DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS (NSW) v PM [2006] NSWCCA 297

Reported Decision : 164 A Crim R 151

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS (NSW) v PM [2006] NSWCCA 297

HEARING DATE(S): 22 August 2006

JUDGMENT DATE: 13 September 2006

JUDGMENT OF: Basten JA at 1; Whealy J at 64; Latham J at 65

DECISION: (1) Appeal allowed; (2) Order of McGuire DCJ remitting the matter to the Children's Court, made on 15 March 2006 is set aside.

CATCHWORDS: PRACTICE & PROCEDURE – criminal proceedings against a child – Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW) s 31 and Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) s 8 – whether the Director of Public Prosecution can bring proceedings in the District Court against a child by an ex offico indictment for an offence which is not a "serious children's indictable offence" - JURISDICTION – whether an appeal against a finding that an indictment was invalid should be made under s 5C or s 5F of the Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW)

Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW), ss 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 11, 26, 27, 28, 31, 43, 44, 47, 48, 49 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61J, 61M, 66C, 423 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5C, 5F Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 15, 16, 17, 20, 21, 22, 27, 45, 50, 127, 130, 155, 205, 206, 208, 260, 263, 264 LEGISLATION CITED: Criminal Procedure Regulation 2005, cl 7 Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 (NSW), s 7, 33 District Court Act 1973 (NSW), s 8 District Court Rules 1973 (NSW), Part 53, r10D, r12 Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), ss 21, 34, 35 Justices Act 1902, s 41

Bartalesi and Fragassi (1997) 93 A Crim R 274 Barton v The Queen (1980) 147 CLR 75 Bozatsis & Spanakais (1997) 97 A Crim R 296 Darling Casino Ltd v NSW Casino Control Authority (1997) 191 CLR 602 Erceg v District Court (NSW) [2003] NSWCA 379; (2003) 143 A Crim R 455 Grassby v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 1 Hawkesbury City Council v Sammut [2002] 119 LGERA 171; [2002] NSWCA 18 John L Pty Ltd v Attorney-General (NSW) (1987) 163 CLR 508 Kahatapitiye v R (2004) 146 A Crim R 542; [2004] WASCA 189 Kirk Group Holdings Pty Ltd v WorkCover Authority (NSW) [2006] NSWCA 172 Kolalich v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) 1991 173 CLR 222 Lodhi v R [2006] NSWCCA 121 CASES CITED: Parisienne Basket Shoes Pty Ltd v Whyte (1937) 59 CLR 369 Pelechowski v Registrar of the Court of Appeal (NSW) [1999] HCA 19 R v Ayres [1984] AC 447 R v Cheng (1999) 48 NSWLR 616 R v Halmi (2005) 62 NSWLR 263 R v Howard (1992) 29 NSWLR 242 R v Janceski [2005] NSWCCA 281 R v Sepulveda [2003] NSWCCA 131 R v Stanton (1991) 52 A Crim R 164 R v Steffan (1993) 30 NSWLR 633 R v Taylor [2003] NSWCCA 194 Sergi v DPP & Anor (unrep, NSWCCA, 10 September 1991) Smedley v State Building Society (unrep, Court of Appeal (NSW), 17 October 1990), BC 9001855