R v Kearnes; R v Paton [2013] NSWSC 1139

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Kearnes; R v Paton [2013] NSWSC 1139 Hearing dates: 9 August 2013 Decision date: 09 August 2013 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Criminal Before: Button J Decision: The trials of Peter John Kearnes and Christopher John Paton for the murder of the deceased are to proceed separately. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - joint trial of two co-accused - application for separate trial - admission by one co-accused - whether positive injustice arises - whether evidence against applicant weaker than evidence against other co-accused - whether evidence highly prejudicial against applicant - whether weaker case is made immeasurably stronger by prejudicial material - meaning of immeasurably - impossibility of compartmentalisation of prejudicial material - positive injustice established - separate trials ordered Cases Cited: Assim v The Queen [1966] 2 QB 249 Gilbert v The Queen [2000] HCA 15; (2000) 201 CLR 414 Guimond v The Queen (1979) 44 CCC 481 Gulder v The Queen (1986) 8 NSWLR 12 R v Baartman (Court of Criminal Appeal of New South Wales, Gleeson CJ, Powell JA and Smart J, 6 October 1994, unreported). R v Beavan (1952) 69 WN NSW 140 R v Darby [1982] HCA 32; (1982) 148 CLR 668 R v Dellapatrona; R v Duffield (1993) 31 NSWLR 123 R v Ignjatic (1993) 68 A Crim R 333 R v Lu; R v Pham [2007] NSWSC 1141 R v Middis (unreported, Supreme Court of New South Wales, 27 March 1991) R v Pham [2004] NSWCCA 190 Webb v The Queen; Hay v The Queen [1983] HCA 30; (1994) 181 CLR 41 Category: Interlocutory applications Parties: Regina Peter John Kearnes Christopher John Paton Representation: Counsel: W Creasey (Regina) P Williams (Kearnes) E Wilson SC (Paton) Solicitors: Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (Regina) Legal Aid NSW (Kearnes) Pogson Cronin (Paton) File Number(s): 11/315156 - R v Kearnes 11/359425 - R v Paton