19 Feb 2024
The trial judge, having viewed witnesses and CCTV, gave principled reasons for accepting the prosecution witnesses and rejecting the appellant's account; there was no obvious error in those factual and credibility findings and the evidence as a whole proved both offences beyond reasonable doubt, so the appeal is dismissed.
2 Sept 2014
The Magistrate, having properly considered the evidence including material inconsistencies in the appellant's accounts and the circumstances of the discovery (drug packet taped to the appellant's clothing), was entitled to conclude that the appellant knew of the drugs and was in possession; that finding was open on the evidence and not subject to appellate interference, so the conviction stands.
31 Oct 1998
The Magistrate's rejection of the defence evidence was justified by a detailed analysis of witness inconsistencies and the realistic limits of witnesses' observation; demeanour was not the sole basis for credibility findings; accordingly the conviction was safe and the three-month custodial sentence was not wrong in principle or manifestly excessive.
5 Oct 1988
The magistrate's acceptance of the security officer's testimony on credibility was reasonable; the discrepancies were not material and did not justify overturning the conviction, therefore the appeal is dismissed and the conviction stands.
12 May 1986
The magistrate was entitled to accept the complainant's account and reject inconsistent defence accounts after assessing demeanour and testimony; there was sufficient uncorroborated but credible evidence to prove the appellant punched the complainant, and the appeal raised no arguable basis to overturn the magistrate's findings.