Batcheldor v R & Walsh v R [2014] NSWCCA 252

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Batcheldor v R & Walsh v R [2014] NSWCCA 252 Hearing dates: 23 May 2014 Decision date: 10 November 2014 Before: Bathurst CJ at [1] Hidden at [3] R A Hulme J at [127] Decision: Batcheldor: Appeal allowed, conviction of each count quashed, new trial ordered. Walsh: Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – appeals against conviction – murder, specially aggravated kidnapping – basis of complicity as a principal in the second degree in specially aggravated kidnapping, constructive murder – element of "in company" in specially aggravated kidnapping – whether direction as to malice required for constructive murder Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 Crimes Amendment Act 2007 Evidence Act 1995 Cases Cited: Browne v Dunn (1894) 6 R 67 Chen v R [2013] NSWCCA 116 FP v R [2012] NSWCCA 182 (reported in part in 224 A Crim R 82) Johns v The Queen (1979-80) 143 CLR 108 Mraz v The Queen (1955) 93 CLR 493 Penza and Di Maria v Regina [2013] NSWCCA 21 R v Baartman [2000] NSWCCA 298 R v Betts & Ridley (1930) 22 Cr App R 148 R v Button and Griffen [2002] NSWCCA 159, 54 NSWLR 455 R v R & G (1995) 63 SASR 417, 79 A Crim R 191 R v Shahra (1992) 30 NSWLR 292 R v Solomon [1959] QdR 123 R v Van Beelen (1973) 4 SASR 353 Reg v Johns [1978] 1 NSWLR 282 Royall v The Queen (1990-91) 172 CLR 378 Texts Cited: NSW Law Reform Commission, Complicity, Report No 129 (December 2010) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Lauren Mae Batcheldor (appellant) Richard James Walsh (appellant) Regina (Crown) Representation: Counsel: D Dalton SC & J Healey (appellant Batcheldor) P Lange (appellant Walsh) P Ingram SC (Crown)