Qld) Coronation Oath Act 1689 Bail Act 1978 (NSW) ss 30AA, 32 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) s 5 Criminal Appeal Rules, Rules 3, 3A and 23 Ah Poh Wai v The Queen (1995) 15 WAR 404 Application by Public Service Association of NSW (1947) 75 CLR 430 Attorney General for New South Wales v Trethowan (1932) AC 526; (1930-1931) 44 CLR 394; sub nom Trethowan v Peden (1931) 31 SR (NSW) 183 Australian Competition and Consumer Commission v CG Berbates Holdings Pty Ltd (1999) 167 ALR 303 Barnado v Ford (1892) AC 326; (1923) AC 603 BLF v Minister for Industrial Relations (1986) 7 NSWLR 372 British Railway Board v Pickin (1974) AC 765 Brownlee v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 278 Chamberlain v The Queen (No 1) (1983) 153 CLR 514 Demer v Cook 20 Cox CC Grollo v Palmer (1995) 184 CLR 348 HA Bachrach Pty Limited v The State of Queensland (1998) 195 CLR 547 Kable v DPP (1996) 189 CLR 51 Liyanage v The Queen (1967) AC 259 Nicholas v The Queen (1998) 193 CLR 173 CASES CITED : Phillips v Eyre (1870) LR 6 QB 1 Regina v Brownlee (1997) 41 NSWLR 139 Regina v Chaouk (1986) 23 A Crim R 463 Regina v Gay (1976) VR 577 Rex v Ketteridge (1915) 1 KB 467 Regina v Kissner (1992) NSWSC Regina v Moffatt (1998) 2 VR 229 Rex v Neal (1949) 2 KB 590 Regina v Radju (2001) 121 A Crim R 403 Regina v Southgate (1960) 78 WN (NSW) 44 Regina v Wilson (1994) 34 NSWLR 1 Rex v Secretary of State for Home Affairs; Ex parte O'Brien (1923) 2 KB 361 Rex v Twiss (1918) 2 KB 853 Sue v Hill (1999) 199 CLR 462 Smith v Collis (1910) 10 SR (NSW) 800 Union Steam Ship Co of Australia Pty Limited v King (1988) 166 CLR 1 White v Grogan (1972) 2 NSWLR 347 Peter Alexander Gargan PARTIES : Director of Public Prosecutions Governor of Silverwater Correctional Centre Attorney General for New South Wales (as Intervener) FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 12247/03 Plaintiff in person COUNSEL : Ms H Langley (solicitor) DPP Mr P Buchberger (solicitor) Attorney General