R v McNamara [2017] NSWLC 26

Local Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v McNamara [2017] NSWLC 26 Hearing dates: 2 February 2017 Decision date: 18 May 2017 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Magistrate Michael O'Brien Decision: Charges dismissed following withdrawal pursuant to section 208 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986. No basis for award of costs in favour of the accused established. Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – Miscellaneous powers of courts and judges - application for dismissal following withdrawal pursuant to s 208 of the Criminal Procedure Act 1986 – whether abuse of process – accused's submissions misconceived and must fail

CRIMINAL LAW – Costs – whether the investigation has been conducted unreasonably or there has been an unreasonable failure to investigate a relevant matter suggesting the accused might not be guilty - whether it is otherwise "just and reasonable" to award costs – application refused Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) ss 205, 206, 208, 212, 213, 214 Stock Diseases Regulation 2009 (NSW) cll 19, 21(1)(a), 35(2)(a), 35(3) Cases Cited: Caltex Refining Co Pty Ltd v Maritime Services Board of NSW (1995) 36 NSWLR 552; 78 A Crim R 368 Canceri v Taylor (1994) 123 ALR 667 Cliftleigh Haulage Pty Ltd v Byron Shire Council [2007] NSWCCA 13 Craig v State of South Australia [1995] HCA 58: (1998)184 CLR 163 De Varda v Constable Stengord (NSW Police) [2011] NSWSC 868 Dong v Hughes [2005] NSWSC 84 Evans v DPP [2000] NSWSC 1005 Fosse v DPP [1999] NSWSC 367 Halpin v Department of Gaming and Racing [2007] NSWSC 815 Jago v District Court (NSW) (1989) 168 CLR 23 JD v DPP & Ors [2000] NSWSC 1092 Kirk v Industrial Court of New South Wales [2010] HCA 1; (2010) 239 CLR 531 Latoudis v Casey (1990) 170 CLR 534 Lawson v Wallace (1968) 88 WN (pt. 1) 505 Lay v Cleary ( unreported, NSW Supreme Court, James J, 23 February 1993) O'Brien v Hutchinson [2012] NSWSC 429 Prosecutor General, Department of Environment and Climate Change v Gleeson (2009) 165 LGERA 99 Prosecutor of Public Prosecutions v Gobden [1999] NSWSC 696; (1999) 6 Crim LN 54 [1024] Prosecutor of Public Prosecutions v Shirvanian (1998) 44 NSWLR 129; 102 A Crim R 180 R v Feeney [2012] ACTSC 153 R v Hunt [1999] NSWCCA 375 RB v DPP [2015] NSWSC 248 Silbert v DPP (WA) (2004) 205 ALR 43; 78 ALJR 464; [2004] HCA 9 Wang v Farkas [2014] NSWCA 29 Category: Principal judgment Parties: NSW Police (prosecution) Mr M McNamara (defendant) Representation: Counsel: Mr Thomas (for the defendant)