Council of the City of Lake Macquarie v Wayne Jeffrey Morris [2005] NSWSC 387

Reported Decision : 63 NSWLR 263

New South Wales Supreme Court

Council of the City of Lake Macquarie v Wayne Jeffrey Morris [2005] NSWSC 387 CITATION : This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S) : 4 March 2005

JUDGMENT DATE : 26 April 2005

JURISDICTION : Common Law

JUDGMENT OF : Johnson J at 1

DECISION : 1. Pursuant to s.59(2)(a) Crimes (Local Courts Appeal and Review) Act 2001, the order made at the Toronto Local Court on 28 September 2004 dismissing a matter under s.16(1) Companion Animals Act 1998 with respect to an American pit bull terrier is set aside; 2. pursuant to s.59(2)(a) Crimes (Local Courts Appeal and Review) Act 2001, the matter is remitted to the Local Court to be heard and determined according to law; 3. the Defendant is to pay the Plaintiff's costs of the proceedings in this Court and is to have a certificate under s.6 Suitors' Fund Act 1951.

CATCHWORDS : ANIMALS - offence of being owner of dog that attacks a person or animal under s.16(1) Companion Animals Act 1998 - elements of offence under s.16(1) - construction of s.16(2) containing exculpatory matters - whether Local Court erred in construction and application of s.16(2) - error established.

Crimes (Local Courts Appeal and Review) Act 2001 Companion Animals Act 1998 Dog Act 1966 LEGISLATION CITED : Crimes Act 1900 Justices Act 1902 Suitors' Fund Act 1951

Torrance v Cornish (1985) 79 FLR 87 R v Serratore (1999) 48 NSWLR 101 May v O'Sullivan (1955) 92 CLR 654 at 658 Amalgamated Television Services Pty Ltd v Marsden (2001) 122 A Crim R 166 Kingswell v The Queen (1985) 159 CLR 264 Eadie v Groombridge (1992) 16 MVR 263; BC9201687 Zappia v Allsop (Court of Appeal, 17 March 1994, BC9402327) Crump v Sharah [1999] NSWSC 884 Coleman v Barrat [2004] NSWCA 27 Johnson v The Queen (1976) 136 CLR 619 Deputy Commissioner of Taxation v Clark (2003) 57 NSWLR 113 Fagan v Crimes Compensation Tribunal (1982) 150 CLR 666 Kavalee v Burbidge (1998) 43 NSWLR 422 CASES CITED : Francis v Flood (1978) 1 NSWLR 113 Phillips v Cassar (1979) 2 NSWLR 340 Vines v Djordjevitch (1955) 91 CLR 512 Lynch v Attwood (1983) 3 NSWLR 1 Mikhael v Conroy (Supreme Court of NSW, 6 December 1990, BC9002962) Mitchell v Nestle Australia Limited (1988) 36 A Crim R 199 Downes v Director of Public Prosecutions [2000] NSWSC 1054 Ex parte Ferguson; Re Alexander (1944) 45 SR(NSW) 64 Proudman v Dayman (1941) 67 CLR 536 R v Wampfler (1987) 11 NSWLR 541 Von Lieven v Stewart (1990) 21 NSWLR 53 Acuthan v Coates (1986) 6 NSWLR 472 The Queen v Olbrich (1999) 199 CLR 270