R v MR [2013] NSWCCA 236

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v MR [2013] NSWCCA 236 Hearing dates: 19 September 2013 Decision date: 18 October 2013 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1] Schmidt J at [2] Beech-Jones J at [20] Decision: 1. The ruling of Quirk DCJ on 05.03.13 that the material set out in the coincidence notice dated 26.02.13 as amended is not admissible for coincidence purposes be set aside. 2. The material set out in the coincidence notice dated 26.02.13 as amended be admitted for coincidence purposes. 3. The order made by Quirk DCJ on 05.03.13 severing the counts on the indictment be set aside. 4. The notice of motion filed 27.07.12 by the respondent in proceedings number 2011/163025 be dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - Crown appeal against ruling excluding coincidence evidence - Crown appeal against interlocutory judgment severing counts on indictment - whether ruling eliminated or substantially weakened the prosecution case - Criminal Appeal Act 1912, 2 5F.

EVIDENCE - admissibility - coincidence evidence - test - relevance - significant probative value - Evidence Act 1995, ss 55 and 98. Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Evidence Act 1995 Evidence Amendment Act 2007 Cases Cited: - Dao v R [2011] NSWCCA 63; 278 ALR 765 - DSJ v R; NS v R [2012] NSWCCA 9; 259 FLR 262 - House v R [1936] HCA 40; 55 CLR 499 - KRM v R [2001] HCA 11; 206 CLR 221 - Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs v Eshetu [1999] HCA 21; 197 CLR 611 - R v Ceissman [2010] NSWCCA 50 - R v Oliver (1984) 57 ALR 543 - R v Shamouil [2006] NSWCCA 112; 66 NSWLR 228 - R v Zhang [2005] NSWCCA 437; 158 A Crim R 504 - Shrimpton v Commonwealth [1945] HCA 4; 69 CLR 613 - Sutton v R [1984] HCA 5; 152 CLR 528 Texts Cited: - ALRC Discussion Paper 69: Review of the Uniform Evidence Act - ALRC Report 102: Uniform Evidence Law Report Category: Principal judgment Parties: Crown (Appellant) "MR" (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms N. Noman SC (Appellant) P. Skinner (Respondent) Solicitors: Deputy Director of Public Prosecutions (Appellant) Meridian Legal (Respondent) File Number(s): 2011/163025 Publication restriction: NIL, but note Respondent due for trial on 28 October 2013. Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2013-03-05 00:00:00 Before: Quirk DCJ