Gallant v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 339

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: Gallant v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 339

HEARING DATE(S): 06/10/2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 26 October 2006

JUDGMENT OF: McClellan CJ at CL at 1; Adams J at 2; Howie J at 3

DECISION: The appeal against conviction is dismissed. Leave to appeal against sentence is granted but the appeal is dismissed.

CATCHWORDS: Criminal Law - Practice and Procedure - Omission by defence counsel to lead character evidence - whether miscarriage of justice resulted - whether directions on consent erroneous or misleading - Sentence - relevance of character evidence - failure of judge to refer to special circumstances in setting non-parole period.

Crimes Act 1900 - ss 61R(2)(d), 412 (now repealed), 611 LEGISLATION CITED: Evidence Act 1995 - ss 110(2), 137 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure ) Act 1999 - s 44

Seymour v R [2006] NSWCCA 206 R v Gust [1999] NSWCCA 265 Melbourne v The Queen (1999) 198 CLR 1 Melbourne, cf R v Lewis [2001] NSWCCA 345 R v Makiski (2004) 151 A Crim R 245 CASES CITED: Nudd v The Queen (2006) 80 ALJR 614 TKWJ v The Queen (2002) 212 CLR 124 R v Way (2004) 60 NSWLR 168 R v Thomas [2006] NSWCCA 313 R v Kaliti [2001] NSWCCA 268 R Simpson (2001) 53 NSWLR 704

PARTIES: Peter John Gallant v Regina

FILE NUMBER(S): CCA 2006/1623

COUNSEL: D. Frearson SC - Crown P. Boulten SC - Applicant

SOLICITORS: S. Kavanagh - Crown P. Katsoolis - Applicant

LOWER COURT JURISDICTION: District Court