Williams v R [2012] NSWCCA 286

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Williams v R [2012] NSWCCA 286 Hearing dates: 1 November 2012 Decision date: 20 December 2012 Before: Basten JA at [1]; Adams J at [17]; R A Hulme J at [30] Decision: Leave to appeal against conviction refused. Leave to appeal against sentence refused. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - appeal and new trial - objections or points not raised in court below - Rule 4 of Criminal Appeal Rules - whether rule applies when trial continued after accused absconded but counsel remained - consideration as to role of counsel after accused absconded CRIMINAL LAW - particular offences - offences against the person - dangerous driving occasioning death or grievous bodily harm - whether accused remained the driver at the time of impact after passenger grabbed the steering wheel CRIMINAL LAW - procedure - hearing in open court and in presence of accused - accused absconding during trial - waiver of right to be present - discretion to continue trial in accused's absence CRIMINAL LAW - sentence - nature and circumstances of offence - dangerous driving occasioning death and grievous bodily harm - whether passenger grabbing steering wheel reduced objective seriousness of offence - whether error in accumulating sentences Legislation Cited: Bail Act 1978 (NSW) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Rules (NSW) Road Traffic Act 1961 (SA) Road Transport (General) Act 2005 (NSW) Cases Cited: Bassell v McGuiness (1981) 29 SASR 508 Cahyadi v R [2007] NSWCCA 1; (2007) 168 A Crim R 41 Duncan v R [2012] NSWCCA 78 House v The King [1940] HCA 40; (1936) 55 CLR 499 Jamal v R [2012] NSWCCA 198 Jiminez v The Queen [1992] HCA 14; (1992) 173 CLR 572 Langman v Valentine [1952] 2 All ER 803 Makarov v R (No 2) [2008] NSWCCA 292 Pearce v The Queen [1998] HCA 57; 194 CLR 610 Police v Thompson [2006] SASC 20; (2006) 45 MVR 37 R v Affleck (1992) 65 A Crim R 96 R v Black (NSWCCA 23 July 1998, unreported) R v Dunlop [2001] NSWCCA 435 R v Janceski [2005] NSWCCA 288 R v Jones [1998] SASC 7021; (1998) 72 SASR 281 R v McHardie & Danielson [1983] 2 NSWLR 733 R v Rayner [2002] NSWCCA 309 R v Reeves [1999] NSWCCA 269 R v Wilkins (1988) 38 A Crim R 445 Regina v XX [2009] NSWCCA 115; (2009) 195 A Crim R 38 Richards v R [2006] NSWCCA 262 Ricketts v Laws (1988) 14 NSWLR 311 Skipworth v R [2006] NSWCCA 37 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Michelle Dorothy Vera Williams (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr S Russell (Applicant) Ms J Girdham SC (Respondent) Solicitors: Peter Murphy Criminal Law Solicitor for Public Prosecutions File Number(s): 2009/90310 Decision under appeal Jurisdiction: 9101 Date of Decision: 2011-11-04 00:00:00 Before: Payne DCJ File Number(s): 2009/9031