Derbas v R [2012] NSWCCA 14

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Derbas v R [2012] NSWCCA 14 Hearing dates: 7 December 2011 Decision date: 21 February 2012 Before: Meagher JA at [1] Hoeben J at [48] Rothman J at [49] Decision: (1) The appeal be allowed. (2) Orders 1, 2, 3 and 4 made on 24 February 2011 be set aside. (3) There be no access to the document headed "Application for Part 5 Search Warrant/Record of Application" dated 23 November 2008 and signed by Detective Paul O'Neill as applicant which was produced in answer to a subpoena to produce documents addressed to the Registrar of the Local Court, Mt Druitt. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - leave to appeal against interlocutory order - public interest immunity - application for production of a document disclosing confidential police informer - balancing exercise - common law applied - whether disclosure of identity of informer would assist accused in defence - relevance of potential consequences to informer if identity disclosed - claim to immunity from production upheld Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 Evidence Act 1995 Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Act 2002 Law Enforcement (Powers and Responsibilities) Regulation 2005 Cases Cited: Air Canada v Secretary of State for Trade [1983] 2 AC 394 Alister v The Queen [1984] HCA 85; (1984) 154 CLR 404 Attorney General for New South Wales v Chidgey [2008] NSWCCA 65; (2008) 182 A Crim R 536 Attorney-General for New South Wales v Stuart (1994) 34 NSWLR 667 Australian Securities and Investment Commission v P Dawson Nominees Pty Ltd [2008] FCAFC 123; (2008) 247 ALR 646 Cain v Glass (No. 2) (1985) 3 NSWLR 230 Carroll v Attorney General for New South Wales) (1993) 70 A Crim R 162 D v National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children [1978] AC 171 DPP v Smith (1996) 86 A Crim R 308 Haydon v Magistrates Court of South Australia [2001] SASC 65; (2001) 87 SASR 448 Jarvie v Magistrates' Court of Victoria at Brunswick [1995] 1 VR 84 Marks v Beyfus (1890) 25 QBD 494 R v Abdullah & Ors [1999] NSWCCA 188 R v Carey (1990) 20 NSWLR 292 R v McKelliff [2004] SASC 63; (2004) 87 SASR 476 R v Mason (2000) 77 SASR 105; (2000) 112 A Crim R 266 R v Meissner (1994) 76 A Crim R 81 R v Saleam (1989) 16 NSWLR 14 R v Werner Paul Roberts [2004] VSCA 1; (2004) 9 VR 295 Sankey v Whitlam (1978) 142 CLR 1 State of New South Wales v Public Transport Ticketing Corporation [2011] NSWCA 60 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Attorney General for New South Wales (Appellant) Mohammed Ali Derbas (First Respondent) The Queen (Second Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms M England (Appellant) Mr M Thangaraj SC (First Respondent) Solicitors: I V Knight, Crown Solicitor (Appellant) B Sandland, Legal Aid NSW (First Respondent) File Number(s): 2008/00069987 Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2011-02-24 00:00:00 Before: King DCJ File Number(s): 2008/69987