R v Seller R v McCarthy [2012] NSWSC 934

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Seller R v McCarthy [2012] NSWSC 934 Hearing dates: 29/03/2012-30/03/2012, 02/04/2012 Decision date: 17 August 2012 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Criminal Before: Garling J Decision: (1) Order that any proceedings on the indictments presented on 14 March 2012 against Ross Edward Seller and Patrick David McCarthy, be, and hereby are, stayed. (2) Order that the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions pay the applicants' costs of the applications, except the costs of preparing and copying Exhibits PH5, PH6 and PH7. (3) Order that the Australian Crime Commission pay its own costs of the proceedings. Catchwords: PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE - Application for permanent stay - Charge of conspiracy with intention of dishonestly influencing Commission of Taxation - Criminal Code Act s 135.4(7) - Examination pursuant to s 28 of Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 - Claim for self-incrimination under s 30 - Non-publication direction given - Transcripts of examinations provided to CDPP contrary to direction for one accused - Transcripts contained factual matters central to criminal charge - Evidence solicitor for CDPP did not read transcripts - Other communication between CDPP and ACC - Updates, advice, briefing papers -- Principal ATO investigator attended examinations and read transcripts - Significant and central witness at future trial - Whether real risk that relevant ACC information communicated to the prosecution - Whether fair trial possible - Whether permanent stay should be granted - Stay granted Legislation Cited: Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 (Cth) International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights Bill of Rights Act 1990 (NZ) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987 (Cth) Cases Cited: A v Boulton [2004] FCA 56; (2004) 204 ALR 598 A v Boulton [2004] FCAFC 101; (2004) 136 FCR 240 Australian Crime Commission v OK [2010] FCAFC 61; (2010) 185 FCR 258 Batistatos v Roads and Traffic Authority of NSW (NSW) [2006] HCA 27; (2006) 226 CLR 256 Blatch v Archer (1774) 1 Cowp 63; 98 ER 969 Collins v R [1975] HCA 60; (1975) 133 CLR 120 Dupas v R [2010] HCA 20; (2010) 241 CLR 237 Environment Protection Authority v Caltex Refining Company Pty Ltd [1993] HCA 74; (1993) 178 CLR 477 Hamilton v Oades [1989] HCA 21; (1989) 166 CLR 486 Hammond v The Commonwealth [1982] HCA 42; (1982) 152 CLR 188 Huddart Parker & Co Pty Ltd v Moorehead [1909] HCA 36; (1909) 8 CLR 330 Mansfield v Australian Crime Commission [2003] FCA 1059; (2003) 132 FCR 251 Moevao v Department of Labour [1980] 1 NZLR 464 Moti v R [2011] HCA 50; (2011) 86 ALJR 117 MP v R; CB v R [2012] HCA Trans 162 (22 June 2012) North Ganalanja Aboriginal Corporation & The Waanyi People v Queensland [1996] HCA 2; (1996) 185 CLR 595 NSW Food Authority v Nutricia Australia Pty Ltd [2008] NSWCCA 252; (2008) 72 NSWLR 456 People v Defore 242 NY 13; 150 NE 585 Quinn v United States (1955) 349 US 155 [99 L. Ed. 964] R v CB, MP v R [2011] NSWCCA 264 R v Glennon [1992] HCA 16; (1992) 173 CLR 592 R v Sang [1980] AC 402; [1979] 3 WLR 263 Rees v Kratzmann [1965] HCA 49; (1965) 114 CLR 63 Rogers v R [1994] HCA 42; (1994) 181 CLR 251 RPS v R [2000] HCA 3; (2000) 199 CLR 620 Sorby v The Commonwealth [1983] HCA 10; (1983) 152 CLR 281 Stoddart v Boulton [2010] FCAFC 89; (2010) 185 FCR 409 Ullmann v United States [1956] 350 US 422 [100 L. Ed. 511] Vetter v Lake Macquarie City Council [2001] HCA 12; (2001) 202 CLR 439 Warren v Attorney-General for Jersey [2011] UKPC10; [2012] 1 AC 22 Weissensteiner v R [1993] HCA 65; (1993) 178 CLR 217 Williams v Spautz [1992] HCA 34; (1992) 174 CLR 509 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Crown (respondent) Ross Edward Seller (applicant) Patrick David McCarthy (applicant) Australian Crime Commission (amicus curiae) Representation: D J Fagan SC / P R McGuire (Crown) H K Dhanji SC (Seller) I H McClintock SC / P Bruckner (McCarthy) S Majaraj QC (Amicus Curiae) Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (Cth) (A) Speed Stracey Lawyers (Seller) HardinLaw Lawyers (McCarthy) Australian Government Solicitor (Amicus Curiae) File Number(s): 2009/237556 2009/237509