Criminal Rules 200620 April 2006
We, the Honourable Peter George Underwood, Officer of the Order of Australia, Chief Justice, the Honourable Ewan Charles Crawford, the Honourable Pierre William Slicer, the Honourable Peter Ethrington Evans, the Honourable Alan Michael Blow, OAM, and the Honourable Shan Tennent, Puisne Judges of the Supreme Court of Tasmania, make the following Rules of Court under the Criminal Code Act 1924 .
PART 1 - Preliminary
These Rules of Court may be cited as the Criminal Rules 2006 .
These Rules of Court take effect on the day on which their making is notified in the Gazette.
In these Rules of Court, unless the contrary intention appears –appeal includes an application for leave to appeal;Code means the Criminal Code;Court means the Supreme Court;court of trial means the court –(a) before which an accused person is tried upon an indictment; or(b) which passes sentence upon a plea of guilty;Director means the Director of Public Prosecutions;recording apparatus means any electronic, electrical or mechanical device capable of recording sounds or pictures which can be stored and later recalled;Registrar means the Registrar of the Supreme Court;victim means –(a) a victim within the meaning of section 81A of the Sentencing Act 1997 ; and(b) a person allowed to furnish to the Court a written statement under subsection (2A) of that section;victim impact statement means a statement furnished under section 81A of the Sentencing Act 1997 by a victim of an offence.
PART 2 - Victim Impact Statements
4. Duty of victim to provide copies of victim impact statement
(1) A victim who wishes to furnish to the Court a victim impact statement is to provide the statement to the Director, or counsel authorised by the Director, with copies for the prosecutor and the counsel for the offender.(2) On providing copies of the statement under subrule (1) , the victim is to advise the Director whether he or she wishes to read the statement to the Court.
5. Provision of victim impact statement to presiding judge
The Director or counsel authorised by the Director is to –(a) provide to the presiding judge any victim impact statement relating to the offence which has been provided by a victim; and(b) inform the presiding judge whether the victim has requested to read the statement to the Court.
6. Reading of victim impact statement
A victim impact statement is to be read to, or by, the Court before the presiding judge passes sentence on the offender.
7. Postponement of reading of victim impact statement
If a victim has requested to read a victim impact statement to the Court but is not present, the presiding judge may postpone the reading of the statement and is to cause notice of the time fixed for the reading of the statement to be given to the victim.
8. Victim may amend victim impact statement
Subject to rule 10 , a victim who has furnished a victim impact statement may amend the statement at any time before it is read to, or by, the Court.
9. Victim may withdraw victim impact statement
A victim who has provided a victim impact statement may withdraw the statement at any time before it is read to, or by, the Court and, if he or she does so, the statement is not to be read to, or by, the Court.
10. Judge may exclude irrelevant material
If the presiding judge so directs, a victim is not to read to the court any part of his or her victim impact statement that the presiding judge considers to be irrelevant to the proceedings.
11. Requirements for victim impact statement
A victim may furnish to the Court only one victim impact statement and the statement –(a) is to be legible; and(b) may be either printed or handwritten; and(c) except with the leave of the presiding judge, may not be longer than 20 pages, including medical reports and other annexures; and(d) may, but need not, be in a form approved by the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.
PART 3 - Recording of Proceedings
12. Recordings to be made of proceedings in court
Subject to any direction of the court or a judge, all proceedings in any court of trial or Court of Criminal Appeal are to be recorded by a recording apparatus.
13. Transcripts of proceedings
(1) The court, a judge or the Registrar may direct that a transcript of the proceedings, or any part of the proceedings, in a court of trial or Court of Criminal Appeal is to be provided to –(a) the court in which the proceedings, or part of the proceedings, were recorded; or(b) that court and every party to the proceedings.(2) The Registrar is to provide any transcript directed to be provided under subrule (1) in accordance with that subrule.(3) Where a decision in any proceedings is appealed, the Registrar is to provide to each party to the appeal such transcript of those proceedings that may be reasonably required for the hearing of the appeal.
(1) Subject to subrule (2) , where a transcript of proceedings is provided to a person under rule 13(3) , that person is to pay for the transcript at the rates that are prescribed for the time being in the rules made under the Supreme Court Civil Procedure Act 1932 in respect of the furnishing of transcripts of proceedings.(2) The Registrar may, in his or her discretion, waive any charge that is payable in respect of a transcript of proceedings.
15. Period for which Registrar required to retain recordings
(1) The Registrar is to retain every recording made by the recording apparatus referred to in rule 12 of any proceedings or part of any proceedings –(a) for the appropriate period; or(b) for such other period as the Court or a judge may, in any particular case, direct.(2) For the purposes of this rule, the "appropriate period" means –(a) in respect of proceedings heard before 1 January 2005 –(i) in which a person has been sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment, a period equal to the length of that term; and(ii) in which a person has been sentenced to serve a term of imprisonment but the execution of that term, or part of that term, has been suspended, a period equal to the aggregate of the period for which the sentence was suspended and the period of the term of imprisonment; and(iii) in which a probation order has been made, a period equal to the aggregate of the period of that order and the period of any sentence of imprisonment imposed at the time of the making of the order; and(iv) which are not covered by subparagraph (i) , (ii) or (iii) , a period of 3 years; and(b) in respect of proceedings heard on or after 1 January 2005, a period of 50 years.
PART 4 - Procedure on Appeal
Division 1 - Notices of appeal
(1) A copy of a notice of appeal, notice of application for leave to appeal or notice of application for extension of time within which either of those notices may be given is to be served upon the respondent and 3 copies of the notice are to be lodged at the office of the Registrar.(2) As soon as practicable after service on the respondent of a notice of appeal or a notice of application for leave to appeal, the appellant is to lodge, or cause to be lodged, at the office of the Registrar proof of the service of the notice.(3) For the purposes of subrule (2) , proof of service may be provided by –(a) an affidavit or an acknowledgment of service signed by a legal practitioner; or(b) such other means as the Registrar considers sufficient.(4) Any notice required or authorised by the Code or by these rules may be signed by the person giving the notice or by his or her legal practitioner.(5) A notice required to be given to the Court of Criminal Appeal is to be addressed to the Registrar, Court of Criminal Appeal, Hobart.
(1) In an appeal before the Court of Criminal Appeal, the appellant or, if more than one, an appellant selected by the Registrar is to prepare an appeal book.(2) The appeal book is to contain only material which is directly relevant to the appeal.(3) Every appellant must, within 7 days of filing either a notice of appeal or a notice of application for leave to appeal, file a list of the contents proposed to be included in the appeal book.(4) Upon the filing of the list, the Registrar is to give an appointment for the settlement of the contents of the appeal book, and each appellant is to serve a copy of the proposed list of contents and notice of appointment on every other party interested in the appeal.(5) For the purpose of settling the contents of the appeal book –(a) the Registrar may consult with the trial judge; and(b) the trial judge may direct the parties to attend before him or her for the purpose of settling the contents of the appeal book.(6) The appeal book is to be prepared in the manner prescribed by rule 668(1) to (6) , inclusive, of the Supreme Court Rules unless the Registrar determines otherwise.(7) The appeal book is to contain a certificate by the appellant or his or her solicitors that the contents of the book have been examined and are correct.(8) The contents of the appeal book are to be arranged in the following order:(a) title page;(b) index;(c) the certificate referred to in subrule (7) ;(d) the notice of appeal to the Court of Criminal Appeal;(e) the indictment;(f) evidence, either oral or by affidavit;(g) any exhibits;(h) any ruling given during the trial;(i) the summing-up by the trial judge;(j) the trial judge's comments on passing sentence;(k) any other relevant material.(9) No later than 14 days before the first day of the term following the settling of the contents of the appeal book or such other time as the Court or a judge allows, the appellant is to –(a) file in the Registry 3 copies of the appeal book for the use of the judges of the Court of Criminal Appeal, together with a certified copy of the appeal book for the Court file; and(b) deliver a copy of the appeal book to every other party to the appeal.(10) The Registrar may prepare the appeal book if satisfied that it would cause undue hardship for the appellant to prepare it.(11) If the Registrar refuses to prepare the appeal book, the appellant may apply to a judge to review that decision.
18. Listing of appeal for hearing
The Registrar is not to list an appeal for hearing by the Court of Criminal Appeal during a term that commences less than 21 days after notice of the appeal has been lodged, unless the Registrar is satisfied that there are special circumstances for directing an earlier hearing.
19. Notice of application taken to be notice of appeal
Where the Court of Criminal Appeal grants leave to appeal, the notice of application for such leave is taken to be notice of appeal and no further notice is required.
20. Procedure on applications under sections 401 and 418 of Code
(1) An application under section 401 of the Code for a certificate may be made orally by the appellant or his or her counsel either at the trial or subsequently.(2) If the judge of the court of trial refuses an application under section 401 of the Code, the appellant may make application to the Court of Criminal Appeal.(3) An application under section 418 of the Code is to be made in the first instance to a judge and, if the judge refuses the application, the Registrar is to notify the appellant of the refusal.(4) For the purposes of this rule, a judge may sit and act wherever convenient.
(1) Subject to subrule (2) , unless a judge or the Court of Criminal Appeal otherwise orders, any document, exhibit or other thing connected with any proceedings before a court of trial is to remain in the custody of that court until the expiration of 4 months after the period allowed for appealing and, in the case of an appeal, until 4 months after its determination.(2) The judge of the court of trial may, in any case in which he or she thinks fit, allow any document, exhibit or thing referred to in subrule (1) , or any part of such a document, exhibit or thing, to be released.(3) The release of a document, exhibit or thing or part of a document, exhibit or thing may be subject to such conditions, and such security for its production when required, as the judge thinks necessary or desirable.(4) The clerk of the court is to keep a record of any order made, or direction given, by the judge under this rule.(5) A judge or the Court of Criminal Appeal may make such order with respect to a document, exhibit or thing referred to in subrule (1) as he, she or it considers necessary or desirable.
22. Applications for legal assistance
(1) A person who intends to make an application under section 410 of the Code is to give written notice of that intention to the Director of the Legal Aid Commission.(2) An application –(a) may be made to the court or to a judge in chambers; and(b) is to be supported by an affidavit as to the appellant's circumstances.
(1) A direction given by the judge of a court of trial under section 405(1) of the Code may be subject to such conditions for securing the production, on appeal, of any property or thing, or of a sample, portion or facsimile of any property or thing, as the judge may think fit.(2) An order for the payment of any sum of money by any person to any person, made by the judge of the court of trial upon conviction, is to be suspended until the expiration of the period provided for appeal and, in the case of an appeal, until its determination.
Division 2 - Miscellaneous appeal provisions
24. Representation by solicitor in certain cases
In all proceedings before a judge under section 418 of the Code, and in all preliminary and interlocutory proceedings and applications, except those heard before the court, the parties may be represented and appear by a legal practitioner alone.
25. Notice of decisions of Court of Criminal Appeal to be given
If an appellant is in custody and is not present at the hearing of an application in the Court of Criminal Appeal, the Registrar is to give the appellant notice of the decision of that court in relation to the application, unless it appears to the Registrar to be unnecessary to do so.
26. Non-compliance by appellant
(1) Non-compliance on the part of an appellant with these rules, or with any rule of practice under the Code, does not prevent the further prosecution of an appeal if the Court of Criminal Appeal or a judge considers that such non-compliance –(a) was not wilful; and(b) may be waived or remedied by amendment or otherwise.(2) The Court of Criminal Appeal or a judge may direct the appellant to remedy each non-compliance of a type referred to in subrule (1) and, upon the appellant so doing, the appeal is to proceed.(3) If the appellant is not present at the time the Court of Criminal Appeal or the judge gives a direction under this rule, the Registrar is to notify the appellant of the direction as soon as practicable after it is given.
27. Notification and directions by Registrar
In order to carry out or give effect to an order or direction made or given by the Court of Criminal Appeal or a judge under the Code or these rules, the Registrar is to give to any or all of the following such notification or direction as may be necessary:(a) the Sheriff;(b) any person in charge of a gaol;(c) an officer of a court;(d) any other person.
28. Enforcement of duties by order
The performance of any duty imposed on a person under the Code or these rules may be enforced by order of the Court of Criminal Appeal.
(1) The report of a judge of the court of trial is to be made to the Court of Criminal Appeal.(2) The Registrar must not provide any part of the report to any person, except by leave of the Court of Criminal Appeal or a judge of that court.
PART 5 - Examination of Witnesses out of State in Criminal Proceedings
In this Part –Commonwealth Act means the Foreign Evidence Act 1994 of the Commonwealth.
(1) This Part applies to an application in, or in relation to, criminal proceedings under –(a) section 7 or 8 of the Evidence on Commisson Act 2001 ; or(b) section 7 or 10 of the Commonwealth Act.(2) In the case of an application under section 7 or 10 of the Commonwealth Act, a reference in this Part to a section of the in Column 1 of the Table to this subrule is a reference to the section of the Commonwealth Act opposite in Column 2.
32. Criminal proceedings under Evidence Act
(1) For the purposes of section 7(2) of the Evidence on Commisson Act 2001 , criminal proceedings are before the Court if a person is committed for trial before the Court.(2) An application under section 7(2) of the Evidence on Commisson Act 2001 in relation to criminal proceedings before the Court is to be made by motion supported by an affidavit.(3) An application under section 8(1) of the Evidence on Commisson Act 2001 in relation to criminal proceedings is to be made by originating application supported by affidavit.
33. Affidavit in support of application
(1) An affidavit in support of an application under section 7 or 8 of the Evidence on Commisson Act 2001 is to –(a) address the matters set out in section 7(3) of that Act; and(b) exhibit any documents necessary to inform the Court of the questions at issue between the parties; and(c) include any other material that the applicant or the Court considers appropriate.(2) An affidavit in support of an application under section 7(2)(c) of the Evidence on Commisson Act 2001 is to exhibit –(a) a draft of the letter of request; and(b) any other material that the applicant or the Court considers appropriate.(3) If the language of the place outside the State in relation to which an application under paragraph (c) of section 7(2) of the Evidence on Commisson Act 2001 is made is not English, an affidavit in support of the application is to exhibit –(a) a translation of the letter of request referred to in that paragraph into the language of that place; and(b) a certificate by the translator stating –(i) his or her name, address and qualifications for making the translation; and(ii) that the translation is accurate.(4) An affidavit in support of an application under section 8 of the Evidence on Commisson Act 2001 is to exhibit the complaint in the inferior court in respect of which the application is made.
An order under section 7 or 8 of the Evidence on Commisson Act 2001 may include a requirement that a party or the party's solicitor give –(a) an undertaking as to the costs of examining, or taking the evidence of, the person outside the State; and(b) security for those costs in any manner that the Court directs.
An order under section 7 or 8 of the Evidence on Commisson Act 2001 may specify –(a) that a transcript be made of the questions asked and answers given in taking the evidence; and(b) that, in the case of a transcript, the witness sign the transcript as accurate; and(c) whether the evidence is to be taken in public or private.
36. Examiner may administer oaths
For the purposes of sections 7 and 8 of the Evidence on Commisson Act 2001 , the person examining a witness may administer oaths.
PART 6 - Miscellaneous
37. Applicant to produce affidavit
On the hearing of an application for bail under section 304 of the Code, the applicant is to produce to the judge an affidavit setting out the facts in respect of which he or she is in custody.
38. Application to file indictment
(1) An application by a private prosecutor for leave to file an indictment is to be made by application.(2) An application under subrule (1) is to be –(a) supported by an affidavit setting out the facts in respect of which it is made; and(b) served on the person sought to be prosecuted, the Director and such other persons as the judge may direct; and(c) filed in the Court and heard at such time and in such manner as the judge may direct.
39. Provisions relating to miscellaneous applications
(1) Except where otherwise provided by the Code or these rules, an application to a judge or to the Court of Criminal Appeal may be made by the applicant, or by counsel on his or her behalf, orally or in writing.(2) An appellant in custody who is not represented by counsel and who is not entitled to, or has not obtained, leave to be present before the Court, and who wishes to make an application is to make the application by forwarding it in writing to the Registrar.(3) On receiving an application in accordance with subrule (2) , the Registrar must take the proper steps to obtain a decision on it.
40. Notices of reference under section 388AA(1) of Code
Notice of a reference by the Attorney-General under section 388AA(1) of the Code is to –(a) be given in writing; and(b) be signed by the Attorney-General or another Crown Law Officer; and(c) set out the question of law that the Attorney-General seeks to refer to the Court of Criminal Appeal.
41. Indictments to be in triplicate
An indictment filed in the Court is to be filed in triplicate.
42. Associate to record result of trial, &c.
(1) On the conclusion of a trial, the associate to the judge is to –(a) enter the particulars of the result of the trial and of any sentence imposed by the Court in a recording apparatus; and(b) endorse the particulars of the result of the trial and of any sentence imposed by the Court –(i) on the back of the original indictment filed in the Court; or(ii) where an accused person has been committed for sentence under the provisions of section 63 of the Justices Act 1959 , on the back of the certified copy of the complaint supplied for the use of the judge.(2) When the associate has entered in the recording apparatus the particulars prescribed by subrule (1) , the judge is to sign the endorsement made by the associate on the indictment or copy of the complaint.(3) The associate is to return the original indictment and court file to the office of the Registrar, together with –(a) the exhibits produced at the trial; and(b) a list in duplicate of those exhibits.
43. Proper officer for purposes of Sentencing Act 1997
For the purposes of section 60(1)(b) of the Sentencing Act 1997 , the proper officer of the Supreme Court is the Registrar, a Deputy Registrar or a District Registrar.
The Rules of Court made under the Criminal Code Act 1924 and published in the Gazette on 15 July 1924, page 1547, and all amendments to those Rules of Court, are rescinded.
P. G. UNDERWOOD
Chief Justice
E. C. CRAWFORD
Puisne Judge
P. W. SLICER
Puisne Judge
P. E. EVANS
Puisne Judge
A. M. BLOW
Puisne Judge
S. E. TENNENT
Puisne Judge
Countersigned,
I. G. RITCHARD
Registrar
Displayed and numbered in accordance with the Rules Publication Act 1953.
Notified in the Gazette on 26 April 2006
These Rules of Court are administered in the Department of Justice.
EXPLANATORY NOTE
(This note is not part of the rule)
These Rules of Court make provision in respect of the conduct of criminal proceedings, including matters relating to the following:(a) bail and recognizances;(b) private prosecutions;(c) trials at bar;(d) victim impact statements;(e) certain certificates;(f) recording of proceedings;(g) proceedings on appeal;(h) examination of witnesses out of the State;(i) various other matters.