In the Matter of Steven Smith (No. 2) [2015] NSWSC 1141

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: In the Matter of Steven Smith (No. 2) [2015] NSWSC 1141 Hearing dates: 6 August 2015 Date of orders: 14 August 2015 Decision date: 14 August 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Criminal Before: Wilson J Decision: 1.Steven Smith is convicted of two counts of contempt of court. 2. Pursuant to s.53A, he is sentenced to imprisonment for 3 years, to date from 7 August 2028 and expiring on 6 August 2031. I decline to specify a non-parole period. Catchwords: CRIME – contempt of court – contemnor called as a witness in disputed facts hearing for murder– witness refused to take oath or affirmation - physical threats to court staff – considerations on sentence Legislation Cited: Bill of Rights 1688 (UK) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 Evidence Act 1995 Supreme Court Rules 1970 Cases Cited: Attorney-General for NSW v Whiley (1993) 31 NSWLR 314 Cahyadi v R v [2007] NSWCCA 1; (2007) 168 A Crim R 41 Khoury v R [2011] NSWCCA 118 Principal Registrar of the Supreme Court of NSW v Jando (2001) 53 NSWLR 527 Prothonotary v Wilson [1999] NSWSC 1148 R v Cartwright (1989) 17 NSWLR 243 R v Dodd (1991) 57 A Crim R 349 R v Ehrlich [2012] NSWCCA 38 R v Herring (NSW Supreme Court, Slattery AJ, 3 October 1991, unreported) R v Mostyn [2004] NSWCCA 97;(2004) 145 A Crim R 304 R v Raymond Kennedy [2014] NSWSC 1921 R v Razzak [2006] NSWSC 1366; (2006) 166 A Crim R 132 Re Johnson (1887) 20 QBD 68 Re Steven Smith [2015] NSWSC 832 Registrar of the Court of Appeal v Gilby (NSW Court of Appeal, Mahoney, Priestley and Clarke JJA, 20 August 1991, unreported) Registrar of the Court of Appeal v Maniam (No 2) (1992) 26 NSWLR 309 Registrar of the Court of Appeal v Raad (NSW Court of Appeal, Kirby P, Mahoney and Clarke JJA, 9 June 1992, unreported) Smale v R [2009] NSWCCA 220 Smith v R (1991) 25 NSWLR 1 T v R [2015] NSWCCA 28 Trad v Pickles Auction Pty Ltd; Re Carl Trad [2006] NSWSC 1177 Wilson v The Prothonotary [2000] NSWCA 23 Wood v Galea (1997) 92 A Crim R 287 Wood v Staunton (No 5) (1996) 86 A Crim R 183 Category: Sentence Parties: Steven Smith (Contemnor) Representation: Counsel: Ms. N Adams SC (Amicus Curiae) Ms. M Avenell for contemnor (Contemnor)