Em v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 336

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: Em v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 336

HEARING DATE(S): 19 June 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 3 November 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Giles JA at 1; Grove J at 134; Hidden J at 135

DECISION: (1) In the conviction appeal, appeal dismissed; (2) In the sentence appeal, grant leave to appeal but dismiss the appeal.

CATCHWORDS: EVIDENCE - exclusion of admission if unfair to use it (Evidence Act s 90) - offender aware not obliged to speak to police - believed conversation with police could not be used against him if not recorded - unaware that conversation was being recorded - police not responsible for erroneous belief - even if police aware of erroneous belief, not unfair to use admissions - DIRECTIONS - that admissions were unreliable squarely raised by defence case - no need for warning that admissions may not have been reliable - SENTENCING - whether sentences manifestly excessive - or error in failing to find special circumstances - or in degree of cumulation of sentences - or flawed on parity grounds - on facts, no error in these respects.

LEGISLATION CITED: Criminal Appeal Act 1912, s 5F Evidence Act 1995, ss 85,90, 138

Attorney General for the State of NSW v X (2000) 49 NSWLR 653; Bromley v The Queen (1986) 161 CLR 315; Carr v The Queen (1988) 165 CLR 314; Crofts v The Queen (1996) 186 CLR 427; DPP v Attallah [2001] NSWCA 171; Duke v The Queen (1989) 180 CLR 508; House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; The King v Lee (1950) 82 CLR 133; Lowe v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 606; Mc Dermott v The King (1948) 76 CLR 501; Postiglione v The Queen (1997) 189 CLR 297; The Queen v Noakes(1986) 42 SASR 489; The Queen v Swaffield (1997) 192 CLR 159; R v Baartmann [2000] NSWCCA 298; CASES CITED: R v Christie [2000] NSWCCA 354 R v Sophear Em [2003] NSWCCA 374; R v Fowler (2003) 151 A Crim R 166; R v Gordon (1994) 71 A Crim R 459; R v Henry (1996) 46 NSWLR 346; R v Kyriakou (1987) 29 A Crim R 50; R v Lyberopoulos [2002] NSWCCA 280; R v Makisi (2004) 151 A Crim R 245; R v McKenzie (CCA, 16 September 1998, unreported); R v Sharpe [2002] NSWCCA 96; R v Stackelroth (CCA, 9 April 1997, unreported); R v Tofilau [2006] VSCA 40; R v Vann [2006] NSWCCA 260; Van der Meer v The Queen (1989) 62 ALJR 656; Veen v The Queen (No 2) (1988) 164 CLR 465;