Mencarious v R [2008] NSWCCA 237

Reported Decision: 189 A Crim R 219

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: Mencarious v R [2008] NSWCCA 237

HEARING DATE(S): 10 July 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 14 October 2008

JUDGMENT OF: McClellan CJ at CL at 1; James J at 111; Fullerton J at 112

DECISION: 1. The appeal against conviction dismissed. 2. Gant leave to appeal the sentence but dismiss appeal.

CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW – Appeal against conviction – Murder – Whether necessary for trial judge to detail defence case in summing-up – Whether trial judge misstated evidence as to cause of death – Whether trial judge in error in not leaving self-defence and provocation to jury – Not necessary to direct on a particular issue unless raised by the evidence – Whether trial judge failed to properly direct the jury in relation to accident – Distinction between accident and relevant intention – Application of Rule 4 Criminal Appeal Rules – Application of Proviso - CRIMINAL LAW – Appeal against sentence – Whether sentencing judge erred in setting standard non-parole period

Criminal Procedure Act 1986 LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes Act 1900 Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Bingapore (1975) 11 SASR 469 at 480 Domican v The Queen (1992) 173 CLR 555 Douglass v R [2005] NSWCCA 419 Evans and Gardiner (No 2) [1976] VR 523 Fingleton v R [2005] HCA 34; (2005) 216 ALR 474; 79 ALJR 1250 Gipp v The Queen [1998] HCA 21; (1998) 194 CLR 106 Hallett (1969) SASR 141 Holmes v DPP (1946) AC 588 at 597 Kwaku Mensah v The King [1946] AC 83 Mancini v DPP [1942] AC 1 MLP v The Queen [2006] NSWCCA 271; (2006) 164 A Crim R 93 Moffatt v R [2000] NSWCCA 174; (2000) 112 A Crim R 201 Murray v The Queen [2002] HCA 26; (2002) 211 CLR 193 Nudd v The Queen [2006] HCA 9; (2006) 162 A Crim R 301 Osland (1998) 159 ALR 170 at 174 CASES CITED : Papakosmas v The Queen [1999] HCA 37, (1999) 196 CLR 297 Parker v The Queen (1964) 111 CLR 665 at 681-682 Pemble v The Queen [1971] HCA 20; (1971) 124 CLR 107 R v AJP [2004] NSWCCA 434; (2004) 150 A Crim R 575 R v B, MA [2007] SASC 384; (2007) 99 SASR 384 R v Dudko (2002) 132 A Crim R 371 R v Galea [2004] NSWCCA 227; (2004) 148 A Crim R 220 R v Gulliford (2004) 148 A Crim R 558 R v Park [2003] NSWCCA 203 R v Piazza (1997) 94 A Crim R 459 R v Way [2004] NSWCCA 131; (2004) 60 NSWLR 168 R v Zorad (1990) 19 NSWLR 91 at 105; 47 A Crim R 211 at 225 RPS v The Queen [2000] HCA 3; (2000) 199 CLR 620 Smith [1959] 2 QB 35; (195) 42 Cr App R 121 Stevens v R [2005] HCA 65; (2005) 227 CLR 319; (2005) 80 ALJR 91 Ugle v The Queen [2002] HCA 25; (2002) 211 CLR 171