RP v R [2015] NSWCCA 215

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: RP v R [2015] NSWCCA 215 Hearing dates: 15 June 2015 Date of orders: 26 August 2015 Decision date: 26 August 2015 Before: Johnson J at [1] Davies J at [10] Hamill J at [119] Decision: 1. Grant leave to appeal in respect of the conviction appeal. 2. Appeal upheld with respect to count 4. 3. Quash the conviction in respect of count 4 and enter an acquittal. 4. Dismiss the conviction appeal in respect of counts 2 and 3. 5. Leave to appeal in respect of the sentence. 6. Dismiss the sentence appeal. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – sexual intercourse with a child under 10 years – aggravated indecent assault – accused was older half-brother of victim - accused aged between 11 and 13 years – doli incapax – whether presumption rebutted – what acts may be considered – whether surrounding circumstances of first offence could be used in assessing if presumption rebutted for later offences – judge alone trial – ground of appeal asserting unreasonable verdict – how Court of Criminal Appeal considers unreasonable verdict ground in a judge alone trial – sentence – whether accused occupied a position of trust - whether manifestly excessive - totality Legislation Cited: Children (Criminal Proceedings) Act 1987 (NSW) Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Rules (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Cases Cited: AEL v R [2007] NSWCCA 97; (2007) 170 A Crim R 355 AK v Western Australia [2008] HCA 8; (2008) 232 CLR 438 Avery v R [2015] NSWCCA 50 Baiada Poultry Pty Ltd v The Queen [2012] HCA 14; 246 CLR 92 Baini v The Queen [2012] HCA 59; (2012) 246 CLR 469 BP v Regina, SW v Regina [2006] NSWCCA 172 C (A Minor) v Director of Public Prosecutions [1996] AC 1; [1995] 2 All ER 43 DK v Rooney & Anor (Supreme Court (NSW), 3 July 1996, unrep) Filippou v R [2013] NSWCCA 92 Filippou v The Queen [2015] HCA 29 Fleming v R [1998] HCA 68; (1998) 197 CLR 250 Handlen v The Queen [2011] HCA 51; (2011) 245 CLR 282 Hedges v R [2011] NSWCCA 263 Kentwell v The Queen [2014] HCA 37; (2014) 252 CLR 601 KRM v R [2001] HCA 11; (2001) 206 CLR 221 KT v R [2008] NSWCCA 51; (2008) 182 A Crim R 571 Kurtic v R (1996) 85 A Crim R 57 Lazaris v R [2014] NSWCCA 163 Libke v The Queen [2007] HCA 30; (2007) 230 CLR 559 M v The Queen [1994] HCA 63; (1994) 181 CLR 487 MS2 & Ors v Regina [2005] NSWCCA 397; (2005) 158 A Crim R 93 R (a Child) v Whitty (1993) 66 A Crim R 462 R v ALH [2003] VSCA 129; (2003) 6 VR 276 R v CRH (Court of Criminal Appeal (NSW), 18 December 1996, unrep) R v Elliot and Blessington [2006] NSWCCA 305; (2006) 164 A Crim R 208 R v GDP (1991) 53 A Crim R 112 R v Gorrie (1919) 83 JP 136 R v Hillier [2007] HCA 13; (2007) 228 CLR 618 R v Markuleski [2001] NSWCCA 290; (2001) 52 NSWLR 82 R v Moffatt [2000] NSWCCA 174; (2000) 112 A Crim R 201 Regina v JDB [2005] NSWCCA 102; (2005) 153 A Crim R 164 Regina v KBM [2004] NSWCCA 123 Regina v KLH [2004] NSWCCA 312; (2004) 148 A Crim R 515 Regina v SDM [2001] NSWCCA 158; (2001) 51 NSWLR 530 RH v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2013] NSWSC 520 Sabel v R; R v Sabel [2014] NSWCCA 101 Shepherd v The Queen [1990] HCA 56; (1990) 170 CLR 573 SKA v R [2011] HCA 13; (2011) 243 CLR 400 Slade v The Queen [2005] NZCA 19; [2005] 2 NZLR 526 Thammavongsa v Regina [2015] NSWCCA 107 W v R [2014] NSWCCA 110 Weiss v The Queen [2005] HCA 81; (2005) 224 CLR 300 Wilde v The Queen [1988] HCA 6; (1988) 164 CLR 365 Texts Cited: Matthew Johnston, 'Doli Incapax' (Paper presented at the Legal Aid Children's Legal Service Criminal Law Conference, Sydney, 30 May 2009) Category: Principal judgment Parties: RP (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P Wass SC & C Bembrick (Applicant) G O'Rourke (Crown)