R v Obeid (No 5) [2015] NSWSC 1967

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Obeid (No 5) [2015] NSWSC 1967 Hearing dates: 17 December 2015 Date of orders: 17 December 2015 Decision date: 17 December 2015 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Beech-Jones J Decision: (1) The notice of motion filed 14 December 2015 be dismissed. (2) Pursuant to s 8 of the Court Suppression and Non-Publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW), it being necessary to prevent prejudice to the proper administration of justice, this judgment is not to be published. Catchwords: Criminal Law – application to stay criminal proceedings pending application for special leave to appeal from Obeid v R [2015] NSWCCA 309 – effect of stay would be to cause significant delay in criminal trial – approach to application – same approach as that of intermediate court of criminal appeal considering stay pending application for special leave – factors – R v Elliot – delay in criminal trial as a result of interlocutory appeal is per se prejudicial – assessment of prospects of special leave – proposed questions concern jurisdiction and whether parliamentarian is a public officer for purposes of common law offence of wilful misconduct in public office - nevertheless prospects of special leave being granted very low – applicant unlikely to be successful in appeal – points available if applicant convicted – prejudice to applicant if application not granted – no substantial effect on legal rights – will endure stress and potential reputational damage – less weight attributed to that effect compared with delay to trial – application dismissed Legislation Cited: • Australia Act 1986 (Cth) • Australia Act 1986 (UK) • Court Suppression and Non-Publication Orders Act 2010 (NSW), s 8 • Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5F(3) • Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 128, s 132 • Judiciary Act 1903 (Cth) Cases Cited: • Abibadra & Ors v The Queen [2011] HCA Trans 171 • Adler v The Queen [2004] HCA Trans 546 • Bacon v Rose & Anor [1972] 2 NSWLR 793 • Jennings Constructions v Burgundy Royale Investments (No 1) [1986] HCA 84; 161 CLR 681 • Michael Aubrey (aka Albury) v The Queen [2013] HCA Trans 110 • Obeid v Ipp (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 1852 • Obeid v R [2015] NSWCCA 309 • Patrick Stevedores Operations No 2 Pty Limited v Maritime Union of Australia (No 2) [1998] HCA 32; 72 ALJR 869 • R v Boston [1923] HCA 59; 33 CLR 386 • R v Chaytor [2011] 1 AC 684 • R v Elliott [1996] HCA 21;185 CLR 250 • R v Obeid [2015] NSWSC 897 • R v Obeid (No 2) [2015] NSWSC 1380 • R v Obeid (No 3) [2015] NSWSC 1441 • R v Obeid (No 4) [2015] NSWSC 1442 • R v Quach [2010] VSCA 106; 201 A Crim R 522 • Rinehart v Welker [2012] NSWCA 1 • Sankey v Whitlam [1978] HCA 43; 142 CLR 1 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Regina – Applicant Edward Moses Obeid – Respondent Representation: Counsel: P. Neil SC – Crown G. Reynolds SC, S. Nixon and D. Hume – Respondent