Thornton v R [2017] NSWCCA 86

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Thornton v R [2017] NSWCCA 86 Hearing dates: 15 November 2016 Decision date: 03 May 2017 Before: Ward JA at [1]; Campbell J at [224]; N Adams J at [225] Decision: 1. Insofar as leave is necessary, grant leave to appeal. 2. Dismiss the appeal. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – conviction appeal – assault committing act of indecency on child under 16 – trial heard by judge alone – whether trial judge did not consider or properly consider the defence case – whether judge did not give adequate reasons for the verdicts – whether verdicts unreasonable and cannot be supported having regard to evidence – whether the possibility that complainant conflated identity of appellant with that of her mother's partner, against whom she made very similar allegations, should have given rise to reasonable doubt on part of trial judge – appeal dismissed Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 61M(2), 66A, 66B Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), s 5(1)(b) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), s 133(2) Cases Cited: Atai v R [2014] NSWCCA 210 Cutajar v R [2016] NSWCCA 222 Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) v Knight (2006) 162 A Crim R 555; [2006] NSWSC 646 Douglass v The Queen (2012) 86 ALJR 1086; [2012] HCA 34 Filippou v The Queen (2015) 256 CLR 47; [2015] HCA 29 Fleming v The Queen (1998) 197 CLR 250; [1998] HCA 68 HML v The Queen; SB v The Queen; OAE v The Queen (2008) 235 CLR 334; [2008] HCA 16 Libke v The Queen (2007) 230 CLR 559; [2007] HCA 30 M v The Queen (1994) 181 CLR 487; [1994] HCA 63 Parton v R [2016] NSWCCA 291 R v Prasad (1979) 23 SASR 161 R v Stringer (2000) 116 A Crim R 198; [2000] NSWCCA 293 Siafakas v R [2016] NSWCCA 100 Soulemezis v Dudley (Holdings) Pty Ltd (1987) 10 NSWLR 247 W v R [2014] NSWCCA 110 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert John Thornton (Appellant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Ms M Avenell (Appellant) Ms S Dowling SC (Respondent)