Beckett v The State of New South Wales [2012] NSWCA 114

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Beckett v The State of New South Wales [2012] NSWCA 114 Hearing dates: 20 March 2012 Decision date: 02 May 2012 Before: Beazley JA at 1; McColl JA at 2; Tobias AJA at 3 Decision: (a) Grant the appellant leave to appeal and the respondent leave to cross-appeal; (b) Dismiss the appeal and cross-appeal, in each case with costs. [Note: The Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 provide (Rule 36.11) that unless the Court otherwise orders, a judgment or order is taken to be entered when it is recorded in the Court's computerised court record system. Setting aside and variation of judgments or orders is dealt with by Rules 36.15, 36.16, 36.17 and 36.18. Parties should in particular note the time limit of fourteen days in Rule 36.16.] Catchwords: TORTS - Malicious prosecution - Whether onus on appellant to prove innocence - Whether the indictment was spent or extant - Whether exercise of DPP's statutory power under s7(2)(b) Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 (NSW) was the entry of a nolle prosequi - whether the Court of Appeal was bound by the decision of Davis v Gell (1924) 35 CLR 275 Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 Cases Cited: A v State of New South Wales [2007] HCA 10; (2007) 230 CLR 500 Abrath v North Eastern Railway Co (1883) 11 QBD 440 R v Allen (1862) 31 L.J.M.C 129 [also cited (1862) 1 B & S 850; (1862) 121 ER 929] Beckett v The State of New South Wales (No 1) [2011] NSWSC 818 R v Catt (1993) 68 A Crim R 189 R v Catt [2005] NSWCCA 279 Commonwealth Life Assurance Society Ltd v Smith [1938] HCA 2; (1938) 59 CLR 527 Davis v Gell (1924) 35 CLR 275 R v GKA (1998) 99 A Crim R 491 Earnshaw v Loy (No 1) [1959] VR 248 Gilchrist v Gardener (1891) 8 WN(NSW) 21 R v Howard [1992] 29 NSWLR 242 R v Janceski [2005] NSWCCA 281; (2005) 64 NSWLR 10 Mann v Jacombe [1961] NSWR 273; (1961) 78 WN(NSW) 635 R v Nicholas (1989) 45 A Crim R 299 Noye v Robbins and Crimmins [2007] WASC 98 Skrijel v Mengler [2003] VSC 270 Van Heeren v Cooper [1999] 1 NZLR 731 Texts Cited: Balkin and Davis, Law of Torts, 4th ed (2009) LexisNexis Butterworths Blay et al, Torts Law in Principle", 4th ed (2005) Lawbook Co Debelle J, Question of Law Reserved on Acquittal (No 3 of 1995) (1996) 66 SASR 450 G P Donovan, The Effect of a nolle prosequi in Relation to the Action for Malicious Prosecution: (1939) 12 ALJ 457 Sappideen and Vines, Fleming's Law of Torts, 10th ed (2011) Thomson Reuters Selwyn's, Nisi Prius 13 ed Vol II Vout, The Laws of Australia on Torts, 2nd ed (2007) Thomson Lawbook Co Category: Principal judgment Parties: Roseanne BECKETT (appellant/ cross-respondent) THE STATE OF NEW SOUTH WALES (respondent/ cross-appellant) Representation: Counsel: P E Blacket SC/ K T Nomchong (appellant/ cross respondent) W G Roser SC/ P J Saidi (respondent/ cross-appellant) Solicitors: Turner Freeman (appellant/ cross-respondent) I V Knight, Crown Solicitor (respondent/ cross-appellant) File Number(s): 2008/289411 Decision under appeal Citation: Beckett v The State of New South Wales (No 1) [2011] NSWSC 818 Date of Decision: 2011-08-05 00:00:00 Before: Davies J File Number(s): 2008/289411