Davis v R [2017] NSWCCA 257

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Davis v R [2017] NSWCCA 257 Hearing dates: 17 July 2017 Date of orders: 27 October 2017 Decision date: 27 October 2017 Before: Hoeben CJ at CL at [1]; Price J at [2]; Schmidt J at [109] Decision: (1) Appeal upheld. (2) The applicant's conviction is quashed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – conviction appeal – whether trial counsel's decision to adduce evidence of the applicant's drug use and prior convictions for credit card fraud occasioned a miscarriage of justice – whether Crown's cross-examination of the applicant's dishonesty and convictions for other offences required leave under s 104(2) Evidence Act – whether evidence was inadmissible – whether the Proviso should be applied – whether tendency direction was required – whether "anti-tendency direction" given by the judge occasioned a miscarriage of justice – whether new trial should be ordered Legislation Cited: Criminal Appeal Act 1912 (NSW), ss 6, 6(1) Criminal Appeal Rules (NSW), r 4 Drug Misuse and Trafficking Act 1985 (NSW), ss 25(1), 29 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 38, 97, 101A, 103(1), 104, 104(2) Cases Cited: Filippou v The Queen (2015) 256 CLR 47; [2015] HCA 29 Jacara Pty Ltd v Perpetual Trustees WA Ltd (2000) 106 FCR 51; [2000] FCA 1886 John Wayne Tsiakas v R [2015] NSWCCA 187 Nicholls v The Queen (2005) 219 CLR 196; [2005] HCA 1 Nudd v The Queen (2006) 80 ALJR 614; [2006] HCA 9 TKWJ v The Queen (2002) 212 CLR 124; [2002] HCA 46 Younan v R [2016] NSWCCA 248 Weiss v The Queen (2005) 224 CLR 300; [2005] HCA 81 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Annette Lisa Davis (Applicant) Regina (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr R. Pontello (Applicant) Ms M. Cinque SC (Respondent)