VPRS 5362 Criminal Appeal Book

Full description

The right of appeal to the Full Court of the Supreme Court on specified grounds and with certain conditions was defined in the Criminal Appeal Act 1914, subsequently incorporated into the Crimes Act 1915 (Part V, Sections 592 609). Persons convicted on indictment could file notice to appeal or notice of seeking leave to appeal. As well as specifying the grounds for appeal and how they were to be determined the Act also laid down the procedures to be used and the documentation to be requested from the original trial.

This series contains the records of appeals heard by the Full Court from decisions of the Court of General Sessions (from 1968 incorporated as part of the County Court) and the criminal jurisdiction of the Supreme Court. Each case was given a consecutive number with details of the name of the appellant (and some notation of whether the person was in gaol or on bail), the respondent (the Crown), the names of the legal representatives of each party, the date of the receipt of the appeal, the Court appealed from and the judge before whom the person was tried, the dates of receipt of compulsory documents such as the report and notes of the trial judge (Crimes Act S599) and the judgment of the Full Court.

Details of appeals by the Crown against sentences or convictions may be found in VPRS 5374 Full Court Book. Further details of hearings in the Full Court may be found in VPRS 5385 Full Court Minute Book.