R v Thomas Sam; R v Manju Sam (No. 14) [2009] NSWSC 561

New South Wales Supreme Court

CITATION : R v Thomas Sam; R v Manju Sam (No. 14) [2009] NSWSC 561

HEARING DATE(S) : 28 May 2009

JUDGMENT DATE : 29 May 2009

JUDGMENT OF : Johnson J at 1

EX TEMPORE JUDGMENT DATE : 29 May 2009

DECISION : Crown permitted to provide lists of references to topics in the record of interview of each Accused to the jury during the Crown closing address.

CATCHWORDS : CRIMINAL LAW - jury trial - lengthy records of interview between accused and police - Crown application to provide jury during closing address with documents containing topics and cross-references to answers in interviews - objection by accused to provision of document - relevant discretionary considerations - whether any unfairness to accused - jury entitled to practical assistance - no unfairness to accused - application allowed

LEGISLATION CITED : Evidence Act 1995

CATEGORY : Procedural and other rulings

Gately v The Queen [2007] 232 CLR 208 Smith v The Queen (1970) 121 CLR 572 CASES CITED : Butera v Director of Public Prosecutions (Vic) [1987] 164 CLR 180 R (Cth) v Petroulias (No. 34) [2007] NSWSC 1462 R v Collins (1986) 44 SASR 214

Regina (Crown) PARTIES : Thomas Sam (Accused) Manju Sam (Accused)

FILE NUMBER(S) : SC 2008/19298; 2008/12927

Mr M Tedeschi QC; Ms G O'Rourke (Crown) COUNSEL : Ms C Davenport SC (Accused/Thomas Sam) Mr T Molomby SC (Accused/Manju Sam)

Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (Crown) SOLICITORS : Karp O'Neill (Accused/Thomas Sam) Legal Aid NSW (Accused/Manju Sam)