R v Thomas [2015] NSWSC 537

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Thomas [2015] NSWSC 537 Hearing dates: 5, 6 May 2015 Decision date: 08 May 2015 Before: R A Hulme J Decision: Manslaughter: Not guilty Reckless grievous bodily harm: On the limited evidence available, the accused committed the offence Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – accused unfit to plead - special hearing – judge alone - manslaughter – reckless infliction of grievous bodily harm – Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) ss 19, 21 and 21A CRIMINAL LAW – manslaughter – unlawful and dangerous act – dangerousness test – attributes of reasonable person - accused of moderate intellectual disability – extremely poor information processing speed and impaired conceptual reasoning – accused's level of intellectual disability attributed to reasonable person Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) s 35(2)(b) Criminal Code (Tas) s 156 (2)(b) Mental Health (Forensic Provisions) Act 1990 (NSW) ss 16, 19, 21 Cases Cited: Director of Public Prosecutions v Newbury [1977] AC 500 Director of Public Prosecutions (Vic) v TY [2006] VSC 494; 167 A Crim R 596 Lane v R [2013] NSWCCA 317 Leigh Ann Russell by her next friend Julie Ann Russell v Rail Infrastructure Corporation [2007] NSWSC 402 McHale v Watson [1966] HCA 13; 115 CLR 199 R v Besim [2004] VSC 169; 148 A Crim R 28 R v Edwards [2008] SASC 303 R v Holzer [1968] VR 481 R v Thomas [2014] NSWSC 1181 R v Vangelder (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW), 28 February 1994, unrep) R v Wills [1983] 2 VR 201 Royall v The Queen [1991] HCA 27; 172 CLR 378 Stingel v The Queen [1990] HCA 61; 171 CLR 312 The Queen v Lavender [2005] HCA 37; 222 CLR 67 Wilson v The Queen [1992] HCA 31; 174 CLR 313 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Regina Michael Thomas Representation: Counsel: Mr P Lynch (Crown) Mr M Ierace SC (Accused)