R v Spiteri-Ahern; R v Barber; R v Zraika [2017] NSWSC 1275

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Spiteri-Ahern; R v Barber; R v Zraika [2017] NSWSC 1275 Hearing dates: 2, 7 June 2017 Date of orders: 07 June 2017 Decision date: 07 June 2017 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Rothman J Decision: (1) Application under s 132(1) of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 granted; (2) Trial to be conducted by Judge alone; (3) Application for separation of the trials of each accused refused. Catchwords: CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – application for separate trials – application for judge alone trial – if judge alone, no need for separate trials – not in interests of witness or justice for separate trials – intertwining of evidence – evidence admissible only against some accused but its content of extremely high probative value – unlikely directions overcome unfair prejudice – reasonable apprehension of unfairness to accused – principles for application – in interests of justice for judge alone trial – orders made. Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986, Ss 131, 132, 132A Supreme Court Rules 1970, Part 75, Rule 3H Cases Cited: Arthurs v The State of Western Australia [2007] WASC 182 Barber v R; Zraika v R [2016] NSWCCA 125 Demirok v The Queen (1977) 137 CLR 20; (1977) HCA 21 R v Adams (No 2) [2016] NSWSC 1359 R v Belghar [2012] NSWCCA 86 R v Colin Maxwell Farrow [2014 NSWSC 1781 R v Dean [2013] NSWSC 661 R v Gittany [2013] NSWSC 1503 R v Simmons; R v Moore (No 4) [2015] NSWSC 259 R v Stanley [2013] NSWCCA 124 The Queen v Glennon (1992) 193 CLR 592; [1992] HCA 16 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: 2014/00180060: Regina (Crown) Louise Catherine SPITERI-AHERN (Accused)