The Queen v. Getachew

Lower Court Judgment

2/06/2011 Supreme Court of Victoria (Court of Appeal)

(Buchanan & Bongiorno JJA & Lasry AJA)

[2011] VSCA 164

Catchwords

Criminal law — Rape — Mens rea — Trial judge directed jury that mens rea established if accused ("respondent") aware that complainant might be asleep — Respondent led no evidence of his mental state at trial — Court of Appeal held direction precluded consideration by jury of possibility that respondent believed complainant was consenting to anal intercourse while asleep — Whether sufficient evidence before jury to require direction that respondent may have believed complainant consenting while asleep — Whether incumbent upon respondent's counsel to raise respondent's awareness of complainant's lack of consent — Appropriate test to be applied in determining sufficiency of evidence for purpose of giving direction — Whether respondent able to hold belief that complainant gave consent where jury found beyond reasonable doubt that respondent knew or believed complainant asleep at time of penetration — Crimes Act 1958 (Vic), ss 36, 37, 37AA, 37AAA, 38 — Pemble v The Queen (1971) 124 CLR 107.

Short Particulars