Regina v XY [2010] NSWCCA 181

New South Wales Court of Criminal Appeal

CITATION: Regina v XY [2010] NSWCCA 181

HEARING DATE(S): 21/07/10

JUDGMENT DATE: 6 September 2010

JUDGMENT OF: Campbell JA at 1; Simpson J at 2; Whealy J at 3

DECISION: 1. Appeal allowed. 2. Set aside the decision of Woods ADCJ made on 3 May 2010. 3. Each of the complaints made by the complainant in 2007 and 2009 is admissible as evidence of the facts contained in the respective representations. 4. Remit the matter to the District Court for trial.

CATCHWORDS: CRIMINAL LAW: Crown appeal against interlocutory order rejecting evidence - Principles applicable - rejection of complaint evidence in child sexual assault case - error in construction of s 66 of Evidence Act - meaning of phrase "fresh in the memory" - history of "recent complaint" doctrine - enactment of s 66(2) of Evidence Act - Reasons underlying amendment - Proper approach to construction of s 66(2) and (2A) Evidence Act - Power of Court of Criminal Appeal where error demonstrated.

Criminal Appeal Act 1912 LEGISLATION CITED: Crimes Act 1900 Evidence Act 1995 Evidence Amendment Act 2007 (No 46)

Ford v R [2009] NSWCCA 306 per Campbell JA at [68] - [91] Graham v The Queen (1998) 195 CLR 606 Kilby v The Queen (1973) 129 CLR 460 Norvenska v The Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) [2007] NSWCCA 158 at [11] - [13] Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 196 CLR 297 at 303 CASES CITED : R v Chanthovixay [2004] NSWCCA 285 at [60] R v EM [2003] NSWCCA 374 R v Frangulis [2006] NSWCCA 363 at [35] R v Lillyman [1896] 2 QB 167 at 171 R v Louizos (2009) 194 A Crim R 223 R v Sing-Bal (1997) 92 A Crim R 397 R v SJRC [2007] NSWCCA at 142; 14 Crim LN 664 (2214)