DPP v Zhijang Cheng and Shu Shirley Xuan [2016] NSWLC 22

Local Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: DPP v Zhijang Cheng and Shu Shirley Xuan [2016] NSWLC 22 Hearing dates: 12, 13, 14, 15 and 16 December 2016 Date of orders: 16 December 2016 Decision date: 16 December 2016 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Magistrate Tsavdaridis Decision: (1) I find the First Defendant, Zhijang Cheng, guilty of the offence of dishonestly, for gain, damaging property by fire (Sequence 1) and the offence of dishonestly attempt to obtain financial advantage by deception (Sequence 3)

(2) I find the Second Defendant, Shu Shirley Xuan, not guilty of the offence of dishonestly attempt to obtain financial advantage by deception (Sequence 2) Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW - Arson - Fraudulent insurance claim - Dishonestly, for gain, destroy property by fire - Dishonestly obtain financial advantage by deception (attempt) Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 197(1)(b), 192E(1)(b), 344A Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Sch 1, Table 1, Part 2 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) s 177 Cases Cited: Attwood v R (1960) 102 CLR 353 Chamberlain v R (No 2) (1984) 153 CLR 521 Flack v R [2011] NSWCCA 167 Fleming v R (1998) 197 CLR 250 May v O'Sullivan [1955] HCA 38 Peacock v R (1911) 13 CLR 619 Pitkin v R (1995) 130 ALR 35 Plomp v R (1963) 110 CLR 234 R v Chishimba [2010] NSWCCA 228 R v Licardy (Unreported, NSWCCA, 26 May 1995) R v Murphy (1985) 4 NSWLR 42 R v Tangye (1997) 92 A Crim R 545 Shepherd v R (1990) 170 CLR 573 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Director of Public Prosecutions (Crown) Zhijang Cheng (First Defendant) Shu Shirley Xuan (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr J Galluzzo - Zhijang Cheng (First Defendant) Mr A Conwell - Shu Shirley Xuan (Second Defendant)