Tieu v R [2016] NSWCCA 111

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Tieu v R [2016] NSWCCA 111 Hearing dates: 6 April 2016 Decision date: 10 June 2016 Before: Basten JA at [1]; McCallum J at [106]; Davies J at [134] Decision: (1) Grant leave to appeal.

(2) Allow the appeal and quash the conviction in the District Court.

(3) Order a new trial. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – leave to appeal against conviction – challenge to cross-examination of accused as to credit – prosecutor questioned accused as to prior convictions without leave of the Court – no objection by counsel – whether explicit grant of leave required – whether r 4, Criminal Appeal Rules applies

EVIDENCE – whether trial judge obliged to reject evidence pursuant to Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 137 if no objection taken – whether s 137 applies to credibility evidence

EVIDENCE – accused challenged credibility of prosecution witness – whether gateway to cross-examination of accused opened – whether leave granted pursuant to Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 104 Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 5, 5F, 6 Criminal Appeal Rules, r 4 Criminal Justice Act 2003 (UK), s 103 Evidence Act 1898, s 56 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 38, 55, 101A, 102, 103, 104, 104A, 135, 137, 190, 192, Dictionary Evidence Amendment Act 2007 (NSW), Sch 1 [41] Interpretation Act 1987 (NSW), s 6 Cases Cited: Button and Griffen v R [2002] NSWCCA 159; 129 A Crim R 242 Chand v R [2011] NSWCCA 53 Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 196 CLR 297; [1999] HCA 37 Penza and Di Maria v Regina [2013] NSWCCA 21 Poniris v R [2014] NSWCCA 100 Potts v R [2012] NSWCCA 229; 227 A Crim R 217 R v Aldridge (1990) 20 NSWLR 737 R v Cook [2004] NSWCCA 52 R v El-Azzi [2004] NSWCCA 455 R v FDP (2008) 74 NSWLR 645; [2008] NSWCCA 317 R v Hanson [2005] 1 WLR 3169 R v Le (2002) 54 NSWLR 474; [2002] NSWCCA 186 Regina v Milakovic [2004] NSWCCA 199 Regina v RPS (unrep, NSWCCA, 13 August 1997) Shepherd v R [2011] NSWCCA 245 Steve v R [2008] NSWCCA 231; 189 A Crim R 68 Texts Cited: Uniform Evidence Law (December 2005), (ALRC Report 102, NSWLRC Report 112, VLRC Final Report) par 12.28. Category: Principal judgment Parties: Andrew Tieu (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: P Coady (Applicant) S Dowling SC (Respondent)