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Evidence Tom Spohr Evidence Tom Spohr

Bandao v R; Bruce v R [2018] NSWCCA 181

In an era where everybody has a mobile recording device immediately to hand, what happens if material comes to light which might be relevant to a defence, but might also have been recorded illegally? In this decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal, the court has set out a step-by-step process which

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Criminal law Tom Spohr Criminal law Tom Spohr

Baradi v R [2018] NSWCCA 143

The Court of Criminal Appeal (‘CCA’) has considered the question of just how little control is required for the purpose of detaining a person for advantage, and has determined that, at least in this given scenario, it will be enough to say ‘come on, get up.

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Drug offences Tom Spohr Drug offences Tom Spohr

R v Busby [2018] NSWCCA 136

In a decision that has potentially wide-reaching ramifications for drug supply matters, the Court of Criminal Appeal (‘CCA’) has found that the relevant quantity level for a prohibited drug (‘small’, ‘traffickable’, ‘indictable’, ‘commercial’, ‘large commercial’) must be for the drug that the accuse

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Sexual offences Tom Spohr Sexual offences Tom Spohr

Rohan v R [2018] NSWCCA 89

The Court of Criminal Appeal has considered the restrictions relating to issuing subpoenas in sexual assault proceedings. After observing that some previous authority might be questionable, they examined the intersection between ‘substantial probative value’ and the warnings juries receive in sexual

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Sentencing Tom Spohr Sentencing Tom Spohr

Alesbhi v R; Esbhi v R [2018] NSWCCA 30

The CCA has held that for an offence to be aggravated by the presence of a child requires the court to be satisfied, beyond reasonable doubt, that the child was physically present and aware of the offence. The extent of aggravation, if any, requires an assessment of the likelihood of the effect the

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Evidence Tom Spohr Evidence Tom Spohr

Odisho v R [2018] NSWCCA 19

The Court of Criminal Appeal (‘CCA’) has examined applications for leave to cross examine one’s own witnesses under s38. The core principle seems to be that grants of leave will be strictly interpreted, and if there is any possibility that cross examination will stray into territory which is only ab

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Sentencing Tom Spohr Sentencing Tom Spohr

Campbell v R [2018] NSWCCA 17

Have you ever wondered whether, when a judicial officer makes a mistake while handing down an ex tempore judgment, you should interrupt them to tell them? The Court of Criminal Appeal (‘CCA’) has provided the answer: at least where the misstatement is about the maximum penalty, you should interrupt,

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Federal sentencing Tom Spohr Federal sentencing Tom Spohr

Xiao v R [2018] NSWCCA 4

Overturning a NSW authority which has stood for more than a decade, the Court of Criminal Appeal (‘CCA’) has determined that when sentencing for Commonwealth matters, it is permissible to take into account the utilitarian value of a plea of guilty.

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Sentencing Tom Spohr Sentencing Tom Spohr

R v Hall [2017] NSWCCA 313

In this decision the CCA has re-endorsed a rule of thumb to the effect that, even with a finding of special circumstances, non-parole periods should not usually be set as low as 20% of the overall sentence.

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Sentencing Tom Spohr Sentencing Tom Spohr

Parente v R [2017] NSWCCA 284

This full-bench decision of the Court of Criminal Appeal (‘CCA’), which follows a recent line of cases previously reported in these pages, finally overturns the so-called ‘principle’ or ‘rule’ which meant that involvement in trafficking of drugs to a substantial degree must lead to fulltime custody

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Evidence Tom Spohr Evidence Tom Spohr

KN v R [2017] NSWCCA 249

The CCA has determined that it is within a trial judge’s discretion to order that audio visual link (‘AVL’) evidence can be given from the complainant’s home, using their own computer and software.

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Drug offences Tom Spohr Drug offences Tom Spohr

Robertson v R [2017] NSWCCA 205

The Court of Criminal Appeal (‘CCA’) has revisited longstanding principles in sentencing drug offenders. Subject to some qualifications, it appears that all sentencing options need to be considered in all cases, rather than applying a judicially-created rule – however longstanding it might be.

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