Aouad and El-Zeyat v R [2011] NSWCCA 61

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Aouad and El-Zeyat v R [2011] NSWCCA 61 Hearing dates: 29/6/10, 30/6/10, 9/7/10, 22/3/11 Decision date: 08 April 2011 Before: McClellan CJ at CL at 1 James J at 2 Johnson J at 402 Decision: In the case of each appellant:- 1. Allow the appeal against conviction. 2. Quash the conviction. 3. Order a new trial. Catchwords: Criminal Law - direction by trial judge that jury could look for independent support for the evidence of one indemnified witness in the evidence of another indemnified witness - evidence of comfit identification - fresh evidence - failure by prosecution to disclose to defence material relevant to credibility of Crown witness. Legislation Cited: Evidence Act (NSW) - ss 38, 59, 66(2), 106, 114, 115(5), 137, 164, 165 Evidence Act (Cth) Criminal Appeal Rules - r 4 Customs Act Listening Devices Act Criminal Appeal Act - s 6(1) Cases Cited: Pollitt v The Queen (1991-1992) 174 CLR 558 R v Chen & Ors (2002) 130 A Crim R 300 R v Ngo [2003] NSWCCA 82 (reported in part at (2003) 57 NSWLR 55) Conway v The Queen (2001) 209 CLR 203 Kanaan & Ors v R [2006] NSWCCA 109 Kanaan (2007) HCA Transcript 402 (3 August 2007) R v Darwiche & Ors (2006) 166 A Crim R 28 Graham v The Queen (1998) 195 CLR 666 R v Barbaro (2000) 112 A Crim R 55 R v El-Hayek [2004] NSWCCA 25 R v Abou-Chabake (2004) 149 A Crim R 417 R v Reardon (2004) 60 NSWLR 454 Cornwell v R (2010) NSWCCA 59 Grey v The Queen (2000) 201 CLR 414 Wilde v The Queen (1988) 164 CLR 365 Weiss v The Queen (2005) 224 CLR 300 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ramzi Aouad (Appellant) Nasaem El-Zeyat (Appellant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P Hamill SC, C Smith (Appellant Aouad) M Ramage SC, I McLachlan (Appellant El-Zeyat) D Woodburne SC, J Girdham (Respondent) Solicitors: George Sten & Co (Appellant Aouad) Nedim Lawyers (Appellant El-Zeyat) S O'Connor (Respondent) File Number(s): 2005/2678, 2005/2620 Decision under appeal Before: Bell J File Number(s): 2005/2678, 2005/2620