Australian Securities and Investments Commission v MacDonald [2008] NSWSC 995

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Australian Securities and Investments Commission v MacDonald [2008] NSWSC 995

HEARING DATE(S) : 22 September 2008 JUDGMENT OF : Gzell J

EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE : 22 September 2008

DECISION : Discretions not exercised.

CATCHWORDS : EVIDENCE - Admissibility and Relevancy - S 55 and s 56 of the Evidence Act 1995 - Whether evidence that is relevant against one defendant is admissible for all purposes against all defendants even if irrelevant against some defendants - What use can be made of such evidence - Whether the discretions under s 135 and s 136 of the Evidence Act to exclude or restrict the use of the evidence should be exercised on the basis of the admission of evidence irrelevant against a co-defendant

LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995

Silvia v Commissioner of Taxation [2001] NSWSC 562 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Vines [2003] NSWSC 995, (2003) 48 ACSR 282 Silbermann v CGU Insurance Ltd [2003] NSWSC 1127, (2003) 48 ACSR 231 CASES CITED : Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Rich [2004] NSWSC 1062, (2004) 213 ALR 338 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Rich [2005] NSWSC 471, (2005) 54 ACSR 28 Seven Network Ltd v News Ltd & Ors (No 8) [2005] FCA 1348, (2005) 224 ALR 317 Australian Securities and Investments Commission v Sydney Investment House Equities Pty Ltd [2007] NSWSC 434

Australian Securities and Investments Commission (Plaintiff) Peter Donald MacDonald (First Defendant) Peter James Shafron (Second Defendant) Phillip Graham Morley (Third Defendant) Michael Robert Brown (Fourth Defendant) Michael John Gillfillan (Fifth Defendant) PARTIES : Meredith Hellicar (Sixth Defendant) Martin Koffel (Seventh Defendant) Geoffrey Frederick O'Brien (Eighth Defendant) Gregory James Terry (Ninth Defendant) Peter John Willcox (Tenth Defendant) ABN 60 Pty Ltd (Eleventh Defendant) James Hardie Industries NV (Twelfth Defendant)