Hammond v R [2013] NSWCCA 93

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hammond v R [2013] NSWCCA 93 Hearing dates: 11 March 2013 Decision date: 10 May 2013 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1] Slattery J at [2-79] Bellew J at [80] Decision: Question of law on stated case answered in the negative. The facts set out in the case stated do not support a finding of guilt for an offence contrary to Crimes Act 1900 s 195(1)(a), in particular the evidence is not capable of proving beyond reasonable doubt that the applicant's conduct had damaged the seat in question. Applicant's conviction quashed pursuant to Criminal Appeal Act 1912 s 5B(3). Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - case stated from District Court under Criminal Appeal Act 1912 s 5B - applicant convicted of one count of malicious damage to property under Crimes Act 1900 s 195(1)(a) - applicant spat on a stainless steel seat in police dock - whether evidence supports the element in the charge that the applicant had damaged the seat - meaning of "damages" in Crimes Act 1900 s 195(1)(a). Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Rules Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW) Cases Cited: "A" (a Juvenile) v R [1978] Crim L Rev 689 Australian Gaslight Co v The Valuer-General (1940) 40 SR (NSW) 126 City of Hawthorn v Victorian Welfare Association [1970] VR 205 Collins v State Rail Authority of NSW (1986) 5 NSWLR 209 Commissioners for Special Purposes of Income Tax v Pemsel [1891] AC 531 Director of Public Prosecution v Fraser and O'Donnell [2008] NSWSC 244 Edwards v Bairstow [1956] AC 14 Elias v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2012] NSWCA 302 Foster (1852) 6 Cox 25 Hardman v Chief Constable of Avon & Somerset Constabulary [1986] Crim LR 330 Industrial Equity Limited v Corporate Affairs Commission(Vic) [1990] VR 780 King v Lees (1948) 65 TLR 21 Lavorato v R [2012] NSWCCA 61 Morphitis v Salmon (1990) Crim Law Reports 48 R v Bowden (1957) (3) SA 148 R v. Fisher (1865) L.R. 1 C.C.R. 7 R v Hayne, Court of Criminal Appeal (18 September 1998) CCA 60496/97 R v Henderson & Battley Court of Appeal (Crim Div) (Unrep 29/11/84) R v Madden (1995) 85 A Crim R 367 R v Rigby [1956] HCA 38; 100 CLR 146 R v. Tracey (1821) Russ. & Ry. 452; 168 E.R. 893 R v Zischke (1982) Qd. R. 240 Ranicar v Frigmobile Pty Limited [1983] Tas R 113 Re Van der Lubbe (1949) 49 SR (NSW) 309 Samuels v Stubbs (1972) 4 SASR 200 Talay v R [2010] NSWCCA 308 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Dion John Hammond (applicant) Director of Public Prosecution (respondent) Representation: Counsel: M Dennis (Applicant) H M Wilson (Respondent) Solicitors: Aboriginal Legal service S. Kavanagh - Solicitor for Public Prosecutions File Number(s): 2012/13873 Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2012-09-20 00:00:00 Before: Lerve DCJ File Number(s): 2012/13873