R v Aubrey [2012] NSWCCA 254

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v Aubrey [2012] NSWCCA 254 Hearing dates: 21 September 2012 Decision date: 29 November 2012 Before: Macfarlan JA at [1]; Johnson J at [64]; Davies J at [65] Decision: (1) Appeal allowed. (2) Set aside the order made in the District Court on 8 March 2012 staying proceedings on Count 2 of the Indictment dated 7 March 2012. (3) Dismiss the respondent's Notice of Motion dated 5 March 2012. (4) Grant the respondent a certificate under the Suitors' Fund Act 1951, if qualified. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - Crown appeal against order permanently staying count of malicious infliction of grievous bodily harm - count stayed by primary judge due to uncertainty surrounding scope of s 35(1)(b) Crimes Act 1900 - complainant contracted HIV after consensual sexual intercourse with HIV-positive respondent - respondent alleged to have known that he was HIV-positive

STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION - principles - meaning of 'inflicts' in s 35(1)(b) Crimes Act 1900 - whether transmission of serious disease by consensual sexual intercourse constitutes infliction of grievous bodily harm - whether term 'inflicts' requires physical assault - use of extrinsic material including Second Reading Speeches - relevance of subsequent introduction of separate offence for transmission of diseases - whether re-enactment of provision signalled legislative agreement with preceding judicial interpretation Legislation Cited: Better Prevention of Offences Act 1851 (UK) Crimes Act 1900 Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) Crimes (Amendment) Act 1983 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Criminal Law Amendment Act 1883 Interpretation Act 1987 Offences Better Prevention Act 1852 Suitors' Fund Act 1951 Cases Cited: Beckwith v R [1976] HCA 55; 135 CLR 569 Commissioner of Taxation v Energy Resources of Australia Ltd [2003] FCAFC 314; 135 FCR 346 Farah Constructions Pty Ltd v Say-Dee Pty Ltd [2007] HCA 22; 230 CLR 89 Flaherty v Girgis [1987] HCA 17; 162 CLR 574 Harrison v Melhem [2008] NSWCA 67; 72 NSWLR 380 Hili v R [2010] HCA 45; 242 CLR 520 Melbourne Corporation v Barry [1922] HCA 56; 31 CLR 174 Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority [1998] HCA 28; 194 CLR 355 R v Cameron (1983) 2 NSWLR 66 R v Clarence (1888) 22 QBD 23 R v Dica [2004] EWCA Crim 1103; QB 1257 R v Halliday (1889) 61 LT 701; 6 TLR 109 R v Ireland [1998] AC 147 R v Reynhoudt [1962] HCA 23; 107 CLR 381 R v Salisbury [1976] VR 452 R v Wilson [1984] AC 242 Re Alcan Australia Ltd; Ex parte Federation of Industrial, Manufacturing and Engineering Employees [1994] HCA 34; 181 CLR 96 Salvation Army (Victoria) Property Trust v Shire of Fern Tree Gully [1952] HCA 4; 85 CLR 159 Williams v Dunn's Assignee [1908] HCA 27; 6 CLR 425 Texts Cited: D C Pearce and R C Geddes, Statutory Interpretation in Australia, 7th ed (2011) LexisNexis Butterworths Category: Principal judgment Parties: Regina (Appellant) Michael Aubrey (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: J Girdham/H Baker (Appellant) G James QC/P Lange (Respondent) Solicitors: Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (Appellant) Murphy's Lawyers (Respondent) File Number(s): 2012/247176 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9101 Citation: Regina v Michael Aubrey Date of Decision: 2012-03-08 00:00:00 Before: Sorby DCJ File Number(s): DC 2010/247176