Sayer-Jones v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2019] NSWSC 1615

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: Sayer-Jones v Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) [2019] NSWSC 1615 Hearing dates: 19 November 2019 Date of orders: 21 November 2019 Decision date: 21 November 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Adamson J Decision: (1) Appeal allowed.

(2) Pursuant to s 55(1) of the Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW), set aside the convictions of the plaintiff for the two offences under s 192G(b) of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW).

(3) Reserve costs.

(4) Grant liberty to apply to re-list the matter on the question of costs. Catchwords: CRIME — Appeal and review — Appeal from Local Court to Supreme Court — By person convicted or sentenced on a question of law alone – alleged failure to apply rule of statutory construction regarding immunity in respect of words used in judicial proceedings – validity of conviction under s 192G of Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) for false statements to Local Court that statements of claim were served – statements made to obtain default judgment

CRIME — Fraud — intention to defraud by false or misleading statement – whether applies to statements in judicial proceedings

CRIMINAL PROCEDURE – unsuitability of injunctive relief to restrain laying of further charges Legislation Cited: Civil Procedure Act 2005 (NSW), s 98 Crimes Act 1900 (NSW), ss 178BA, 178BB, 192E, 192G, 319 Crimes (Appeal and Review) Act 2001 (NSW), ss 52, 53, 54, 55 Criminal Assets Recovery Act 1990 (NSW) Criminal Procedure Act 1986 (NSW), ss 14, 65, 156, 172, 173, 175, 260 Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1986 (NSW), ss 9, 10 Legal Aid Commission Act 1979 (NSW), s 57 Supreme Court Act 1970 (NSW), ss 23, 69 Cases Cited: B & L Linings Pty Ltd v Chief Commissioner of State Revenue (2008) 74 NSWLR 481; [2008] NSWCA 187 Business Computers International Ltd v Registrar of Companies [1988] 1 Ch 229 Cabassi v Vila (1940) 64 CLR 130; [1940] HCA 41 Director of Public Prosecutions of the Commonwealth of Australia v Poniatowska (2011) 244 CLR 408; [2011] HCA 43 GAS v The Queen; SJK v The Queen (2004) 217 CLR 198; [2004] HCA 22 Jamieson v The Queen; Brugmans v The Queen (1993) 177 CLR 574; [1993] HCA 48 Jarrett v Seymour (1993) 46 FCR 557 Meissner v The Queen (1995) 184 CLR 132; [1995] HCA 41 Ollis v New South Wales Crime Commission (2007) 177 A Crim R 306; [2007] NSWCA 311 Poniatowska v Director of Public Prosecutions (Cth) (2010) 107 SASR 578; [2010] SASCFC 19 Price v Ferris (1994) 34 NSWLR 704 R v Liberti (1991) 55 A Crim R 120 The Queen v De Simoni (1981) 147 CLR 383; [1981] HCA 31 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Robert Lyndon Sayer-Jones (Plaintiff) Director of Public Prosecutions (NSW) (First Defendant) Local Court of New South Wales (Second Defendant) Representation: Counsel: Plaintiff (self-represented) CO Gleeson (First Defendant)