AL v Regina [2017] NSWCCA 34

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: AL v Regina [2017] NSWCCA 34 Hearing dates: 27 February 2017 Decision date: 22 March 2017 Before: Leeming JA, Schmidt J, Wilson J Decision: (1) Leave granted to appeal on grounds 1 and 3. (2) Leave to appeal on grounds 2 and 4 is refused. (3) Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – conviction appeal – three counts of sexual intercourse with a child under the age of 10 – complainant aged 4 to 5 – delay in bringing prosecution – whether trial judge failed to appropriately warn jury as to unreliability of complainant's evidence – s 165 Evidence Act direction – Murray direction - capacity of jury to assess evidence given in denial of charges – whether trial judge failed to adequately direct jury as to the burden and standard of proof – whether trial judge failed adequately to direct jury as to the accused's evidence – child accused – whether trial judge failed to adequately direct jury on question of doli incapax – RP v The Queen [2016] HCA 53 considered – whether verdict unreasonable or cannot be supported by the evidence – open to jury to find guilt beyond reasonable doubt – appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW) Criminal Appeal Rules Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Cases Cited: AP v R [2013] NSWCCA 189 Browne v Dunn (1893) 6 R 67 DRE v R [2006] NSWCCA 280; (2006)164 A Crim R 400 Ewen v R [2015] NSWCCA 117; (2015) 250 A Crim R 544 Hong v The Queen [2009] NSWCCA 242 Ith v R [2012] NSWCCA 70 JJB v R [2006] NSWCCA 126; (2006) 161 A Crim R 187 Liberato v The Queen (1985) 159 CLR 507 Libke v The Queen [2007] HCA 30; 230 CLR 559 Llewellyn v R [2011] NSWCCA 66 Longman v The Queen (1989) 168 CLR 79 M v The Queen [1994] HCA 63; 181 CLR 487 Picker v R [2002] NSWCCA 78 R v Abdallah [2001] NSWCCA 506; (2001) 127 A Crim R 46 R v Banic [2004] NSWCCA 322 R v Dennis [1999] NSWCCA 23 R v Germakian (2007) 70 NSWLR 467 R v ITA [2003] NSWCCA 174; (2003) 139 A Crim R 340 R v Markuleski (2001) 52 NSWLR 82 R v Murray (1987) 11 NSWLR 12 R v N, RC [2012] SASCFC 3; (2012) 112 SASR 399 R v Scott [2004] NSWCCA 254 R v TJ [2009] NSWCCA 257; (2009) 76 NSWLR 167 R v MBX [2013] QCA 214; [2014] 1 Qd R 438 RP v The Queen [2016] HCA 53 RWB v R [2010] NSWCCA 147 SKA v Regina [2012] NSWCCA 205 Stapleton v The Queen (1952) 86 CLR 358 The Queen v Baden-Clay [2016] HCA 35; 90 ALJR 1013 The Queen v GW [2016] HCA 6 The Queen v M (1977) 16 SASR 589 Tully v The Queen (2006) 230 CLR 234 Category: Principal judgment Parties: AL – Applicant Regina – Respondent Crown Representation: Counsel: T Game SC and L Hutchinson (Applicant) M Cinque SC (Respondent Crown)