R v Duong

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF VICTORIA

Not Restricted

AT MELBOURNE

Criminal Division

S ECR 2021 0291

THE KING	Crown
v
KEVIN DUONG	Accused

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JUDGE:	Jane Dixon J
WHERE HELD:	Melbourne
DATE OF HEARING:	11, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18 and 24 November 2022
DATE OF JUDGMENT:	20 December 2022
CASE MAY BE CITED AS:	R v Duong
MEDIUM NEUTRAL CITATION:	[2022] VSC 816

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CRIMINAL LAW – Trial by judge alone – Dangerous driving causing death – Whether accused drove dangerously – Secondary issue about causation – Accused found not guilty – Crimes Act 1958 (Vic) s 319(1) – Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic) ss 420E, 420F, 420G, 420ZG – Jury Directions Act 2015 (Vic) ss 3, 4A, 41, 42, 61 – Georgiou v The Queen [2022] VSCA 172; King v The Queen (2012) 245 CLR 588; Jiminez v The Queen (1992) 173 CLR 572; McBride v The Queen (1966) 115 CLR 44.

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APPEARANCES:	Counsel	Solicitors
For the Crown	Mr A Grant	Office of Public Prosecutions
For the Accused	Mr A Marshall	Chris McLennan & Co

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Introduction........................................................................................................................................ 3

Procedural history.............................................................................................................................. 4

Principles............................................................................................................................................. 4

Directions............................................................................................................................................ 5

Presumption of innocence........................................................................................................... 5
Standard and burden of proof..................................................................................................... 6
Accused’s right to silence............................................................................................................. 6
Deciding on the evidence............................................................................................................. 6
Assessment of witnesses.............................................................................................................. 7
Expert evidence............................................................................................................................. 8
Good character evidence............................................................................................................ 10
Circumstantial evidence and inferences.................................................................................. 11

The evidence at trial........................................................................................................................ 11

Lay witnesses............................................................................................................................... 12
Police witnesses........................................................................................................................... 13
Expert evidence........................................................................................................................... 13
Prosecution experts............................................................................................................... 13
Defence experts..................................................................................................................... 14
Exhibits......................................................................................................................................... 14

The facts............................................................................................................................................. 15

The accused.................................................................................................................................. 15
The alleged victim....................................................................................................................... 15
Loading David into the Maxi Cab............................................................................................ 16
Returning from St Albans.......................................................................................................... 18
The accused’s account of his movements prior to the collision........................................... 18
The scene of the collision........................................................................................................... 19
Traffic signal operation.............................................................................................................. 20
Overview................................................................................................................................ 20
VicRoads materials............................................................................................................... 21
Phase diagrams...................................................................................................................... 22
Prosecution case.................................................................................................................... 23
Alleged offending by the accused............................................................................................ 25
Events immediately preceding the collision according to Mr Singh............................. 25
Events immediately preceding the collision according to the accused........................ 28
Events immediately preceding the collision according to Maxi Cab passengers........ 30
Events immediately preceding the collision according to Ms Costabile...................... 32
Nature of the collision................................................................................................................ 34
Police investigation..................................................................................................................... 35
At the scene of the collision................................................................................................. 35
Subsequent to the collision.................................................................................................. 38
Record of Interview and conversations at the scene........................................................ 39
CCTV footage from the Maxi Cab............................................................................................ 41
Photographs taken by S/C Cox................................................................................................ 46
D/L/S/C Hardiman’s evidence............................................................................................... 46
Injuries sustained by David....................................................................................................... 53
Conclusion on medical expert evidence of Dr Bouwer and Dr Collins........................ 59
Joint expert report and the evidence of Mr Hardy and Mr Carter...................................... 59
Conclusion on expert evidence of Mr Hardy, Mr Carter and D/L/S/C Hardiman.. 63
Character evidence received from Ms MacGregor................................................................ 63
Changes to the traffic signals following the collision............................................................ 64

Prosecution case............................................................................................................................... 65

Defence case...................................................................................................................................... 66

Legal principles................................................................................................................................ 66

Elements of the charge............................................................................................................... 66
Element 1: ‘Driving a motor vehicle’.................................................................................. 67
Element 2: ‘Driving dangerously’....................................................................................... 68
Element 3: ‘Causing death’.................................................................................................. 70
Findings as to the elements of the charge................................................................................ 71
The issue…

The defendant in R v Duong was tried by a judge sitting alone in the County Court of Victoria. The defendant was charged with dangerous driving causing death, an offence under section 319(1) of the Crimes Act 1958 (Vic). The legal issues before the court were whether the defendant drove dangerously and, if so, whether that driving caused the death of the deceased. The court had to consider the evidence presented and determine if it was sufficient to prove the defendant drove dangerously and that this conduct caused the death. The court also needed to address whether the trial by judge alone was appropriate under the Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic) and whether the jury directions were correctly applied in accordance with the Jury Directions Act 2015 (Vic).

The court examined the evidence and concluded that there was insufficient proof that the defendant drove dangerously. The judge found that the prosecution had not established beyond reasonable doubt that the defendant’s actions were the direct cause of the deceased’s death. The court considered authorities such as Georgiou v The Queen, King v The Queen, Jiminez v The Queen, and McBride v The Queen in assessing the evidence and determining the issues. The decision to conduct the trial by a judge alone was deemed appropriate, and the jury directions were found to be correctly applied.

The court found the defendant not guilty of the offence of dangerous driving causing death. The reasoning and outcome of the case highlight the importance of proving causation and dangerous driving beyond reasonable doubt. The final orders reflect the not guilty verdict, and no further action can be taken against the defendant for this offence.

Continue reading R v Duong

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Orders of the court

Background to the litigation

Evidence Before The Court

Reasons for decision

Legal Principle Established