Robinson v R [2006] NSWCCA 192

Reported Decision : 162 A Crim R 88

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: Robinson v R [2006] NSWCCA 192

HEARING DATE(S): 10 March 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 22 June 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Spigelman CJ at 1; Simpson J at 20; Johnson J at 21

DECISION: Appeal allowed; conviction quashed; new trial ordered.

CATCHWORDS: APPEAL AND NEW TRIAL - gaol murder - function and duty of trial judge in summing up to jury - trial judge leaves factual basis for conviction to jury which had not been advanced by Crown - whether unfairness to appellant giving rise to miscarriage of justice - adequacy of directions concerning evidence of prisoner witnesses called by Crown - whether "dangerous to convict" direction was required - whether verdict of jury was unreasonable

LEGISLATION CITED: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1986

R v Clough (1992) 28 NSWLR 396 Davies v Director of Public Prosecutions [1954] AC 378 Tripodi v The Queen (1961) 104 CLR 1 Jenkins v The Queen [2004] HCA 57; 211 ALR 116 Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 196 CLR 297 R v Stewart (2001) 52 NSWLR 301 Conway v The Queen (2002) 209 CLR 203 Kanaan v R [2006] NSWCCA 109 Bromley v The Queen (1986) 161 CLR 315 Longman v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 79 R v Spencer [1987] AC 128 Carr v The Queen (1988) 165 CLR 314 Kelleher v The Queen (1974) 131 CLR 534 Pollitt v The Queen (1992) 174 CLR 558 Domican v The Queen (1992) 173 CLR 555 R v Clarke (1997) 97 A Crim R 414 R v BWT (2002) 54 NSWLR 241 R v SJB [2002] NSWCCA 163; 129 A Crim R 572 R v WSP [2005] NSWCCA 427 Attorney General's Reference No 1 of 2001 [2001] WASCA 316 Crisafio v R [2003] WASCA 104; 27 WAR 169; 141 A Crim R 98 RBK v The Queen [2004] WASCA 216 Angliss v Western Australia [2005] WASCA 162 Kemp v Western Australia [2006] WASCA 6 Barton v The Queen (1980) 147 CLR 75 Director of Public Prosecutions (Nauru) v Fowler (1984) 154 CLR 627 Jago v District Court of New South Wales (NSW) (1989) 168 CLR 23 Phillips v The Queen (1985) 159 CLR 45 CASES CITED: McKinney v The Queen (1991) 171 CLR 468 Dietrich v The Queen (1992) 177 CLR 292 Carter v Northmore Hale Davy and Leake (1995) 183 CLR 121 R v Fuller (1994) 34 NSWLR 233 R v Wilson [2005] 62 NSWLR 346 R v NZ [2005] 63 NSWLR 628 R v Robinson [2000] NSWSC 541 R v Robinson [2003] NSWCCA 188 R v Robinson [2004] NSWSC 465 Wilson v The Queen (1991-1992) 174 CLR 313 R v Solomon (1980) 1 NSWLR 321 R v King (1985) 17 A Crim R 184 King v The Queen (1986) 161 CLR 423 R v GAS (1998) 3 VR 862 R v Carr (2000) 117 A Crim R 272 R v Franco (2003) 139 A Crim R 228 Whitehorn v The Queen (1983) 152 CLR 657 Nudd v The Queen (2006) 80 ALJR 614 The Queen v Carroll (2002) 213 CLR 635 R v Ronen (2004) 62 NSWLR 707 Weiss v The Queen (2005) 80 ALJR 444 R v Meher [2004] NSWCCA 355 R v Tangye (1997) 92 A Crim R 545 Tran v The Queen (2000) 105 FCR 182 R v Pureau (1990) 19 NSWLR 372 R v Whitfield [2002] NSWCCA 501 R v RTB [2002] NSWCCA 104 R v Heuston (1995) 81 A Crim R 387 Kanaan and Ors v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 109 MFA v The Queen (2002) 213 CLR 606