Popovic v R; Hristovski v R; Bubanja v R; and Koloamatangi v R [2016] NSWCCA 202

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Popovic v R; Hristovski v R; Bubanja v R; and Koloamatangi v R [2016] NSWCCA 202 Hearing dates: 3 August 2016 Decision date: 21 September 2016 Before: Beazley P at [1]; R A Hulme J at [3]; Adamson J at [16] Decision: In respect of Mr Popovic, Mr Koloamatangi, Mr Bubanja and Mr Hristovski:

(1) Grant leave to appeal. (2) Allow the appeal. (3) Quash the conviction.

In respect of Mr Popovic and Mr Koloamatangi:

(4) Order that there be a retrial.

In respect of Mr Hristovski and Mr Bubanja:

(5) Enter verdicts of acquittal. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – conviction appeal – four applicants convicted by jury of murder – whether trial judge erred by failing to give a direction in accordance with Shepherd v The Queen (1990) 170 CLR 573 – Shepherd direction not required

CRIMINAL LAW – conviction appeal – function and duty of trial judge in summing up – whether misdirection about hearsay evidence – warning was erroneous and did not correspond to request – adequacy of warnings regarding unreliable evidence under Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 165 – whether trial judge erred by inviting jury to consider reason why Crown witness would lie – question diminished effect of warnings about unreliability of evidence – whether summing up unbalanced – applicants denied a fair trial – leave to appeal granted – appeal allowed – convictions quashed – retrial ordered for two applicants

CRIMINAL LAW – conviction appeal – unreasonable verdicts – guilty verdicts against two applicants were unreasonable having regard to evidence at trial – verdicts of acquittal entered Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 6 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 60, 165 Cases Cited: Adam v The Queen [2001] HCA 57; 207 CLR 96 B v The Queen (1992) 175 CLR 599 Browne v Dunn (1983) 6 R 67 Burrell v The Queen [2009] NSWCCA 163; 196 A Crim R 199 Cesan v The Queen [2008] HCA 52; 236 CLR 358 Demirok v The Queen (1977) 137 CLR 20 DPP v Ramlagun [2014] VSCA 68 Filippou v The Queen [2015] HCA 29; 256 CLR 47 Huynh v The Queen [2013] HCA 6; 87 ALJR 434 Kanaan v R [2006] NSWCCA 109 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487 MFA v The Queen [2002] HCA 53; 213 CLR 606 Onassis & Calogeropoulos v Vergottis [1968] 2 Lloyd's Rep 403 Palmer v The Queen (1998) 193 CLR 1 R v Birks (1990) 19 NSWLR 677 R v Davidson [2009] NSWCCA 150; 75 NSWLR 150 R v Jovanovic (1997) 42 NSWLR 520 R v Masters (1992) 26 NSWLR 450 R v Meher [2004] NSWCCA 355 R v Ortega-Farfan [2011] QCA 364; 215 A Crim R 251 R v Rose [2002] NSWCCA 455; 55 NSWLR 701 R v Salama [1999] NSWCCA 105 R v Towle (1954) 72 WN 338 Restricted Judgment [2016] NSWCCA 44 RPS v The Queen [2000] HCA 3; 199 CLR 620 Shepherd v The Queen (1990) 170 CLR 573 SKA v The Queen [2011] HCA 13; 243 CLR 400 South v R [2007] NSWCCA 117 Tsigos (1965) 36 ALJR 76 Weiss v The Queen [2005] HCA 81; 224 CLR 300 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Zlatan Popovic (Appellant) Tevi Koloamatangi (Appellant) Dalibor Bubanja (Appellant) Jason Hristovski (Appellant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: G Craddock SC (Appellant Popovic) T Gartelmann SC (Appellant Koloamatangi) T Game SC / P Lange (Appellant Bubanja) B Rigg SC (Appellant Hristovski) N Adams (Crown)