FH v Regina [2014] NSWCCA 231

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: FH v Regina [2014] NSWCCA 231 Hearing dates: 18 June 2014 Decision date: 18 November 2014 Before: Price J at 1; Harrison J at 11; Garling J at 204 Decision: (1)Allow the appeal. (2)Quash the convictions. (3)Direct the entry of verdicts of acquittal. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - appeal against conviction - charges of sexual assault upon child - Crimes Act 1900, s 66C(2), s 61M(1), s 61O(2) - directions to jury and summing up - whether misdirection on use of photographs as corroboration, failure to cross-examine complainant on inconsistent statement or limitations upon use of context evidence - whether trial judge adequately put defence case to jury - whether erroneous failure to permit accused to raise prior good character - whether verdicts unreasonable or unsupportable Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 Criminal Appeal Act 1912 Evidence Act 1995 Cases Cited: AP v R [2013] NSWCCA 189 B v The Queen [1992] HCA 68; (1992) 175 CLR 599 DJV v R [2008] NSWCCA 272; (2008) 200 A Crim R 206 Douglass v The Queen [2012] HCA 34; (2012) 86 ALJR 1086 El-Jalkh v R [2009] NSWCCA 139 Healey v R [2006] NSWCCA 235 Ith v R [2012] NSWCCA 70 Libke v The Queen [2007] HCA 30; (2007) 230 CLR 559 M v The Queen [1994] HCA 63; (1994) 181 CLR 487 Mahmood v Western Australia [2008] HCA 1; (2008) 232 CLR 397 Maraache v R [2013] NSWCCA 199 Melbourne v The Queen [1999] HCA 32; (1999) 198 CLR 1 Miles v R [2014] NSWCCA 72 Penza and Di Maria v R [2013] NSWCCA 21 PGM v R [2006] NSWCCA 310; (2006) 164 A Crim R 426 PGM (No 2) v R [2012] NSWCCA 261 Picken v R [2007] NSWCCA 319 Qualtieri v R [2006] NSWCCA 95; (2006) 171 A Crim R 463 R v Abusafiah (1991) 24 NSWLR 531 R v Kanaan [2005] NSWCCA 385; (2005) 157 A Crim R 238 R v Meher [2004] NSWCCA 355 R v Tomazos (unreported, NSWCCA, 6 August 1979) R v Vonarx [1999] 3 VR 618 R v Wilson [2005] NSWCCA 20; (2005) 62 NSWLR 346 Rodden v R [2008] NSWCCA 53; (2008) 182 A Crim R 227 Sanchez v R [2009] NSWCCA 171; (2009) 196 A Crim R SKA v The Queen [2011] HCA 13; (2011) 243 CLR 400 Wong v R [2009] NSWCCA 101 Category: Principal judgment Parties: FH (Appellant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: H Dhanji SC with S Buchen (Appellant) S Herbert (Crown) Solicitors: Phillip Sim & Associates Lawyers (Appellant) Solicitor for Public Prosecutions (Crown) File Number(s): 2010/254679 Publication restriction: The complainant and the appellant to be identified by pseudonym only Decision under appeal Date of Decision: 2012-04-27 00:00:00 Before: Neilson DCJ File Number(s): 2010/254679