R v Wilkie, R v Burroughs, R v Mainprize [2005] NSWSC 794

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : R v Wilkie, R v Burroughs, R v Mainprize [2005] NSWSC 794

HEARING DATE(S) : 22/07/2005

JUDGMENT DATE : 5 August 2005

JUDGMENT OF : Howie J at 1

DECISION : Application granted and directions made. See para 83.

CATCHWORDS : Criminal Law - Practice and Procedure - Application for evidence to be given by two overseas witnesses using videolink - witnesses unwilling to attend Australia - whether use of the procedure would be a breach of s 80 of the Constitution - whether it would result in an unfair trial - relevance of Crown's refusal to give undertaking as to costs thrown away if trial aborted due to failure of the procedure to prove effective and fair - application granted and directions made.

Corporations Act 2001 (Cth) - ss 232(2), 1309(1) Evidence (Audio Visual Links) Act 1998 (NSW) - ss 5B, 5C Supreme Court Rules - Part 36 rule 2A, Part 75 rule 2(7) Constitution - s 80 LEGISLATION CITED : Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) - ss 68(1), 78A(1), 79 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) - s 285 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) - ss 137, 165 Cost in Criminal Cases Act 1967 (NSW)

Moyette Pty Ltd v Foundation Healthcare Ltd [2003] FCA 116 Australian Medical Imaging Pty Ltd v Marconi Medical Systems Australia (2001) 53 NSWLR 1 Brown v The Queen (1986) 160 CLR 171 DPP v X (unreported, 29 March 1994, Vic SC, BC9401206) Bell Group Ltd v Westpac Banking Corporation (2004) 208 ALR 491 B v Dentists Disciplinary Board [1994] 1 NZLR 95 Cheatle v The Queen (1993) 177 CLR 541 Brownlee v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 278 R v Ronen [2004] NSWCCA 176 DPP v Alexander (1993) 33 NSWLR 482 American Publishing Co. v Fisher 166 US 464 United States of America v Baker 45F 3d 837 (1995) State Rail Authority of New South Wales v Earthline Constructions Pty Ltd (1999) 160 ALR 588 R v Yates [2002] NSWCCA 520 CASES CITED : Sunstate Airlines (Qld) Pty Ltd v First Chicago Australia Securities Ltd (unreported, 11 March 1997, NSWSC, Giles CJ Comm D) Bayer AG v Minister for Health of the Commonwealth of Australia (1988) 96 FLR 50 Laporte Group Australia Ltd v Vatselias (unreported, 15 November 1991, NSWSC, Young J) Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) v Rich (2004) 49 ACSR 578 R v Ngo (2003) 57 NSWLR 55 Jarvie v Magistrates' Court (Vic) [1995] 1 VR 84 Barton v The Queen (1980) 147 CLR 75 Jago v District Court (NSW) (1989) 168 CLR 23 McDonald v Federal Commissioner of Taxation (2002) ATC 4271 R v Stackelroth (1996) 86 A Crim R 438 R v Em [2003] NSWCCA 374 R v Mendham (1993) 71 A Crim R 382 R v Fowler [2003] NSWCCA 321 R v Goldman (2004) 148 A Crim R 40