24 Apr 1992
The charge was defective because it omitted the essential mens rea word 'wilfully' from s.36(b); the magistrate never applied his mind to whether the appellant acted wilfully; accordingly the appeal must be allowed and the conviction quashed.
11 Feb 1992
The conviction was unsafe because the charge omitted an essential element relied upon ('without reasonable excuse'), there was no specific finding that the alleged zig-zag manoeuvre endangered persons' safety, and the resultant sentence of 3 months imprisonment was excessive; accordingly the appeal is allowed and the conviction and sentence cannot stand.
9 Oct 1985
The magistrate's contemporaneous acceptance of the police evidence on credibility was entitled to deference and, applying common law and the approach in R v Lee Shek, the court could properly infer that property capable of being stolen was present in the private car; accordingly the conviction for attempted theft was properly sustained.
20 Jun 1973
The charge failed to disclose any offence known to law because it did not allege that the offers were unlawful or intended to induce witnesses to falsely retract evidence; the agreed formal admissions established that the first appellant believed payments were for a press conference and compensatory purposes, lawful in principle, and the trial judge impermissibly drew inferences beyond those agreed facts; accordingly the convictions could not stand and the appeals must be allowed.