BETWEEN JOHN KENNETH SLAVICH Applicant AND THE KING Respondent

IN THE SUPREME COURT OF NEW ZEALAND

I TE KŌTI MANA NUI O AOTEAROA

SC 52/2009
SC 53/2009
SC UR 10/2024
[2024] NZSC 133

BETWEEN	JOHN KENNETH SLAVICH Applicant
AND	THE KING Respondent

Court:	Winkelmann CJ and Ellen France J
Counsel:	Applicant in person
Judgment:	7 October 2024

JUDGMENT OF THE COURT

AThe further application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 16 April 2020 (Slavich v R [2020] NZSC 34) is dismissed.

BThe application for consolidation of this application together with the application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 31 May 2024 (Re Slavich [2024] NZSC 66) is dismissed.

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REASONS

In a judgment delivered on 21 June 2024, the Court declined an application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 16 April 2020 (Slavich v R [2020] NZSC 34).[1] Mr Slavich has now filed a document described as an application for correction to the 16 April 2020 judgment (the 2020 judgment). We treat that as a further application for recall of the 2020 judgment.
[1]Slavich v R [2024] NZSC 72 (Winkelmann CJ and Ellen France J).
It is difficult to discern the basis on which recall is sought. The 2020 judgment confirmed the decision of the Registrar not to accept a correction application made by Mr Slavich. The Court had earlier directed the Registrar not to “accept any further applications by Mr Slavich which directly or indirectly challenge his convictions”.[2] Mr Slavich essentially says that the 2020 judgment meant, but did not say, that the effect of the direction to the Registrar is not to accept applications from him that challenge his convictions even if the applications have merit. That submission does not provide a basis for recall of the 2020 judgment. If anything, it confirms the application was one challenging the convictions.
[2]Slavich v R [2016] NZSC 99 at [3(b)].
The present application similarly has at its heart a challenge to the correctness of the convictions. In particular, Mr Slavich continues to question the basis on which the Court, in declining to recall the judgment declining leave to appeal against conviction, concluded that the Court of Appeal was “satisfied” the trial Judge had considered both a brief of evidence and a transcript of the cross-examination of a witness.[3] It suffices for us to say that it is apparent from the approach of the Court of Appeal to the admission of the evidence in question that the Court proceeded on the basis that the trial Judge had considered the transcript.
[3]Slavich v R [2011] NZSC 103 at [3]; and see R v Slavich [2009] NZCA 188.
There being no basis for a recall, the application is dismissed.
Mr Slavich also sought consolidation of this application with another application for recall. The latter application relates to a judgment of the Court delivered on 31 May 2024.[4] The latter proceeding relates to a different party and each can be properly dealt with on their own terms. We see no basis for consolidating the two matters. Nor is there any basis on the material before us for the Court to make the orders suggested by Mr Slavich in his further memorandum of 3 October 2024.

Disposition

[4]Re Slavich [2024] NZSC 66.

The further application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 16 April 2020 (Slavich v R [2020] NZSC 34) is dismissed.
The application for consolidation of this application together with the application for recall of this Court’s judgment of 31 May 2024 (Re Slavich [2024] NZSC 66) is dismissed.

CaseChat Overview and Summary

In the case of John Kenneth Slavich v The King, the Supreme Court of New Zealand dismissed two applications filed by Mr Slavich. The first was a further application for recall of the Court’s judgment of 16 April 2020, and the second was an application for consolidation of this application with another application for recall. The Court was required to determine whether the applications met the criteria for recall and consolidation, particularly given the previous directions issued by the Court. The legal issues centred on the basis for recall and the proper scope of the Court’s earlier directions concerning Mr Slavich’s applications.

The Court found that there was no basis for recalling the 2020 judgment. Mr Slavich’s argument that the 2020 judgment implied he could make merit-based applications challenging his convictions was not valid. The Court had clearly directed that no further applications by Mr Slavich challenging his convictions would be accepted. Furthermore, the Court noted that Mr Slavich’s challenge to the 2020 judgment was, in essence, a challenge to his convictions, which was not permissible under the Court’s earlier directions. The Court also dismissed the application for consolidation, finding no basis to combine the two applications as they involved different parties and should be dealt with separately. The Court further found no grounds for the orders Mr Slavich had suggested in his memorandum.

In conclusion, the Supreme Court dismissed both applications. The further application for recall of the 16 April 2020 judgment was dismissed as it did not meet the criteria for recall. The application for consolidation was also dismissed as there was no proper basis for combining the two matters. The Court reiterated its earlier directions that no further applications challenging the convictions would be accepted.

CaseChat Overview and Summary

Orders of the court

Background to the litigation

Evidence Before The Court

Reasons for decision

Legal Principle Established