R v Woods; R v Cheong [2018] NSWSC 123

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Woods; R v Cheong [2018] NSWSC 123 Hearing dates: 7 February 2018 Date of orders: 14 February 2018 Decision date: 14 February 2018 Before: Wilson J Decision: The Notices of Motion seeking severance of the indictment are dismissed. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – application for separate trials – murder – accessory after murder – where principal charged with murder and applicants charged as accessories – incurable prejudice to applicants asserted if tried with principal – question of strength of the respective cases against each accused – asserted dramatic nature of the evidence – capacity of directions to address potential prejudice Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) Cases Cited: R v Middis (unreported decision of the Supreme Court of 27 March 1991 per Hunt J) R v Verma (1987) 30 A Crim R 441 R v Assim [1966] 2 QB 249 at 261 R v Annakin & Ors (1988) 37 ACR 131 R v Baartman (unreported decision of the NSWCCA of 6 October 1994) Ross v R [2012] NSWCCA 207 R v Dellapatrona & Duffield (1993) 31 NSWLR 123 R v Fernando [1999] NSWCCA 66 R v Pham [2004] NSWCCA 190 R v Harpreet Singh [2012] NSWSC 869 Western Australia v Tolliday [2004] WASC 231 R v Chami; R v TS (2002) 128 A Crim R 428; [2002] NSWCCA 136 (revised 1.6.2009) R v Bikic (2000) 112 A Crim R 300; [2000] NSWCCA 106 R v Oliver (1984) 57 ALR 543 Ross v R, Darwiche & Ors v R 209 A Crim R 424; [2011] NSWCCA 62 R v Quami & Ors (no 3) [2016] NSWSC 15 R v Williams (1932) 32 SRNSW 504 Morris v Tolman [1923] 1 KB 166 R Masters (1992) 26 NSWLR 450 Category: Principal judgment Parties: The Crown Andrew Woods (accused) Derek Cheong (accused) Representation: Counsel: Mr L Lungo (as Crown Prosecutor) Mr T Hughes (for accused Woods) Mr D Price (for accused Cheong)