R v Gaetano VITALE; R v Angelo VITALE; R v Mark SCALIA [2015] NSWDC 424

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Gaetano VITALE; R v Angelo VITALE; R v Mark SCALIA [2015] NSWDC 424 Hearing dates: 27 – 29 July 2015 Date of orders: 30 July 2015 Decision date: 30 July 2015 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Yehia SC DCJ Decision: Admissibility of expert evidence. Catchwords: Application of a ratio to determine the quantity of drugs manufactured; admissibility of expert evidence under sections 79; 135 and 137; "knowledge" under section 79 is "any body of known facts or any body of ideas inferred from such facts accepted as truths on good grounds". Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 79, 135, 137 Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW) s 24(2) Cases Cited: Dasreef Pty Ltd v Hawcher [2011] HCA 21 Daubert v Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals 509 US 579 (1993) Dupas v The Queen [2012] VSCA 328 Hannes v The DPP [2006] NSWCCA 373 Honeysett v The Queen [2014] HCA 29 Kumho Tire Co Ltd v Carmichael 526 US 137 (1999) Makita Pty Ltd v Sprowles (2001) 52 NSWLR 705 Regina v Shamouil [2006] NSWCCA 112 R v Burton [2013] NSWCCA 335 R v Tang [2006] NSWCCA 167 R v XY [2013] NSWCCA 121 Tuite v The Queen [2015] VSCA 148 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Regina (Crown) Gaetano Vitale (Accused) Angelo Vitale (Accused) Mark Scalia (Accused) Representation: Counsel: Mr D Patch (Crown) Mr P Kintominos (Scalia) Ms K Stares (A Vitale) Mr A Boe with Ms McGee (G Vitale) File Number(s): 2013/193921, 2013/277706, 2013/273903