Seeto v R; Evans v R [2008] NSWCCA 227

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: Seeto v R; Evans v R [2008] NSWCCA 227

HEARING DATE(S): 16 September 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 2 October 2008

JUDGMENT OF: Giles JA at 1; Rothman J at 2; Price J at 12

DECISION: 1. Leave to appeal to Janice Seeto be granted, but the appeal be dismissed. 2. Leave to appeal to Stephen Richard Evans be granted, but the appeal be dismissed.

CATCHWORDS: Criminal law - Statutes - whether proceedings statute barred - Statutes - interpretation - legislative history of Police Act 1990 - rules of construction - mischief to be remedied - consideration of extrinsic materials - Second Reading Speeches

Interpretation Act 1987 s 33, s 34 Justices Act 1902 Police Act 1990 s 200(2)(a), s 200(3), s 200(4) LEGISLATION CITED: Police Amendment (Miscellaneous) Act 2006 Police Service Act 1990 s 106(1), Police Service (Complaints, Discipline and Appeals) Amendment Act 1993 Police Legislation Amendment Act 1996

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Attorney General of the The Commonwealth v Oates [1999] HCA 35 (1999) 198 CLR 162 CIC Insurance Ltd v Bankstown Football Club Ltd (1997) 187 CLR 384 Colquhoun v Brooks (1888) 21 QBD 52 Harrison v Melhem [2008] NSWCA 67 CASES CITED : Mills v Meeking (1990) 169 CLR 214 Re Building Worker's Industrial Union of Australia Ex Parte Pillar [1991] HCA 50 (1992) 174 CLR 263 Re Coldham ex parte Bideson [No 1] (1989) 166 CLR 338 Houssein v Under Secretary of Industrial Relations & Technology (NSW) [1982] HCA 2 (1982) 148 CLR 88 at 94 Saraswati v R [1991] HCA 21 (1991) 172 CLR 1