R v Brown & Tran [2004] NSWCCA 324

Reported Decision : 148 A Crim R 268

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION : R v Brown & Tran [2004] NSWCCA 324 HEARING DATE(S) : 2 & 3 September 2004 JUDGMENT DATE : 30 September 2004

JUDGMENT OF : Mason P at 1; Sully J at 4; Sperling J at 5 DECISION : In each matter: (1) Appeal allowed; (2) Verdicts set aside and convictions quashed.

CATCHWORDS : Criminal law - appeal against conviction - where a person summoned to attend for jury service mistakenly attends court on an earlier date and is included in the jury - whether trial, verdicts and conviction a nullity - effect of non-compliance with mandatory provisions of the Jury Act 1977 - meaning and scope of the saving provisions, s73 Crimes Act 1900, s97, s112, s117, s154A, s195 LEGISLATION CITED : Juries Act 1974 (UK - England & Wales), s18 Jury Act 1977, s19, s25, s26, s27, s28, s29, s73 Dempster [1924] SASR 299 Johns (1978) 141 CLR 409 CASES CITED : Katsuno (1999) 199 CLR 40 Maher v R (1987) 163 CLR 221 Short (1898) 19 LR(NSW) 385 Tuckerman v Tuckerman & Hogg (1932) SR(NSW) 220 Regina PARTIES : Jarrod Christopher Brown Nam Duong Tran FILE NUMBER(S) : CCA 2003/3089 (60500/03); 2004/1884 (60235/04) Mr D Frearson for the Crown COUNSEL : Mr R Button for the Appellant Brown Mr R Sutherland SC with Mr G Walsh for the Appellant Tran Director of Public Prosecutions SOLICITORS : Shopfront Youth Legal Centre for the Appellant Brown Watsons Solicitors for the Appellant Tran