Attorney-General v Slavich

[2013] NZHC 627

IN THE HIGH COURT OF NEW ZEALAND AUCKLAND REGISTRY

CIV-2012-404-6353 [2013] NZHC 627

IN THE MATTER OF     an application under s 88B of the

Judicature Act 1908

BETWEEN  ATTORNEY-GENERAL Applicant

ANDJOHN KENNETH SLAVICH Respondent

Hearing:         11, 12 and 13 March 2013

Court:Cooper J Toogood J

Appearances: P J Gunn for Applicant

Respondent in Person
B D Gray QC as Amicus Curiae

Judgment:      27 March 2013

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

This judgment was delivered by Justice Cooper on

27 March 2013 at 2.00 p.m., pursuant to r 11.5 of the High Court Rules

Registrar/Deputy Registrar

Date:

Solicitors:

Crown Law Office, PO Box 2858, Wellington  [e-mail]

J K Slavich, PO Box 120, Hamilton 3240  [e-mail]

B D Gray QC, PO Box 4338, Shortland Street, Auckland 1140  [e-mail]

ATTORNEY-GENERAL V SLAVICH HC AK CIV-2012-404-6353 [27 March 2013]

Contents

Introduction ............................................................................................................[1] Result......................................................................................................................[7] Preliminary .............................................................................................................[9] Subpoena to Mr Douch ........................................................................................[10] Respondent’s application for summary judgment ................................................[16] Application to disqualify counsel for the applicant .............................................[17] Application for adjournment ................................................................................[20] The convictions ....................................................................................................[24] Findings of fact ....................................................................................................[25] Heath J’s decision.................................................................................................[46] The evidence of Ms Gibbs (Mrs Calder)..............................................................[64] The Court of Appeal – decision extending time for appealing ............................[88] The Court of Appeal – substantive judgment.......................................................[90] The Supreme Court ............................................................................................[103] Subsequent proceedings .....................................................................................[107] Private prosecutions...........................................................................................[109] Civil proceedings................................................................................................[123] The Pacesetter litigation .....................................................................................[142] The law ...............................................................................................................[150] Evaluation ..........................................................................................................[164] Relief sought ......................................................................................................[175] Orders .................................................................................................................[179]

Introduction

[1]      This is an application under s 88B of the Judicature Act 1908.  The Attorney- General seeks an order against Mr Slavich on the basis that, in terms of the section, he has persistently and without any reasonable ground instituted vexatious legal proceedings.

[2]      Mr  Slavich  was  tried  in  the  High  Court  at  Hamilton  between  18  and

22 September 2006.  Mr Slavich had sought that the trial be before a Judge alone. That application was not opposed and Heath J granted it prior to the trial.   There were originally ten counts in the indictment, but Mr Slavich was discharged under s 347 of the Crimes Act 1961 on two of them.  At the close of the Crown case, the prosecutor, Mr Douch, indicated that he did not intend to pursue another of the counts and Mr Slavich was discharged on that count before being put to an election as to whether to call evidence.

[3]      On 12 October 2006, Heath J convicted Mr Slavich on six of the remaining seven  counts.     Since  two  of  the  charges  originally  laid  were  expressed  as alternatives, the conviction on one of the counts meant that no verdict was required on the alternative count.  In the end, Mr Slavich was convicted on counts alleging that  he used  a document  for the purpose of obtaining a benefit,  with  intent  to defraud, contrary to s 229A of the Crimes Act (counts 1 and 5);  forgery contrary to s 264 of the Act (counts 2 and 8);  uttering a forged document contrary to s 266 of the Act (count 7) and drawing a document without authority contrary to s 272 of…