R v Hanslow

[2014] QDC 262

DISTRICT COURT OF QUEENSLAND

CITATION:

R v Hanslow [2014] QDC 262

PARTIES:

THE QUEEN


v

RANCE NEIL HANSLOW

FILE NO/S:

Rockhampton 232/2014

DIVISION:

Criminal

PROCEEDING:

Trial

ORIGINATING COURT:

Rockhampton

DELIVERED ON:

18 November 2014

DELIVERED AT:

Emerald

HEARING DATE:

On the papers

Crown submissions filed 6 November 2014

Defence submissions filed 10 November 2014

JUDGE:

Smith DCJA

ORDER:

Indictment 32 of 2014 is transferred to the Bundaberg District Court

CATCHWORDS:

CRIMINAL LAW – CHANGE OF VENUE

District Court of Queensland Act 1967 (Q)

R v Yanner [1998] 2 Qd R 208

R v Walters [2007] QCA 140

COUNSEL:

Mr J Phillips for the Crown
Mr J Ahlstrand for the Defence

SOLICITORS:

Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions Queensland for the applicant

Legal Aid Office Queensland for the defence

Introduction

1. This is an application by the Crown brought under s 590AA of the Criminal Code for an application to transfer the indictment to Bundaberg.

1. The application is opposed by the defendant.

The Law

1. Section 63 of the District Court of Queensland  Act 1967 (Q) provides:

“Change of venue
(1) where an accused person is committed for trial to the District Court in a place other than the district in which the offence is alleged to have been committed, a Supreme Court Judge or a District Court Judge may order that the trial be held in that district and they make all such orders for the remand and custody of the accused person, and for the enlargement of the accused person’s bail, as may be necessary.”

1. In R v Yanner [1998] 2 Qd. R. 208 it was held that a trial should ordinarily proceed in the district in which the offence charged is alleged to have been committed. The factors relevant include:

(a)        the cost, expense and inconvenience involved in a change of venue;

(b)        disruption to court schedules and the waste of court resources;

(c)        delay;

(d)        ensuring a fair trial is and is seen to be had;

(e)        the system of administration of justice in Queensland establishes court districts and enables the Crown to select the district in which criminal proceedings will be commenced. (Also see R v Walters [2007] QCA 140).

Submissions

1. In this case the accused has been charged with 13 counts.  A summary of the locations is as follows:

Count	Location	Court Jurisdiction
1	Blackbutt and elsewhere	Maryborough
2	Blackbutt	Maryborough
3 and 4	Townsville	Townsville
5 and 7	Tiaro	Maryborough
6	Tiaro and elsewhere	Maryborough
8 to 13	Childers	Bundaberg

1. The Crown submits as follows:

(a)        The majority of offending occurred in the Bundaberg district although the charges were committed for trial in the District Court at Rockhampton.

(b)        Only one of the Crown witnesses is based in Rockhampton namely the arresting officer.  The others are either interstate or near Bundaberg, Maryborough and the Beenleigh/Logan areas.  Only one witness is to be pre-recorded.

(c)        The court sits in Bundaberg with relative frequency and there is no significant delay or expense to be incurred…