R v Martinez; R v Tortell (No. 5) [2019] NSWSC 1665

Supreme Court New South Wales

Medium Neutral Citation: R v Martinez; R v Tortell (No. 5) [2019] NSWSC 1665 Hearing dates: 7 November 2019, 14 November 2019 Date of orders: 21 November 2019 Decision date: 28 November 2019 Jurisdiction: Common Law Before: Johnson J Decision: Reasons for ruling made on 21 November 2019 concerning Crown tender of parts of conversation between the Accused persons as evidence of consciousness of guilt Catchwords: CRIMINAL LAW – EVIDENCE – murder trial – accused persons alleged to be party to joint criminal enterprise – where Crown seeks to rely on lawfully recorded conversation between accused persons as evidence of consciousness of guilt – whether evidence relevant as consciousness of guilt – whether evidence ought be excluded because of competing inference or alternative explanation for parts of conversation – whether evidence "intractably neutral" and incapable of demonstrating consciousness of guilt – whether evidence ought be excluded because of its prejudicial effect – parts of conversation admissible as evidence of consciousness of guilt Legislation Cited: Criminal Procedure Act 1986 Evidence Act 1995 Cases Cited: BJS v R (2013) 231 A Crim R 537; [2013] NSWCCA 123 IMM v The Queen (2016) 257 CLR 300; [2016] HCA Martinez v R; Tortell v R [2019] NSWCCA 153 McKey v R (2012) 219 A Crim R 227; [2012] NSWCCA 1 Meakin v R [2018] NSWCCA 288 Papakosmas v The Queen (1999) 196 CLR 297; [1999] HCA 37 R v Brooks [2017] NSWSC 188 R v Burton (2013) 237 A Crim R 238; [2013] NSWCCA 335 R v Clark (2001) 123 A Crim R 506; [2001] NSWCCA 494 R v Cook [2004] NSWCCA 52 R v Fantakis; R v Woods [2018] NSWSC 1814 R v Sood [2007] NSWCCA 214 The Queen v Baden-Clay (2016) 258 CLR 308; [2016] HCA 35 The Queen v Bauer (2018) 92 ALJR 846; [2018] HCA 40 Vickers v R (2006) 160 A Crim R 195; [2006] NSWCCA 60 Texts Cited: --- Category: Procedural and other rulings Parties: Regina (Crown) Wade Martinez and Jake Tortell (Accused) Representation: Counsel: Mr M Barr (Crown) Mr C Watson (Accused Martinez) Mr J Trevallion (Accused Tortell)