R v Fowler [2003] NSWCCA 321

Reported Decision : 151 A Crim R 166

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : R v Fowler [2003] NSWCCA 321 HEARING DATE(S) : 23 July 2003 JUDGMENT DATE : 11 November 2003

JUDGMENT OF : Tobias JA; James J; Howie J DECISION : a) Appeal against conviction is dismissed; b) Leave to appeal against sentence is granted but the appeal is dismissed

CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - Accused convicted of murder - Appeal against conviction - Whether trial Judge erred in her directions to the jury on: lies as evidence of consciousness of guilt - circumstantial evidence - motive - accessorial liability - Whether trial Judge should have warned the jury with respect to particular evidence - Whether trial judge erred in permitting cross-examination of particular witness - Whether trial Judge erred in admitting particular evidence - Whether trial Judge erred in her directions to the jruy on the meaning of an unsworn statement - Appeal agaisnt sentencing - Whether trial judge should have imposed a lesser sentence on the basis that the accused's liberty had been affected over a length of time due to the circumstances of the case. - D Evidence Act, ss 32(2)(b)(i), 38, 55, 137, 165, 192 LEGISLATION CITED : Criminal Appeal Rules, r4 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act, s44 R v Fuge (2001) 123 A Crim R 310 R v King [2000] NSWCCA 507 R v Button and Griffin [2002] NSWCCA 159 R v Ita [2003] NSWCCA 174 Edwards v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 193 Zoneff v The Queen (2000) 200 CLR 234 Dhanhoa v The Queen (2003) 77 ALJR 1433 Broadhurst v The Queen (1964) AC 441 Harris v The Queen (1990) 55 SASR 321 Shepherd v The Queen (1990) 170 CLR 573 R v Dellapatrona & Duffield (1993) 31 NSWLR 123 R v Adam (1999) 106 A Crim R 510 R v Merritt [(1999] NSWCCA 29 R v Murphy (1985) 4 NSWLR 42 Chamberlain v The Queen (No 2) (1984) 153 CLR 520 Penny v The Queen (1998) 72 ALJR 1316 R v Pantoja [1995] NSWCCA 5 CASES CITED : R v Plevac [1999] NSWCCA 351 R v Fowler (No 2) [2000] NSWCCA 142 R v Phan (2001) 123 A Crim R 30 R v Adam (1999) 106 A Crim R 510 Longman v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 79 R v Stewart (2001) 52 NSWLR 301 R v Baartman [2000] NSWCCA 298 Graham v The Queen (1998) 195 CLR 606 R v O'Leary (1946) 73 CLR 566 Stanoevski v The Queen (2001) 202 CLR 115 R v Hogan [2001] NSWCCA 292 R v Le [2002] NSWCCA 186 R v Esposito (22 August 1997) R v Esposito (1998) 45 NSWLR 442 R v Flood [1999] NSWCCA 198 R v Clark (2001) 123 A Crim R 506 R v MM [2002] NSWCCA 431 R v Keyte (unreported, 16 March 1986) PARTIES : Regina Warwick Geoffrey Fowler FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 60073/02 COUNSEL : A: M Ramage QC C: Mr M Grogan SOLICITORS : A: M Rumore C: S E O'Connor