R v Sparos [2018] NSWSC 712

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Sparos [2018] NSWSC 712 Hearing dates: 14 May 2018 Date of orders: 21 May 2018 Decision date: 21 May 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Harrison J Decision: (1) Uphold the Commissioner's claim for public interest immunity in relation to the undisclosed portion of the document known as IN264. (2) Direct under s 130(1) that IN264 not be adduced in this trial. (3) Set aside paragraph 4 of Mr Sparos' subpoena to the extent that the Commissioner is not required to produce IN264. Catchwords: EVIDENCE – privilege – public interest immunity – matters of state – subpoena – criminal proceedings – whether public interest in confidentiality outweighs public interest in disclosure to the accused – where document relates to a confidential source of information – where disclosure may prejudice the prevention, investigation or prosecution of an offence – where document contains irrelevant material – public interest immunity upheld Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 130 Cases Cited: Alister v The Queen (1984) 154 CLR 404; [1984] HCA 85 Attorney General (NSW) v Kaddour & Turkmani [2001] NSWCCA 456 Attorney General (NSW) v Lipton (2012) 224 A Crim R 177; [2012] NSWCA 156 Attorney General for New South Wales v Smith (1996) 86 A Crim R 308 Attorney General for New South Wales v Stuart (1994) 34 NSWLR 667 Beneficial Finance Corporation Ltd v Commissioner of Australian Federal Police (1991) 51 A Crim R 423 Eastman v R (1997) 76 FCR 9 Gardiner v R (2006) 162 A Crim R 233; [2006] NSWCCA 190 Obeid v Ipp (2012) 224 A Crim R 177; [2012] NSWCA 156 Public Transport Ticketing Corporation v Integrated Transit Solutions [2010] NSWSC 607 R v Abdullah [1999] NSWCA 188 R v Sparos [2018] NSWSC 711 Ryan v Victoria [2015] VSCA 353 State of New South Wales v Public Transport Ticketing Corporation [2011] NSWCA 60 Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Commissioner of Police (Applicant) Luke John Sparos (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: R Grady (Commissioner of Police) C Smith SC with D Carroll (Accused)