Tootle v R [2017] NSWCCA 103

Tootle v R [2017] NSWCCA 103

The directions to the jury encouraging them to formulate questions for witnesses and the process allowing those questions to be put altered the nature of the trial in a fundamental respect, thereby rendering it not a trial according to law and constituting a miscarriage of justice.

Jurisdiction
Australia
Judgment Date
19 May 2017
Procedural Posture
Criminal Appeal / Appeal From Conviction
Outcome
Appeal allowed
Legal Topics
['criminal Procedure' 'juries' 'directions to Juries' 'miscarriage of Justice' 'procedural Fairness']

Case Brief

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Procedural Posture

Criminal Appeal / Appeal From Conviction

  1. 1 ["Whether trial judge's directions inviting jury to formulate questions for witnesses fundamentally altered the nature of the trial" 'Whether participation of the jury in an inquisitorial process constituted a miscarriage of justice' "Whether encouragement of jury questioning breached the bounds of the jury's role"]

Ratio Decidendi

The directions to the jury encouraging them to formulate questions for witnesses and the process allowing those questions to be put altered the nature of the trial in a fundamental respect, thereby rendering it not a trial according to law and constituting a miscarriage of justice.

Court Disposition

Appeal allowed

Orders

  • ['Convictions quashed' 'There be a new trial']