Aouad v R; El-Zayet v R [2013] NSWSC 760

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Aouad v R; El-Zayet v R [2013] NSWSC 760 Hearing dates: 26 April 2013 Decision date: 14 June 2013 Before: Price J Decision: The notices of motion are dismissed Catchwords: EVIDENCE - client legal privilege - internal document handed up in court to confirm decision of no further proceedings (s 7(2)(b) Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 (NSW)) - whether document privileged under s 118 and s 119 of Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) - whether Director of Public Prosecutions is "client" and Deputy Director is "Australian lawyer" - whether client legal privilege waived by act of Crown Prosecutor handing document up in court to be filed with the court file - whether consent imputed to client - whether court functus officio at time of handing up of document Legislation Cited: Crown Prosecutors Act 1986 (NSW) Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 (NSW) Director's Prosecution Guidelines Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Cases Cited: Beckett v New South Wales [2013] HCA 17; (2013) 297 ALR 206 Chen v City Convenience Leasing Pty Ltd [2005] NSWCA 297 Cooper v Hobbs [2013] NSWCA 70 Mann v Carnell [1999] HCA 66; (1999) 201 CLR 1 R v Bunting [2002] SASC 412; (2002) 84 SASR 378 R v GKA (1998) 99 A Crim R 491 R v Howard (1992) 29 NSWLR 242 R v Janceski [2005] NSWCCA 281; (2005) 64 NSWLR 10 R (Cth) v Petroulias (No 22) [2007] NSWSC 692; (2007) 213 FLR 293 R (Cth) v Petroulias (No 24) [2007] NSWSC 783 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Ramzi Aouad (First applicant) Naseam El-Zayet (Second applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: I McLachlan (First applicant) C Waterstreet/ N Carroll (Second applicant) J A Girdham (Respondent) Solicitors: George Sten & Co Solicitors (First applicant) Bannisters Lawyers (Second applicant) Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions (Respondent) File Number(s): SC 2005/2620; SC 2005/2678 Publication restriction: Nil