Director of Public Prosecutions v Sami El Mawas [2006] NSWCA 154

Reported Decision : 66 NSWLR 93

New South Wales Court of Appeal

CITATION: Director of Public Prosecutions v Sami El Mawas [2006] NSWCA 154

HEARING DATE(S): 13 December 2005

JUDGMENT DATE: 19 June 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Spigelman CJ at 1; Handley JA at 12; McColl JA at 13

DECISION: (1) Grant leave to appeal; (2) Appellant to file a Notice of Appeal in the form of the draft in the White Book within seven days; (3) Appeal allowed; (4) Set aside the decision of Greg James J and in lieu thereof dismiss the Further Amended Summons; (5) Respondent to pay the appellant's costs of the proceedings in the Common Law Division; (6) Each party to pay their own costs of the Summons for Leave to Appeal and the Appeal; (7) Remit the proceedings to the Burwood Local Court.(D)

CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW - summary criminal proceedings in Local Court - MENTAL HEALTH - whether applicant with "mental condition" should be dealt with otherwise than in accordance with law - s 32, Mental Health (Criminal Procedure) Act 1990 - STATUTORY INTERPRETATION - nature of decision made in exercise of s 32(1)(b) jurisdiction.

Contracts Review Act 1980 Crimes (Local Courts Appeal and Review) Act 2001 Crimes (Mental Illness) Amendment Act 1986 Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 Mental Health Act 1990 LEGISLATION CITED: Mental Health (Criminal Procedure) Act 1990 Motor Accidents Act 1988 Suitors' Fund Act 1951 Supreme Court Act 1970 Family Law Act 1975 (Cth) Workplace Relations Act 1996 (Cth)

Acuthan v Coates (1986) 6 NSWLR 472 Blackburn v Allianz Australia Insurance Ltd [2004] NSWCA 385; (2004) 61 NSWLR 632 Buck v Bavone (1976) 135 CLR 110 Buller v Black [2003] NSWCA 45; (2003) 56 NSWLR 425 Coal and Allied Operations Pty Ltd v Australian Industrial Relations Commission [2000] HCA 47; (2000) 203 CLR 194 Commissioner for Railways (NSW) v Agalianos [1955] HCA 27; (1955) 92 CLR 390 Confos v Director of Public Prosecutions [2004] NSWSC 1159 El Mawas v Director of Public Prosecutions [2005] NSWSC 243 Graham Barclay Oysters Pty Ltd v Ryan [2002] HCA 54 Hope v Bathurst City Council [1980] HCA 16; (1980) 144 CLR 1 House v The King [1936] HCA 40; (1936) 55 CLR 499 CASES CITED: Mackie v Hunt & Anor (1989) 19 NSWLR 130 Minister for Corrective Services v Harris & Anor (SCNSW, unreported, 10 July 1987 Norbis v Norbis (1986) 161 CLR 513 Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd v Albert and Rose Khoshaba [2006] NSWCA 41 Perry v Forbes & Anor (SCNSW, unreported, 21 May 1993 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; (1998) 194 CLR 355 R v Israil [2002] NSWCCA 255 R v Mailes [2001] NSWCCA 155; (2001) 53 NSWLR 251 Russo v Aiello [2003] HCA 53; (2003) 215 CLR 643 Singer v Berghouse (No 2) [1994] HCA 40; (1994) 181 CLR 201 The Protective Commissioner v "D" & Ors [2004] NSWCA 216; (2004) 60 NSWLR 513 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531