R v Simon Lees (No 2) (Verdict); R v Stuart Lewry (No 2) (Verdict) [2019] NSWDC 118

District Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Simon Lees (No 2) (Verdict); R v Stuart Lewry (No 2) (Verdict) [2019] NSWDC 118 Hearing dates: 4 - 8 March 2019, 11 - 15 March 2019, 18 - 22 March 2019, 25 - 29 March 2019, 1 - 3 April 2019, Date of orders: 11 April 2019 Decision date: 11 April 2019 Jurisdiction: Criminal Before: Haesler SC DCJ Decision: Simon Lees Verdict on Count 1: the unlawful killing of Graham Lees - Not Guilty Simon Lees Verdict on Count 2: causing grievous bodily harm to Jan Wizbicki by negligent act - Not Guilty. Stuart Lewry Verdict on Count 1: the unlawful killing of Graham Lees – Not Guilty. Stuart Lewry Verdict on Count 2 causing grievous bodily harm to Jan Wizbicki by negligent act – Not Guilty. Catchwords: EVIDENCE – Expert evidence – common knowledge – experts exceeding expertise – hearsay – exceptions to the hearsay rule – admissions – first hand evidence supporting second hand admission – no objection – unreliable evidence warning. CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – Judge alone trial – necessary objection – expert evidence – no case submission – assessment of evidence. CRIME – trial – criminal negligence manslaughter – relevant principles - duty of care – adoption of civil law principles – assessing individual liability – causation and negligence – review of evidence. Legislation Cited: Civil Liability Act 2002 (NSW) s 5D Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) ss 18 and 54 Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW) ss 132 and 133 Evidence Act 1995 (NSW) ss 60, 66, 78, 79, 81, 82, 144, 165 Passenger Transport Act 1990 s9D Passenger Transport Regulation 2007 cl 25 Cases Cited: Adeels Palace Pty Ltd v Moubarak [2009] HCA 48 Anderson v R [2001] VR 1 Arulthilakan v The Queen [2003] HCA 74; (2003) 78 ALJR 257 Bennett v. Minister of Community Welfare [1992] HCA 27; (1993) 176 CLR 408 Burns v The Queen [2012] HCA 35; (2012) 246 CLR 334 Campbell v The Queen (1981) WAR 286 at 290; (1980) 2 A Crim R 157 Coombes v Roads and Traffic Authority & Ors [2006] NSWCA 229 Fleming v The Queen [1998] HCA 68; (1998) 197 CLR 250 Giorgianni v The Queen [1985] HCA 29; (1985) 156 CLR 473 Graham v The Queen (1998) 195 CLR 606 IL v The Queen [2017] HCA 27; (2016) 260 A Crim R 101 Justins v R [2010] NSWCCA 242; (2010) 79 NSWLR 544 Kelly v The King [1923] HCA 46; (1923) 32 CLR 509 March v. Stramare (E and M.H.) Pty. Ltd. (1991) 171 CLR 506 Moore [2005] NSWCCA 216;(2015) 91 NSWLR 276 Nydam v R [1977] VR 430 R v Burgess [1862] Eng R 153 R v Cittadini [2009] NSWCCA 302 R v Hennigan [1971] 3 All ER 134 R v Lees; R v Lewry [2019] NSWDC 117 R v Longbottom (1849) Cox' Criminal Cases 439 R v XY [2010] NSWCCA 181; (2010) 79 NSWLR 62 Royall v The Queen [1991] HCA 27; (1991) 172 CLR 378 The Queen v Hillier [2007] HC 17; (2007) 228 CLR 618 The Queen v Lavender [2005] HCA 37; (2005) 222 CLR 67 Thompson v Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd & Ors Thompson v Australian Capital Television Pty Ltd [1996] HCA 38; (1996) 186 CLR 574 Velevski v The Queen (2002) HCA 42; (2002) 76 ALJR 402 Wacker v R [2002] EWCA Crim 1944: (2003) QB 1207 Wilson v The Queen [1992] HCA 31; (1992) 174 CLR 313 Texts Cited: Fleming, The Law of Torts, 8th edition (1992) Category: Principal judgment Parties: Simon George Lees (Accused) Stuart Lewry (Accused) Director of Public Prosecutions Representation: Counsel: Mr G Heathcote (for the Accused Simon Lees) Mr T Healey (for the Accused Stuart Lewry) Mr M Fox (for the Director of Public Prosecutions)