District Court of WA|2025-07-21|Before: Ms J

For the reasons I have outlined, the procedure provided for in s 99 of the CPA does not constitute 'a sentencing proceeding' for the purposes of the CLMIA.
I am satisfied that nothing within the operation of s 99 of the CPA excludes the court's power to determine if an accused is unfit as provided for by pt 3 div 1 and pt 3 div 2 of the CLMIA.

I certify that the preceding paragraph(s) comprise the reasons for decision of the District Court of Western Australia.

[6] Birch v The State of Western Australia [2017] WASCA 19 [198] (Mazza JA).

[7] CPA s 39; Birch [199] (Mazza JA).

[8] Mouritz v The State of Western Australia [2006] WASCA 165 [41] (Pullin JA).

[11] R v Hill [1979] VicRp 33; [1979] VR 311 cited with approval in Bennett v The State of Western Australia [2012] WASCA 70 [110] (Buss P).

[16] R v Tonks [1963] VicRp 19; [1963] VR 121, 127 - 128.

[17] Maxwell v The Queen (1996) 184 CLR 501, 508 (Dawson & McHugh JJ), 520 - 521 (Toohey J), 529 (Gaudron & Gummow JJ).

[19] Maxwell (511) (Dawson & McHugh JJ).

[20] Meissner v The Queen [1995] HCA 41; (1995) 184 CLR 132, 141 - 142 (Brennan, Toohey & McHugh JJ).

[21] See Corica v Throssell [2012] WASC 393 [42] (McKechnie J).

[24] Whilst s 99(5) uses the word 'may' that word has been interpreted as conferring an obligation rather than a discretion - see Birch [214] (Mazza JA).

[25] SYO v The State of Western Australia [2020] WASCA 202.

[27] Birch [210] and [211] (Mazza JA).

[28] Macquarie Dictionary (9th ed, 2023).

[30] CLMIA s 35 and s 37.

[31] S (an infant) v Manchester City Recorder [1971] AC 481, 488.

[32] Maxwell (509) (Dawson & McHugh JJ).

[33] R v Jerome [1964] Qd R 595.

[34] Maxwell (510) (Dawson & McHugh JJ).

[36] Griffiths v The Queen [1977] HCA 44; (1977) 137 CLR 293.

[38] Maxwell (530) (Gaudron & Gummow JJ).

[39] Maxwell (531) (Gaudron & Gummow JJ).

[40] David Lockyer Harman by his Next Friend Portia De Guzman v Hall [2024] WASC 197.

[41] Alben Hyland by Next Friend Ajay Singh v Mitchell [2022] WASC 300 [71] - [77].

[46] Squance v WA Police [2023] WASC 479.

[49] Maxwell (511) (Dawson & McHugh JJ).

[51] Meissner (141) - (142) (Brennan, Toohey & McHugh JJ).

[53] R v Presser [1958] VicRp 9; [1958] VR 45, 48.

[54] Ngatayi v The Queen [1980] HCA 18; (1980) 147 CLR 1.

[56] Macquarie Dictionary (9th ed, 2023).

Law (Mental Impairment) Act 2023

Law (Mentally Impaired Accused) Act 1996

THE STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA -v- NG [2025] WADC 42 (21 July 2025)

Alben Hyland by Next Friend Ajay Singh v Mitchell [2022] WASC 300

Bennett v The State of Western Australia [2012] WASCA 70

Birch v The State of Western Australia [2017] WASCA 19

Corica v Throssell [2012] WASC 393

David Lockyer Harman by his Next Friend Portia De Guzman v Hall [2024] WASC 197

Griffiths v The Queen [1977] HCA 44; (1977) 137 CLR 293

Meissner v The Queen [1995] HCA 41; (1995) 184 CLR 132

Mouritz v The State of Western Australia [2006] WASCA 165

Ngatayi v the Queen [1980] HCA 18; (1980) 147 CLR 1

S (an infant) v Manchester City Recorder [1971] AC 481

Squance v WA Police [2023] WASC 479

SYO v The State of Western Australia [2020] WASCA 202

THE STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA -v- NG [2025] WADC 42 (21 July 2025)

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THE STATE OF WESTERN AUSTRALIA -v- NG [2025] WADC 42 (21 July 2025)