R v Gatt (No 6) [2018] NSWSC 487

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Gatt (No 6) [2018] NSWSC 487 Hearing dates: 10 April 2018 and 11 April 2018 Date of orders: 12 April 2018 Decision date: 30 April 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Criminal Before: Schmidt J Decision: Crown not obliged to produce the letters sought. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – evidence – access sought to letters involving co-accused's plea negotiations – voluntary disclosure – Legal professional privilege – without prejudice privilege – where part of letters disclosed to the accused – whether plea negotiations are privileged – where letters contained admissions – "Cox v Railton" exception to the privilege – whether letters sought are privileged under s 119 of the Evidence Act – whether privilege was waived or lost – whether there is an exception to privilege under s 131 of the Evidence Act Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) Cases Cited: Attorney-General (NT) v Kearney (1985) 158 CLR 500; [1985] HCA 60 Attorney-General (NT) v Maurice (1986) 161 CLR 475; [1986] HCA 80 R v Bell; Ex parte Lees (1980) 146 CLR 141; [1980] HCA 26 Briginshaw v Briginshaw (1938) 60 CLR 336; [1938] HCA 34 Carter v The Managing Partner Northmore Hale Davy and Leake and Others (1995)183 CLR 121; [1995] HCA 33 DPP (Cth) v Galloway (a pseudonym) (2014) 46 VR 809; [2014] VSCA 272 Fisher & Co v Apollinaris Co (1875) 32 LT 628 Hong Kong Bank of Australia Ltd v Murphy (1992) 28 NSWLR 512 Potier v R [2015] NSWCCA 130 Re Ramsay (1870) LR 3 PC 427 R v Borg [2017] NSWSC 746 R v Winchester (1992) 58 A Crim R 345 R v Thomson & Houlton (2000) 49 NSWLR 383 State of New South Wales v Jackson [2007] NSWCA 279 Towney v Minister for Land & Water Conservation (NSW) (1997) 76 FCR 401 Warburton v The Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2017] NSWSC 69 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Regina (Crown) Joseph Gatt (Accused) Representation: Counsel: Mr A Robertson (Crown) Mr P Boulten SC (Accused) Mr Berg (George Borg)