Cmunt v Commissioner of Police NSW [2019] NSWLEC 33

Land and Environment Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Cmunt v Commissioner of Police NSW [2019] NSWLEC 33 Hearing dates: 25 March 2019 Date of orders: 26 March 2019 Decision date: 26 March 2019 Jurisdiction: Class 6 Before: Pepper J Decision: See orders at [64]. Catchwords: APPEAL: appeal against conviction and sentence from Local Court – alleged breach of noise abatement direction – in the court below the prosecutor did not adduce sufficient evidence to prove beyond reasonable doubt the elements of the offence –offence not proved beyond reasonable doubt – appeal upheld and conviction and fine set aside.

COSTS: inadequacy of evidence adduced by the prosecutor in the Court to prove beyond reasonable doubt the elements of the offence – whether this constitutes exceptional circumstances sufficient to warrant a costs order in the appellant's favour – whether appellant entitled to a costs order under the relevant legislation for travel expenses and interpreter fees – appellant not entitled to travel expenses but entitled to interpreter fees. Legislation Cited: Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001, ss 31(1), 37, 49, 70 Criminal Procedure Act 1986, s 214 Protection of the Environment Operations Act 1997, ss 273(a), 276, 277(1)(b) Cases Cited: AJS Hotel Management Pty Ltd v Lismore City Council [2013] NSWLEC 10 Cachia v Hanes [1994] HCA 14; (1994) 179 CLR 403 Cameron v Eurobodalla Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 47; (2006) 146 LGERA 349 Dive v Lin and Liu [2017] NSWLEC 153 Gerondal v Eurobodalla Shire Council [2009] NSWLEC 160 Histollo Pty Ltd v Director-General of National Parks and Wildlife Service (1998) 45 NSWLR 661 Kari & Ghossayn Pty Ltd v Sutherland Shire Council [2006] NSWLEC 532; (2006) 150 LGERA 231 Kogarah City Council v El Khouri [2014] NSWLEC 196; (2014) 212 LGERA 208 Preston v Zapantis [2015] NSWLEC 121 Ryde City Council v Pedras [2009] NSWCCA 248 Terrey v Department of Environment, Climate Change and Water [2011] NSWLEC 141 Wang v Farkas [2014] NSWCA 29; (2014) 85 NSWLR 390 Texts Cited: G E Dal Pont Law of Costs (4th ed, 2018, LexisNexis Butterworths) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Mrs M Cmunt (Appellant) Commissioner of Police NSW (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: Mrs M Cmunt (in person) (Appellant) Mr M Seymour (Respondent)