Wood v State of New South Wales [2019] NSWCA 313

Court of Appeal Supreme Court New South Wales Medium Neutral Citation: Wood v State of New South Wales [2019] NSWCA 313 Hearing dates: 18-19 November 2019 Date of orders: 20 December 2019 Decision date: 20 December 2019 Before: Gleeson JA, Payne JA, Simpson AJA Decision: (1) Appeal dismissed; (2) Appellant to pay the costs of the respondent. Catchwords: TORTS – malicious prosecution – appellant convicted of murder – conviction subsequently quashed by Court of Criminal Appeal – appellant brought proceedings against respondent for malicious prosecution – whether primary judge erred in failing to find that the Crown Prosecutor acted with malice in prosecuting appellant – appellant did not contend any error in application of principle – whether cumulative errors established malice – whether error in approach by primary judge – whether error in demeanour-based credit findings – whether prosecutor's explanations for his conduct were so untenable that they must be rejected – whether malice established Legislation Cited: Evidence Act 1995 (NSW), s 140(2) Uniform Civil Procedure Rules 2005 (NSW), r 51.36 Cases Cited: A v State of New South Wales (2007) 230 CLR 500; [2007] HCA 10 Anderson v Anderson [2017] NSWCA 131 Brown v Hawkes [1891] 2 QB 718 Fox v Percy (2003) 214 CLR 118; [2003] HCA 22 Lillie v Newcastle City Council [2002] EWHC 1600 Robinson Helicopter Co Inc v McDermott [2016] HCA 22; 90 ALJR 679 Skrijel v Mengler [2003] VSC 270 Trobridge v Hardy (1955) 94 CLR 147; [1955] HCA 68 Warren v Coombes (1979) 142 CLR 531; [1979] HCA 9 Webb v Bloch (1928) 41 CLR 331; [1928] HCA 50 Wood v R (2012) 84 NSWLR 581; [2012] NSWCCA 21 Category: Principal judgment Parties: Gordon Wood (Appellant) State of New South Wales (Respondent) Representation: Counsel: T Molomby SC / N Olson (Appellant) P Neil SC / A Williams / B Narula (Respondent)