Supreme and District Courts Criminal Directions Benchbook

The links in each Benchbook entry link to a copy of the judgment on either the Supreme Court library website or, for reported cases, to the relevant subscription service. If you do not have access to the subscription services, a version of the judgment can generally be located by searching the citation (e.g. [1981] 1 NSWLR 530) at http://www.lawcite.org.

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Introductory information

Foreword by Chief Justice and Chief Judge (PDF, 332KB)

1 Contents index (PDF, 203KB)

3 Introduction (PDF, 394KB)

During the trial (many of these directions may bear repeating in the summing up)

4 Trial procedure (PDF, 286KB)

4A Judge's opening remarks (PDF, 160KB)

4B Where the jury are to be provided with transcripts (PDF, 232KB)

5 Unrepresented defendant (PDF, 224KB)

6 Fitness for trial (PDF, 36KB)

7 Protected witnesses: s 21M Evidence Act 1977 (PDF, 145KB)

8 Protected witnesses s 5 Criminal Law (Sexual Offences) Act 1978 (PDF, 138KB)

9 Evidence of affected children (PDF, 405KB)

10 Child witnesses (PDF, 254KB)

11 Special witnesses (PDF, 467KB)

12 Competency of witnesses, including children (PDF, 35KB)

13 Hostile witnesses (PDF, 43KB)

13A Privilege against self-incrimination (PDF, 345KB)

14 Directed Verdict (PDF, 47KB)

16 Evidence admitted against one defendant only (PDF, 17KB)

17 Dismissal during the trial of some charges against single defendant (PDF, 95KB)

18 Discharge of defence counsel during trial (PDF, 16KB)

19 Disposition of charge against co-defendant (PDF, 18KB)

20 Tape recordings, transcripts and evidence (PDF, 105KB)

21 Interpretation and translators (PDF, 245KB)

22 Retrial warnings (PDF, 16KB)

Summing up

23 General summing up directions (PDF, 194KB)

24 Views and demonstrations (PDF, 129KB)

25 Evidence of defendant in respect of co-defendant (PDF, 26KB)

26 Defendant giving evidence (PDF, 161KB)

27 Defendant not giving evidence, where no adverse inference (PDF, 25KB)

28 Defendant not giving evidence, where an adverse inference may follow from that (PDF, 369KB)

29 Defendant's right to silence (PDF, 95KB)

30 Co-offender who has pleaded guilty (PDF, 142KB)

31 The rule in Jones v Dunkel (PDF, 37KB)

32 The rule in Browne v Dunn (PDF, 149KB)

33 Alternative charges (PDF, 218KB)

34 Separate consideration of charges-single defendant (PDF, 204KB)

35 Separate consideration of charges – multiple defendants confronting multiple charges (PDF, 24KB)

36 Out-of-court confessional statements (PDF, 178KB)

37 Hearsay confessions by another exculpating the defendant (PDF, 19KB)

38 Accomplices (PDF, 30KB)

39 Lies told by the defendant (going only to credit) (PDF, 124KB)

40 Lies told by the defendant (consciousness of guilt) (PDF, 179KB)

41 Alibi (PDF, 110KB)

42 Good character (PDF, 27KB)

43 Bad character/previous convictions (PDF, 48KB)

44 Cross-examination as to complainant's motive to lie (PDF, 24KB)

45 Absence of complainant’s motive to lie (PDF, 293KB)

46 Prior inconsistent statements Evidence Act 1977: ss 17, 18, 19, 101 and 102 (PDF, 28KB)

47 Privilege against self-incrimination (PDF, 26KB)

48 Circumstantial evidence (PDF, 115KB)

49 Motive (PDF, 24KB)

50 Flight and other post offence conduct as demonstrating consciousness of guilt (PDF, 212KB)

50a Defendant's silence as admission (PDF, 146KB)

51 Identification (PDF, 68KB)

52 Similar fact evidence (PDF, 128KB)

52a Directions about domestic relationships and domestic violence (PDF, 155KB)

53 Jury unanimity-specific issues (PDF, 155KB)

54 Jury failure to agree (PDF, 34KB)

55 Majority verdict (PDF, 143KB)

56 DNA (PDF, 34KB)

57 Fingerprints (PDF, 20KB)

58 Expert witnesses (PDF, 26KB)

59 Intention (PDF, 28KB)

60 Reasonable doubt (PDF, 106KB)

61 Caution in using hearsay s 93C(2) Evidence Act 1977 (PDF, 24KB)

62 Corporate defendant (PDF, 15KB)

63 Witnesses whose evidence may require a special warning (Robinson direction) (PDF, 125KB)

64 Closed Court - exceptions to the general rule of openness (PDF, 210KB)

65 Defences in relation to sexual offences which relate to a specific age or person with impairment of the mind (PDF, 110KB)

66 Defence not raised but available (PDF, 60KB)

63a Intermediaries (PDF, 119KB)

Directions on sexual offences

67 Distressed condition (PDF, 99KB)

68 Preliminary complaint (PDF, 187KB)

69 Delay in prosecution and significant forensic disadvantage (PDF, 199KB)

70 Evidence of other sexual (or violenct) acts or other discreditable conduct (PDF, 271KB)

Criminal responsibility

71 Attempts s 4 (PDF, 179KB)

72 Conspiracy (PDF, 31KB)

73 Evidence in conspiracy cases (PDF, 30KB)

74 Parties to an offence ss7,8 (PDF, 286KB)

75 Accessory after the fact (PDF, 211KB)

76 Claim of right s 22(2) (PDF, 282KB)

77 Unwilled acts (automatism) s 23(1)(a) (PDF, 117KB)

78 Accident s 23(1)(b) (PDF, 140KB)

79 Mistake of fact s 24 (PDF, 27KB)

80 Mistake of fact in sexual offences (PDF, 187KB)

81 Extraordinary emergency s 25 (PDF, 119KB)

82 Insanity (PDF, 42KB)

83 Unintentional intoxication s 28 (PDF, 27KB)

84 Intentional intoxication s 28 (PDF, 30KB)

85 Capacity s 29 (PDF, 110KB)

86 Compulsion 31(1)(c) (PDF, 212KB)

87 Compulsion 31(1)(d) (PDF, 221KB)

88 Defence of a dwelling house s 267 (PDF, 157KB)

89 Defence of moveable property (PDF, 26KB)

90 Domestic discipline (PDF, 24KB)

91 Provocation ss 268, 269 (PDF, 307KB)

92 Prevention of repetition of insult (PDF, 30KB)

93 Criminal negligence s 289 (in charge of dangerous things) (PDF, 34KB)

94 Self defence s 271(1) (PDF, 130KB)

94A Self-defence against unprovoked assault (PDF, 125KB)

95 Self-defence against unprovoked assault when there is death or GBH s271(2) (PDF, 130KB)

96 Self-defence against provoked assault when there is death or grievous bodily harm s272 (PDF, 162KB)

97 Provocation (pre 4 April 2011) (PDF, 210KB)

98 Provocation (post 4 April 2011) (PDF, 218KB)

99 Killing for preservation in an abusive domestic relationship (PDF, 29KB)

100 Diminished responsibility s 304A (PDF, 164KB)

Offences under Queensland law

101 Acts intended to cause grievous bodily harm and other malicious acts – s 317 (PDF, 180KB)

102 Administering a stupefying drug (PDF, 148KB)

103 Administering poison with intent to harm s 322 (PDF, 143KB)

104 Arson (PDF, 143KB)

105 Endangering particular property by fire s 462 (PDF, 179KB)

106 Assault s335 (PDF, 194KB)

107 Assault occasioning bodily harm (PDF, 147KB)

108 Assault on police officer in execution of his duty s 340 (PDF, 153KB)

109 Attempt to prevert the course of justice s 140 (PDF, 152KB)

110 Bomb hoaxes s 321A(1) (PDF, 138KB)

111 Bomb hoaxes s 321A(2) (PDF, 142KB)

112 Burglary s 419 (PDF, 186KB)

113 Carnal knowledge s 215 (PDF, 163KB)

113A Penile intercourse with a child s 215 (PDF, 217KB)

114 Choking, suffocation or strangulation in a domestic setting: s 315A (PDF, 364KB)

115 Involving child in making exploitative material (PDF, 134KB)

116 Making child exploitation material (PDF, 127KB)

117 Distributing child exploitation material (PDF, 126KB)

118 Possessing child exploitation material (PDF, 133KB)

119 Carnal knowledge of a person with an impairment of the mind s216 (PDF, 114KB)

119A Abuse of persons with an impairment of mind (PDF, 208KB)

119B Abuse (indecent dealing, exposure to indecent acts, taking indecent photographs etc) of persons with an impairment of mind (PDF, 204KB)

120 Child abduction (PDF, 136KB)

121 Child stealing (PDF, 180KB)

122 Child taking (PDF, 137KB)

123 Cruelty to children under 16 (PDF, 122KB)

124 Circumstances of aggravation (robbery, assault, burglary) (PDF, 144KB)

125 Circumstances of aggravation in sexual offences (PDF, 163KB)

126 Conspiracy s 541 (PDF, 16KB)

127 Corruption of a witness s 127 (PDF, 170KB)

128 Damaging evidence with intent s 129 (PDF, 175KB)

129 Dangerous operation of a motor vehicle (PDF, 216KB)

130 Deprivation of liberty (PDF, 162KB)

131 Possession - Drugs Misuse Act 1986 (PDF, 191KB)

132 Drugs trafficking in a dangerous drug (PDF, 141KB)

133 Escape from lawful custody (PDF, 133KB)

134 Extortion s 415(1) Before 1 December 2008 (PDF, 178KB)

135 Extortion s 415 (1) (From 1 December 2008) (PDF, 189KB)

136 False statement under oath s 193 (PDF, 110KB)

137 Forgery s 488(1)(a) (PDF, 179KB)

138 Fraud (PDF, 171KB)

139 Going armed in public (PDF, 140KB)

140 Grievous bodily harm (PDF, 208KB)

141 Grooming children under 16 (PDF, 196KB)

142 Imposition (PDF, 178KB)

143 Improper interference with a corpse 236(b) (PDF, 146KB)

144 Incest s 222 (PDF, 135KB)

145 Indecent assault s 352 (PDF, 117KB)

146 Indecent dealing indecent dealing with a child under 16 s 210(1)(a) (PDF, 248KB)

148 Indecent dealing unlawfully procuring a child under 16 to commit an indecent act s 210(1)(b) (PDF, 194KB)

149 Indecent dealing permitting indecent dealing s 210(1)(c) (PDF, 217KB)

150 Indecent dealing wilfully and unlawfully exposing a child under 16 to an indecent act s 210(1)(d) (PDF, 200KB)

151 Indecent dealing exposing a child under 16 to an indecent object etc s 210(1)(e) (PDF, 207KB)

152 Indecent dealing taking an indecent photograph etc of a child under 16 s 210(1)(f) (PDF, 198KB)

152A Procuring young person etc for penile intercourse s 217(1) (PDF, 113KB)

153 Kidnapping (PDF, 107KB)

154 Kidnapping for ransom (PDF, 149KB)

155 Maintaining a sexual relationship with a child s 229B (offences between 3 July 1989 and 1 July 1997) (PDF, 47KB)

156 Maintaining a sexual relationship with a child s 229B (offences between 1 July 1997 and 1 May 2003) (PDF, 48KB)

157 Maintaining a sexual relationship with a child s 229B (after 1 May 2003) (PDF, 226KB)

158 Official corruption s 87(1)(a) (PDF, 184KB)

159 Official corruption s 87(1)(b) (PDF, 146KB)

160 Perjury (PDF, 186KB)

161 Possession of child abuse computer game (PDF, 23KB)

162 Possession of housebreaking implements s 425(1)(c) (PDF, 142KB)

163 Observations or recordings in breach of privacy s 227A(1) (commencement date 8 December 2005) (PDF, 178KB)

164 Observations or recordings in breach of privacy s 227A(2) (commencement date 8 December 2005) (PDF, 173KB)

165 Distributing prohibited visual recordings s 227B (commencement date 8 December 2005) (PDF, 171KB)

166 Procuring prostitution (PDF, 147KB)

167 Rape s 347 (now repealed) (for offences occurring prior to 27 October 2000) (PDF, 30KB)

168 Rape s 349 (offences occurring after 27 October 2000) (PDF, 208KB)

169 Receiving s 433 (PDF, 160KB)

170 Receiving s 433 from 1 December 2008 (PDF, 153KB)

171 Recent possession (PDF, 25KB)

171A - Retaliation against judicial officer s 119B (PDF, 401KB)

172 Riot and unlawful assembly s 61 and 62 (offences prior to 1 December 2008) (PDF, 25KB)

173 Riot s 61 (offences after 1 December 2008) (PDF, 18KB)

174 Robbery s 409 and s 411 (PDF, 24KB)

175 Secret commissions (PDF, 43KB)

176 Serious animal cruelty s 242 (PDF, 20KB)

177 Stalking (offences alleged to have occurred between 23 November 1993 and 30 April 1999) (PDF, 30KB)

178 Stalking (offences alleged to have occurred after 30 April 1999) (PDF, 30KB)

178A Stalking (for offences committed after 1 August 2023) (PDF, 166KB)

179 Stealing (PDF, 20KB)

180 Threatening violence s 75(1) or (2) (PDF, 26KB)

181 Threats s 359 (PDF, 26KB)

182 Torture s 320A (PDF, 29KB)

183 Unlawful killing murder s 302(1)(a) (PDF, 246KB)

183A Unlawful killing s 302(1)(aa) (PDF, 644KB)

184 Unlawful killing murder s 302(1)(b) (PDF, 226KB)

185 Unlawful killing manslaughter s 303 (PDF, 158KB)

186 Unlawful killing attempted murder s 306(2) (PDF, 148KB)

187 Unlawful striking causing death (PDF, 161KB)

188 Unlawful sodomy of a person under 18 s 208(a) (PDF, 21KB)

189 Unlawful sodomy permitting sodomy by a male person under 18 s 208(b) (PDF, 22KB)

190 Unlawful sodomy of an intellectually impaired person s 208(c) (PDF, 22KB)

191 Unlawful use of a motor vehicle etc s 408(1)(a) (PDF, 104KB)

192 Unlawful possession of a motor vehicle s 408(1)(b) (PDF, 23KB)

193 Unlawful wounding s 323 (PDF, 21KB)

194 Using internet etc to procure children under 16 (PDF, 34KB)

195 Uttering s 488(1)(b) (PDF, 25KB)

196 Wilful damage (PDF, 280KB)

103A Aiding Suicide s 311 (PDF, 182KB)

161A Possessing child abuse object s228J (PDF, 438KB)

161B Producing or supplying child abuse object s228I (PDF, 366KB)

181A Threats to distribute intimate images s229A (PDF, 378KB)

Commonwealth offences

197 Proof of mental and physical elements (PDF, 50KB)

198 Conspiracy - Commonwealth Criminal Code s 11.5 (PDF, 35KB)

199 Defrauding the Commonwealth s 29D Crimes Act (PDF, 26KB)

200 Drugs Commonwealth drug offences under s 233B of the Customs Act 1901 before the application of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (PDF, 60KB)

201 Drugs Commonwealth offences under s 233B of the Customs Act after the operation of ch2 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (PDF, 33KB)

202 Drugs Commonwealth drug offences under the Criminal Code Act 1995 (PDF, 77KB)

203 People smuggling (PDF, 65KB)

Additional material

Guidelines for conducting pre-recording of an affected witness (PDF, 65KB)

Jury handout: No outside influence or information (PDF, 21KB)

Judge P.E Smith - The role of counsel in seeking directions (PDF, 180KB)

Update notes

Update notes (3) November 2020 (PDF, 250KB)

Update notes (2) November 2020 (PDF, 251KB)

Update notes (2) - September 2020 (PDF, 250KB)

Update notes - September 2020 (PDF, 249KB)

Update notes (2) - August 2020 (PDF, 249KB)

Update notes - August 2020 (PDF, 256KB)

Update notes - June 2020 (PDF, 253KB)

Update notes - May 2020 (PDF, 262KB)

Update notes - February 2020 (PDF, 256KB)

Update notes - January 2020 (PDF, 267KB)

Update notes - March 2019 (PDF, 115KB)

Update notes - October 2017 (PDF, 255KB)

Update notes - March 2017 (PDF, 54KB)

Update notes - February 2016 (PDF, 25KB)

Update notes - February 2015 (PDF, 204KB)

Update notes May 2014 (PDF, 43KB)

Update notes May 2013 (PDF, 22KB)

Update notes June 2012 (PDF, 16KB)

Update notes February 2012 (PDF, 26KB)

Update notes November 2010 (PDF, 16KB)

Update notes June 2010 (PDF, 17KB)

Update notes March 2010 (PDF, 15KB)

Update notes February 2009 (PDF, 44KB)

Update notes November 2008 (PDF, 21KB)

Update notes September 2008 (PDF, 20KB)

Update notes April 2008 (PDF, 19KB)

Update notes March 2008 (PDF, 24KB)

Update Notes (4) November 2020 (PDF, 170KB)

Update Notes - December 2020 (PDF, 167KB)

Update notes (March 16 2021 Amendment) (PDF, 244KB)

Update Notes - March 2021 (PDF, 250KB)

Update Notes - April 2021 (PDF, 246KB)

Update Notes - May 2021 (PDF, 100KB)

Update Notes (2) - May 2021 (PDF, 96KB)

Update Notes - June 2021 (PDF, 86KB)

Update Notes - August 2021 (PDF, 93KB)

Update Notes - September 2021 (PDF, 96KB)

Update notes - November 2021 (PDF, 91KB)

Update notes - April 2022 (PDF, 73KB)

Update notes - May 2022 (PDF, 54KB)

Update notes (2) - May 2022 (PDF, 61KB)

Update notes (3) - May 2022 (PDF, 64KB)

Update notes (4) - May 2022 (PDF, 60KB)

Update notes (5) - May 2022 (PDF, 56KB)

Update notes (6) - May 2022 (PDF, 41KB)

Update notes (7) - May 2022 (PDF, 50KB)

Update notes - June 2022 (PDF, 42KB)

Update notes - August 2022 (PDF, 42KB)

Update notes (2) - August 2022 (PDF, 44KB)

Update notes (3) - August 2022 (PDF, 47KB)

Update notes - September 2022 (PDF, 40KB)

Update notes (2) - September 2022 (PDF, 135KB)

Update notes (3) - September 2022 (PDF, 47KB)

Update notes - October 2022 (PDF, 62KB)

Update notes (2) - October 2022 (PDF, 97KB)

Update notes (3) - October 2022 (PDF, 40KB)

Update notes (4) - October 2022 (PDF, 65KB)

Update notes - November 2022 (PDF, 81KB)

Update notes (2) - November 2022 (PDF, 41KB)

Update notes - February 2023 (PDF, 105KB)

Update notes (2) - February 2023 (PDF, 111KB)

Update notes - May 2023 (PDF, 125KB)

Update notes - August 2023 (PDF, 122KB)

Update notes (2) - August 2023 (PDF, 108KB)

Update notes - September 2023 (PDF, 112KB)

Update notes (2) - September 2023 (PDF, 107KB)

Update notes - October 2023 (PDF, 133KB)

Update notes (2) - October 2023 (PDF, 98KB)

Update notes - November 2023 (PDF, 107KB)

Update Notes (2) - November 2023 (PDF, 97KB)

Update Notes (3) - November 2023 (PDF, 94KB)

Update notes (4) - November 2023 (PDF, 106KB)

Update Notes - December 2023 (PDF, 86KB)

Update note (2) - December 2023 (PDF, 106KB)

Update notes (3) - December 2023 (PDF, 114KB)

Update notes - February 2024 (PDF, 145KB)

Update notes (2) - February 2024 (PDF, 143KB)

Update notes (3) - February 2024 (PDF, 114KB)

Update notes - March 2024 (PDF, 115KB)

Update notes (2) - March 2024 (PDF, 96KB)

Update notes (3) - March 2024 (PDF, 96KB)

Update Notes (4) - March 2024 (PDF, 94KB)

Last reviewed
14 September 2021
Last updated
8 April 2024