Kadir v The QueenGrech v The QueenCitation:[2020] HCA 1Before:Kiefel CJ, Bell, Keane, Nettle, Edelman JJDate:05 Feb 2020Case Number:S160/2019, S163/2019Read more

Kadir v The QueenGrech v The QueenCitation:[2020] HCA 1Before:Kiefel CJ, Bell, Keane, Nettle, Edelman JJDate:05 Feb 2020Case Number:S160/2019, S163/2019Read more

The court held that the weighing of competing public interests under s 138 does not differ between evidence obtained directly in contravention of law and evidence obtained in consequence of such contravention. Each item of evidence must be considered individually to determine admissibility.

Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
05 February 2020
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Judgment
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
Admissibility of Evidence, Improperly Obtained Evidence, Public Interest, Animal Cruelty

Case Brief

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Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Judgment

  1. 1 Whether evidence obtained in contravention of Australian law is admissible under s 138 of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW)
  2. 2 Whether the difficulty of lawfully obtaining evidence weighs in favour of admission
  3. 3 Whether the weighing of competing public interests differs for evidence obtained directly in contravention of law versus in consequence of such contravention

Ratio Decidendi

The court held that the weighing of competing public interests under s 138 does not differ between evidence obtained directly in contravention of law and evidence obtained in consequence of such contravention. Each item of evidence must be considered individually to determine admissibility.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed

Orders

  • Each item of evidence must be considered individually for admissibility under s 138 of the Evidence Act 1995 (NSW).