R v Jenkin (No 18) (Verdict) [2018] NSWSC 978

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Jenkin (No 18) (Verdict) [2018] NSWSC 978 Hearing dates: 2 May 2018 – 20 June 2018 Date of orders: 27 June 2018 Decision date: 27 June 2018 Jurisdiction: Common Law - Criminal Before: Hamill J Decision: Verdicts of: (1) Not guilty of murder (2) Guilty of manslaughter (3) Guilty of conspiracy to murder Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – murder – conspiracy to murder – trial by Judge alone – circumstantial case – body in surfboard bag – decaying corpse – complications in medical evidence – body dropped out of window after death – possible explanation for a number of injuries observed on post mortem examination – where avulsed tooth located in bowel – indicates trauma occasioned before death – whether other injuries occasioned before or after death – whether evidence capable of excluding other perpetrators – analysis of circumstantial case

CRIMINAL LAW – murder – where series of assaults – where act causing death not known – "homicidal violence" – whether Crown must prove intention coincides with act causing death – reckless indifference to human life – whether accused foresaw probability of death

CRIMINAL LAW – evidence that may be unreliable – warnings that would be given to a jury – whether woman with hearing difficulties heard a man moaning in the morning – nobbling of witness – consciousness of guilt – disposal of corpse – attempt to "off" witness – analysis of evidence – significant malfeasance Legislation Cited: Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 18 and 26 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 132 and 133 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), ss 97, 101, and 165 Cases Cited: Alexander v The Queen (1981) 145 CLR 395; [1981] HCA 17 Aubrey v The Queen (2017) 260 CLR 305; [2017] HCA 18 Campbell v R [2014] NSWCCA 175 Campbell v The Queen (1981) WAR 286 Davies v The King [1937] HCA 27; (1937) 57 CLR 170 HML v The Queen [2008] HCA 16; (2008) 235 CLR 334 Hughes v The Queen [2017] HCA 20; 92 ALJR 52 IMM v The Queen (2016) 257 CLR 300; [2016] HCA 14 Lane v The Queen [2018] HCA 28 McEwan v The Queen [2013] VSCA 329 McPhillamy v R [2017] NSWCCA 130 Palmer v The Queen (1998) 193 CLR 1; [1998] HCA 2 R v Brooks [2017] NSWSC 188 R v Crabbe (1985) 156 CLR 464; [1985] HCA 22 R v Jenkin [2018] NSWSC 634 R v Jenkin (No 2) [2018] NSWSC 697 R v Jenkin (No 5) [2018] NSWSC 730 R v Jenkin (No 8) [2018] NSWSC 704 R v Jenkin (No 10) [2018] NSWSC 705 R v Jenkin (No 14) [2018] NSWSC 837 R v Jenkin (No 17) [2018] NSWSC 907 R v Lawford (1993) 61 SASR 542 R v PL [2009] NSWCCA 256 R v Rose (2002) 55 NSWLR 701; [2002] NSWCCA 455 R v Ryder [1995] 2 NZLR 271 R v Styman; R v Taber [2004] NSWCCA 245 R v Tietie (1988) 34 A Crim R 438 Royall v The Queen (1991) 172 CLR 378; [1991] HCA 27 The Queen v Crabbe (1985) 156 CLR 464; [1985] HCA 22 Timbu Kolian v The Queen (1968) 119 CLR 47; [1968] HCA 66 White v Ridley (1978) 140 CLR 342; [1978] HCA 38 Wilson v The Queen (1992) 174 CLR 313; [1992] HCA 31 Texts Cited: Gatti and Krishnamachariar, Wills' Principles of Circumstantial Evidence (7th ed, 1936, Butterworth & Co) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Regina Mark Kenneth Jenkin Representation: Counsel: Mr M Fox (Crown) Mr P Lowe (Accused)