Hughes v R [2018] NSWCCA 2

Court of Criminal Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Hughes v R [2018] NSWCCA 2 Hearing dates: 13 November 2017; 13 December 2017 Date of orders: 30 January 2018 Decision date: 30 January 2018 Before: Payne JA at [1] R A Hulme J at [1] Garling J at [1] Decision: (1) Leave to appeal refused on grounds 1 and 2 (conviction). (2) Leave to appeal granted on grounds 3 and 4 (sentence). (3) Appeal dismissed. Catchwords: CRIME – conviction appeal – incompetence of counsel – accused did not give evidence at trial – alleged failure of counsel properly to inform accused of his right to give evidence at trial – alleged failure of counsel to take proper instructions from accused – whether trial judge erred in failing to discharge jury

CRIME – sentence appeal – whether sentence is manifestly excessive – whether trial judge erred in considering unsworn victim impact statement to establish aggravating factor under s 21A Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Crimes (Sentencing Procedure) Act 1999 (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1900 (NSW) Cases Cited: Ahmu v R; Director of Public Prosecutions v Ahmu [2014] NSWCCA 312 Alkhair v R [2016] NSWCCA 4 Dinsdale v The Queen (2000) 202 CLR 321; [2000] HCA 54 Gilbert v The Queen (2000) 201 CLR 414; [2000] HCA 15 Hanania v R [2012] NSWCCA 220 Hili v The Queen; Jones v The Queen (2010) 242 CLR 520; [2010] HCA 45 House v The King (1936) 55 CLR 499; [1936] HCA 40 Lowndes v The Queen (1999) 195 CLR 665; [1999] HCA 29 Markarian v The Queen (2005) 228 CLR 357; [2005] HCA 25 Obeid v R [2017] NSWCCA 221 R v Birks (1990) 19 NSWLR 677 R v Tuala [2015] NSWCCA 8 Wong v The Queen (2001) 207 CLR 584; [2001] HCA 64 Yang v R [2012] NSWCCA 49 Texts Cited: None Category: Principal judgment Parties: Kenneth Hughes (Applicant) Crown (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mr J Curtis (Applicant) Mr F Veltro (Crown)