Finnie v Leggatt & Anor [2003] NSWSC 549

Reported Decision : 141 A Crim R 523

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Finnie v Leggatt & Anor [2003] NSWSC 549 HEARING DATE(S) : 19 June, 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 20 June 2003 JURISDICTION: Common Law Division JUDGMENT OF : Palmer J DECISION : Appeal dismissed.

CATCHWORDS : COMMITTAL PROCEEDINGS - EVIDENCE - PRIVILEGE - Appeal from Magistrate's decision in committal proceedings - prosecution obtained witness statements from defendant's doctors and solicitor for use in committal proceedings - statements gave no information because of defendant's claim for privilege - prosecution sought directions under s.48E Justices Act for attendance of witnesses to give oral evidence - whether abuse of process - whether substantial reasons for direction - whether error of law. HELD: In the unusual circumstances of the case, no abuse of process, no error of law shown. Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) - s.319, LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) - s.126D Justices Act 1902 (NSW) - s.48AA(2)(b), s.48E(1), s.104(3) Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) - s.69(1) Barton v R (1980) 147 CLR 75 CASES CITED : Moss v Brown [1979] 1 NSWLR 114 R v Bell; ex parte Lees (1980) 146 CLR 141 Sydney Thomas Finnie - Plaintiff PARTIES : Stewart Leggatt - First Defendant Deborah Sweeney - Second Defendant FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 11491/02 R.A. Bonnici - Plaintiff COUNSEL : P.I. Lakatos - First Defendant Submitting appearance - Second Defendant S. Moran & Co - Plaintiff SOLICITORS : Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions - First Defendant I.V. Knight, Crown Solicitor - Second Defendant