Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Yeo and Anor [2008] NSWSC 953

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Yeo and Anor [2008] NSWSC 953

HEARING DATE(S) : 5 September 2008

JUDGMENT DATE : 17 September 2008

JUDGMENT OF : Johnson J at 1

1. Appeal allowed. 2. The order of the Second Defendant made on 23 January 2008 dismissing the charge against the First Defendant under s.42(1) Road Transport (Safety Transport and Management) Act 1999 is set aside. DECISION : 3. The matter is remitted to the Local Court to be heard before a different Magistrate conformably with this judgment. 4. The First Defendant is to pay the Plaintiff's costs. 5. The First Defendant is granted a certificate under s.6 Suitors' Fund Act 1951.

CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - offence of negligent driving occasioning grievous bodily harm - plea of guilty on first return date - Magistrate questions plea of guilty - plea of guilty not rejected or withdrawn - prosecutor seeks adjournment - application for adjournment refused - charge dismissed - error of law established - element of negligence in negligent driving - effect of plea of guilty

Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 Road Transport (Safety and Traffic Management) Act 1999 LEGISLATION CITED : Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Crimes Act 1900 Traffic Act 1909 Suitors' Fund Act 1951

CATEGORY : Principal judgment

Wong v Director of Public Prosecutions (2005) 155 A Crim R 37 Director of Public Prosecutions v Wunderwald [2004] NSWSC 182 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Illawarra Cashmart Pty Limited (2006) 67 NSWLR 402 Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Neamati [2007] NSWSC 746 Clout v Hutchinson (1950) 51 SR(NSW) 32 R v Buttsworth (1983) 1 NSWLR 658 Simpson v Peat [1952] 2 QB 24 Ex parte Graham; re Dowling (1968) 88 WN (Pt1) (NSW) 270 Ex parte Musgrove; re Howard (1961) 78 WN(NSW) 88 R v Cains (NSW Court of Criminal Appeal, 7 April 1971) 2 Petty Sessions Review 796 R v JMR (1991) 57 A Crim R 39 R v Serratore (1999) 48 NSWLR 101 CASES CITED : R v Birks (1990) 19 NSWLR 677 Meissner v The Queen [1994-1995] 184 CLR 132 Maxwell v The Queen [1995-1996] 184 CLR 501 R v Martin (1904) 4 SR(NSW) 720 Marlow v R [1990] 1 Tas SR 1 Blazevski v Judges of the District Court (NSW Court of Appeal, 10 November 1992, BC9101492) (1992) 62 ALD 197 Nitiva v Director of Public Prosecutions [1999] NSWCA 332 Underhill v Murden (2007) 173 A Crim R 336 Nudd v The Queen (2006) 80 ALJR 614 Whitehorn v The Queen (1983) 152 CLR 567 R v Meher [2004] NSWCCA 355 Robinson v R (2006) 162 A Crim R 88 Director of Public Prosecutions v Lee [2006] NSWSC 270 at [68] Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) v Fabri [2008] NSWSC 655