Regina v Kenneth Ian O'Meara [2003] NSWCCA 250

Regina v Kenneth Ian O'Meara [2003] NSWCCA 250

There was no infraction of s 80 of the Commonwealth Constitution because the appellant was entitled to a jury trial while he maintained pleas of not guilty, but he then chose to change his pleas; the discharge of the jury, re-indictment and taking of guilty pleas involved no miscarriage of justice, so the convictions were not quashed.

Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
05 September 2003
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against Convictions
Outcome
Appeal dismissed
Legal Topics
['commonwealth Offences Tried on Indictment' 'jury Trial Under S 80 of the Commonwealth Constitution' 'change of Plea During Trial' 're Indictment and Guilty Pleas' 'judiciary Act S 68 Procedure']

Case Brief

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Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Appeal Against Convictions

  1. 1 ['Whether convictions following re-indictment and guilty pleas during a part-heard jury trial contravened s 80 of the Commonwealth Constitution.' 'Whether any error in the procedure caused a miscarriage of justice.']

Ratio Decidendi

There was no infraction of s 80 of the Commonwealth Constitution because the appellant was entitled to a jury trial while he maintained pleas of not guilty, but he then chose to change his pleas; the discharge of the jury, re-indictment and taking of guilty pleas involved no miscarriage of justice, so the convictions were not quashed.

Court Disposition

Appeal dismissed

Orders

  • ['The appeal is dismissed.']