R v Suman SOOD [2007] NSWCCA 214

Appeal Outcome: Special leave application refused by the High Court - 16 November 2007

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: R v Suman SOOD [2007] NSWCCA 214 This decision has been amended. Please see the end of the judgment for a list of the amendments.

HEARING DATE(S): 1 June 2007

JUDGMENT DATE: 19 July 2007

JUDGMENT OF: Ipp JA at 1; Latham J at 2; Fullerton J at 61

DECISION: 1. Appeal allowed; 2. The judgment of Acting Judge Armitage QC of 14 May 2007 is set aside.

CATCHWORDS: Criminal Law - Crown Appeal - Criminal Appeal Act 1912, s 5F(3A) - Exclusion of evidence - s 137 Evidence Act 1995 - Evidence to be considered in the Crown case "taken at its highest" - Reliability and weight not relevant to determination of probative vaue - Judgment pursuant to s 137 to be based upon evidence on the voir dire - Error of trial judge in assessing probative value of evidence according to findings of fact unsupported by evidence on the voir dire and against the weight of that evidence - No unfair prejudice in circumstances where evidence established no more than allegations of taxation offences against defendant - Misapplication of Edwards v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 193.

Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Evidence Act 1995 LEGISLATION CITED: Health Insurance Act 1973 (Clth) Criminal Code Act 1995 (Clth) Health Insurance Act 1973

Regina v Cook (2004) NSWCCA 52 Edwards v The Queen (1993) 178 CLR 193 GK (2001) 125 A Crim R 315; [2001] NSWCCA 413 R v Blick (2000) 111 A Crim R 326 ; [2000] NSWCCA 61 R v Rima [2003] NSWCCA 405 R v SJRC [2007] NSWCCA 142 R v Linard Shamouil (2006) 66 NSWLR 228 ; [2006] NSWCCA 112 CASES CITED: R v Carusi (1997) 92 A Crim R 52 R v Singh-Bal (1997) 92 A Crim R 397 R v Yates [2002] NSWCCA 520 Adam v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 96 ; [2001] HCA 57 Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 196 CLR 297 ; [1999] HCA 37 R v Cook [2004] NSWCCA 52 R v SJRC [2007] NSWCCA 142 Festa v The Queen (2001) 208 CLR 593 ; [2001] HCA 72 Quinlan v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 284