R v GM [2016] NSWCCA 78

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: R v GM [2016] NSWCCA 78 Hearing dates: 22 July 2015 Decision date: 05 May 2016 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1] Hall J at [127] Button J at [128 ] Decision: (1) That the Crown appeal, pursuant to ss 5F(2) and 5F(3A) of the Criminal Appeal Act 1912 be allowed. (2) That the orders of English DCJ of 18 March 2015 be quashed. (3) That the six counts on the indictment against the respondent be heard together. (4) That the Crown be at liberty to adduce as tendency evidence in that trial the evidence of JM, CM, SM, HM and JC. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – evidence – tendency evidence – where applicant indicted on multiple counts of sexual assault involving three complainants – whether error in ordering separate trials in respect of each complainant – whether error in primary judge finding a real chance or possibility of concoction or contamination in relation to the evidence of the complainants and tendency witnesses – approach to assessing probative value in s 97 Evidence Act – approach to the balancing exercise in s 101(2) of Evidence Act – appeal by Crown under s 5F allowed – six counts on indictment to be heard together – Crown to be at liberty to adduce tendency evidence. Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) - s 5F(2), s 5F(3A) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) – ss 97, 101 Cases Cited: BJS v Regina [2011] NSWCCA 239 BP v R; R v BP [2010] NSWCCA 303 DJW v R [2015] NSWCCA 164 DSJ v R; NS v R [2012] NSWCCA 9 Hoch v The Queen [1988] HCA 50; 165 CLR 292 Hughes v R [2015] NSWCCA 330 IMM v The Queen [2016] HCA 14 JG v R [2014] NSWCCA 138 Jones v R [2014] NSWCCA 280 McIntosh v R [2015] NSWCCA 184 Regina v Ellis [2003] NSWCCA 319; 58 NSWLR 700 R v Best [1998] 102 A Crim R 56 R v GM (District Court (NSW), 18 March 2015, unrep) R v Shamouil [2006] NSWCCA 112; 66 NSWLR 228 R v XY [2013] NSWCCA 121; (2013) 84 NSWLR 363 The Queen v Glennon (No 2) [2001] VSCA 17 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Regina – Appellant Crown GM - Respondent Representation: Counsel: Ms T Smith – Appellant Crown Mr P Boulten SC - Respondent