R v Hien Puoc TANG [2006] NSWCCA 167

Reported Decision : 161 A Crim R 377 65 NSWLR 681

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: R v Hien Puoc TANG [2006] NSWCCA 167

HEARING DATE(S): 6 March 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 24 May 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Spigelman CJ at 1; Simpson J at 159; Adams J at 160

DECISION: 1 Appeal allowed; 2 Conviction quashed; 3 A new trial to be held.

CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW – Evidence – Judicial discretion to admit or exclude Evidence – whether opinion evidence of identity based on facial mapping and body mapping admissible. - CRIMINAL LAW – Evidence – Expert opinion – whether facial mapping and body mapping constitute areas of "specialised knowledge" – meaning of "specialised knowledge" – meaning of "knowledge" – s 79 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW). - CRIMINAL LAW – Evidence – Judicial discretion to admit or exclude Evidence – whether curriculum vitae of witness correctly admitted. - CRIMINAL LAW – Practice and Procedure – Whether the use of the phrase "ultimate issue" in directions constituted a miscarriage of justice. - WORDS AND PHRASES - "specialised knowledge", "knowledge".

LEGISLATION CITED: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW): s 79, 177, 135, 137 Federal Rules of Evidence 2004 (United States): Rule 702

Australian Securities & Investments Commission v Rich (No 2) (2005) 54 ACSR 326 In the matter of the appeal of BLM (District Court of New South Wales, unreported, 14 September 2005) Butera v Director of Public Prosecutions (Vict.) (1987) 164 CLR 180 Daubert v Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals Inc 509 US 579 (1993) HG v The Queen (1999) 197 CLR 414 Festa v The Queen (2001) 208 LCR 593 Idoport Pty Ltd v National Australia [1999] NSWSC 828 Makita (Australia) Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Ocean Marine Mutual Insurance Association (Europe) OV v Jetopay Pty Ltd (2000) 120 FCR 146 Perpetual Trustee Co Ltd v George (New South Wales Supreme Court, unreported, 19 November 1997) Pitkin v The Queen (1995) 69 ALJR 612 Smith v The Queen (2001) 206 CLR 650 The Queen v Murdoch (No 4) [2005] NTSC 78 R v Adler (2000) 52 NSWLR 451 CASES CITED: R v Clarke [1995] 2 Cr App R 425 R v Gray [2003] EWCA Crim 1001 R v Gilmore (1977) 2 NSWLR 935 R v Hookway [1999] Crim LR 750 R v JCG (2001)127 A Crim R 493 R v Krausch (1913) NZLR 1229 R v Leung (1999) 47 NSWLR 405 R v Li (2003) 139 A Crim R 28 R v McHardie and Danielson[1983] 2 NSWLR 733 R v Murphy (1994) 62 SASR 121 R v Stockwell (1993) 97 Cr App R 260 United States v Havvard 117 F. Supp 2d 848 (S.D. Ind 2000) United States v Llera Plaza I Nos. CR. 98-362-10 (E.D. Pan Jan. 7 2002) United States v Llera Plaza II 188 F. Supp 2d 549 (E.D. Pa. 2002) United States v Mitchell 365 F. 3d 215 (3d Cir. 2004) Velevski v The Queen (2002) 76 ALJR 402