Regina (C'Wealth) v Baladjam & Ors [No 13] [2008] NSWSC 1437

Reported Decision : 77 NSWLR 630

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Regina (C'Wealth) v Baladjam & Ors [No 13] [2008] NSWSC 1437

HEARING DATE(S) : 22/04/08

JUDGMENT DATE : 1 May 2008

JURISDICTION : Criminal

JUDGMENT OF : Whealy J at 1

DECISION : I order that the fitness hearing may proceed before a Judge without Jury.

CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - Mental Health - Criminal Procedure (Amendment Act) 2005 - Unfitness to be tried by a Judge alone - Constitutional Law - s 11(1) of the Mental Health (Criminal Procedure) Amendment Act 2005 does not offend the mandatory direction in s 80 of the Constitution - Fitness issue not an essential feature of trial by jury

ACT Crimes Act Commonwealth Criminal Code Act Criminal Appeal Act 1907 (UK) LEGISLATION CITED : Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Judiciary Act 1903 Mental Health (Criminal Procedure) Act 1990 Mental Health (Criminal Procedure) Amendment Act 2005 NSW Mental Health (Criminal Procedure) legislation

Ahern v The Queen (1988) 165 CLR 87 at 94-95 Brownlee v The Queen [2001] 207 CLR 278 at 298 Cheatle v R (1993) 177 CLR 541 Eastman v The Queen 203 CLR 1 at 13 Eastman v Director of Public Prosecutions [2003] 214 CLR 318 Ex Parte LaFlore 445 SO 2d 932 (Ala) (1983) Kesavarajah v The Queen (1994) 171 CLR 230 at 243) Ng v The Queen [2003] 217 CLR 521 at 526 per Callinan J Presser v R (1985) VR 45 per Smith J at 483 CASES CITED : Thompson v R (1989) 169 CLR 1 United States v Curtis (1826) 4 Mason 232; 25 F Cas 726 R v Bourne 36 CRAPPR 125 R v Bradley (No 1) (1986) 40 NTR per Asche J at 7-8 R v Cheung [2001] 209 CLR 1 at 24 R v JS [2007] NSWCCA 272 per Spigelman CJ at 288 R v Kim (1993) 65 A Crim R 278 and 283-284 per Zeeman J R V Mailes [2001] 53 NSWLR 251 per Wood CJ at CL R v Pritchard (1836) 7 C & P 303 at 304 (173 ER at 135) R v Ronen [2004] NSWCCA 176