DJV v R [2008] NSWCCA 272

Reported Decision: 200 A Crim R 206

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: DJV v R [2008] NSWCCA 272

HEARING DATE(S): 29 July 2008

JUDGMENT DATE: 19 November 2008

JUDGMENT OF: McClellan CJ at CL at 1; Hidden J at 58; Fullerton J at 59

DECISION: 1. Appeal upheld. 2. Conviction quashed. Remit the matter to the District Court for a new trial.

CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW - evidence - where tendency evidence tendered for confined purpose as context or relationship evidence - admissibility - requirement that such evidence be relevant to an issue in the trial - improper admission of such evidence - miscarriage of justice - CRIMINAL LAW - appeal and new trial - misdirection by trial judge on permissible use of context or relationship evidence by jury - erroneous submissions by counsel - miscarriage of justice - STATUTES - Evidence Act 1995 ss 97, 101, 135, 137

LEGISLATION CITED: Evidence Act 1995 Crime (Sexual Assault) Amendment Act 1981

CATEGORY: Principal judgment

Gipp v The Queen [1998] HCA 21; (1998) 194 CLR 106 HML v R [2008] HCA 16; (2008) 245 ALR 204 MM [2000] NSWCCA 78; (2000) 112 A Crim R 519 Pfennig [1995] HCA 7; (1995) 182 CLR 461 Qualtieri v The Queen [2006] NSWCCA 95; (2006) 171 A Crim R 463 R v AH (1997) 42 NSWLR 702 CASES CITED : R v Beserick (1993) 30 NSWLR 510 R v Ellis (2003) 58 NSWLR 700 R v Fraser (NSWCCA, unreported, 10 August 1998 R v Hagerty [2004] NSWCCA 89; (2004) 145 A Crim R 138 R v M, RB [2007] SASC 207; (2007) 172 A Crim R 73 R v RNM [2005] NSWCCA 396 R v TAB [2002] NSWCCA 274 Toki [2000] NSWSC 999; (2000) 116 A Crim R 536