DPP v Towle (Ruling no 2)

Case

[2008] VSC 34

13 February 2008


IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA Not Restricted

CRIMINAL DIVISION

No. 1460 of 2007

DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC PROSECUTIONS
v
THOMAS GRAHAM TOWLE

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Ruling No. 2

JUDGE:

CUMMINS J

WHERE HELD:

Melbourne

DATE OF RULING:

13 February 2008

CASE MAY BE CITED AS:

DPP v Towle (Ruling No 2)

MEDIUM NEUTRAL CITATION:

[2008] VSC 34

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Criminal law and procedure – jury trial – culpable driving causing death – procedure in R v Thynne [1977] VR 98 followed.

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APPEARANCES:

Counsel Solicitors
For the Director of Public Prosecutions Mr M Gamble SC with
Ms A Forrester
Office of Public Prosecutions
For the Accused Mr R Richter QC with
Ms K Blair
Victorian Aboriginal Legal Service

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Ruling No. 2

HIS HONOUR:

  1. I consider it is not appropriate that the witness undergoes a Thynne[1] procedure or refreshes his memory on the question of the car humming and the estimate of speed, because the material is too speculative.

    [1]R v Thynne [1977] VR 98 at 101 per curiam and Addendum at 103 referring to R v Neal, Regos and Morgan (1947) 53 ALR 616 but not reported on this point.

  1. On the question of the man running through the vines, I consider that is relevant.  It has been made a specific issue in relation to the evidence of Mr Mark Burnett and as Mr Richter has said it is propounded that Mr Burnett is wrong in the proposition that the accused was running towards Cardross.  This witness says the man was running towards Red Cliffs and it seems to me his evidence is relevant and of some significance on that matter.  The statement is quite clear in the third full paragraph on p.1021 and I consider accordingly he can be reminded of it in accordance with R v Thynne.


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